Coastal Charm and Gilded Age Glamour at a Seaside Newport Wedding

[section title=”The Planning”]
[field title=”Wedding Colors”][/field]
[field title=”Design / Vibe / Vision”]

Blue, light blue, sage, and white color scheme to keep everything organic and reminiscent of the sea. Our vision for the day epitomized the classic New England summer by the beach. The Chanler is a stunning Gilded Age mansion now transformed into a boutique hotel set atop the cliffs of Newport with the ocean as the backdrop. We wanted guests to feel the luxury that the Chanler exudes without feeling overly stuffy or formal. Attire was summer formal rather than black tie to encourage pops of color, summer suits, and beachy vibes. We went with an ocean blue, light blue, sage, and white color scheme to keep everything organic and reminiscent of the sea. Oysters are a favorite summertime food that the couple loves to enjoy together, and since the wedding took place on the beach in Newport, it felt like the perfect design theme to highlight throughout the wedding. The escort card wall had escort cards cut out in the shape of oyster shells, with the top of the wall saying “Have a shell of a time!” and an oyster-printed border that matched the invitation suite. Erica at Infinite Events did an incredible job of making our vision come to life and connecting us with the best vendors in the area. And Stoneblossom topped it all off with stunning floral arrangements!

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[field title=”Proposal Story”]

Joey and Jamie met in college right before he was set to graduate. They immediately hit it off, but given that I still had another year to finish at school and he was leaving to play professional basketball in Israel, they didn’t quite know where the relationship would go. Luckily, he returned to the US by the time Jamie was graduating, and we both started working in NYC. The connection just grew from there, but they both wanted to pursue new careers. Jamie set off for medical school in NH while Joey started a coaching career in basketball in TX. They did long-distance work over the next few years and eventually moved in together in Boston. Almost 10 years after their first meeting in college, Joey took Jamie on a walk around their favorite reservoir as a way to decompress after she took a 4-hour exam for her medical boards earlier that day. In the middle of the path, he pulled her aside, dropped down on one knee, and popped the question.

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[board_carousel title=”Getting Ready”]

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[board_carousel title=”Bridal Portraits”]

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[board_carousel title=”Flat Lays”]

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[section title=”The Fashion”]
[field title=”Wedding Gown”]

During a long and exhausting day of shopping at bridal boutiques all over NYC, Jamie, her mom, and her soon-to-be mother-in-law had their last appointment at Monique Lhuillier. Honestly, by that point, the bride was so exhausted from trying on dresses for the past 7 hours, she almost canceled. But Jamie’s mom always dreamed of her getting married in a Monique Lhuillier gown, so she agreed to stick it out for one last appointment. She was shocked to find the very last dress of the day was the one she’d end up choosing! It was the perfect balance of romance with a sexy edge. The lace was delicate without being overly floral. The dress was strapless, which Jamie was adamant that she didn’t want, but she loved every aspect of the dress so much that she ended up customizing it to lower the back and add matching straps made with the lace overlay.

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[field title=”Bridesmaid Dresses”][/field]
[field title=”Groomsman Attire”][/field]
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[board_carousel title=”Wedding Party”]

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[board_carousel title=”Ceremony”]

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[board_carousel title=”Cocktail Hour”]

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[section title=”The Details”]
[field title=”Food & Drink”]

Luckily, the food and drinks were the easiest options to choose! The Chanler is known for having excellent food, and everything is made in-house, which means we didn’t have to deal with an outside catering service. We wanted to highlight the local seafood fare Newport is known for, so a raw bar during cocktail hour was a must. During the dinner service, we added a mid-course lobster campanelle pasta that quickly became every guest’s favorite item on the menu. Jamie’s amazing husband let her choose BOTH signature cocktails, so she went with a spicy margarita and grapefruit Aperol spritz, which are her favorite summer cocktails. And to finish the night, the guests indulged in mini cheeseburgers and loaded tater tots as a late-night snack.

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[field title=”Florals & Decor”]For the flowers and decor, we aimed to bring the essence of New England’s summer by the sea into every detail of the wedding. Stoneblossom truly brought our vision to life with lush, organic floral arrangements that complemented the natural beauty of the venue. Soft ocean blues, light blues, sage greens, and whites were woven throughout the flowers and decor, evoking the colors of the sea and sky. Elegant yet relaxed, the florals featured a mix of delicate blooms, such as ranunculus, hydrangeas, sweetpeas, and Queen Anne’s lace, creating a romantic and timeless atmosphere. The arrangements were thoughtfully placed throughout the venue—on tables, at the altar, and even as part of the oyster-inspired escort card display. Erica from Infinite Events worked seamlessly with the vendors, ensuring the decor flowed effortlessly and had the perfect balance of sophistication and coastal charm. From the oyster-themed elements to the stunning floral accents, every detail felt both luxurious and warm, allowing guests to feel as though they were experiencing the beauty of Newport in the most personal and inviting way.[/field]
[field title=”Wedding Cake”]

Dessert was by far the most important aspect of the menu for the couple. For the cake, the couple worked with Confectionary Designs on a 3-tier cake. Mark, one of the owners, used the lace on the bride’s dress and replicated that on each tier. Then made stunning sugar flowers to match the floral arrangements in the bride’s bouquet and on the table arrangements. The couple chose two different cake flavors – chocolate cake with double trouble filling on one layer and almond crunch with fresh strawberries on the other layer, and a vanilla pound cake with elderflower lemon curd and fresh blueberries in each layer (to die for!). To complete the dessert display, the couple had Confectionary Designs make homemade Italian cookies (to celebrate the bride’s heritage) and also included chocolate chips, which were her dad’s favorite. Mini panna cotta, tiramisu, and chocolate mousse cups completed the display.

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[field title=”Readings, Ceremony Music, Reception Songs”][/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #1″]

Unfortunately, Jamie’s father passed away the month before the wedding. So Jamie and her mom made sure it felt like he was present throughout the day. The ceremony program had a special dedication, as did the welcome note guests found attached to their welcome gift. They also made sure to leave him a seat with a beautiful floral arrangement next to Jamie’s mom during the ceremony.

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[field title=”Special Detail #2″]

Jamie and her mom spent so much time working with Wouldn’t It Be Lovely on the design of the invitation suite. Her mom had the idea of commissioning a watercolor of the Chanler with the backdrop of the ocean and gorgeous surrounding gardens. That watercolor was used on the save-the-dates, the inner envelope of the invitation suite, and the welcome note! It came out so stunning.

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[field title=”Special Detail #3″]

Jamie’s mom and Erica had the brilliant idea of an S-shaped aisle to walk down during the ceremony. The aisle started from a secret garden pathway that the bride emerged from was lined with floral arrangements highlighting the blue, white, and sage color scheme. The area footage of the bride and her mother walking down it is amazing!

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[board_carousel title=”Reception”]

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