A Chic, Beach-Themed Wedding at Chatham Bars Inn in Chatham, Massachusetts
Katie Fuller, (35 and attach?e and assistant to the Permanent Mission and Embassy of France) and Louise Wilson (45 and a chief financial officer) planned a chic, beach-themed wedding with a cheerful, romantic color palette of white, pink, green and blue and plenty of fun-filled details that spoke to their unique personalities. With Louise hailing from Perth, Australia and Katie having spent her childhood summers in Cape Cod, a seaside wedding was a must for the couple’s mid-summer affair. The Chatham Bar Inn in Chatham, Mass. offered the couple the ultimate backdrop for the day, with its waterfront location and undeniable old-world charm. The day started with a ceremony on the beach, in which Katie and Louise performed a sand ceremony with sand from their hometowns and surprised guests with a lively, marching-band style recessional. Lilac Florals transformed the sandy spot into an elegant, romantic scene with bunches of fresh white blooms and a custom-designed wedding arbor made with driftwood and eucalyptus. The Chatham Bar Inn’s Boat House and Beach House Grill played host to cocktail hour and the reception, where guests sipped on champagne and enjoyed an array of inspired eats ranging from mini lobster rolls to make-your-own ice cream sandwiches. The wedding’s decor had an undeniable sophisticated, seaside vibe, with rustic farm tables, lush white centerpieces, silvery accents and warm candlelight, plus playful, custom stationery by Concertina Press with a Cape Cod theme. “One of our favorite and most creative printed pieces was our clambake rehearsal dinner invitation,” says the couple. “We printed lobster bibs at Staples with Ruth’s design, folded them around the invitation cards, and tied them together with navy baker’s twine and round tags.” Even the couple’s cake played up the locale, with layers of ivory buttercream frosting decked out in white chocolate seashells and crumbled biscuit sand. After dinner and Katie and Louise’s mash-up first dance, eight-piece band Boss brought down the house with an upbeat mix of contemporary pop, Motown and oldies. “I’m a drummer, but wasn’t planning on playing,” says Katie, “but my friends convinced me to get on the drum set! The band invited me up and I played ‘Brick House’ with them — wedding dress and all! It was an unforgettable moment.” A tip for the taking from Katie and Louise: “When planning a wedding, don’t sweat the small stuff! People say that friction can arise between couples in the process and it’s true, but the decisions to be made are not life changing, and you should take them in stride. Know that your love — and not ice cream flavors —come first.