There’s no question about it…Nantucket is the most picture perfect place to hold your destination wedding. Our first case in point is this super pretty, casually chic with a touch of rustic flair wedding from Austin Gros Wedding Photography. I dare you not to want to print these gorgeous images out and hang them on your wall. Yes, they’re that good. And if you’re into handmade lovelies, you’ll find so much more to love in the form of pretty, little details. Click here for the full story!
Click here for the FULL wedding!
From the Bride… Blake and I met when we were 15 years old, and after 12 years together, we got engaged on Surfside Beach in Nantucket. I am from Massachusetts and Blake was born and raised in Atlanta, so we knew we wanted to incorporate both our New England and Southern styles. We also knew that we wanted a small, intimate wedding with only our family and close friends. My best friend and her husband live on Nantucket, and they introduced us to this amazing place a few years ago. After getting engaged there, we knew that it was the perfect location for our destination celebration. I am the youngest of five children and Blake is the older of four, so there was no question that we wanted to spend our wedding week on Nantucket with our families. We rented houses in Surfside and were able to make it a true vacation for everyone! Blake’s father was our officiant, which was incredibly special for both of us. Our wedding party was only our family, so we held an intimate rehearsal dinner a few nights before the big day to celebrate. The night before our wedding, Blake’s parents hosted a wonderful cocktail party for all of our guests who were on the island.
Throughout the planning we decided it was really important to incorporate our own personal touch on the day. We love the beach but also love the country and being in the mountains. Our colors were very neutral — white, black and khaki — and we tried to use natural elements such as twine and burlap. The flowers were organic arrangements of white peonies and hydrangeas. My sister (matron of honor) was nine months pregnant for our wedding, and luckily the baby was born the week after! Blake’s two sisters were my maids of honor and with my sisters pregnancy, they were all able to find the “perfect black dress.” I handmade the invitations and thanks to my mom, my sister Kelly, and a few close friends, we tied several pieces of twine and stuffed envelopes together. I also created our ceremony programs and stamped monogrammed welcome bags filled with wine and snacks for all of our guests. Our centerpiece table names were simple fun. I used wooden frames with photographs of all the places Blake and I have visited together. I was able to put together simple table name holders with wine corks that we collected. Blake loves cupcakes, so it was obvious that a dessert table was perfect for us. We used rustic wine crates to hold cookies and cupcakes, which Blake’s aunt assembled for us. And The White Elephant was a perfect venue with its simple elegance and traditional setting on the water. The chef was able to incorporate both Southern and New England tastes in our menu with items such as pulled pork sliders on corn cakes and an arugula salad with goat cheese, bacon and potatoes. Our photographer Austin Gros flew to Nantucket from Nashville, and he was able to spend a few days with us to capture photos of us and our families from the week (including casual pictures in town and our dog Oskar).
Blake and I are both laid-back and there are a few other small “touches” that I personally loved. These included my sandals, the pockets on my wedding dress, the rustic lantern that our moms lit for our unity candle, a vintage handkerchief passed down from Blake’s grandmother, and my sister’s veil that was my something borrowed. The day was perfect for everyone.
Wedding Photography: Austin Gros Wedding Photography / Wedding Venue: White Elephant in Nantucket, Massachusetts / Floral Design: Jacqi of Marine Home Center / Ceremony Music: Mollie Glazer + Andy Bullington / Reception Music: Brian Delac of Murray Hill Talent / Wedding Dress: Liv Harris / Bride’s Shoes: Ralph Lauren / Bride’s Veil: Borrowed from the Bride’s Sister, Handmade by Anahit of Bridal Alterations by Anahit (617-795-1940) / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Juicy Couture + White House Black Market / Rehearsal Dinner + Cupcakes: American Seasons