Candy Overload

Boo!

We're back. And suffering from post-Halloween candy overload. But not suffering so much we can't throw out a little Shoreside Candy Bar inspiration.

OK... Admittedly maybe not the most appropriate for fall, but I'm always a fan of blue and green for Shoreside weddings. (And really, it's never too early to start planning for next summer.)

 { The Knot }

Old-fashioned fun. Have you bought penny candy at the 1865 Country Store store in Centerville?

{ Amy Atlas }

Must-haves for a Shoreside Candy Buffet:

{ Lobster Lollipops; Candy Pebbles; Taffy }

And this little bit of super-cuteness:

{ Chocolate Covered Cranberries in teeny-tiny apple picking baskets? I die. }

{ And a little sneak peak from what I was doing when I was away }

Bachelorette Survival Kit

Just now recovering from an all-out crazy bachelorette party. (They are all crazy, I know, but this one was really off the charts. Really) We hit it up big in Provincetown, which is just about the awesome-est place ever for a bachelorette party. We did drinks, dinner, visited a few "specialty" stores, saw a drag show, tripped into more than a few bars... Obviously, this is the G-rated version of the night.

Lots of love to all the girls who planned this for our dear friend... And a special shout-out to the one who put together these little charmers:

Bachelorette Survival Kits

Wet Wipes, a stain pen, band aid, tissues, mints, chapstick, hair tie, nail file, a certain safety precaution in case anyone got frisky (no - not the bride) and a 'Get Out of Jail Free' card.

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 }

Cape Cod Wedding Venue: Heritage Museums & Gardens

Perhaps it's all the gardening I've been doing, but I've been spending some time thinking about a Cape Cod garden wedding. There's a few bucolic garden spots on Cape Cod that make pretty places for a wedding, but none are as dynamic as Heritage Museums & Gardens.

The museum is actually comprised of a handful of museums situated on more than 100 acres of gardens. They have spaces for indoor receptions, most notably a four-story Shaker round barn that houses an impressive antique automobile collection, and an art museum with one of the country's oldest working carousels. There's a windmill. There's a pond. And then there's the gardens. Award-winning, lush, verdant, vibrant gardens.

Find your favorite nook for your ceremony or tented reception.

{ Both above from The Casual Gourmet }

This is the pimp ride you get as the bride to drive around the property. 

Yeah, it's a Bentley golf cart.

In the background you can see some of the world-famous
Dexter Rhododendrons

The lawn in front of the Shaker Round Barn. Perfect for cocktails before moving inside for dinner.

{ above three photos from bride Sarah McCracken via Flickr  }

A Sweet Little Chapel: Kelley Chapel, a Cape Cod Wedding Site

Kelley Chapel in Yarmouth Port is just about the most darling little wedding chapel you'll find.  Down a secluded gravel path. Set in a sunlit meadow. Nestled in the woods. Surrounded by nature trails. With a charming little history.

The chapel was originally constructed in 1873 by Quaker David Kelley for his daughter Rosa after the death of her infant son. She used the non-sectarian chapel, which at the time was located in South Yarmouth near the Quaker Meeting House on North Main Street, to teach bible lessons to village fishermen and their families. The chapel was donated by a Kelley family descendent to the Historical Society of Old Yarmouth in 1960, at which time it was moved to its current location. The woods surrounding the chapel comprised the first-ever golf course on Cape Cod, created in the 1890s for private use by the Thatcher family. It's a short walk from the chapel to the heart of historic Yarmouth Port, including the Edward Gorey House and the Capt. Bangs Hallett house, which has the most amazing English Weeping Beech tree on the grounds.

Today the chapel is used for community events and can be rented through the historical society for weddings.

{ Christopher Setturland via Cape Cod Today }

Make no mistake, it is tiny. Only 60 or so people fit inside. In typical Quaker fashion, the interior is unadorned. A handful of pews, an old wood stove and a little organ dominate the space.

But there's something completely enchanting about it, don't you think?

Sing a Song for Sixpence

As a follow-up to yesterday's post about Cape Cod wedding DJ Chris Baker, I thought I'd put together a short playlist of must-play Cape Cod songs.

1. Old Cape Cod by grand dame Patti Page

2. Escape (otherwise known as the Pina Colada song) by Rupert Holmes

3. Sweet Caroline by Neil Diamond, the anthem of Red Sox fans anywhere

4. In a tie for fourth, Summer Wind or Beyond the Sea by the legendary Frank Sinatra and Bobby Darin

5. Whatever song reminds you of the best Cape Cod party you've been to, whether it was at a bar, the beach or your parent's basement. (For me, it's Me & Julio by Paul Simon. August 2005 at the one-and-only Woodshed in Brewster.)

P.S.: Did you know? The tradition of a bride having a sixpence in her left shoe for good luck comes from 17th century England, when a sixpence was part of the dowry. 

P.P.S.: If you haven't seen it yet, Style Me Pretty featured a completely knotty nautical wedding earlier today. Lots of good ideas, like these table numbers:

{ Adeline and Grace Photography via Style Me Pretty }

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 }