A Modern Nautical Wedding at Newport Beach House in Middletown, Rhode Island
With a dog named Buoy, it was a given that college sweethearts Caroline Murphy and Tim Vialla plan a waterfront wedding filled with nautical details. "We met at Endicott College [in Massachusetts] and got engaged seven years later in our apartment alongside our golden retriever," Caroline says. "Tim knew I wanted a private proposal for Buoy to be there—it was perfect." A subtle anchor motif was woven throughout the decor at Newport Beach House in Newport, Rhode Island, where partygoers sipped signature cocktails out of custom koozies bearing a nautical rope-knot illustration. Chic accents included towering hydrangea centerpieces and a modest buttercream cake topped with fresh blooms, but perhaps our favorite detail was Caroline's off-the-shoulder lace sheath. As for the groomsmen: Tim's close friends donned navy slim-fit suits, champagne-colored ties and socks with anchor motifs. "Enjoy the whole process," Caroline says of planning for your big day. "Everything goes by way too quickly." —Rachel Sylvester