An End-of-Summer, Waterfront Wedding Combining Chinese and Jewish Traditions in Newport, Rhode Island
Melissa and Ari's love sparked in a classroom long before it ever reached the shores of Newport. The two first met during the admitted students weekend for their MBA program. Melissa stopped to say hi to a friend, who happened to be talking with Ari. That quick conversation turned into a lasting impression when six months later, the two reconnected as pre-MBA activities ramped up and classes began. Melissa adds: "We basically dated all throughout our two-year MBA program at Harvard." Their engagement unfolded later during a family trip to Paris, and Ari quietly scoped out proposal locations from the moment they arrived. On the second day, he led Melissa back to Rue Crémieux, a popular photo spot and tourist attraction with picturesque painted houses and cobbled streets. Ari then got down on one knee, with the perfect celebration to follow. "He had planned a surprise fun day just for us, which included a River Cruise down the Seine and drinks at Bar Hemingway, followed by dinner with his family. It was a totally surreal day,” Melissa says.
When it came time to plan their wedding, the vision was clear. Set on one of the final weekends of summer in Newport, the couple wanted their guests to feel like they were "enjoying one last sunny, warm, lazy weekend by the water," the two say. And some of the most iconic Newport locations framed the weekend, from the grounds of Castle Hill Inn to Bowen’s and Bannister’s Wharf. The couple leaned into “late-summer golden hour” for their color palette by using deep pinks, oranges and blues to reflect the warmth of the season. The goal was a weekend that captured the very best of Newport, including sailing culture, seafood, sunsets and sweeping ocean views, all while celebrating the groom's Jewish background and the bride's Chinese heritage.
The ceremony itself took place at Castle Hill Inn, a waterfront resort built in the late 1800s. “We were obsessed with how the late-summer golden hour flower palette came to life—an explosion of color but done so elegantly, especially the chuppah set against the already beautiful arch at Castle Hill. It was a beautiful blend of ranunculus, cosmos, dahlias, roses and delphiniums,” Melissa shares. Cultural traditions shaped the heart of the day, and even before the ceremony, their wedding party and immediate family joined them for a modern ketubah signing. Because they married on a Friday, they also incorporated Shabbat traditions at the start of the reception, with younger cousins leading candle lighting and challah. The bride adds: "Ari was really excited about doing the hora at our wedding, and his family came out in full force to make the hora extra high-energy." Fashion also played a role, as the bride and groom both mixed classic styles and cultural storytelling. Ari wore a custom tux from Michael Andrews Bespoke in New York, with a dark green interior lining that echoed the wedding’s natural accents, while Melissa chose a semi-custom Sareh Nouri gown. The dress initially came in a classic trumpet-style silhouette with a foldover neckline, but she customized it from an Italian jacquard fabric she loved during her shopping trip. "Instead of a veil, we did an embroidered lace watteau train, which was an unconventional choice, but I loved the way it fell and flowed behind me," Melissa says.
Personalization was everything for the couple, and many of the most meaningful details were sprinkled throughout the decor. The to-be-weds hand-assembled their custom menu cards, topping each with a gold wax seal with the Chinese "double-happiness" symbol. And guests had no idea that a major surprise was still to come. Only the vendors and one close friend knew that Chinese lion dancers would appear at the reception. "The lion dancers drove down from Boston and our friend did an amazing job of facilitating the intro of the lion dancers, guiding everyone through a secret red envelope exercise that led into the surprise reveal. The lion dancers came in, drums banging, making tons of noise and running around the reception venue," the couple says. "Seeing our families and guests witness that surprise and realize what was happening was such a fun and memorable part of our day." Melissa's Chinese culture was also showcased through the food. "We had Chef Alyssa at Castle Hill come up with custom Chinese-inspired hors d'oeuvres to mix in with the New England choices, like mini lobster rolls," the bride says. That included favorites like truffle chicken siu mai, scallion pancakes topped with char siu mushroom and Taiwanese-inspired yan su ji (salt-and-pepper fried chicken).
Among the many highlights of the wedding day, a few moments stood out most. They say the late-summer weather couldn't have been more perfect, adding: "We loved each other's vows and the incorporation of timeless Jewish traditions updated to reflect modernity and our egalitarian values. We also didn't realize when we smashed the glass that the lightbulb we brought was actually plastic, so that was a funny mishap that made us laugh in the moment and continues to be a good story we like to tell."
True to their “last summer weekend” vision, the celebration didn’t end with the reception. Melissa shares: "We also decided to do a sunset sail the day after our wedding, out on the water in classic wooden schooners holding over 100 of our guests. They could catch up, relax and enjoy the water and the beautiful sunset." It was the perfect ending to the wedding weekend, a way to say goodbye to the season but hello to a new chapter in their love story.