Photography: Chad Michael Peters
Venue: Private Beach Association, Marion, MA
Planning and Coordination : Bride and Groom along with consultations from CMP
Flowers and Decor : Chad Michael Peters
Tenting: Sperry Tents
Rentals: Chase Canopy
Linens: Chad Michael Peters
Food: Matt's Blackboard
Wedding Stationery: Bride and Groom DIY Project
Wooden Cupcake Stand: Custom Made by the Groom
Entertainment by: Rebecca Correira
Elizabeth is a rare beauty, with long blond hair and a smile that radiates. I can see why Paul, her handsome groom did not waste any time in getting down on one knee to propose. She said yes to a stunner of a ring and the wedding was in the works.
Her parents have an historic house on the water with a yard that slopes elegantly away from the house, just the perfect setting for a wedding. We worked for months to figure out just the perfect shade of flowers, the perfect morsels of food, tiny little amazing details, like fresh flowers on letterpress programs at the chapel. We were set to go for their dream come true wedding.
It had rained so much the day before, I was worried that it would be wet for the guests.....little did I know. All seemed to be good and the day of the wedding came, grey skies, but no rain. We all were scurrying and in a flurry to pull off the final details, the bride stepped into a gorgeous antique white Rolls Royce and off to the chapel we went.
The bride was just stunning as she walked down the aisle on the arm of her beaming father. That was my queue to leave the chapel and head on back to the reception site to do my final walk through. On the way the sky opened up in a way that I never seen, setting the stage for the Perfect Wedding in a Perfect Storm.
All of the details were in place, every last one of them down to the crystal chandelier in the center of the tent. Candles were lit and just waited for the guests from church and of course the newly married bride and groom. I had worked with my awesome guys at Chase Canopy, to channel the rain away from the tent, nothing could be done with the six inches of rain that continued to fall through out the evening. Finally, right before the bride and groom came in, the water could not be held back, it continued to seep and seep it's way into the perfect wedding tent.
What to do? What to do? Even I was nervous, but finally a plan was in place and the staff performed at a level that purple hearts are awarded for in the wedding world and the wedding tent was ready for our bride and groom. I met them in the foyer of the house and got to work on restyling the brides dress so it would not touch the ground. It was so the scene in titanic when Rose is being pulled into her dress by her mother. This was her moment, looking her in the eye I said my famous words" You and only you will define this evening, every thing that can be done has been done and now it is up to you to make this the wedding night of your dreams".......and that they did
I got lucky as a wedding designer and planner, regardless of the weather, I could see that this was a crowd that could handle a party of epic proportion. Of course it is my job to prime the pump and with a wink to the bartender to pour the strongest drinks of his career, we did just that. I knew that the party would be defined by the first notes of the band. When they hit the stage, there was not one guest that was not out on the dance floor. Shoes off, they were shakin booty like I have never seen. We had not even served the first bite of dinner yet but I knew that this could very well be the party of my career. These guest could care less that a near hurricane was blowing on the bay.
In the end it was so perfect a wedding. The love in the air, the party, the details that went on and on. For a night we all escaped the storm into a perfect world that centered around a newly married couple. And for a morning we escaped it too, for the party went well into the wee hours of the morning....that is until the police came, with smiles letting us know that three in the morning was a party enough and we agreed to all meet again at the brunch the next morning....to tell our stories of the wedding and to celebrate for the guests are still raving that this was bar none, the time of their lives.
So many thanks to the talented duo of Person and Killian Photography for their die hard, off the charts photography of this world class event. Your work is amazing and I am teary at the fabulous memories time after time. Thank you both Lauren and Jill.
I am really lucky to have a select group of vendors, my "A-team," to work with on my weddings and events. Over the years our relationships have grown along side the growth of my business. I am proud to work on world class events with such talented people; they never fail to make me look good and it is so very much appreciated.
I have gone at this creative endeavor of mine with great passion. There have been moments of struggle, pride and pure joy as my visions have come to life more beautifully than I could ever have imagined. I have had shivers up my spine and tears welling in my eyes at the completion of the beautiful environments that we have created together. It is an amazing creative collaboration of vendors that makes it all possible and I am thankful not only to the vendors mentioned here, but to each and every one of you who have helped make my dream possible.
Carinna Raznikov of Raznikov Photography is one of those amazing vendors. She is of a rare breed of photographers who bring a pure eye and 15 years of photo journalist experience to the wedding arena. She was doing it before it was chic and has been published countless times in all the major wedding magazines. Her great success has limited her schedule, and I am so thankful that she still makes time to cover my events. I count her as not only one of my favorite photographers, but also as a true friend. She and I spoke recently and she was kind enough to send along the detailed photos that you see here of an uber exclusive wedding that my company, chad michael peters, produced last season.
For this event I called in one of my best friends, Mark Abdelnour of Chase Canopy in Mattapoisett. He and I have been friends since the seventh grade and he has always outperformed himself on the many weddings that we have worked on together. He drives me crazy, but I love him and I know that he too is passionate about his work. For this event, I wanted to use new products, as an ordinary tent just would not do. Mark worked tirelessly to source all of my requests. We had a collection of modern, clear frame tents for the ceremony. For the reception we kept the clear theme, but decided on a more decorative rope and pole tent. With many changes, including the ever unpredictable New England weather, right up to the last minute, Chase Canopy exceeded my expectations. They are always my first choice for tenting.
The table tops were a masterpiece in subtle color and style. My friends Larry Soloman and Stephanie Penn of Rentals Unlimited are always on my speed dial to provide best of class rentals for my weddings and events. Through thick and thin, their unsurpassed attention to detail and their dedication to getting things done has always impressed me. I look forward to partying with them for many years to come.
Many thanks to my wedding planning and floral team for pulling off this amazing event. We logged close to a thousand hours in the grand production. When I think of the guests and their effusive commentary over the decor I still get goose bumps. Thank you, thank you; you all make me so proud.