Nantucket Weddings Unveiled

Today we have guest blogger Marty Kelly of Marty Kelly Papers giving us the 411 on how she came up with her designs.

When WellWed told me they would be shooting a tablescape on Nantucket in a sorbet color palette, I knew my designs would have to be super summery, fresh, and fun. For the menus and escort cards I chose beach umbrella and flip flop motifs, reminiscent of carefree moments in the summer sun. Knowing that sorbet was being served, I designed some colorful personalized word cloud cone wrappers. On each wrapper I printed the couple’s names and all sorts of loving sentiments and sweet nothings, like “joy, hope, smiles, forever, friendship, and family”.  Summer loving at its best!

photo by Zofia Photography

photo by Zofia Photography

This beautiful cake was created by Jodi of Jodi’s Cakes:

photo by Zofia Photography

These amazing, creative and fabulous tasting appetizers (trust us, we sampled them ALL) are by Kim Reed of A Taste of Nantucket:

photo by Zofia Photography

Great inspirations for your summer Island wedding!

Morning Everyone! It’s Brea here, and I just couldn’t resist talking about one of my favorite wedding elements this morning.

So, I have a thing for tented weddings. You may have noticed this from my website or if you are a fan of my Facebook page that I have a slight thing for those evening tent shots. I photograph a lot of tented weddings and I must say I get excited for that special glow that comes along with a stunning tent. It’s like a world of it’s own under there!

When one of my favorite tent companies was looking for some new photos for their catalog I of course e-mailed a few right over. (lets just say I had a couple of shots to share) And then a few weeks later received a package in the mail with copies of their shiny new catalog. I was super excited to see several of my tent photos featured on the stunning pages of their latest creation. But beyond that was some stellar information for those planning a tented wedding. All the details from the various types of tents to possible floor plans are laid out on the pages. It just goes to show what a professional company this is and the best part…. these tents are available on island at Nantucket Tents! They really know how to create an amazing space for your special day.

If you are planning a tented Nantucket wedding visit their website and take a look at all they have to offer. And check out a few shots of their Sperry Tents brochure below.

Phone : (508)228-5645
Email: Andegrennan@nantuckettents.com
www.nantuckettents.com

We are calling on the rental team at Great Point Properties to bring us the dish on how to rent a home on the island for family, friends or for yourself! Thanks to Laura and Greg for taking the time to provide some insight into how it all works.

Nantucket Weddings are a truly special experience but as is the case with most special experiences they often come with added hurdles. One of the major hurdles that individuals planning a Nantucket wedding come across is finding accommodations. It’s an island… there are only so many locations to stay!

You may want to consider renting a home to house your nearest and dearest. People often think that because Nantucket is a “Destination Wedding” that they will see some level of attrition from their guest list. Not always the case, Nantucket is a special place and those long lost aunts, uncles and college roommates, whom you have not spoken with in years, will be there. So you need to start helping guide them towards appropriate accommodations as soon as possible. Prospective tenants begin booking homes for the next season pretty much as they are packing to leave the island. So, people looking for rentals need to begin working on finding homes in the early fall to have the largest selection. Many of clients simply list Great Point Properties phone number and website on their save the date cards. We can help your guests find accommodations without your assistance, all the better, as you have a lot of planning to do!

Van Fleet Circle Rental

Once you have decided to book a home you should contact a real estate office directly. While there are sites that can help you find a rental without working through an agency, we offer expertise and guidance that will keep you from ending up in something awful. We are also an on-island point of contact, very helpful to your first time visitors. We also are very familiar with weddings on Nantucket and can help you find accommodations that are best suited to your family, the location of the ceremony and reception, etc… Just call us and tell us what you are looking for and we will send you a selection that is appropriate for your needs. Rentals on Nantucket can range from $1,500 a week for one bedroom cottages to $45,000 a week for estates so let us know your budget as this will be one of the primary determining factors.

Cliff Road Rental

One thing that must be kept in mind is that the majority of rentals run Saturday to Saturday. So, if you are getting married on a Saturday you will need to find a rental that turns over on Sunday, this can be quite rare. Should you be getting married in early June or late September, you may find homeowners who are more receptive to having a different turnover day but if its in the high season (mid June to mid September), it will most likely be a Saturday.

The long and short of it is that at we know that this is a special occasion and if you contact us we will do all that we can to make your, or your wedding guests stay on Nantucket a special one.

North Beach Street Rental

All photos are courtesy of Great Point Properties. If you see a rental that interests you please contact them directly at 508-228-2266.

Griffin-vites Stationery is designed around artist, Sara Fitzgerald O’Brien’s original watercolor illustrations. Her talent shines in her custom designs and are a unique piece of art each on their own. We asked Sara to talk more about what she does and the products she creates.

Offering everything from save-the-dates to rehearsal dinner invites… wedding invitation sets to map cards . . . program booklets to favor tags … we cater to all your paper needs!  The studio prides itself in providing not only custom papers, but pieces that are fresh, colorful and stylish.  Because our stationery incorporates personalized details about our couples and their weddings, we are lucky enough to work on a wide range of designs, with ever-changing color palettes and creative themes.  Whether on the hunt for a laid-back seaside motif, a bold floral inspired look or an invite set that shows off a favorite pastime (even a four-legged friend!) - Griffin-vites will provide you (and your guests!) with beautiful stationery that is sure to get noticed!

Here’s a peek at a few of our ’shoreline’ inspired looks:

An invite set displaying Sara’s starfish and seaweed illustrations in lovely soft, muted tones.  Perfect for an understated, yet elegant, coastal wedding.

A glimpse at a reception card from our new Nantucket Collection.  This element displays not only a crisp navy & white striped border and blue hydrangea blossoms, but also a Nantucket basket purse with a whimsical whale topper!

This invitation set was created for a couple with a love of the surf (and for their chocolate lab pup!).  Each one of the paper pieces brought forth the look of the beach, from the old woody wagon on their invites to the sandcastle painted on their accommodation cards!

Truly personalized, this program booklet included illustrations reflective of the ceremony landscape.  Our couple was married on a family estate along the ocean and hoped to mirror some of their most cherished details from the grounds: the program cover centered around the carriage house weathervane — and within the pages, paintings of a much-enjoyed tree-hung hammock, nearby beach fence and an off-shore island.

To see all of Sara’s amazing creations visit her website at www.Griffin-vites.com

Today we have guest blogger Heidi from Parchment to share her expertise with our readers:

There are so many wonderful and creative companies out there producing amazing wedding invitations. As you begin the process of choosing your invitations, it may feel quite daunting with all the choices out there! My advice to you is to visit your stationer a few times before making that final decision, don’t expect to find the perfect thing on your first visit. The more you look, the more you will hone in on the style you are attracted to. Also, when visiting your stationer, bring in any pictures or samples of styles you like. This will help us find the look you want at the right price for your budget. Remember, if we own a stationery store, we most likely LOVE paper… and we want you to love your invitations as much as any other element of your Big Day!

Now onto the fun part: the lines that I carry. I must confess, like a mother speaking of her children, I do not have a favorite. I love them all for different reasons! I think it is best to group them by category…

Letterpress: I work with 3 companies who only offer letterpress. These are relatively small companies, each with their own style. The first is Ceci New York, which is also the most recent addition to my line up. Ceci New York presents their line in four different albums, representing four styles within the line: destination, ornate, botanical and classic. Being in the capital of destination weddings, the destination album is my favorite within the collection. The designer has some unique ways of incorporating invitations to all the events surrounding the destination wedding, such as welcome parties, golf outings, brunches after the wedding, etc. Not to mentions the creativity in her designs - she offers a truly unique product! Second in the letterpress line-up is Dauphine Press, a California- based company. I can’t say enough about the “can-do” attitude of the designers at Dauphine. One of my favorite pieces is a save-the-date which incorporates a local icon, the compass rose on the side of one of our downtown buildings. They helped me pull the elements together and created a show-stopping piece for my customer. Egg Press, a small company based in Portland, Oregon rounds out the letterpress line up. Egg press has a much more clean and contemporary look than the other two letterpress companies. I love the understated elegance of their products.

Flat Printing: Three of the lines I represent are devoted to flat printing. All three of these lines tend to be a little more contemporary in feeling, although don’t rule them out if you are going for a traditional look! The first, created right here on Little Ol’ Nantucket, is Marty Kelly Nantucket. Since she lives here, Marty is familiar with all of our island icons and incorporates them in a fresh way with layered card stocks. They really give wedding guests a feeling for what Nantucket is like before they arrive. Next is another California based company, b.t. elements. Like Marty Kelly, they offer layered card stocks and colorful options for everything from save-the-dates before the wedding to adorable favor boxes for your guests. Luscious Verde is a Cleveland, Ohio based company. They also have a “can-do” attitude and the thing that makes their line unique are the die-cuts they offer. I had a bride who is an artists, so we created place cards through Luscious Verde which were shaped like an artist’s palette. It was a unique way to incorporate a very important part of the bride’s personality.

Everything Else… These next companies are larger companies who offer more than one type of print method. They tend to a slightly more traditional look, but again, don’t rule them out if that is not your look! Prentiss Douthit is an Alabama based company. They mostly offer either flat printing or engraved invitations. I think I would describe them as “sweetly sophisticated”, just the way they set their type and design elements, it has a somewhat soft look to it. Next is William Arthur, and under the William Arthur umbrella comes Vera Wang as well. My favorite thing about William Arthur is that I think they present an outstanding value for the quality of the card stock they offer. Yes, there are less expensive companies out there, but when you dip into those lower price points, you start to sacrifice the nice, heavy card stocks for the more “flimsy” ones. Also, with William Arthur and Vera Wang offering engraving, letterpress, thermography and flat printing, they are able to create any look within your budget constraints.

Island vendors Jen Shepherd of Placesetters and myself  (Dawn Kelly of Soiree Floral) spent some time last week down in the Big Easy at the Special Event Show.  While we walked the floor and attended seminars one ’surprise’ kept coming up - the color red for weddings.  I was a little taken aback - red can be a bold, controlling color and if it isn’t used correctly, can end up looking like a cheesy Valentine’s dance gone wrong.

When used the right way, however, this color can be sophisticated, demure, sexy and can really lay the groundwork for some pretty amazing eye candy.  The photos below are a great example of how to incorporate the color with other strong elements to create a harmonious balance.

The first element is the shape of the serpentine table (not something we ever see on Nantucket, but a fun concept).  The linens take center stage from the band on the linen to the amazing looking chair covers.  Don’t they remind you a little of a mermaid’s tail?  The black floral containers really anchor everything together and calm the red down.  Along with crystals and feathers (they aren’t going anywhere for 2010 - they showed up in a lot of designs) and pops of silver the layering on this table helped achieve a cohesive look.   Even the napkins have been rolled to look like rosebuds, clever!  The glassware on this table is also a line that is carried by Placesetters and is a favorite for island events.  Enjoy the eye candy!

photo by Dawn Kelly

details on the tabletop

Grace Ormonde Weddings Style New England just hit stands and we were thrilled to see some of our island vendors featured in print!

First up we have Jodi’s Cakes. One of our island favorites for sweet treats! You must remember her whale cake from this past summer! She created this pale blue cup cake tower with confectioned coral and a mini cake on top. Perfect for an island wedding and still whimsical enough for that playful bride.

This cake was created in 2009 for a summer wedding at The Galley. Photograph by Brea McDonald Photography. Congratulations to all of you for catching the eye of those at Grace Ormonde!

More to come on this from Soiree Floral or her featured table design that was also in this issue…stunning!!

Mel and Sparky were married this past fall on Nantucket Island. The fall is a favorite time of year on the Nantucket for many who visit and live here. The island slows down a bit from the summer bustle and the weather is fantastic!

Mel and Sparky wanted a fun filled wedding with a laid back appeal. After their ceremony at St. Paul’s church they zipped off in a vintage Jeepster, a classic island car, and met up with their wedding party at Cisco Beach. With stocked coolers they watched the sunset and took advantage of some picture perfect light for their photos with Brea McDonald Photography. Relaxing at the beach is what Nantucket is all about so taking some down time to enjoy the scenery was a nice way to keep the photos fun and casual.

Their wedding reception was held at nearby Cisco Brewery where guest got to sample some of the islands own brewed beers, wines and spirits. But, the real excitement started when the music from Boston DJ’s got rolling! Everyone, I mean everyone was on that dance floor till the bitter end. Complete with old school dance circles, Elvis impersonators and the classic last song of the night from Journey… you know the one!

As an end of the night surprise, orchestrated by event planner Nantucket Island Events, guests lined the walkway with sparklers to send the newly weds off into the night. Perfect for a groom named Sparky!

Ceremony: St. Paul’s Episcopal Church

Reception: Cisco Brewery

Event Planner: Nantucket Island Events

Flowers: Flowers on Chestnut

Catering: Nantucket Catering Company

Cupcakes: Nantucket Cake Company

Tent: Sperry Tents

DJ: Boston DJ’s

Thinking about having a Nantucket wedding under a tent? Or a clambake rehearsal dinner on the beach? This new website, as they say, has “got you covered!”. Sperry Tent of Nantucket is now Nantucket Tents. Their new website design does a fantastic job of showing off their stunning tents inside and out. Nantucket Tents specializes in local and destination weddings. Having worked in almost every possible venue on the island they know how to handle it all. From the backyard BBQ, intimate dinner party on the beach, to the largest wedding reception, Nantucket Tents has the inventory and resources to service any and all type of occasion.

Our talented and creative NWU member Marty Kelly from Marty Kelly Paper shared with us a few tips about Save the Dates.

With the holidays fast approaching, season’s greetings are not the only thing in production at Marty Kelly Paper. As brides work out the details of their 2010 weddings, ‘tis the season for save-the-dates.

Generally couples send out save-the-dates 6-8 months before their wedding, but for Nantucket you can send them out even earlier. Traveling to the island and booking accommodations takes some prior planning, and guests really appreciate the advanced notice. Your save-the-date can include helpful information about how to get to Nantucket and where to stay, or simply provide a link to your wedding website where all this information can be available to your guests.

This is a perfect time to be sending save-the-dates for spring and summer weddings, and it’s not too early to be gathering information and working on designs for your fall wedding. Plus it’s just so exciting… seeing your names and wedding date in print makes the coming celebration feel very real!

Your save-the-dates provide your guests with a first glimpse at the style of your wedding. By choosing designs that reflect the simple elegance and beachy charm of Nantucket, you invite your guests to share in your love for this special place. Here’s a sneak peek at some hot-off-the-press save-the-dates for 2010: