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