The Story of a Cape Cod Wedding: Inspiration

I have promised not to dominate this with posts about my own wedding planning, but I can't promise that I won't share a few details here and there. The story of my (gasp! really, mine!) Cape Cod wedding starts with this inspiration board:

 { Bouquet, pumpkins, mason jars with candles, cake, basket of blankets from Style Me Pretty;

Bridesmaid bouquets from James Bass via The Sweetest Occasion;

Groom's tie from Bows 'n Ties; 

Centerpiece from Real Simple; Dress from J.Crew; 

Tent from William Tangorra; Ribbon wands from Flights of Fancy  }

(Maybe someone wants to know how you put together an inspiration board. These are photos mostly collected over months of looking at blogs and saving copies of things I like. Some images I searched more specifically for based on an idea I had in mind. Keeping track of where the images can from is the hardest part. Then I play around with text blocks in MS Word and arrange the pictures until I like the way it looks. Snippet & Ink elevates this whole process an art form. Perhaps she'll one day let us all know how she does what she does.)   

What I (ahem, we) are looking for is neutrals, natural textures and seasonal without being overwhelmingly "fallish" for our October wedding. 

 

Why make an inspiration board? I think it helps your vendors understand your vision; it can act as a visual interpretation of the mood you are trying to set and the degree of  formality you are trying to achieve.    

But let's back up a second... what happens if you don't even know where to start an inspiration board? What happens when you have *no idea* what you want your wedding to look like, how you want it to feel?
Each wedding has to start somewhere. Maybe it's your favorite color. Maybe it's the venue you've selected or the dress you've fallen in love with. Like lemonade? You can plan a whole wedding around that. 

I really believe you need to pick just one thing that you LOVE, and base the rest of your decisions around that. Stick to things you love, omit the things you don't, and the end product will be an honest and unique reflection of who you are as a couple.

Heading North

I'm off for a long weekend of alpine activities in the White Mountains. Leaving you with this ski-filled inspiration board:

{ Courtesy of The Finer Things }

No ski lodges down here on the Cape, but great for the downhill sport enthusiast. Or could we turn it Shoreside and use water skis? Something to ponder on my drive north. 

Inspiration: Mad for Plaid

I've gone a little mad for plaid.

Not in a plaid wedding dress kind of way:

{ via Style Me Pretty }

But in a Charlotte Marries Trey in a Wedding Infused with Subtle Tartan Details way, a la Carrie's maid of honor dress with a little tartan ribbon at the waist.

{ It is embarrassing how I got this photo. Let's not talk about it, OK? }

Think white rose bouquets tied with plaid ribbon, little flower girls in tartan dresses, groomsmen in navy suits with plaid ties.  A groom in a kilt is not required... but if you're a girl who loves a man in a skirt, be my guest.

What a lovely way to inject some holiday color without being overtly red & green. And a nice way to honor the family if you happen to be a MacSomething, Campbell or Stewart (like me!).
 

 { Top: Have one of these guys outside the church; Flower girls could carry evergreen kissing balls; Centerpieces in silver trophies tied with plaid ribbon;

Middle: Bouquet with amaryllis; Plaid takes the cake; Sweet little flower girl dress; 

Bottom: Red-domed centerpieces and hints of gold; Kilt hits the beach via Raw Photo }

Inspiration: Turquoise

Still obsessing about these shoes:

{ Valentino }

So a little inspiration for the wedding that coordinates with the shoes:

{ Top: Both from Martha Stewart

Middle: Wedding Paper Divas, Bouquet from Elizabeth Anne Designs

Bottom: Ring Pillow & Cake both from The Knot, Dress by Kenneth Pool }

Inspiration: Hydrangeas

To inspire your own Cape Cod wedding full of hydrangeas, a visual representation of the Hydrangea-themed wedding that exists in my head:

{ Top: Hydrangeas down the center by Mimmo + Naz via Style Me Pretty; 

Can I have the wedding here? The Hydrangea House on Shore Street in Chatham

Middle: A cartful from Porchlight Interiors; 

Perfectly simple centerpieces by Natalie McComas via 100 Layer Cake

Bottom: Bridal bouquet via 100 Layer Cake; Lining the aisle from frolic!; 

Petals to toss via 100 Layer Cake }

Inspiration: In Love with Lavender

Did you know there's a lavender farm in Harwich? Cape Cod Lavender Farm is one of the largest on the East Coast and hosts more than 10,000 visitors annually. It's on my List of Things to Do in the next few weeks because the lavender is in bloom right now.

Also right now, a lavender-themed inspiration board.

{ Top: Lavender-infused Champagne from Real Simple; Rings via Postcards & Pretties; Placesetting via Style Me Pretty;

Middle: Boutonnieres via Postcards & Pretties, Dark Cocoa Cupcakes with Lavender Whipped Cream - yum - via Fresh New England

Bottom: Lavender whips in Mint Julep Cups via Style Me Pretty; Lavender chair decor via Postcards & Pretties; Bouquet with fresh Lavender from Flower Design }

Take Me Out to the Ballgame

The 114th season of Cape Cod Baseball League got underway last night, with the Wareham Gateman topping the Cotuit Kettleers 5-2 in the league opener. This storied league, with its wooden bats, glittering alumni (one out of every seven Major League players spent some time in the CCBL), and quaint seaside ballparks, is the preeminent summer league for top college players. If you haven't been to a game, you should go. Check out the schedule here. Admission is free to games (though players pass around a cap to collect donations).   

So now let's play ball with a baseball-themed wedding. 

{ Invites from Etsy seller Byvikink }

{ Pass around some snacks... From Rebecca Thuss }

{ Autograph the bat guest 'book' via Style Me Pretty }

{ Must-take photos from Rob and Lauren Photographers }

{ Tablesetting from Style Me Pretty }

{ Favor from The Well Dressed Cookie }

Inspiration: Pretty Pink Peonies

Is there anything more unabashedly romantic or exuberantly feminine than a pink peony? This flower of "riches and honor" is said to have mischievous nymphs living amongst its petals. Peonies, and their heavenly scent, are really only available for May and June, so let's celebrate them now, shall we?

{ Top: Southern Living Lemonade; Peony dress via Style Me Pretty; Bouquet

Middle: Flower girl via Classic Bride; A Cape Cod Delicious Dessert; 

Chatham wedding by the Casual Gourmet for Style Me Pretty; 

Bottom: Boutonniere via Snippet & Ink; Things are Better with a Parrot Invitation; Country Living Placesetting }

Inspiration: Cape Cod Clambake Wedding

Gettin' naughty with nautical for a clambake-style reception. Who doesn't want some lobster, steamers and beer on this beautiful summery day?

{ Clockwise from top left, Nautical flag cake from Martha Stewart, Sperry Tents at Nauticus Marina from Bello Photography, Bridesmaid dresses from Stacey Kane, Boat bucket of beer from Pottery Barn, Tablesetting from The Casual Gourmet,  Thank you! from Imprintables, Invitation from The Knot, Beer coasters from Seacrets, and Bouquets from The Knot. 

In the middle: Lobsters from Merge Weddings. }

A Bouquet for Today

I was just outside working in the garden, where I am so happy to see my beloved hosta plants are really starting to come in. (Beloved because they were given to me by a dear friend, whose mother grew them in her garden. And they were the first thing I planted at my new house.)

Then I came inside to find this bouquet. Made, I think, from hosta leaves?

{ Meg Smith via Snippet & Ink }

Cape Cod Wedding Venue: Pamet Harbor Yacht Club

I've been loving all things nautical lately. I'm going to try to get all this knotty navy blue preppy naughtiness out of the way, but first we'll feature a few nautical venues.

Pamet Harbor Yacht and Tennis Club lies literally on the sand dunes of Pamet Harbor in Truro. Tucked down a dirt road and surrounded by the most hushed serenity, it is just so, so lovely. And so perfect for the nautical wedding I've been dreaming about.

{ Photo by yours truly. Photographer friends... begin your critiques. }

The inside is typically yacht club shabby-chic, with knotty pine paneling, commodore placards and boat trophies, but it has a certain charm.

 { Significantly better photo by Jenny Ebert via Snippet & Ink}

Larger groups can set up a tent on the property. 

{ Me. }

If you want your feet in the sand as you say your vows, this is a place to do it.  Or if you want to play in sail lockers.

{ Jenny. }

I am dying for this. Seriously, dying.

{ Another significantly better photo from Stacey Kane }

Inspiration: In Bloom

"Ten thousand I saw at a glance," wrote William Wordsworth after coming upon a field of daffodils.

Maybe he was here. Cape Cod is a riot right now of yellow and white, so much so that we even throw celebrations in honor of this delightfully happy flower. You can check out the annual Brewster in Bloom parade May 2nd or the three million daffodils that decorate Nantucket's Daffodil Days on April 23-25th.

And what better than a daffodil to inspire your springtime Cape Cod wedding:

{ top: Amanda Archer dress, yellow wedding cake, dessert table

middle: daffodil invitation suite, ceremony programs, bouquet

bottom: lemonade jar, gingham, daffodil car, pretty painting }