Living in New England, I’m well aware of how ridiculously beautiful the Cape can be. That doesn’t mean that a gorgeous wedding there goes by my desk unnoticed though. I spent some quality time with this gem from Kelly Dillon right here and I can guarantee you’ll be dreaming of beachside blooms and salt water kisses by the time you get through this gorgeous gallery.
From the Bride… AJ and I met originally in our late teens through a mutual friend that had gone to elementary school with AJ and worked with me in high school. About 10 years later, our same mutual friend threw a Halloween party where we reunited and the rest, as they say, is history. AJ and I spent the next seven years traveling and building a life together and then in late April of 2014, in our home surrounded by flowers, candles and photos of the two of us, AJ got down on one knee and asked me to marry him! As we began planning our wedding, we knew we wanted it to be a bit more than a day, we wanted a weekend away where our family and friends could get to know one another and escape their fast paced lives. Enter Cape Cod. My family has been spending our summer vacations there for the past 50 or so years. It’s a very special spot in the world as it is a place that everyone comes together, no matter how far away someone lives or where they are, everyone comes back to Cape Cod to reunite in the summer.
We wanted the wedding to feel like a fancy party we were throwing in our back yard and for the location to be a spot where many of our friends and family could stay for the weekend. Happening upon the Winslow Estate was a dream come true. The estate is not only beautiful and well loved, but the view from the backyard is unbelievable. When I brought AJ there for the first time, he said, “Well, this is the best view I’ve ever seen on Cape Cod!” We were sold!
The Winslow’s were wonderful to work with and recommended great vendors. AJ and I arranged for a few special activities over the weekend like a whale watching trip for those in town early and instead of a rehearsal dinner, we held a welcome dinner for everyone at a favorite family restaurant. For the actual wedding, I imagined a beautiful tent with soft romantic colors that was pretty but not over the top. A showcase of New England’s seafood was high on the priority list and a raw bar was a must have. Being on the ocean, we included some nautical items throughout the wedding like lanterns, and the navigational coordinates of the location on our cocktail napkins. We also incorporated birch tree items and other wooden elements for balance throughout the wedding. AJ’s last name is Birchler and he’s an arborist so including birch trees into each part of the day was a must! In the months leading up to the wedding, AJ and I worked on DIY projects like the birch arbor and home-brewed beer we made for the occasion. So many family and friends also pitched in, and we couldn’t have pulled this off without them!
Our wedding was filled with wonderful friends and family, amazing food, so much dancing, and laughter and love. We couldn’t have imagined a more perfect day, and still can’t believe that this is our real life!
Photography: Kelly Dillon Photography | Floral Design: Fancy Flowers | Wedding Dress: Maggie Sottero | Invitations: Daughter Earth | Wedding Shoes: LK Bennett | Bridesmaids' Dresses: J.Crew | Catering: The Casual Gourmet | Hair & Makeup: Blusing Brides | Ties: The Tie Bar | Groom's Attire: Nordstrom | Groomsmen Attire: Men's Wearhouse | Wedding Venue: Winslow Estate | Tent: Undercover Tent | Rentals: New England Country Rentals