THE COUPLE
As the childhood best friend of one of my college best friends, Gretchen has always taken up space in my heart in a positive way. Whenever I would think of her, or she would come up in conversation, I would vividly remember her big smile, her warm spirit, and her fun laugh. Gretchen is a welcomer - someone who is happy to include anyone in her circle. Even if you haven’t seen her in years, she makes you feel like you just saw her last week. She’s a good spirit. A kind soul. Special in the specialest of ways.
And in everything that Gretchen brings to the table by way of excitement and welcoming, her husband Ryan brings a quiet, calm, and comfortable vibe. They are both warm in their own respective ways. And when they are together, their warmth glows that much brighter - like the haze around the sun on a hot summer day.
THE VENUE
As you can probably already tell, I am a fan of Gretchen and Ryan. And one of the reasons why I am such a fan of them is because of how thoughtful they are. They don’t value extravagance - they value core memories and intentionality. So it only made sense that they got married in Gretchen’s childhood backyard on Cape Cod.
When planning the wedding, the one thing Gretchen mentioned over and over to me was how special her childhood home was - the proximity to the beach where she would go to clear her head, the path from the beach to her backyard that she was so excited to walk as her ceremony aisle with her dad.
Their wedding was on a November day near the water, and while Gretchen and Ryan knew there was a chance it would be cold, that didn’t matter to them at all. All that mattered was that they got to get married in a place they considered home.
THE DETAILS
Over my 13 years as a wedding photographer, I’ve noticed that November is becoming more and more of a popular wedding month. The time of year has the opportunity to hone in on the crisp colors of fall as well as the anticipation of the upcoming holidays. In November, as far as wedding details go, anything is fair game.
Gretchen and Ryan chose beautiful, colorful florals to pair with their wedding party that dressed in jewel tones. Hints of autumn. Hints of the upcoming holiday season. An absolute dream to photograph.
THE RECEPTION
Gretchen and Ryan’s backyard Cape Cod reception felt just like what they desired - a backyard family get-together. There was a pig roast, pie, and people just ENJOYED it. Barely any traditional formalities, the reception leaned into comfort, happiness, and celebration. Like most family gatherings do.
It was a backyard party on a cold November night, celebrating two great people getting married…and that was all.
This wedding felt like home - and not because I grew up in Boston. But because, to me, Gretchen and Ryan are home personified. What a gift to be in their orbit.
Cape Cod Wedding Vendors
Photography: Sweet Alice Photography // Venue: Private Family Estate - Pocasset, MA // Gown: David’s Bridal // Catering: Eat Your Heart Out Catering // Second Photographer: Ellysia F.
Wedding Date: November 10, 2019
