Saturday, September 5, 2009

Our New England Wedding!




My own wedding day on August 29th, 2009 was a whirlwind of a wedding, thanks to an uninvited “guest” - Tropical Storm Danny. As not only as a bride, but as a wedding planner, I definitely had my eye on the weather reports of the impending storm. High winds and rain forced us to abandon our plans for our outdoor ceremony at Beavertail State Park and the tented reception at Wetherledge. (a tent is a great plan B when they are not predicting 65mph winds the day of your event) So, with 48 hours until the wedding, I started making calls to my vendors to begin re-planning the entire wedding to be moved indoors!

The ceremony was moved from Beavertail to a beautiful intimate setting inside the Bay Room at the Bay Voyage Inn, overlooking the Newport Bridge. Kelli O'Brien DuBeau from Exquisite Events Design provided the most romantic décor, and for our ceremony, our florist Toni Chandler of Events Design brought in large, gorgeous urns of sea grass, pale peach and green colored flower petals lined the aisle path; it was perfect.

Our reception followed in the Harbor Room, overlooking Newport Harbor. With live jazz and blues music by Chelley, Bill and Dyl, a customized chef’s stations menu provided by Russell Morin Fine Catering and a specialty “tropical” cocktail. The service was impeccable. All of our vendors worked together and with us to seamlessly create an experience to remember; making our wedding day all that we had dreamed despite all of the crazy changes in location and details happening around us.

As our ceremony was about to start, our “Danny” decided to take another path and went out to sea. The sky is always so beautiful after a storm and as our guests were enjoying cocktails and appetizers, we were able to sneak away with our photographer to capture photos in the gardens and on the beach across the way. 


At the end of the evening, we smiled, as we had still been given the romantic and intimate evening we had envisioned and our guests had the time of their lives - all managing to stay dry - except for the tears of happiness. In my experience, one thing you can't control in planning a New England destination wedding is the weather and my advice to brides. . .

Relax, go with it, have fun and enjoy! We are now happily married and looking forward to our honeymoon in St. Lucia in October, and have to admit… laughing at the possibility of a hurricane!