photography by Michael Robinson Photography and Violet Marsh Photography

From John and his ridiculously gorgeous bride, Nikki…

Our wedding was a second for both of us, so we wanted it to reflect our personalities and the personality of the location where we were having it – not so much about all the traditional bells and whistles of a first marriage.

I took Nikki to Nantucket for the first time one month after we met for a weekend away at my aunt’s island home. It was the place where we first professed our love for one another. She in fact, told me that very weekend that she would marry me if I were to ask her right there while we were having our morning coffee (I waited 2 more months). That turned out to be the very spot, on the back yard patio, where we exchanged our vows.

Nantucket became a magical and special place for both of us, as a result.

When I proposed, it seemed only right that we would get married at the spot where we first told each other we loved one another. My aunt’s home was the perfect spot for a wedding – traditional Cape Cod colonial surrounded by lush blue hydrangeas. A long, winding driveway, lined with olive trees and covered with crushed white oyster shells.

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Post tags: Backyard Chic, Blue Hydrangeas, Cape Cod, Hydrangeas, Michael Robinson Photography, Nantucket, Spruce Floral, Violet Marsh Photography
Post categories: Casual Elegance, Wedding Decor, Wedding Flowers

A few last words from Sarah…

Off to the reception! What would a Cape Cod wedding be without East Dennis Oysters?? We served tapas, family style on the tables in multiple courses. Chef Paul Lively of Brewster did a fantastic job with the food. For dessert, again, we went against tradition and did without a cake. Instead, my Mom made cookies, Reid’s uncles made their famous family Ice Cream, and we had cupcakes. We had a self-serve dessert bar. Reid is a musician and we both love Latin jazz, so we hired the fantastic Carlos deLeon Band from Providence, RI, to provide the salsa music. Everyone had a blast. It was such a relaxed, enjoyable, intimate party!

Thank you so much to Amanda of Orchard Cove and to Sarah and Reid for sharing their day with us!

Oh and by the way, if you haven’t already checked out Sarah’s absolutely beautiful line of children’s clothing, Sarah Waldo, it’s so worth the trip. You’ll see that her laid back chic style really touches every part of her life!

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Post tags: Cape Cod, Orchard Cove, Sarah Waldo
Post categories: Casual Elegance

all of the absolutely perfect photographs were shot by Orchard Cove Photography

From Sarah…

We thought that a ceremony on the beach, in front of Reid’s family’s cottages, followed by the reception under a tent in my parent’s front yard would be just ideal. And, it was, until Hurricane Hannah showed up!

Despite on-and-off rain showers throughout the day of our wedding, neither of us wanted to make the call to Plan B, which was the local town church for our ceremony… after all, we were all SO excited to be having a barefoot wedding! Literally, the decision was not made to head to the church until we pulled into the beach parking lot 15 minutes before the ceremony and it started to downpour! Off to the church it was, followed by the wedding guest caravan.

Once inside the church, the children in the ceremony and I decided that we would stick with the original plan and have the ceremony barefoot.  My dad may be the only father to ever walk his daughter down the aisle of a church barefoot, but it made everything so much more special.

I had decided early on in the planning process that I did not want to have bridesmaids in the traditional sense. Most of my friends were either pregnant, photographing (!) or had many other bridesmaids duties this summer and I just didn’t want to ask these great ladies to all buy matching, expensive dresses.  I wanted their individuality to shine and to let them sit and enjoy the ceremony with their significant others.  So, instead, I asked my nearest and dearest to be my “bouquet girls;” I came down the aisle with my dad without a bouquet. Our minister offered a lovely welcome and expressed that everyone was here with us because they had been such an important part of our lives- both individually and together. To signify this, a few of my closest friends, came from their seats, one by one, with a single flower to give me with a hug, kiss, whisper for both Reid and I. These flowers formed by bouquet! My 94-year-old Grama tied them together with a ribbon.

My heart literally just skipped a beat! I really can’t say how much I love the way that this bride approached every element of her wedding…with a relaxed, totally involved, completely loving personality. It seems that her heart and soul were in every detail, every flourish. Love.

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Post tags: Cape Cod, Orchard Cove P
Post categories: Casual Elegance

From Sarah, the bride…

We wanted the wedding to have a SUBTLE beach-theme. I have always loved turquoise and blue, so we went with those colors. Reid and I designed our invitations, maps, etc. and worked with the FANTASTIC Providence-based letterpress master, Dan Wood.

After meeting with our tent company, I decided, insanely, to make the napkins for the event, as I wanted just a little color. I was literally seaming these 250 linen napkins into the wee hours of the night just 2 days before the big day. Thank goodness for all my friends who pitched in tying the nautical knots.

My mom and I are real do-it-yourselfers, so all of the centerpieces, decorations, etc. we put together. My mom also makes Nantucket Lightship Baskets, so she made small ones for the flower girls and a dish-shaped basket for our rings. Traditional scrimshaw adorned the baskets with the child’s name personalizing them. My sister knitted the pillow for the ring basket. I did not hire a florist, as I knew pretty much what I wanted in terms of flowers.  A friend helped put together the adorable flower girls baskets. It was certainly a family affair!

So much more to come!

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Post tags: Cape Cod, Dan Wood, Do-It-Yourself Inspired, Orchard Cove
Post categories: Casual Elegance

From the lovely bride, Sarah…

Before Reid and I were even engaged we talked about getting married on Cape Cod. I grew up on the Cape and Reid had spent summers less than a mile from my home in a string of cottages on the beach that his great grandfather had built in the 1940s. Dennis (small town on the Cape) was also the perfect place to celebrate our union, as we met there when Reid was giving tennis lessons to the children I nannied for (they were our flower girl + ring bearer).

More to come from this lovely affair!

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Post tags: Beach Wedding, Cape Cod, Orchard Cove Photography
Post categories: Casual Elegance

You’ve gotta love fall in New England!  Be sure and visit Karen’s website and blog for tons of wedding inspiration.

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2008. | Permalink | 6 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Cape Cod, Chatham, Karen Wise Photography, Massachusetts, The Yard
Post categories: Little Black Book Blog, Wedding Photography, Wedding Style

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A Modern, Fresh Wedding Theme from Blue Plate

Creatively weave your theme into every aspect of your wedding–from décor and atmosphere to your choice of menu. A dedicated wedding consultant can help you make your vision and theme a reality. You don’t have to jet to the east coast to experience a Cape Cod wedding. This eastern, sea shore wedding took place in Chicago and was created by Weddings by Blue Plate.

An underwater experience was created with Lucite tables at the head table and food stations, courtesy of our friends at Kehoe Designs.

The modern Cape Cod affair inspired the menu–small plate samplers and stations. In a tribute to the New England style, guests tasted Cumin Crusted Diver Scallops, Seared Halibut and Red and Yellow Beets.

YUM!! More from Blue Plate throughout the day!

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2008. | Permalink | 5 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Blue Plate Catering, Cape Cod, Chicago, Kehoe Designs
Post categories: Wedding Style