Best Weddings of 2017 :: Classic New England Wedding at Menauhant Yacht Club :: Ashley & Ryan

A classic New England wedding at it’s best and there’s no wonder why this charming coastal wedding made our Best Weddings of 2017! Photography by Liz Banfield. 

There is something so charming about this wedding. It’s hard to go wrong when you stick to classic New England style (right down to serving mini lobster rolls at cocktail hour!), but Ashley and Ryan also injected their fun, laid back personalities into their day. So there are plenty of lovely traditional details, including a church ceremony down the road from where the groom grew up, gorgeous soft florals, and vintage pastel linens. Then they made it their own with lots of personal touches, including a literal boat-full of beer, neon sunglasses for everyone on the dance floor and a fun, sporty version of a sparkler exit!

The Ceremony

Why did you choose this location for your ceremony? Grace Memorial Chapel is a beautiful and charming chapel located just 400 feet from Ryan’s family’s cape house – so the location was a given!

Who officiated your ceremony? How did you choose him/her? We asked a priest from Ryan’s parents’ and late grandfather’s church in Falmouth to officiate. We love his sermons and his energy; it was an easy decision.

What were your ceremony readings? Ryan’s cousin read a poem written by a friend of Ryan’s late grandfather. We also included a hymn, For the Beauty of the Earth.

What was your favorite thing about your wedding ceremony? The ceremony was very intimate, largely because the chapel is best suited for about 150 guests. We crammed everyone in, even adding a few folding chairs. It really felt as though our wedding party and parents in the front pews were all up there getting married with us. That feeling was very special.

The Reception

Why did you choose this location for your reception? Menauhant, Ryan’s family neighborhood in Falmouth, is where he has spent his summers since childhood and has always been a huge part of our love story. For our wedding we wanted to strike a balance between formal and laidback elements, and the cape is the perfect place for that. We always knew we would get married there.

How would you describe your reception? Fun! Hopefully that is a common answer, but we truly had a phenomenal time, which carried over to our guests’ overall experience. We also are not shy on the dance floor and spent plenty of our time there. That, coupled with the presence of our amazing friends and family, certainly helped create a fun vibe!

Ashley says, The only tiny issue was that the cape can get chilly at night. It was important to us that people stay cozy, so we had beautiful monogrammed blankets by Faribault draped over some of the chairs at the reception.

Are there any DIY details you’d like to tell us about? The week of the wedding we informed our bridesmaid, Lily, she was in charge of pimping out the kids’ table. She is a total wizard, and struck the perfect mix of pale blue and pale pink m&ms, bubbles, masks our young cousins could decorate, and so much more. We were so glad our younger guests were part of our wedding because they provided plenty of free entertainment rocking out on the dance floor during dinner!

What type of cake or dessert did you serve? Momofuku Milk Bar chocolate chip wedding cake with a white chocolate dipped strawberry. Our late night menu included mini ice cream cones and chipwiches.

Did you have a signature cocktail? Guests were greeted with lemonade, vodka, soda, and thyme cocktails in mason jars at the reception. Also, two days before the wedding, Ryan decided he just had to have Clase Azul tequila and Ashley agreed, especially because it comes in a pretty blue and white bottle. Several bottles were overnighted and a bartender commented he had never seen tequila disappear so fast at a wedding!

What was your first dance song? Father/daughter or mother/son dance?
First dance: The Way You Look Tonight
Father/daughter and mother/son: (I’ve Had) The Time of My Life (yes, the Dirty Dancing one!)

After the formal part of the reception was over, it was party time! Ice cream sandwiches were served, Ryan switched out his Prada shoes for Vans, and Ashley traded her Monique Lhuillier gown for something sassy with plenty of sparkly fringing – what else would you want to dance in?

What was the best advice you received as a bride? The planning process might be a bit consuming at times, but the moment the big day begins let it all go and enjoy yourself, no matter what. Don’t worry about how much time you spend speaking to each person – as long as your guests see the bride and groom enjoying their time together, everyone is happy.