Massachusetts Weddings

I am so thankful for Love & Perry Photography, because they have given us this beauty at Pelham House Resort filled with such artistry and care in every single image. When the Bride, mother of the Bride, AND mother of the Groom all have “art” in their job titles, you know these ladies are going to make one heck of a wedding. It has watercolors, quilts and beautiful details galore and you can see it all in the gallery, right here.

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From the Bride… Bob and I grew up in the same small Massachusetts town. His mother was actually my art teacher in high school. We were not high school sweethearts, but when we began dating three years ago after years of close friendship we quickly figured out it was meant to be. The flowers were arranged by a close family friend Eileen Muller and included enormous dahlias from the Mayor’s Plantation Dahlia Farm in our hometown of Holliston. Our beach bohemian wedding was a labor of love, as proclaimed by my mother. I am an elementary school art teacher and working artist who is breaking into the stationery and event design field, so I was very particular and wanted a hand in every detail of our wedding. With both my mother and mother-in-law being artists, it was all hands on deck. We chose to get married in Dennis Port near my Nana’s house, where we spend a lot of time. Cape Cod is our most favorite place, and we embrace all things seaside! Inside my dress and his suit, we each wore lobster trap charms tied with turquoise ribbon. We had lobster gummy candies in our champagne glasses, and Bob’s mom decorated whale and lobster-shaped cookies for the dessert table. A seagull literally dropped a fish on the lawn of the ceremony minutes before it began, so I think our guests truly got a feel for Cape Cod.

Because our huge wedding party included many friends of both of ours, our wedding party stood boy-girl-boy-girl. This also allowed my brother to stand near me and Bob’s sister near him. Our wedding was a progressive interfaith Jewish ceremony, with a liberal rabbi and the breaking of two glasses. My bridesmaid Ellie sang the seven blessings in Hebrew, and Bob’s grandmother read an excerpt from the Velveteen Rabbit. The program covers were adorned with recycled craft paper covered with bright paint from my art classroom tables last year, stamped with our anchor monogram my friend Rosie and I designed. The wedding itself incorporated every shade of purple known to man. The bridesmaids each chose their own purple dress, and the groomsmen were instructed to wear gray suits of any shade. We gathered various purple, patterned ties for all of them and the men in the immediate family. The chuppah was an ombre quilt made with love by my bridesmaid Anne. It was so incredibly windy that it broke off the pole as soon as the chuppah was opened, so we improvised by having it held behind us during our vows. Thankfully, we had planned a unity sand ceremony rather than unity candle for our mothers, so that was not interrupted by the wind. Both the chuppah and the R&B for our sweetheart table chairs arrived on airplanes that weekend, carried by close friends who crafted them for us. Bob proposed to me on a scrabble board, so it was fitting for us to have the “just married” tile racks on our sweetheart table.

Along the fence of the lawn, overlooking the ocean, hung jars of flowers that I upgraded from spaghetti sauce jars with glass paint, frosted spray paint and rope. The large vases, I collected from thrift stores and then spray painted lavender from the inside to emphasize the textures of the glass. The escort cards I painted with various shades of purple watercolors and sprinkled with salt to create a an ocean-spray textural effect. My bridesmaid Kate wrote the calligraphy on the cards. Lavender and rosemary sprigs from my garden were placed on each plate for the guests. The invitations were my largest project. I painted each piece of paper with washes of watercolor. I created a watercolor painting of dahlias and ranunculus that I then laid out in Photoshop to create the final design. Each invitation was printed on my home printer on the watercolor washed papers. Our wedding was a beautiful merging of our love for all things nautical, nature and art-ful. A day so full of love in so many ways, AND we had the best time ever!

Wedding Photography: Love & Perry Photography / Wedding Venue: Pelham House Resort in Dennis Port, Massachusetts / Event Design: Strawberry Small Works Studio (The Bride) / Floral Design: Eileen Muller / Wedding Day Coordination: The Perfect Plan / Catering: John Hendron / Wedding Invitations: Strawberry Small Works Studio (The Bride) / Calligraphy: Kathryn Hashey / Music: Dave Millar / R & B Initials: Laura Kehoe of Tufted Home / Wedding Dress: La Sposa / Bride’s Shoes: Audrey Brooke / Hair: Jess of Heather’s Hairport Salon & Spa / Makeup: Laura Fleming / Groom’s Suit: Banana Republic

True story: half the shirts in my closet have blue and white stripes of some sort. If that doesn’t shine a light on my adoration for all things nautical, I just don’t know what does. So when I laid eyes on this Popponesset Inn beauty, my Cape Cod loving-heart skipped a beat. You can see every perfectly preppy detail captured by Servidone Studios Photography in the full gallery!

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From Servidone Studios Photography… Julie and TJ had a romantic Cape wedding. Everything oozed with effortless beauty, just like the bride. Julie’s mom sadly passed away last year, but her spirit was there. For example, the charm on Julie’s bouquet read, “Mom, Wish You Were Here”, and there was a photo display by the escort cards, along with a thoughtful note on their donation to the Lustgarten Foundation to find a cure for pancreatic cancer. There was an abundance of love and laughter. Every last detail was charming: The tables were named after Julie and TJ’s favorite spots to eat in Massachusetts, the dessert table had a sign that read “How sweet it is to be loved by you”, and The Popponesset Inn just exuded casual chic with its blue and white tented reception area and lanterns hung from the ceiling. The way TJ looked at his wife that day will melt your heart. These two are so much in love, and it’s just so darn sweet. DJ Danny Walsh had everyone on the dance floor.

Wedding Photography: Servidone Studios Photography / Ceremony: Christ the King Church in Mashpee, Massachusetts / Reception: Popponesset Inn in Mashpee, Massachusetts / Event Coordination: Wilma Lopez of Popponesset Inn / Floral Design: Judy Fligg of All About Flowers for Weddings / Cupcakes: Lisa Raffael of Delicious Desserts / DJ: Danny Walsh / Wedding Dress: Liv Harris via Vows Bridal Outlet / Bride’s Shoes: Nina / Makeup: Lisa George / Wedding Bands: NASR Bros Jewelers

Cape Cod, you slay me. I keep falling harder and harder in love with this classic location and this wedding from The Casual Gourmet has so perfectly captured the spirit of the Cape that I’ve now become borderline obsessed. The timeless Americana color palette and the creatively nautical theme are just the beginning of some of the most adorable details in this wedding at the Nauticus Marina. And Hike Photography has captured them all in the gallery right here.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… Cape Cod is, hands-down, my favorite place in the world. Growing up, my family spent every summer there, and it has always been my dream wedding destination. Thankfully, I married the most selfless man who wanted to make my dream come true; Bobby knew from the moment we got engaged that we would most likely be getting married on the Cape. My sister and brother-in-law got married on the Cape three years before us and had some incredible vendors that we were able to use for our special day!  Immediately after Bobby proposed, my parents sprang into action and contacted the caterer, venue, band and florist and got our wedding planning ball rolling. As coordinators of the chaos, my mom and dad deserve most of the wedding planning credit!

Our venue was breathtaking and allowed for us to keep everything else very simple, but with a nautical twist. Food is important to both Bobby and me, and since we were asking people to travel from our home state of Texas (and from all over the US), we wanted our guests to have authentic East Coast cuisine. Seafood was the theme! Our guests are still talking about the clam chowder shooters and the mini lobster club sandwiches!  The food, the music (Motown oldies!), the bright flowers, and the overall décor felt very us, and we were so thankful to everyone who helped make it such a memorable day. Our amazing photographer even managed to capture our fits of laughter in addition to our emotional moments during the gorgeous sunset. Surrounded by our families and great friends, our wedding day was truly more special than we could have ever imagined!

Wedding Photography: Hike Photography / Wedding Venue: Nauticus Marina in Osterville, Massachusetts / Event Planning: Sarah Biggs of The Casual Gourmet / Floral Design: Vintage Flowers of Osterville / Catering + Wedding Cake: The Casual Gourmet / Band: Jack Leyden / Tenting + Chairs: American Tent & Table / Wedding Dress: Romona Keveza

I’m at that age where friends are getting engaged left and right. And having been a bride just one year ago, I’m often asked for planning advice! The number one thing I tell a bride-to-be is: choose vendors you love and trust and then let them do their thing!  That is exactly what this Cape Cod couple did for their “nothing fussy or complicated” Wequassett Resort and Golf Club nuptials and the result was simply stunning. Nicole Chaput Photography captured every last detail and you can see it all right here!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… Chris and I were married at Wequassett Resort on Cape Cod on July 7, 2012, on a humid but otherwise perfect day that was exactly three years, two months, and one day after our first date. We were so excited as our wedding day approached, for the usual reasons of course, but also because weddings play a big role in our lives together. Chris is a wedding photographer by trade, and we actually met when he was hired to photograph my cousin’s wedding (yes, I was a bridesmaid!). A friendship, and eventually love, blossomed as he photographed my sister’s and several additional cousins’ and family friends’ weddings in the years that followed. We both spent lots of time on Cape Cod as children and have wonderful memories of times we’ve spent together down Cape. Chris has worked at Wequassett too many times to count, and deeply respects his friend (and catering director) Kalson Pang’s talent when it comes to coordinating flawless events. Having our wedding on Wequasset’s Croquet Lawn overlooking Pleasant Bay was a dream come true, especially because of the beautiful, deeply-personal ceremony written and delivered by Rev. Kathleen Geagan, complete with an original comedic poem telling the story of our courtship. 

What mattered most to us was that our wedding day be laid-back and that we be surrounded by our closest friends and family. Most of our vendors were dear friends with whom Chris has worked for years and years, which made planning about as stress-free as it can be. Our philosophy in planning a wedding was to hire talented people, give them a little bit of guidance, and then just trust them to do what they do best! The only rule was “Nothing fussy or complicated.” We kept things simple with an intimate bridal party (just our best man and matron of honor) and low floral arrangements, and we also kept things fun with a make your own ice cream sundae bar and a band (the unbelievable K2) that kept the dance floor packed all night. Our gorgeous photographs were taken by the very talented Nicole Chaput (with help from Eileen Nelson). We were so comfortable and calm having two good friends behind the cameras and by our side throughout the day. All of our lovely paper products were custom-designed from scratch by our dear friend Donna Kim, who incorporated photos Chris had taken at Wequasset years earlier into our invitations, programs, seating board and favor thank you tags. Our cake (lemon filling!) and cake truffle favors were lovingly crafted by the superbly-talented and hilarious Lisa Raffael. Our stunning florals were whipped up by Karen Taddei of Lilacs who took our vague vision (purple, green and wood) and hit an absolute home run. The birch arbor in the ceremony space was particularly breathtaking set against the blue expanse of Pleasant Bay.

Our wedding day was everything we dreamed it could be–relaxed, lovely, and filled with joy. We were surrounded by friends and family from near and far, and that was truly the greatest gift!

Wedding Photography: Nicole Chaput Photography / Second Shooter: Eileen Nelson Photography / Wedding Venue: Wequassett Resort and Golf Club in Harwich, Massachusetts / Floral Design: Karen Taddei of Lilacs / Event Coordination: Kalson Pang of Wequassett Resort and Golf Club / Officiant: Rev. Kathleen Geagan of Soulful Wedding Ceremonies / Wedding Cake + Cake Truffle Favors: Lisa Raffael of Delicious Desserts / Wedding Invitations + Paper Goods: Donna Kim of The Perfect Details  (Featuring Photos by the Groom) / String Quartet: Fensgate Chamber Players / Band: K2 / Wedding Dress: Jim Hjelm via Country Weddings Bridal Boutique / Bride’s Jewelry: Nadri via Nordstrom / Bride’s Shoes + Hair Pin: Nina / Bride’s Purple Ring: Her Late Grandmother’s / Hair + Makeup: Lisa George / Matron of Honor’s Dress: Jennifer Reale Design / Groom’s Suit: Brooks Brothers / Groom’s Shoes: Johnston & Murphy / Groom’s Tie: J.Crew / Best Man’s + Father of Groom’s Ties: Brooks Brothers / Engagement Ring: Grafstein Diamond Corp. in New York City / Wedding Bands: Ross Simons

It’s the quintessential Cape Cod wedding – navy blue and nantucket red – and we’re in love. The bride just so happens to be the cutest I’ve run across in my time as a wedding blogger, and her big day is just as sweet as she is. With Jenny Moloney Photography behind the camera, we’re able to enjoy the gallery like we were actually at this fun, fun wedding. Click here to see it all!

Click here to see the full image gallery!

Well, I grew up sailing with my family. My dad was the captain of the sailing team when he was at the Naval Academy. Kurt swam for the Naval Academy. He has always been in the water since he was little. As for Cape Cod, my uncles have a cottage in Orleans, MA, that I’ve visited to since I was a little girl. I fell in love with Saint Christopher’s as a small girl and told my Uncle Frank that one day I would get married in that church. 

When we were planning our wedding, we both decided it was important to treat our guests on our special day. We wanted them to know how much we appreciate all their love and support over the years. So we planned a wedding week. We had a golf day with lunch at Mahoney’s Grill for the men and a spa day with lunch at the Beacon Room and a night in Provincetown and a party bus for the ladies. All guests were invited to our rehearsal dinner lobster bake. As for the big day, we had a morning wedding ceremony followed by a beautiful sunny afternoon reception in a big white tent. We had Italian influences, honoring my Italian heritage (my grandmother is 100% Italian), starting with the prosecco to the main course and ending with the italian pastries from Modern pastry in Boston. We didn’t want the day to end at sunset so we planned a pub crawl through Orleans for our guests and hired a party bus to take us to popular spots like the Lost Dog and Land Ho! We said farewell to our guests with a wonderful Newlywed Brunch on Sunday before the journey back home.

My mother was the ultimate wedding planner or as she tells me, she brought to life the ideas and inspirations I came up with. Being on the Cape, I knew our colors would be Navy and Nantucket Red. From there, I spent any free time during my surgical internship planning. I got ideas from Pinterest, Style Me Pretty, Snipet & Ink, Handmade Weddings, Martha Stewart Wedding Magazine.

The idea for the invitations came from the book Handmade Weddings. My mom found nautical charts at a store in Houston and cut out each of the outer envelopes by hand. I think my dad helped with a few too! Kurt made the labels and we had the invitations and save the date printed by Paper Source.

Photography: Jenny Moloney Photography / Venue: Captain Heman Smith House, Orleans, MA / Florist: Flowers by Mary / Dress: Pronovias “Alma,” Love Couture Bridal / Shoes: “Charm” Navy Kate Spade glitter slingbacks, Neiman Marcus / Earrings: Petit Alhambra Van Cleef & Arpels / Chapel Veil: handmade by bride’s mother / Reception Veil: handmade by bride’s mother and groom’s grandmother / Cake Topper: Over the Top Studio on Etsy / Table numbers and signs: Paper Source / Invitations: Paper Source / Guestbook: Mixbook.com / Reception Fascinators: Dillard’s / Bowties: Nantucket Red Oxford Stripe Bow ties by High Cotton / Flower girls’ Dresses: Laura Ashley / Wedding party hair: Hair Affinity / Wedding party make-up: Brenda King Chatham Beauty / Candy Bags & Koozie Design: My Sweet Life / Catering: Shannon Mahoney, Sumptuous Events & Catering / Pennant Flags & Tissue Paper Flowers: DIY

Everything, and I mean everything, about this wedding is adorably perfect and I love it, I love it, I love it. Yes, I know I said it three times, but once is simply not enough to explain the adoration I have for every single part of these nuptials at Bourne Farm, from the vows written on the most darling teeny tiny scrolls to the ahhhh-mazing image from Dreamlove Photography of these newlyweds riding off into the distance in a classic car made by the groom himself and every glorious detail in between. And you can see them all right here in the gallery.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From Dreamlove Photography… On Cape Cod, most couples either have a coastal beach wedding or a more inland rustic farm wedding — Nicole and Winslow opted for both. They began the day with an intimate ceremony with their closest friends and family, saying “I do” with their handwritten vows on tiny curled scrolls of paper. Then, after an amazing coastal portrait photography session, they joined in at the reception at Bourne Farm, a rustic estate-like wedding venue on the cape. Nicole and Winslow’s wedding incorporated so many little heartfelt details: she wore the shawl for portraits that was her mother’s on her wedding day, a rosary from her late brother was wrapped around her bouquet, Winslow escorted her away after the ceremony in an amazing vintage car that he built himself, and hundreds of old photographs were strung up around the cocktail area in the Bourne Farm barn.

From the Bride… My favorite part about my wedding is when my husband pulled me aside while everyone was on the dance floor and asked me to take a minute just to look around. Look at our parents, our family, our friends, all our hard work… Being able to slow down and see it all and take it all in is a moment that I will never forget. The best advice I can pass along is prepare for all that you can, let go of everything you have no control over and if at the end of the day you are married to your best friend, than that is truly all that matters. And remember, there will come a point that you have done all that you can — don’t miss this crucial moment because it is from here that you must enjoy every single second. It will go by in a flash.

Wedding Photography: Dreamlove Photography / Wedding Venue: Bourne Farm in Falmouth, Massachusetts / Floral Design: Allen’s House of Flowers / Catering: The Casual Gourmet / Wedding Cake: Krista Malayter, A Family Friend / Wedding Invitations: Jen Simpson Design / DJ: Keith Lemire / Cake Topper: Jordyluxe / Guest Book: Totally Salinda / Guest Book Props: The Manic Moose / Wedding Dress + Shrug: Alvina Valenta / Bride’s Shoes: Michael Kors / Bride’s Necklace: Tiffany & Co. / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: David’s Bridal + L.K. Bennett / Men’s Suits: Jos A. Bank / Bride’s Engagement Ring: An Heirloom from the Groom’s Family / Wedding Bands: Long’s

Forgive me if I’m drooling over here while writing this post, but I simply cannot help myself as I am looking through all of the images from Aubrey Greene Photography of this delightful and delicious Cape Cod wedding. Lobster? Yes, please. Pies? Give me all that you have. Treats Catering and Marion’s Pie Shop, expect a visit from me soon. And roll all of those delectable ingredients into a day that is everything Cape Cod and adorably colorful and you’ve got yourself a wedding that is truly out-of-this-world. See every bit of it in the gallery right here.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From Aubrey Greene Photography… Family was the most important thing to Jillian and Matt when it came to their wedding. They selected a venue that fit their budget and would allow them to invite all their loved ones, but their goal was to make it not feel like you were at an Elks Lodge. Jillian and Matt succeeded perfectly in creating the perfect Cape Cod wedding! All the pictures were taken at the historic Orleans windmill, and the reception took place in the picnic area next to the Eastham Elks Lodge. The reception was filled with beautiful blue glass vases filled with wildflowers and pops of yellow from bowls filled with lemons. A hanging, handwritten chalkboard sign let guests know where they were seated, and the scent of lavender filled the air. Jillian and Matt also went non-traditional with hosting a classic Cape Cod clambake and serving 10 different kinds of pie as dessert, complete with personalized forks and pie birds that Jillian found on Etsy. Jillian called her wedding simple, but I thought it was nothing short of extraordinary.

Wedding Photography: Aubrey Greene Photography / Ceremony: St. Joan of Arc in Orleans, Massachusetts / Reception: Elks Lodge in Eastham, Massachusetts / Floral Design: Stacy of Saint Aubin Nurseries / Catering: Treats Catering / Baker: Marion’s Pie Shop / Wedding Dress: Ann Taylor / Bride’s Shoes: Kate Spade / Hair + Makeup: Salon Silhouette / Groom’s Suit: Brooks Brothers

It goes without saying – we love ourselves a fab proposal here at SMP.  So when the oh-so-wonderful team at Cape Cod Celebrations sent along this gorgeous inspiration shoot, well… let’s just say we were all caps HAPPY.  A stunning waterside setting, sweet treats from Cape Cod Lollicakes and beyond amazing images captured by Stacey Hedman… it’s all the inspiration you’ll ever need.  So, pay close attention you soon-to-be fiancés – you’ll definitely want to take notes on all of this pretty.  Click here for more.

Click here for the FULL photo shoot!

From Cape Cod Celebrations… Recently we launched proposal planning on the cape, so we kicked it off with a beautiful photo shoot at the train bridge on the Cape Cod Canal. We wanted to choose a location that was not “typical Cape Cod,” and we loved the structure and grandiosity of the bridges — the true gateway to Cape Cod. We set the scene with a table for two right on the canal on a perfect evening with the train bridge as the backdrop. Cheese, crackers, champagne and Cape Cod Lollicakes adorned the table for the “newly engaged couple.” The photos were meant to convey the couple strolling along the canal, then happening upon the table where the question was popped with an amazing background. We really wanted to show off what we can do with an amazing location and an amazing photographer — Stacey was awesome!

Photography: Stacey Hedman / Photo Shoot Location: Cape Cod Canal in Massachusetts / Event Design: Cape Cod Celebrations / Floral Design: Patrice R. Milley Floral Designers / Lollicakes: Cape Cod Lollicakes

I know I’ve professed my love for Cape Cod before, but when Alanna Scully Photography sends us a wedding as lovely as this one, my affinity continues to grow. Take the rustic beaches of the Chequessett Yacht & Country Club, toss in some pretty as can be petals by Fancy Flowers by Meredith and a head-over-heels in bride + groom, and we’ve got a nautical wedding fairytale. Click here for so much more!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From Alanna Scully Photography… When Diana and Jay first inquired with me about their Wellfleet wedding, I was beyond excited. I grew up going to Wellfleet every summer with my dad’s family, and it has always held a special place in my heart. There is something about the cape that is so beautiful and timeless, and that really makes it a perfect spot to have a wedding  It’s a great spot to go with your family, it’s a great place to go for a road trip with friends, and it is a perfect place to start your new life as husband and wife. Diana and Jay chose the Chequessett Yacht and Country Club as their ceremony and reception spot, and as soon as I arrived, I could see why they chose it. It is very charming and also right on the water. The club house was a great spot for dinner and toasting the happy couple, and the boathouse was perfect for dancing the night away. Although the rain threatened us early in the day, the skies cleared for Jay and Diana’s beach ceremony, and we got a beautiful night for a beautiful couple.

Wedding Photography: Alanna Scully Photography / Second Shooter: Melissa DeSchamp Photography / Wedding Venue: Chequessett Yacht & Country Club in Wellfleet, Massachusetts / Floral Design: Fancy Flowers by Meredith / Catering: Sumptuous Events & Catering / Wedding Cake: Konditor Meister / Band: Groove Authority / Wedding Dress: Watters via Country Weddings Bridal Boutique / Hair + Makeup: Ashley Brecken

Cape Cod weddings are magical.  Plain and simple.  And when it’s a Cape Cod affair styled to perfection by Desiree Spinner Events and boasting the world’s most adorable duo?  Well, that’s a recipe for some serious pretty.  Add in bundles of succulent-filled blooms by Petalena, a gallery overflowing with light-filled images from Kim Thiel and one smile-inducing moment after another and we have ourselves one love-filled celebration here on SMP.  Life is good.  Click here for more. 

Click here for the FULL wedding!

Ready to bask in even more pretty?  Check out this breathtaking film from Copper Clover Films below!

From the Bride Stasia… Carrie and I believe in fate. We believe in finding love when you least expect it. That’s how it happened for us. We attended the same college, Villanova University, where I was a freshman the year after Carrie had graduated. We learned of each other totally by chance when I became a sorority “little sister” to Carrie’s “little-little-little sister.” If you are familiar with sororities, you know that this made Carrie my “big-big-big-big sister.”  Through our new mutual friends, we talked on the phone that night — and it was “love-at-first-voice” for me. Our coincidental connection would be the start to an amazing long-distance friendship consisting of many e-cards, phone calls and Instant Messenger conversations that lasted for two and a half years. In 2006, Carrie came back to Villanova to pursue her masters’ degree, and our friendship blossomed into love as we became an official item. After dating for almost 4 years, I planned to propose to Carrie while skiing and throw her a secret engagement party in New York City. The plan went off without a hitch, and Carrie was both thrilled and surprised.

Next came wedding planning! As alumni of Villanova University, we are given the opportunity of marring in the beautiful chapel on campus. However, since Carrie and I are both women, we were denied this privilege that most of our other classmates enjoy. Being denied this right was especially painful because we had both dedicated so much of ourselves to the social justice and community service aspects of our university. However, we did not let this deter us from planning the perfect wedding, complete with all of our family and friends and many sustainable details. Carrie and I were married last September on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, and it was one of the best days of our (and our families’) lives. The weather was perfect, the guests were amazing, the words spoken were beyond lovely — and we felt God was truly present on our wedding day. We were married overlooking the beautiful ocean under a warm, late summer sun. Our guests enjoyed seasonal food, local beer and wine and a delicious, organically-made cake. We played lawn games, danced the night away to the sounds of Plaid Daddy and watched the sun set over the water. We could not have asked for a more wonderful wedding day.

As I said in my vows to Carrie, “You are my love, you are my home, you are my wife.” We choose Cape Cod because of its beauty, but more importantly, because Massachusetts is one of the six states that supports marriage equality. We did not want a domestic partnership or a civil union, something that is less and not equal. We believe our love deserves the title of a marriage. We hope that in the future, all couples will be given the right to marry, regardless of their gender, and we hope, in some small way, that our wedding story will be a part of that.

Wedding Photography: Kim Thiel Photography / Wedding Venue: The Winslow Estate in Orleans, Massachusetts / Styling + Coordination: Desiree Spinner Events / Floral Design: Petalena / Wedding Cinematography: Copper Clover Films / Bar Service + Catering: Cosmos Catering / Wedding Cake + Cupcakes: The Artisan Bake Shop / Cake Topper: strawberriesandcream / Pies + Sweets: Cottage St Bakery / Wedding Invitations, Menus + Place Cards: Tulaloo / Entertainment: Plaid Daddy Band / Event Rentals, Lighting, Linens + Tent: Party Cape Cod / Linens, Lawn Games, Vintage Tea Cups + Vintage Silverware: New England Vintage Rentals / Favors: Garrett Popcorn / Ring Dish: Paloma’s Nest / Transportation: Academy Bus / Wedding Dress: Brides Against Breast Cancer Gown Sale / Hair: Just Hair by Kris Pavao / Makeup: Blush / Hairpieces: Littlest Boutique + Paper & Silk Made / Friday Night Welcome Event: Land Ho / Rehearsal Dinner: Academy Ocean Grille

When some people think of Cape Cod, they think lobsters, coastlines and Kennedy’s. When I think of Cape Cod, I think weddings. Gorgeous ones, that are simple yet classic, understated yet elegant. Ones that look just exactly like this seaside soiree at the Chatham Bars Inn and was captured so beautifully by the talented Stacey Hedman. It’s seaside chic defined, and you can see so much more right here.

From the Bride… Chris and I knew that we wanted to have our wedding celebration at a place we both felt a strong connection to. Cape Cod has a special place in our hearts with happy memories of growing up and spending our summers vacationing with family. Chatham is the quintessential Cape Cod town, and the Chatham Bars Inn is an unbelievable resort.

Instantly, we fell in love with the Beach House Grill at the Chatham Bars Inn. The character of the room was a mix of New England nautical and understated elegance, from its floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Atlantic Ocean to the seafoam-colored bistro chairs. With such a beautiful backdrop as the sea, we decided to keep our color palette light and neutral — lots of white with subtle touches of light gray. White hydrangeas decorated our tables, and pale pink peonies filled the bouquets. I am a designer, so I enjoyed the wedding planning process. I spent weeks creating mood boards, designing the paper goods, figuring out the little (but important) details and searching for antique treasures. With the help of our wonderful vendors, family and friends, the day turned out to be more perfect than we could have ever imagined.

The day of our wedding, the weather was beautiful with a blue sky, fluffy clouds and a cool ocean breeze. It was perfect for an outdoor ceremony. We decided to have “first look” photos done before our ceremony, which was such an intimate time where we could really take a moment to enjoy the start of our amazing day … and lives together. Our family joined us afterward and really calmed any nerves we may have had with their happy faces. After our ceremony, our guests moved to the Beach House Grill deck to enjoy drinks while listening to the fabulous reggae band. Having our family and friends all together in one of our favorite places was amazing. When the music and dancing came to an end, we had sparklers send us off … well, just to across the street, where we continued the wedding festivities.

Wedding Photography: Stacey Hedman / Wedding Venue: Chatham Bars Inn in Chatham, Massachusetts / Floral Design: New England Gardens / Catering + Dessert: Chatham Bars Inn / Wedding Invitations: Minted / Calligraphy: Li Ward of Fat Orange Cat Studio / Reggae Music: Duppy Conquerors / Wedding Dress: Martina Liana / Bride’s Shoes: BHLDN / Hair + Makeup: Lisa George / Groom’s Suit: J.Crew

As if I wasn’t already head-over-heels in love with Cape Cod, here comes a stunner from Samantha Melanson Photography that exudes New England charm! A classic navy and green palette-with pops of pink-was carried through from the preppy day-of paper goods by A Seaside Invitation to the jaw-dropping peony bouquets by Fancy Flowers…and how cute is the BHLDN clamshell ring holder?! There are so many more thoughtful details to feast your eyes on right here!

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From the Bride… Growing up, I wasn’t the girl who envisioned her dream wedding. However, once Sean proposed in the Dominican Republic, I was immediately brought back to my childhood as I thought about my journey to finding the man of my dreams. That journey to this amazing day was my inspiration for my vision of our wedding celebration. It was important to me that every detail was representative of something meaningful or of a special moment that led us to finding each other. Then tragedy struck. In early June 2011, a tornado swept through my hometown and caused severe destruction to an area of Massachusetts for which this weather is a foreign concept. The tornado took with it a beloved white birch tree that was always a symbol of childhood to me when I returned home. Therefore, I used white birch tree as a detail throughout the wedding to hold our table cards and the guests place cards to honor our journey to each other.

My grandfather, through his life lessons, has made a large impact on the woman I am today. For the past fourteen years, my family has honored his memory through one of his passions: we have held an annual charity golf tournament. In addition, he would take his family and our family growing up would vacation in the lower Cape Cod area. My parents now own a home there. Therefore, our choice of location at a golf resort in Brewster, Massachusetts and the beautiful Ocean’s Edge Mansion was a no-brainer for us. I come from a golf-loving family and had introduced Sean to game when we were dating. It is a hobby we both enjoy together. I had often driven by the mansion and resort in admiration of the grounds and was thrilled when we decided that was the spot for us. We organized a golf outing the day before of course. My grandmother made the white chocolate golf ball lollipop favors.

In addition to his indirect influence on the location, my grandfather always preferred handkerchiefs over tissues. My mother gave me one of his to be my something old at my bridal shower accompanied by a tearful poem. I carried this with my bouquet to honor him. In addition, I had personalized handkerchiefs embroidered for my mom, dad, grandmother and groom, expressing how special they each were to me on this day of joy. Sean is a huge sports fan and former baseball player so his love of the Red Sox cannot be contained. Therefore, I was thrilled when our best man honored us with a Red Sox home jersey signed by our entire wedding party. The number was representative of our wedding date, the jersey of their friendship and fond memories and the signatures assure us our friends and family will always be close. I surprised Sean with the groom’s cake represented as baseball cupcakes. I’m a New York Yankees fan and wanted to acknowledge the rivalry in our union.

It was important to Sean and I that not only do we honor pastimes but also create an heirloom or tradition for our family. We were drawn to the loving cup ceremony which comes from the Celtic tradition. We drank to our past, present and our future. We found the loving cup at an antique shop on the famous Route 6A across from our venue. We hope to honor our anniversary each year with the cup and eventually pass it down. Overall, I’m proud and thrilled of how our celebration turned out and that we were surrounded by all of loved ones and honored those loved ones that couldn’t be with us. I’m so thankful and grateful to all of the vendors and people that worked with us to truly make this the celebration of our dreams!

Wedding Photography: Samantha Melanson Photography / Ceremony: The Terrace at Ocean Edge Mansion / Reception: BayPines Pavillon at Ocean Edge Resort & Golf Club / Event Design: The Bride + Jamie Bohlin of Cape Cod Celebrations / Event Planning: Jamie Bohlin of Cape Cod Celebrations + Jennifer McAnaw at Ocean Edge Resort & Golf Club / Floral Design: Fancy Flowers / Officiant: Rev. Faith Lavender / Cinematography: The Bride’s Cousin / Wedding Cake + Cupcakes: The Casual Gourmet / Wedding Invitations + Coasters: Steel Petal Press / Programs + Table Cards: Kendra Wallin of A Seaside Invitation / Postcard Reply Cards + Save-the-Dates: beyond design / Calligraphy: Rose Bonjourni / Coasters: Steel Petal Press / Ring Holder: BHLDN / Straws: Crate & Barrel / Golfball Lollipop Favors: The Bride’s Grandmother / White Birch Card Holders: The Vermont Branch Company / Embroidered Handkerchiefs: Chrissy’s Creations / Wedding Dress: Rivini via Solutions Bridal / Bride’s Wedding Shoes: Stuart Weitzman / Bride’s Second Dress: Jill Stuart / Bride’s Dance Shoes: J.Crew / Bride’s Veil: A busy mother / Bride’s Bracelets: Borrowed from the Matron of Honor’s Grandmother / Bride’s Bouquet Handkerchief: Her Grandfather’s / Hair + Makeup: Lisa George / Bridesmaids’ Dresses + Belts: Simple Silhouettes via Bella Bridesmaid / Bridesmaids’ Necklaces: Blue Sunflowers / Bridesmaids’ Bracelets: Alex & Ani / Groom’s Suit: Brooks Brothers / Groom’s Shoes: Bruno Magli / Groom’s Fedora: Biltmore / Cufflinks: Konstantine / Ties: Thomas Pink / Groomsmen’s Socks: Brooks Brothers / Ring Bearer’s Outfit: Brooks Brothers + Nordstrom

We know all of you lovely SMPers might need a big dose of pretty to solve your back-from-vacation blues this Tuesday morning, and this wedding from Brett Alison Photography just might do the trick. It all starts with this stunning bride carrying glorious florals from Fancy Flowers, continues with the ceremony at the amazing historic Yarmouth New Church and ends at the completely stunning Ocean Edge Resort & Golf Club for the reception, making this little number so worthy of your swoons and capturing of your heart that we just can’t help ourselves. It’s everything you want from a Cape Cod celebration from the amazing portraits on a private beach to one of the cutest little flower girls I’ve ever seen. Get the full dose of pretty in our gallery, right here.

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From the Bride… Our wedding day was everything I had dreamed of! We got married at the Yarmouth New Church in Yarmouth Port, Massachusetts, which was built in 1870. We then had pictures on a private beach in Dennis with the ocean and cliffs in the background and then took the trolley to Ocean Edge Resort in Brewster. I grew up on Cape Cod, and as a little girl we would drive past Ocean Edge on our way to someplace else. I remember thinking the place looked liked a castle from a fairy tale, and that maybe someday I would get married there. Our wedding theme was classic elegance, but we still kept in mind the fact it was on Cape Cod in May. We went with soft pinks and whites for our colors. The one piece that I centered the wedding around was a pearl necklace given to me by my paternal grandmother. I knew I had to wear the necklace as my grandmother had passed away several years before our wedding, and I know that she would have loved that I wore it. So I knew I had to get a dress that worked with pearls, and from there, everything just followed with the style of the dress and the pearls. The best part of the wedding day was walking down the aisle and out the church hand in hand as a married couple. We were just so happy and it felt so surreal. The day was just perfect and having planned out everything very well in advance with a day-of timeline really helped things go smoothly. Overall, it really was the fairy tale day I envisioned as a little girl.

Wedding Photography: Brett Alison Photography / Ceremony: Yarmouth New Church in Yarmouth Port, Massachusetts / Cocktail Hour + Reception: Ocean Edge Resort & Golf Club in Brewster, Massachusetts / Event Planning: Ashley Baker / Floral Design: Fancy Flowers / Officiant: Susan Marcus / Wedding Cake: The Casual Gourmet / Wedding Invitations: Wedding Paper Divas / Ceremony Music: Maggie Bossi + Violinist / DJ: DJ Keith Lemire / Trolley: Cape Destinations / Wedding Dress: Mikaella Bridal via Chantilly’s Bridal / Bride’s Shoes: Shoes to Dye For / Hair + Makeup: Lisa George / Nails: Le Petite Day Spa / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Alfred Sung via L’Elite / Groom’s Tuxedo: Ralph Lauren via Mr. Perry’s Tux / Wedding Rings: Custom by Superior Diamond Setting

When a stylist from one of our all time favorite websites, Rue la la, gets married at one of our all time favorite Cape Cod destination spots, Chatham, and it’s all captured to perfection by Ria Mackenzie Photography – we get a bit excited. And rightfully so, just take one look at all the pretty below and you’ll be squealing right along with us. With handsome groomsmen all lined-up in a seersuckered row, peonies-a-plenty and gorgeous beach sunsets – it’s seaside chic perfection, and you can see it all right here!

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From Ria Mackenzie Photography… Expect nothing but style and charm from this quintessential Cape Cod wedding. Aly, a stylist for Rue La La who is formerly from Chatham, knew just how to coordinate the details. I loved how shades of pink and blue were incorporated with seersucker suits, bright coral bridesmaids’ dresses and those gorgeous turquoise necklaces they wore! The wedding was perfectly Cape Cod chic! Aly and Justin are so easy-going knew just how to entertain their guests. In Chatham, there’s no better way to welcome out-of-towners than with a raw bar, New England clam chowder and a keg of Nantucket Whale’s Tale (yum!). Jimmy’s Down (the couple’s favorite Boston band) had almost everyone on the dance floor of the tennis club, and all others listened from the terrace while soaking in the amazing views of the beach and sunset. What a day, what a wedding, and what an awesome couple!

Wedding Photography: Ria Mackenzie Photography / Wedding Venue: Chatham Beach & Tennis Club in Chatham, Massachusetts / Floral Design: Patrice R. Milley Floral Designers / Wedding Cinematography: McElroy Weddings / Wedding Cake: Cottage Street Bakery / Wedding Invitations: Little Spark Creations / Band: Jimmy’s Down / Bride’s Hair Piece + Bracelet: Custom / Bride’s Earrings: Rachel Leigh / Bride’s Shoes: Valentino / Hair + Makeup: Bre Welch of Leather & Lace Artistry / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: French Connection / Bridesmaids’ Necklaces: Amrita Singh / Men’s Suits + Belts: J.Crew / Groom’s Shoes: Salvatore Ferragamo

There is absolutely nothing greater than a bride who is just consumed with happiness, giggles, and pure loveliness on her wedding day. This cute-as-can-be couple is especially wonderful, because the groom is a Brit! The gorgeous Wychmere Beach Club was the absolute perfect place to join together two families from two different continents to truly show them American charm and character. And when I saw the stunning images from Lauren Methia Photography of these two on the dock overlooking the harbor, I.just.died. Spend your Thursday morning wrapped up in our gallery, right here for more photos!

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From Lauren Methia Photography… Sean is from the UK and Mara is from the US, but on June 15, their families joined together to celebrate at their low key yet elegant wedding in Harwich Port, Massachusetts. The Wychmere Beach Club was the perfect place to get married because many guests came from overseas and it was their first trip to the states — what better place to visit than Cape Cod? My favorite part of the evening was my time spent with Mara and Sean alone. We sneaked out for some photos on the dock overlooking that gorgeous harbor at sunset. This is one of my favorites times to take photos! Not only is the lighting amazing, but the couple is relaxed, and it’s a chance to really take the whole day in.

Wedding Photography: Lauren Methia Photography / Wedding Venue: Wychmere Beach Club in Harwich Point, Massachusetts / Floral Design: Bee & Blossom / Baking: Cupcake Charlie’s / DJ: DJ Brogs / Wedding Dress: David Tutera for Mon Cheri via  Manhattan Bridals / Hair: Heather’s Hairport / Makeup: Jaclyn Round

Kick your heels up and get ready to feast your eyes on this laid back country affair captured by Joyelle West Photography. With furry friends in tow and an entire wedding party decked out in J.Crew, this wedding is catalogue worthy! I’m obsessed with the chic wildflower arrangements by The Bourne Florist and how they tie in with the place cards. Visit the full gallery for more rustic wedding heaven.

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From Joyelle West Photography… April and Kevin are a very laid-back couple and wanted a wedding that was simple, casual, rustic and farmy. The wedding was on the smaller side (70 guests) and was held at the Overbrook House, a farm setting near Cape Cod, Massachusetts. The ceremony was under a big tree in the back of the house, and they had BBQ under a tent and dancing in a dance hall. The attire was J.Crew; the escort cards were made of packets of flower seeds; a friend designed the program, which they modeled after an old-fashioned pharmacy ad; and a family member made the cupcakes. Their dogs were also an integral part of the day, not only as ring bearers, but also as guests. :) All in all, their personalities showed through in a really simple, lovely and understated way.

Wedding Photography: Joyelle West Photography / Wedding Venue: Overbrook House in Bourne, Massachusetts / Floral Design: The Bourne Florist / Catering: Blue Ribbon BBQ / Cupcakes: A Family Member / Wedding Programs, Menus + Favor Design: LuckyK Design / All Wedding Attire: J.Crew

I’m seriously speechless over this wedding. It’s perfection. From the old stone walls to the fresh picked berry favors, this wedding is the epitome of Cape Cod casual and Ruth Eileen Photography captured the cozy, intimate and handmade day insanely well. The wedding was kept super small so the bride and groom could really spend quality time with each and every guest and I must admit, that’s totally the way to do it. If you’re into all things mismatched, vintage, and laid back, you better get your booty to the full gallery because it’s chock full of pretty, pretty inspiration!

From the Bride… Jacob and I met on the west coast and eventually moved up to the east coast when I got into graduate school. My family has had a house on the cape since the turn of the century, and it is full of history. We would go don to the cape on weekends and whenever I had breaks in school, and he fell in love with the place that I had always loved growing up. When we got engaged, we knew the cape would be the location of the wedding. After looking at many of the resorts, we realized they all felt a bit too stuffy for us. We didn’t want to be out by a certain time or have certain restrictions, and we didn’t want it to feel too formal. Actually, what we wanted was our guests to feel the same way we felt on a summer day at the beach on the cape, going blackberry picking or kayaking. When we found Bourne Farm, we knew it was perfect. Over the year, we had rescued many birds on the cape (in winter many of them get blown off course and dehydrated), and the antique farm was a bird sanctuary. We included some bird details (the cake, table numbers) to honor this — and during the ceremony our minister pointed out to birds flying above us!

Much of the antique furniture either came from my family’s cape house or from yard sales or antique shops we visited the year before the wedding. We still have the impulse to stop and look for antique plates — it’s been so ingrained in us! We knew from the start we wanted everything to be authentic. My parents spent months working on some of the furniture, my mom made little burlap bags of stones to throw in the water and make wishes (a Celtic tradition). My aunt set up a candy bar with Jordan almonds (Italians eat 5 of them and celebrate the bittersweet nature of life at weddings). My grandmother had passed away before the wedding — and her wish was that I have a gift from her present on that day. The candy bar was my aunt’s idea.

Life is perfect, relationships aren’t perfect — the beauty is just being alive. We didn’t want matching plates or crystals everywhere  — we wanted people to feel relaxed and surrounded by meaning. There were times when people would look at me in disbelief at something I was doing that seemed unconventional (seven bridesmaids and only 30 guests!) or embroidered handkerchiefs instead of flower boutonnieres and corsages for family. We did what felt right to us — and that made it just right on the day. Walking down the aisle, my father stopped me and asked me to look over by the water. Underneath the chandelier we had hung from a tree was this gorgeous Victorian couch I had seen at an estate sale a year earlier. Jacob had seen my eyes light up and had bought it, keeping it from storage until the wedding day surprise. It became a focal point in pictures, and friends laughed that they were “on the couch” — a nod to my being a psychologist and entering into psychoanalytic training.

Both of us felt so happy, excited and not nervous — I think for us it was because we planned a wedding that felt so authentic. Because we only had around 30 guests, we were able to dance with our friends, eat dinner together and enjoy a boat ride with them. The intimacy on the day was incredible, and since so many of our family and friends live far away, it was important that we got to spend the day really celebrating with everyone. One of my favorite moments was during our sparkler send-off where Jacob and I were supposed to get in our row boat and paddle away into a star-filled night. Except that as the sparklers lit up the night-the boat was already way out in the water — a bridesmaid and groomsmen had taken it out for a romantic row together and lost track of time. We are still hoping that our day of celebrating our love may have kindled a new romance!

Wedding Photography: Ruth Eileen Photography / Wedding Venue: Bourne Farm in Falmouth, Massachusetts / Wedding Planning: Jill Korchin of Plan On Forever Events / Floral Design: White Flowers / Catering: Chef Roland Catering / Wedding Cake: Cape Cod Cakes / Pies: Fiore’s Bakery / Band: The Three Tops Jazz Band / DJ: John Laviolette (jlaviolette@charter.net) / Wedding Dress: Anjolique via Sposabella Bridal / Hair: Pam Goodale + Erin Cress of Station 8 Salon / Makeup: Geah Johnson of Station 8 Salon / Suit Rentals: Puritan Cape Cod

We simply can’t stop raving about the perfect peony gorgeousness of this New England wedding. And let’s face it – A girl can never have too many peonies! These amazing blossoms paired with a subtle nautical influence created this effortless beachfront affair at Popponesset Inn, sprinkled with personal touches. It doesn’t hurt that the love these two share is literally radiating from each and every photo, thanks to the unbelievable talent of Kelly Dillon Photography. The full gallery of images is simply a must.

From the Bride… Although Matt and I went to high school together, we didn’t officially meet until bumping into each other one day at a coffee shop in the North End of Boston. I had just moved in across the street from where Matt was working, and the next morning I decided to go to the local coffee shop to take in the scenes and grab a cup of coffee. To my surprise, in walked Matt McCarthy, fully dressed in his construction boots, helmet and safety glasses. He ordered himself a coffee and bagel in the thickest Boston accent I had heard. We caught each others eyes, made small talk, and off he went. All summer long we would bump into each other, or as Matt puts it, he would “position himself to bump into me.” In the fall, he asked me to a Celtics game and from that point on, we were inseparable.

I travel for work Monday through Friday, and at the time, I was actually traveling across the country to California weekly. It was Friday the 13th and I had just taken a red eye home from the west coast. There was something different about Matt all day — I couldn’t put my finger on it, but I just thought, “Wow, he really must have missed me this week.” Everything he tried to do — take me out to dinner, take the dog for a walk, walk along the Charles River in the city, I shot down or told him we could later. I was just so busy on my phone and computer catching up with work. He just smiled, said, “okay” and patiently sat on the couch waiting for me to finish up. Finally I felt so bad, I got up from my desk and walked over to the couch to snuggle with him. I told him how much I loved him, and he did the same and told me he wanted to spend the rest of his life with me. As I was saying, “I know, I want to spend the rest of my life with you too,” he pulled out the ring from his pocket and said, “Okay, so will you marry me?!” He was so cute — he just couldn’t wait any longer! Needless to say, we took the dog for a walk along the Charles River in the city and went out to dinner that night. My lucky day — Friday the 13th. :)

Matt and I always knew we wanted a beach wedding down the cape. The very first (and only) venue we looked at was the Popponesset Inn in Mashpee, Massachusetts, and right then, we knew it was the place. We knew we definitely didn’t feel the need to do a nautical-themed wedding because we were already at the beach. We just wanted to complement the natural beauty by adding an organic, simple and chic feel to the venue. Because I had 8 bridesmaids, I decided that I would just have them wear any black cocktail dress they wanted to. This way they could spend as little or as much as they wanted and wear whatever they felt most comfortable in. I have always loved peonies and how they are so feminine and delicate.  I decided on blush pink, white and black as our colors. I bought about 21 yards of burlap and made my own table runners and ring bearer pillows to help accentuate the organic feel I was going for. I also fell in love with the blue top mason jars I found for the centerpieces. Our two dogs are the other loves of our lives, and we knew we wanted to incorporate them in the wedding somehow. What better way than to have two signature drinks named after them? Guests were enjoying “Louie’s Lemonade” and “Champagne Charlie” all night long! I picked up organic nautical pieces along the way, such as driftwood garland and signs, and I found a really cool box we used as a cake stand. It was actually Matt’s idea to have the table numbers as Cape Cod towns! We printed out pictures online of the “Welcome to” signs and framed them in $1 white frames from IKEA. When we met with Boston Uplights, Paul really helped pull everything together for us. We had spotlights on the centerpieces at each table, enormous paper lanterns hanging from the tented ceiling and separate lighting on the dance floor. The whole ambiance was romantic and chic. Everything had come together so beautifully, and the night far exceeded our expectations.

Wedding Photography: Kelly Dillon Photography / Wedding Venue: Popponesset Inn in Mashpee, Massachusetts / Floral Design: Regan Ballantyne of Inspired Designs / Lighting: Boston Uplights / Wedding Dress: Aire Barcelona via Helene’s Bridal Shop / Rings + Earrings: Barmakian Jewelers Bracelet: Swarovski / Hair: Salon Monroe / Makeup: Girly Junk

Chatham Bars Inn plays host to some of the most impeccable New England style weddings, and this Alden Blair Events affair is another one for the books. Patrice R. Milley Floral Designers provided pretty pink and cream florals complete with blush colored sea urchin shells: the perfect nautical bouquet touch. The bride and groom created preppy ribbon wands, and the personal touches didn’t stop there, or at the custom broach and pearl bracelets gifted to the bridesmaids. During the ceremony, the couple put cards to each other along with bottles of wine in a box to open on their five-year or to help smooth a rough patch if it should happen before then. If their marriage is anywhere near as lovely as it looked through Emily Sterne Photography‘s lens, we don’t think they’ll being drinking up before the next half decade. See all the breathtaking Cape shots and personal props here in the full gallery!

From the Bride… Seth and I are from New Rochelle, New York, but my family and I have vacationed on Cape Cod for the past 25 years, and it has become a second home to us. So when Seth and I got engaged, I could not envision having the wedding anywhere else. Deciding where and when to have it was also easy. We could not think of a more perfect place than the Chatham Bars Inn. Opened in 1914, it exudes old-world class and elegance while offering breathtaking views of the water. We thought Memorial Day weekend would be the perfect time to have our destination wedding so our guests could enjoy the different aspects of Cape Cod without feeling rushed. Over the two days leading up to the wedding, we organized a beach day, a mini golf competition (guys vs. girls) and a clambake rehearsal dinner overlooking Cape Cod Bay. However, my favorite pre-wedding festivity was the karaoke and s’mores party my parents hosted in their backyard the night before the wedding. Guests had a chance to get to know each other while toasting a marshmallow, and it was hilarious to watch my mother and father sing “I Got You Babe.” The party would have gone all night if the police hadn’t kindly shut us down.

Our beautiful venue inspired our vintage seaside theme, and we conveyed it through touches of pink, navy, silver and gold. The hotel, with its gorgeous ocean views, offered such a beautiful backdrop that we did not need much in the way of decorations, but I made sure to include a lot of personal touches. I am lucky enough to have many wonderful people in my life who helped bring all the details together. My mother and I scoured wedding blogs for inspiration (Style Me Pretty being my number one source) and visited many craft stores around New York. My sister, who is studying graphic design in college, made our gorgeous wedding poster, as well as all the table names, which were each assigned a different type of whale — a nod to all the whale watches we have taken in Cape Cod. She and my husband also helped put together the menus, programs, and escort cards, while my friends assembled ribbon wands that all the guests waved as we went down the aisle as Mr. and Mrs. All the groomsmen had on lobster socks and cufflinks made out of used New York Yankee baseballs (even though we were in New England, we still had to represent New York). I gave my bridesmaids and my mother bracelets that my brother designed and constructed from my great-grandmother’s brooches. Our ceremony took place on the front lawn of the Chatham Bars Inn, and as guests arrived, they were greeted with water with lemon, oranges or cucumber, a program and a ribbon wand. During the ceremony, Seth and I had placed a bottle of wine in a box along with cards we had written to each other. On our five year anniversary, or if we hit a rough patch before then, we will open the box, drink the wine, read the cards and remember how in love we were on the day we got married. As for favors, we offered a candy bar that was inspired by our favorite candy shop in Chatham.  

Overall, the day was magical. Everything seemed to come together effortlessly and even the weather, which originally had been forecast as rain, was perfect. The day went above and beyond anything we could have ever hoped for. We were so fortunate to have so many of the people we love come together in one of our favorite places. Everyone had a great time, and they are already asking when we can do it all again. Looking back, my happiness for that day is only succeeded by the love I have for Seth.

Wedding Photography: Emily Sterne Photography / Wedding Venue: Chatham Bars Inn in Chatham, Cape Cod, Massachusetts / Event Planning: Jessica Harris of Alden Blair Events / Floral Design: Patrice R. Milley Floral Designers / Officiant: The Bride’s Uncle / Catering + Wedding Cake: Chatham Bars Inn / Ceremony Music: Driftwood / Reception Music: Cape Tunes / Wedding Dress: Sophia Moncelli via Kleinfeld / Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo / Hair + Makeup: Lisa George

Sometimes young love realized at boarding school turns into full blown “we want to spend the rest of our lives together” love and this couple knows full well how that goes. Their rekindled romance was celebrated at Wequassett Resort and Golf Club (try saying that five times fast) in Cape Cod with nods to Philips Exeter Academy, the boarding school where they first met, woven throughout. From Exeter key chains gifted as favors to tables named after the buildings and spots where they grew up, this is one celebration with a whole lot of history. Kelly Dillon Photography snapped this affair that was years in the making and you can see it all unfold right here.

From Kelly Dillon Photography… Carly and Greg dated for four years while they attended boarding school at Philips Exeter Academy. After high school, they went their separate ways: Carly to Georgetown University in Washington DC and Greg to Amherst College. For nine years, they barely kept in touch — until they rekindled their romance at their 10-year high school reunion. They found out in January that they were having a baby, and Greg proposed in February on the beach on Cape Cod. It was snowing, and their bulldog was running around chasing sticks. Wanting to get married before the baby was due in September, they chose Wequassett Beach Resort as most Cape venues were already booked for the summer, and they were available on the date they wanted. Keeping with the theme of high school sweethearts, you’ll see their table cards for centerpieces are various buildings and memories from the Philips Exeter Academy campus. They also used Philips Exeter key chains as the take-home gift. The florals matched the bridesmaids dresses perfectly!

Wedding Photography: Kelly Dillon Photography / Wedding Venue: Wequassett Resort and Golf Club in Harwich, Massachusetts / Floral Design: Saint Aubin Nurseries / Wedding Dress: Nicole Miller / Bride’s Earrings: James Murray Jewelry / Hair: Jennifer Fusco / Makeup: Blush / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Jessica Simpson