Hot off the press – The premier issue of Southern New England Weddings Destination Edition! We are thrilled one of the features is the Jill Person Photography Cape Cod real wedding of Lauren & Alex.
Lauren and Alex Carabelli – 6.4.11 -Chatham, Massachusetts – by Celia Parsons for SNEW
Cape Cod weddings are known for casual seaside style, but Lauren and Alex Carabelli wanted to exchange their vows in black-tie elegance at their favorite beach destination. “I’ve always loved urban glamour, but we also love the Cape’s laid-back feel,” says Lauren, who has summered in Wellfleet since she was a child. She first brought the groom to the Cape while they were dating in college. “He fell in love with it the same way I did,” she says.
With two large families and an extensive group of mutual friends, the couple looked for a location that could accommodate all their guests without losing a sense of intimacy. They chose the Wequassett Resort and Golf Club in Chatham, overlooking Pleasant Bay, for it beauty and flexibility. “We wanted our wedding to be fancy, with everyone dressed up and looking great, but we didn’t want it to be traditional or formal,” says Lauren. “They [the resort] were very amenable to tailoring it to what we wanted.”
Unique touches made the ceremony meaningful. Aviator sunglasses, a trademark from the couple’s college days, were offered to guests from a basket signed, “You may be blinded by our love.” A close friend, ordained for the occasion, married the couple, while a “bridesman” and “groomsmaid” stood by at the altar.
Following a “no seashell, sand or lighthouse rule.” The couple drew inspiration from sea glass hues of blue and green for the reception. “It was a beach wedding without being too literal,” says Lauren. Sparkling chandeliers and stately arrangements of while calla lilies were a dramatic counterpoint to the coastal backdrop, while a menu of “lobster fillet of filet and lobster” were classic Cape Cod.
Throughout the evening, guests wrote well-wishes on Cape postcards and dropped them in a vintage blue suitcase, a nod to the Cape’s vacation vibe. For favors, hand-painted aprons from Blue Water Fish Rubbings of Chatham carried one of the groom’s favorite seafood recipes tucked into the pocket.
The weekend celebration also included a rehearsal dinner that the Wayside Inn in Chatham and a Sunday brunch and clambake at the Chequessett Yacht and Country Club in Wellfleet, both captured by wedding photographer Jill Person. “It was wonderful to spend three days with the couple and guests,” says Jill. “They all became so comfortable with the camera, which comes through in the photos.”
And photos weren’t the only tangible memory this couple walked away with. Naomi Raiselle of Generations Cinemastories was there to document their day on film, and collect comments on camera for the new couple. “Since friends brought the couple together, friends were the central focus of the wedding,” says Naomi. Everyone had comments to share about the couple, which will make the wedding film so meaningful and rich in the years to come.”
“We had the best time, with so many moments that were special in their own way,” says Lauren. “There are so many rules with weddings, but you can still have a wedding that is personal and speaks to you as a couple.”
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Venues – Rehearsal Dinner: Chatham Wayside Inn; Wedding Ceremony and Reception: Wequassett Resort and Golf Club; Post Wedding Brunch: Chequessett Yacht & Country Club; Day of Planner: Francie Dorman of Tangorra Wedding Planning; Photography: Jill Person Photography; Band: Boston Players; Ceremony Musicians: Intermezzo Chamber Players; Florist: Lilacs Florals; Hair: Demiche Beaute; Makeup: Dani Wagener; Transportation: Cape Destinations; Cake: Delicious Desserts; Video: GENERATIONS cinemastories; Draping/Lighting: Ormonde Productions; Rentals: Be Our Guest; Dress: Monique Lhuillier – The Bridal Atelier; Invitations/Paper Products: Lauren Brown Studio; Save the Dates/Wedding Signage: Ice Cream Social; Favors: Blue Water Fish Rubbings
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The Cape Cod Real Wedding of Lauren and Alex is featured in the premier issue of Southern New England Weddings Destination Edition. Photographs by Jill Person Photography. Jill Person Photography is located in Boston’s Back Bay on Newbury Street. Jill Person and Laurén Killian can be reached via phone at 617.236.1662 or via email at [email protected], [email protected]