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Happy New Year and New Decade! We love to take a minute after the holidays and festivities settle, to reflect on all the wonderful things we accomplished in 2019. It was such an amazing year for us here at Cape Cod Celebrations and once again we cannot express how grateful we are for the support and love we receive from friends, family and vendors in the industry. Here is a look back at some of the fabulous things that happened in 2019!
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In one of our busiest wedding seasons yet...We continue with more from our intern, Maeve! Once upon a time, on a sunny, ninety degree day on Cape Cod, there was a wedding…and for weeks there had been towers of boxes full of favors, stationary, and Christmas decorations stored away in the office (yes, Christmas in the summer). We were all excited, a little nervous, but still counting down the days til we could see it all come together. What I learned from this experience is it truly takes a village.
We were working in the strongest sun, alongside our team as well as the catering staff, florists, and we were all juggling a million tasks. My biggest takeaway from this experience is knowing what tools will help you be the most successful. There were so many moving parts to this wedding, and in order to keep track of every event and every item, there had to be a way to catalog and organize. I am so grateful for the organization because being able to complete tasks as soon as possible was great for the entire team. Not only were there detailed write-ups of each day, but production schedules mapped out on excel, along with lists of decorations with what they were for, where they were, where they needed to go and if they were to be used again. Utilizing what we already had for different days was a challenge to keep in order. Whether it was frames for signature drinks that changed from day to day, banners with the wedding crest, or lanterns, it was important to re-incorporate decorations and get more than one use out of all these great purchases.
Another learning experience: heat is a challenge. After a while of moving tables, setting up ceremony chairs, and setting decorations - dehydration is easily achieved. Keeping a clear head can be a major problem when you’re working in such intense heat. I definitely was trying to keep track of who was doing what, making sure I was on task and helping to the best of my capabilities. Shout out to Jamie, who a couple hours in to the heat stroke brought a cooler full of Gatorade. That truly felt like Christmas in the summer.
I think it’s important to know what your strengths are, but even more so what your weaknesses are so that you can acknowledge them and hopefully grow. So far, my biggest challenges have been small, tedious projects such as setting up an escort card table: Alphabetizing, the shaky hands pinning them into place, it’s something I didn’t expect to struggle with, but always do. I’m going to set the goal for myself to specifically work on time management and efficiency. I have noticed that with the women I’ve been lucky enough to work with and learn from there is no ego, there is only competence, strength, intelligence, kindness, and a real spirit for wanting to do their job justice. I am so grateful to be working with a team of incredible women. They problem solve calmly and logically, they support one another, they take care of each other. It was truly all hands on deck for this event, making sure that our lead planner, Stephanie, knew she had our full support and could depend on each of us. By watching the women who make up Cape Cod Celebrations, I’m learning how to be a supportive and effective team member, multitask efficiently, and also how to keep a calm, cool, and collected presence when I’m working through the motions of a wedding. "Cape Cod Couples Tell All" series is back at it again! We took a trip down memory lane with Kate & Nick in June. Now we reminisce with Hannah & Joe who were married August 18, 2012 at Family Tabor Academy/family home in Mattapoisett, MA- 7 years ago this month!! Cape Cod 1. What made you choose Cape Cod for your wedding? I grew up in Mattapoisett and spent my childhood exploring the shoreline and ocean, and knew that I’d want to get married close to home. I also attended Tabor Academy for high school and wanted to honor that special time in my life by getting married in their chapel. 2. Why would you tell future brides and grooms to get married on Cape Cod? It is such a beautiful place and has such a cute, quaint feel that is perfect for weddings
Your Wedding! 1. In a three words, how would you describe your wedding? Detailed, classy & fun! 2. Was your wedding exactly what you had envisioned? Even better than I imagined! 3. What was your biggest concern in planning your wedding? Putting all of my ideas together in a clear, concise and organized way. I had the vision, but wasn’t sure how to pull it all together 4. What was your favorite part of the planning process? What was the most difficult part? I loved finding special little details to add to the wedding decor to make it really personal, as well as putting together the actual wedding ceremony together myself. The most difficult part was sticking to a budget haha! 5. What was your favorite part of the wedding? Everything! 6. Looking back, would you change anything about your wedding? If so, what and why? I wouldn’t change anything! 7. Who was your favorite vendor? Our photographer Alanna Scully, who perfectly captured our day with her beautiful photo-journalistic style and candids! 8. What do you think your guests would say their favorite part of your wedding was? We have heard it time and time again that it was one of the best weddings theyve been to! They loved the food and the dancing! 9. How would you title your wedding? (e.g. The wedding with the best food and dancing!) The wedding with incredible food, lots of dancing and personalized attention to detail
Wedding Planner 1. Why did you decide to hire a wedding planner? I wanted support and help to organize my vision for my special day 2.How did having a planner contribute to the success of your wedding? Having a planner really helped to pull everything together, I loved also bouncing ideas off of each other, getting an experienced perspective on how different ideas would work, and to help me to save money on most things! 3. For upcoming brides, why do you think it is important for them to consider hiring a planner? Planning a wedding is so much work and two heads are better than one, and planners help to put our fires that may come up on your wedding day when you should be completely immersed in the day rather than worrying about anything! 4. What was it like working with a planner? What was your overall experience like? It was excellent! Jamie was incredible from start to finish- she was professional, organized, and incredibly helpful with everything from tracking down our caterer to buying more bottles of vodka the night of the wedding when we were running low, to holding my veil and hiding behind my dress for photos (it was windy), and setting up all the details on the morning of the wedding! She also ran our wedding rehearsal which was incredibly helpful!! 5. Why would you recommend Cape Cod Celebrations over other companies? Their experience and reputation are a cut above the rest!
Wedding Advice 1. What advice would you give other brides about planning a wedding? Hire a planner- for real. Also, have fun through the process and remember the core of why you’re planning a wedding in the first place- to celebrate your partnership and commitment to each other. Sometimes it’s easy to get lost in seating charts and opinions of others, but ultimately it is about the two of you! 2.What was most helpful to you in the planning process? I loved being able to email/communicate with Jamie whenever I needed to throughout the planning process- it made it easy to tackle things without getting overwhelmed 3. What do you wish you would have known before planning your wedding? Weddings are more expensive than you think haha! But hiring a planner helped us to save money!
The Future 1. What do you think will be the next big trend for weddings? What do you think weddings will be like 20 years from now? Drones will film it? Or maybe that’s already happening? 2. How’s married life!? Married life is wonderful and hard and fun and boring and everything in between. We have had some incredible highs and heartbreaking lows, but have grown together through everything.  Each year, Cape Cod Celebrations brings on talented, passionate college students to learn from and support our planners. This year, Maeve Connolly came to use from UMass Amherst with spunk and infectious energy that kept us laughing in the office and on site. A Theater & English major, Maeve took the time this season to put her experience into words. Enjoy the journey below!
But, after the cake has been cut, the dancing has commenced, and I’ve headed home for the night, I can’t wait to tell my family about the great people I’ve just met. It is a true privilege to be invited into such a special day for a family, especially when the couple knows this day is just as much theirs as it is about their families uniting. I sit on the couch and gush to my mom about how I held the train of a bride’s dress as she and her father took a moment to tell each other they loved one another. I talk about how I hugged the father of the bride because I was so happy to have helped him that day. I talk about how thoughtful the bride and groom were to write handwritten notes to all of their guests and how happy they were to be in each other’s arms. Those quiet and intimate moments are the most worthwhile in my eyes. It’s what will create a lasting impression on people’s hearts when thinking back to the celebration of those two people, myself included. I was a part of a celebration that will be remembered as the start of their lives, their families, and one day their kids will see those special photos of their parents. Whether it’s in a frame on a desk, on top of the mantle, or maybe even stumbled upon while cleaning out a drawer, when they see those photos, they’ll ask their parents about that day. I hope that they will begin to reminisce about their perfect wedding, cherishing the memories of the vows, the flowers, the dancing, the cake, but most of all how happy they were to marry each other in front of their family and friends. Though I didn’t know these couples for an extended amount of time, the happiness and warmth I felt for them as they said “I do” is immeasurable.  Photo// Alex Paul Photography Back in 2017 we started a "Cape Cod Couples Tell All" series with Scott and Leonora and continued it last year with Annie and Brian. This year we are kicking it back in to gear with Kate & Nick who were married June 13, 2015 at Chequessett Yacht & Country Club - 4 years ago! Cape Cod 1.What made you choose Cape Cod for your wedding? Growing up, I (Kate) went to the Cape most summers. My parents would rent houses in Eastham, Wellfleet, and Truro, and we’d spend anywhere from a weekend to a week to a month there. I loved our time there beyond measure; it will always hold a special place for me. And now my father has a place in Truro so we’re lucky enough to go whenever we want (and can). 2.Why would you tell future brides and grooms to get married on Cape Cod? Despite the fact that it’s a popular vacation destination, the part of the Cape that we go to — the lower Cape — still manages to feel like a well-kept secret. There are few places more beautiful. And your guests won’t feel overwhelmed with too many choices, since it’s very insular. The only things they need to do are go to the beach and eat fried food. So liberating!  Your Wedding 1.In a three words, how would you describe your wedding? Lighthearted, elegant, fun. 2.Was your wedding exactly what you had envisioned? 100% yes. 3.What was your biggest concern in planning your wedding? Day of logistics totally freaked me out. I couldn’t imagine how everything would go according to plan – since I’d never done it before. Stephanie made everything so, so easy. 4.What was your favorite part of the planning process? What was the most difficult part? I loved all the special touches. For our table place cards (STEPHANIE: WTF IS THIS CALLED? TOTAL BRAIN MALFUNCTION), I picked a different Lego mini-figure for each person. My friend Jeff is a writer, so he had a guy with a little laptop; my dad is a food writer, so he was the chef; my mom was Wonder Woman; Nick’s dad loves cycling so he had a little guy with a bicycle. It was a labor of love. And when guests sat down, they sat down to small framed photo of themselves with either me or Nick (or both of us). I think the hardest part was knowing when to let go. I’m extremely detail-oriented and – ugh – Type A, so it’s hard to know when to stop. 5.What was your favorite part of the wedding? The ceremony – knowing that all our favorite people were gathered in one space. When will that ever happen again?! 6.Looking back, would you change anything about your wedding? If so, what and why? I wish we’d had another hour to dance! 7.Who was your favorite vendor? Honestly? I loved all of them. Our flowers were absolutely perfect. The food was incredible, not at all like traditional wedding food. Our DJ just got us 100%. Stephanie is an angel. CCYC is a little piece of heaven, as are our pals that work there. Our photographer, Justin, really worked with us to understand what we did and didn’t want. 8.What do you think your guests would say their favorite part of your wedding was? How relaxed it all felt. 9.How would you title your wedding? (e.g. The wedding with the best food and dancing!) A blissed out party.
Wedding Planner 1.Why did you decide to hire a wedding planner? I was fine with all the lead up to the wedding, but I really wanted help for day of. I didn’t want to ask favors of my friends and family and knew we’d need someone to make sure everything flowed. 2.How did having a planner contribute to the success of your wedding? We had absolutely zero worries day-of. Zero. That’s priceless! And super rare. 3.For upcoming brides, why do you think it is important for them to consider hiring a planner? A planner will catch every minute detail so that you won’t wake up in the middle of the night stressing (as much). 4.What was it like working with a planner? What was your overall experience like? It was SO easy. Stephanie is an excellent reader of people, and she totally understood us and what we wanted. If you asked me for a negative, I wouldn’t be able to give you one. 5.Why would you recommend Cape Cod Celebrations over other companies? Everyone is very relaxed and kind, and I think they’re all really good at reading people, reading the specific needs of each individual person. Everyone gets help that feels personalized.
Wedding Advice 1.What advice would you give other brides about planning a wedding? Figure out a few special touches and work really hard on those; let other things be more relaxed. You can’t stress out about every single thing. So pick your battles. Don’t feel like you need to do everything yourself; a good partner will want to help. (And a planner is paid to help!) 2.What was most helpful to you in the planning process? Excel spreadsheets, of course. Friends’ advice and brainstorming. 3.What do you wish you would have known before planning your wedding? That so many of those tiny little things that nagged at me really didn’t matter in the long run.  The Future 1.What do you think will be the next big trend for weddings? What do you think weddings will be like 20 years from now? Next big trend – people getting married with their friends! Like: double weddings. Why not? 20 years from now: a lot simpler. 2.How’s married life!? Everyone said being married would change everything, but for us, nothing changed – it was the same as it was when we were just living together (thankfully!). Now, though, we have a three-year-old. THAT changes things! Co-parenting is hard – you really need to be in sync. But we’re navigating it together, and our son is the happiest sweetest boy – we’ll do everything we can to make sure that doesn’t change! It’ll be fun to show him pictures of our wedding one day when he can really understand what it is.  Planning your honeymoon and not sure if you want to take off the day after your wedding for 2 weeks? Enter the Mini-Moon! We have seen the trend lately of delaying your honeymoon until a later date, like your first anniversary, and planning a short "mini-moon" after your wedding to get away. Today we share some of our favorite mini-moon locations that are a hop, skip and a jump away from Cape Cod and make for a perfect 2-3 day getaway!
Nantucket Listed first of course as it is Jamie's most favorite place on the planet, but this little island is a short plane ride or hour ferry ride from Hyannis and feels like a true escape. With fabulous beaches, restaurants and one of the most fun brewery/winery/distillery locations - it is a perfect mini-moon getaway. Rent a bike or a jeep to get around the island or stay in town where everything is within walking distance. Have lunch at the Jetties and dinner at one of the upscale venues downtown, like the Nautilus - and then do not forget ice cream! If you are planning your mini-moon on Nantucket, reach out to Jamie for recommendations - she loves to talk about this island! Martha's Vineyard The Cape's 2nd island, Martha's Vineyard, is also a beautiful place to escape to and is much larger than Nantucket. With many towns to choose from, each with their own unique style, the Vineyard will keep you busy! Rent a car to travel around town to town or use their public transportation to see the island. Don't miss Back Door Donuts, the Oak Bluffs Campground, dining and shopping in Edgartown and the stunning Aquinnah Cliffs and beautiful beaches of course! Provincetown Stay on the Cape and drive north-east to Provincetown where you can take dune tours, go to a winery, brewery and dine waterfront all in the same day! With fabulous B&Bs, restaurants and nightlife, Provincetown does not disappoint. No car is needed while in town and then hop the ferry back to Boston to get to Logan and fly back home...or extend your stay with a night in Beantown! Be sure to check the events calendar as Provincetown has many wonderful weekend events, which could add or detract from your stay depending on what is going on and what you want to do! Newport, Rhode Island Just an hour and a half away from the Cape is another amazing waterfront town, Newport, RI. Stop at Newport Vineyards on your way in to town to kick off your mini-moon and then plan beach days, boat tours and make restaurant reservations to enjoy your time on this quaint island. Don't miss the Cliff Walk for a romantic stroll along the ocean or the mansion tours - this town is filled with history, and is also where Jamie went to college! Portland, Maine The furthest of our recommendations, Portland, ME is about 3 hours from the Cape, but worth the trip! Portland is a wonderful waterfront city with amazing restaurants, nightlife and fun things do to. Find a brewery for a lazy afternoon, take a ferry to Peak's Island for a boat ride and adventure and do not miss The Holy Donut for breakfast or Duckfat for dinner! Comment below if you have planned your mini-moon on or near the Cape! Back in 2017 we started a "Cape Cod Couples Tell All" series with Scott and Leonora and continued it last year with Annie and Brian. This year we are kicking it back in to gear with Courtney & Caleb who were married April 18, 2015 at Chatham Bars Inn - 4 years ago! Cape Cod 1. What made you choose Cape Cod for your wedding? Beautiful setting and a special connection to the venue, itself. 2. Why would you tell future brides and grooms to get married on Cape Cod? Cape Cod is absolutely gorgeous and serene at any time of year. Even in the heart of winter, you cannot beat the breathtaking views of the ocean and the cool crisp air. We were married in early spring to avoid the summer crowds and the weather on our wedding day was absolutely perfect, 60 degrees and sunny with the bluest sky. We couldn’t have asked for more.
Your Wedding! 1. In three words, how would you describe your wedding? Whimsical, entertaining, intimate. 2. Was your wedding exactly what you had envisioned? Perfect! Exceeded our expectations. 3. What was your biggest concern in planning your wedding? Trying to keep the day true to our identities. 4. What was your favorite part of the planning process? What was the most difficult part?The food tasting! And getting to know all of our vendors well. Really can’t think of any difficulties. A true testament to how easy Jamie made the process for us! She did most of the hard work! 5. What was your favorite part of the wedding? The ceremony, the food, the ambiance, the food, the reception, the food. Did I mention the food? Honestly, everything from start to finish. Being able to relax on our wedding day knowing Jamie was handling everything behind the scenes. We were able to truly enjoy the day with nothing on our minds but each other. 6. Looking back, would you change anything about your wedding? If so, what and why? Not a thing! 7. Who was your favorite vendor? CBI! They executed the most amazing menu for the day. 8. What do you think your guests would say their favorite part of your wedding was? Overall, how unique it was. Specifically, the food, the photo booth, and all the dancing at the reception. 9. How would you title your wedding? (e.g. The wedding with the best food and dancing!) Best wedding ever!
Wedding Planner 1. Why did you decide to hire a wedding planner? To make the process easier and less time-consuming and to get guidance on local vendors. 2. How did having a planner contribute to the success of your wedding? It contributed immensely! We needed Jamie’s firsthand knowledge of the venue and her experience with all of the vendors. She was able to guide us in the right direction based on our personal style and vision. Also, just offering the simple tip of how to stand with each other during our ceremony was so helpful! 3. For upcoming brides, why do you think it is important for them to consider hiring a planner? It’ll save so much time during the process as you’ll have to devote less energy to researching venues and vendors. 4. What was it like working with a planner? What was your overall experience like? Wonderful! We had the best time working with Jamie! She truly respected our vision for the day and guided us in the right direction to make sure our wedding felt unique and personal. She “got” us. 5. Why would you recommend Cape Cod Celebrations over other companies? You’ll get such an individualized experience, Jamie will truly make you feel like you’re her only client.  Wedding Advice 1. What advice would you give other brides about planning a wedding? Get as much help as you can, otherwise it can be so overwhelming. Just remember the day is ultimately about you and your partner and as long as you are staying true to yourselves, your wedding will be perfect! 2. What was most helpful to you in the planning process? Jamie’s knowledge and attentiveness. 3. What do you wish you would have known before planning your wedding? How easy it could be with help!
The Future 1. What do you think will be the next big trend for weddings? What do you think weddings will be like 20 years from now? I think weddings will become more personalized over time. You’ll see more weddings reflecting what couples want to do and less what they feel like they have to do. There won’t be as much of a wedding “script” and couples will feel more free to design their day based on their own personal identities. 2. How’s married life!? It is amazing! We’ve had such a blissful 4-years of marriage and have been back to the Cape for 2 anniversaries/baby moons since our wedding and really got to relive the magical moments of our wedding day on both occasions. We feel so lucky to have had such a special and personalized wedding and owe so much to Jamie for making it all happen!  Vendors
Wedding Planner - Jamie at Cape Cod Celebrations Photographer - Organic Photography Florist - Lilacs Venue - Chatham Bars Inn Beach House Grill Hair & Makeup - Lisa George Band - Murray Hill Talent Rentals - Be Our Guest (now Peak Event Services) Stationery - Lucky Luxe We were recently asked to share our thoughts on the "unplugged ceremony" for a recent blog post from our friend Christine of Salty Broad Studios. Talking about social media and the wedding ceremony and getting ready for the first weddings of the season in a couple of months got us thinking it's no better time to talk about social media on the wedding day. Here are tips for maneuvering the "etiquette of digital" when you are a guest at your friend or family member's wedding. 1. Pick Up THE CUES:
2. Remember FOMO IS REAL:Consider guests who may not be able to attend the wedding due to any number of reasons. Some couples are up against room maximums or budget constraints and may not be able to invite everyone they would like to their wedding day. Keeping details like venue and time under wraps, is a good way to help your friends out and be sensitive to those who may not be able to attend. 3. Wedding Planning has it covered:Keep in mind the wedding couple have most likely been planning for a long time. Many couples put a lot of thought into who will be their photographer and videographer for the day of. The professionals do their best to capture all of the moments the couple wants on the day of as beautifully as possible. Look out for the professional vendors especially during the wedding ceremony, it's sometimes hard to work around your cellular device in the ceremony aisle or grand exit!  Photo: Price Burr Phtography 4. SAVE SOME FOR LATER:Love live streaming every moment of your day? Maybe take a minute and step away from the device and take in all of the details the wedding couple has created for your guest experience. Also, your friends may want to be the first ones to share live moments of the wedding day or pick and choose which moments from the wedding they want to share. #latergram is a thing and we're all about it! 5. Make it nice:The lighting is off, the picture is blurry? Keep those images for yourself. Be just as selective as you would be on your wedding day when choosing images to share, the wedding couple will thank you for it! Still not sure?
One of the first things couple's do after getting engaged, or sometimes even before, is turning to the internet for inspiration and ideas. The internet is a big place, so we took some time to gather what we think are the best wedding blogs for tips, inspiration and more. If you have a favorite you think we missed, please share!
Check out our press page and find links to our featured weddings on the above blogs!
At Cape Cod Celebrations we get the chance to plan so much more than just weddings and two years ago Jamie had the privilege to work with one of her clients not only on their wedding at Wychmere Beach Club, but also the bride's bridal shower off Cape. The mother-of-the-bride reached out to Jamie to discuss ideas and pull together her vision which resulted in the amazing photos below! Now to break down some of her ideas, what we worked with for themes and more! Colors & Theme Carly's theme for her wedding was discovered after her engagement photos when she wore a red dress and after that, we ran with it. Carly's mom took a twist on the red dress and the perfect theme - "Rosé All Day". She had the perfect invites created with a blonde woman in a red dress (enter Carly) which then inspired many of the bridal shower ideas and decor. We took the theme ombre and incorporated warm reds, pinks and whites as well as specialty linens and chairs. From cookies and champagne to cake and florals, this bridal shower screamed everything Carly was hoping for! Bloody Mary & Mimosa Bar What is a bridal shower brunch without bloody marys and mimosas! Carly's mom had the venue put out a stellar bar to focus on the brunch beverages we all love, complete with beautiful pink signs to highlight the ingredients. Favors Favors are such a nice way to thank your guests for coming and this bridal shower did not disappoint! Guests went home with personalized cookies from The Painted Pastry, candy from an over the top candy buffet, personalized stemless champagne flutes that said "Rosé All Day" and rosé champagne to take home! Her mom even provided handled bags for the guests to take home all of their goodies so they didn't have to juggle it all on their way out. Flower Wall And then, the flower wall. It. Was. Amazing. Shannon and the team from from Winston Flowers created a stunning back drop for Carly to open her gifts, but also for guests to use to take photos in front of. Alli Hunt Photography staged guests in front of the wall with props, but guests also had the chance to take their own photos as well. It was a real show stopper! Flower Crowns for Bridal Party Carly's mom also wanted to honor the bridesmaids at the party and had Winstons create custom flower crowns for each of the girls. Made for great photo opps and also allowed guests to identify who Carly had in her bridal party. Seating Chart & Menu When your bridal shower has over 40 guests and seating available for everyone, we highly recommend that you assign seats. For this shower, it was done with a mirrored seating chart. We then carried that look over to the menu, which was displayed as guests entered the brunch buffet. As you can see, there are many fun attributes that you can customize for your bridal shower! What would be your "must have" at your bridal shower? If your mom or friends are having trouble coming up with some ideas, have them reach out to us - we travel! |
Plan. Relax. Enjoy.At Cape Cod Celebrations, your vision is our brand. Learn more about how we can help you pull together your beautiful Cape Cod Wedding. Archives
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