Colorful Summer Wedding at Great Marsh Estate

Alison Bunnen (30 and a math teacher) and Cem Pence (29 and a data scientist) find inspiration in nature. Once the pair saw the tree-lined driveway and gardens of the Great Marsh Estate, they knew it’d be the ideal setting for their wedding. From there, the couple let nature lead the way when decorating, from the earth-tone color palette to the local wildflowers covering the ceremony arch. Alison and Cem took part in a tree- planting service, combining the soil from their home and their parents’ homes to grow a hawthorn tree. “It represented our families joining together as one,” Cem says.
One of Alison’s favorite parts of wedding planning was choosing the stationery. “I was very picky and I had so many ideas,” she says. In the end, an illustration of the Great Marsh Estate’s facade coordinated well with the couple’s classic invitation suite. Because Alison has a food allergy, she baked their personal cake herself. “I made Cem and I our very own lemon cake with honey frosting,” she says. “Honey is our favorite flavor, so we loved it.”
Instead of offering guests slices of their cake, Alison and Cem let them choose from a stacked spread of bite-size sweets, including cookie dough bites, mini croissant doughnuts, apple crisp tartlets, orange mousse cups and many more. The newlyweds gave loved ones honey jars not only because they love the flavor, but also in honor of Alison’s childhood nickname, Alibee. “Honey jars just felt right: Everyone would use them, and they’re related to us,” Alison says.