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 have known the groom, Mark, for so many years. He owns property in my neighborhood and manages the best Portuguese restaurant, Antonio's. I have always liked his gentle nature and charming smile. I was honored when he and his bride to be, Julie, came to me and asked me to help plan and decorate their beautiful fall wedding.
They chose to be married and celebrate at two of my favorite locations here on the South Coast. They married in the quaint St. Philip's chapel on Mattapoisett beach. They went on to celebrate and dine with their guests at the Historic Unitarian Church in Fairhaven, Massachusetts. Both the chapel and the great hall of the Unitarian Church present the best of local architecture. The chapel sits on the beach and is simple in details. I absolutely adore the beach grass runner that marks the aisle of the chapel. The Unitarian church is one of the many grand architectural gestures that our town's greatest benefactor, Henry Huttleston Rogers, has bestowed upon us.
There was an air of stormy excitement that pierced the day. A nor' easter blew up the coast and my "A-team" and I braced for what I knew would be an interesting and fast pace set up. All went as smooth as could be, a blessing to a perfectionist wedding planner like myself.
The bride arrived in 60 mile an hour winds and blowing rain. With many gentleman holding umbrellas, she made her way into the tiny chapel and made the walk down the aisle to meet her groom at the beautifully candle lit altar.
She carried a lush bouquet of English Garden Roses and Dutch Hydrangea. The bouquet was finished with a pearl studded Maccara orchids. She looked amazing, simply beaming.
As they were getting married my "A-team" of fabulous staff and vendors were on double duty at the hall of the Unitarian Church.
At the reception, I really wanted to play off the rich architecture that is prevalent throughout the Church and it's great hall. No expense was spared on it's construction or decoration and it shows in an elegant understated way.
I chose to hang the seating cards on a tree-like, lush floral arrangement. Filled with dozens of dripping blossoms, placed against the hand painted, leaded windows, it was nothing short of stunning.
For flowers, I chose English Garden Roses in seasonal, pale colors. To that, I added soft, variegated greenery and more hydrangea. My favorite part of the flower arrangements were the rose hips, which you can see popping out of the wreaths and arrangements on the tables.
In the end, I am so glad that we chose to light the architectural details of the room. With a stormy day outside, the soft and elegant feeling of this majestic Hall was amazing.
A very special thanks to Carinna Raznikov of Raznikov Photography for her world class photojournalism.
The Rotch Jones Duff house in New Bedford, Massachusetts is one of the country's finest examples of Greek Revival Architecture. Built in the 1800's, The Rotch Jones Duff house stands today as a true illustration of the area's rich history.
