A Cape Cod Wedding

Why yes, I am going to dedicate a post to the wedding I attended about a month ago. I've been traveling, you understand. Plus, this was one amazing wedding that could not go un-blogged. Enjoy!

On August 27th at 4:30pm our good friends Mike and Trisha were married at the historic Highfield Hall in Falmouth, MA. Narrowly escaping Hurricane Irene - my heart goes out to the couple whose wedding at this very same venue for Sunday, August 28th, was canceled. Can you imagine? (Understanding, the devastation of Irene proved much worse for many, I'm not discounting that fact for a second.) But back to the blissfully happy, incredible fun weekend at hand. Adam and Mike are childhood friends, so since Adam was in the wedding we arrived on Friday afternoon in anticipation of the rehearsal dinner. We checked into our downtown Falmouth hotel - The Inn on the Square, settled into our room,and explored our quaint surroundings on North Main St. Even though I grew up on Cape Cod, the extent of my visits to Falmouth were high school soccer games and track meets. It is a good 30-45 minute drive from my hometown of Yarmouth Port and typically, if I do any additional travel during my visits to Cape Cod, it is to the Lower Cape. (Orleans, Nauset Beach, Wellfleet, Truro, Provincetown.) As you can see, Falmouth is a lovely town, highlighted by a sunny, blue skied afternoon (no doubt, the calm before the storm.) We woke up on Saturday to a thick blanket of fog and impending rainstorms. After a swim in the hotel pool, a hearty breakfast at Persy's Place and few relaxing hours in the room, it was off to Highfield Hall!The ceremony and reception were already moved indoors, where special touches adorned the space, like the bride and groom's initials hanging on the wall above them and a happily ever after banner strung below.The groomsmen kept it casual with tan linen pants, the lightest shade of sea foam green collared shirts and brown reef sandals.
The bridesmaids all wore a different shade of blue and varying styles of strapless dresses. I loved how they all looked unique yet cohesive. And the bride was of course, stunning. The ceremony was personalized and touching. Aww. Happily ever after indeed!Cocktail hour was held on the back wraparound porch.It proved to be a quintessential Cape Cod Wedding through and through. From the tastefully done beach themed table locators and decor, to the raw bars freshly shucked oysters, clams and shrimp cocktail.There was a lobster bake dinner complete with clam chowder and a whole lobster each with all the fixins. Were talking a mesh bag full of briny steamers, plump mussels and fork tender red bliss potatoes with a side of crispy, lightly dressed coleslaw and the sweetest late summer corn on the cob. Plus a slice of bread and lots of warm melted butter. You just cant beat a feast like this one. (The wedding officiator to my right, is allergic to shellfish - so I think that explains the face.)We tied on the traditional plastic lobster bibs and dug in. The rest of the evening was filled with joyous wedding festivities as they go. The bride and groom cake was adorned with golden sprinkles to look like sand, frosting seashells, classic Adirondack beach chairs and a white picket dune fence. Vanilla cupcakes with a citrusy orange frosting topped with gold sprinkles and candy starfish for the guests, were divine. There was a photo booth - one of the most amusing I've ever taken part in.
And of course, dancing. Lots of it.......late into the evening after the reception ended at Liam Maguire's Irish Pub downtown. We had such a blast that night, and the next morning as we dodged falling trees and narrowly escaped the hurricane. Luckily, it seemed everyone had already evacuated or buckled down, as we were one of the few cars on the road proving the quickest ride off Cape all summer.

Where was the last wedding you attended?

Summit Resort | Laconia, New Hampshire

Normally, I don't dedicate entire posts to condo or hotel reviews. But, occasionally, a place of rest inspires more words and photos than one small blurb can contain! The accommodations during our overnight stay in Laconia, New Hampshire at The Summit Resort were comfortable, spacious and relaxing. I only wish we had more time to spend in the glorious Lakes Region of the White Mountain State!For the little time we did have, we certainly made the most of our stay, beginning and ending with the outdoor pool. Set on the edge of a mountainside cliff surrounded by colorful flowers, the crystal clear pool waters and immaculate patio setting served as the location for our picnic lunch upon arrival. In hindsight, I totally should have photographed my salami, mozzarella and hot pepper sandwiches and called it a Summer Lunch Series! On chewy Italian bread and drizzled with olive oil and fresh basil, they were a worthy lunch contender and the recipients seemed to enjoy them. A Bud Light toast might have also kicked off the celebrations!

The next day, an early morning swim post-wedding festivities blissfully washed away any trace of a hangover. The Summit by way of outdoor as well as indoor activities offers so much more than we had time to take advantage of. (Indoor pools and Jacuzzi, Racquetball, game room, fitness center, volleyball, bocce, horseshoes and tennis courts.)

The resort condominiums have two bedrooms, two bathrooms and sleep six people. The master bedroom has a queen bed and a 2 person whirlpool. The second bedroom offers two twin beds while the living room sleeps 2 on the pull out couch.
The furniture in certain suites was slightly outdated, while others have been upgraded with a more modern look and flat screen TVs.
Our living room had what felt like an endless amount of space. I loved the wraparound fireplace! The Summit offers year round accommodations so while a fireplace won't enhance a summertime getaway, it certainly is a plus in the winter months.
Each suite features a fully equipped kitchen with a full-size refrigerator/freezer, dishwasher, self cleaning oven and microwave. Additionally, full-size washer dryers are located in the units.
The luxury of a balcony with adjoining doors to the master bedroom and living room were another plus. Above, Leah and I relax on one of the third floor balconies. Below, Adam enjoys a Bud Light on our second floor balcony.

Deck walkways and enclosed stairwells connect the condos within individual complexes located throughout the premises.The Summit Resort "overlooks" Lake Winnepasauke - I'm adding "overlooks" in quotes because while technically on the lake (you can slightly make it out through the trees from certain vantage points) I wouldn't say the views of the lake were a poignant draw. However, the overall look and feel of the resort surrounded by lush green trees and pristine landscapes were easily captivating. It certainly made a lovely setting for a pre-wedding couples photo shoot!

Just call us the picture family. Anyways, as you can see via the backgrounds, the buildings and grounds are well maintained. Even though it was a quick overnight, the Summit provided a gorgeous getaway location and I couldn't have been happier to spend the night!

"If There's Love....

...I just wanna have somethin' to do with it." ~Citizen Cope

It was a weekend filled with new and old friends and family, waterfronts and beach fronts, jacuzzis and limo rides, dancing and fire pits, seafood buffets and exquisite passed hors d'oeuvres, raw bars and open bars, amazing foods and even better people. It was a celebration of Carly and Cutlers love in all the best ways possible. From a calypso band belting the old school tunes at the rehearsal dinner to a DJ spinning the top 40 hits at the wedding, here is the second installment of photographs of my favorite people, moments, foods and drinks.

Ritz Carlton + rehearsal dinner recap - in case you missed it. The bride, bridesmaids and I awoke bright and early on the big day. Looking our best we meandered into Temple Orange for a light breakfast. Coffee ($5), Fried Egg ($3) and Hash Browns ($3) for me kept it simple and light on the wallet. Lobby photo shoots ensued. I wasn't sure if you had enough of the lobby in my previous post?! Adding people in the mix always bodes well for photo shoots, though. A trip to the jacuzzi before we began getting ready was a most relaxing event. As the morning wore on, the rain stopped and the sun made an appearance. How unbelievably gorgeous are the hotel grounds and the beach below them?The Terrace Suites offer comfy lounge chairs and breezy drapes, as well as easy access to the pools and beach. As 2:00 approached we were picked up by a most punctual limo driver. We threw back a whiskey shot or two on the way over to calm whatever existing nerves lingered. These are joyous and excited-for-the-bride nerves and they deserved to be chased by whiskey. We slipped into our dresses in the house next door to the chapel,

while drinking plastic cups of white wine.

This little guy got into his tux. Think he'll remember his parents wedding day? ;)Soon enough, we made our way down the aisle at the Royal Poinciana Chapel.Obviously I didn't have my camera with me at this time, but here is a photograph of the alter at the rehearsal. Carly made a stunning bride, just stunning. I'll never forget the look in Cutler's eyes as she approached. Beaming, glowing, glossy so as to maybe holding back a few tears, his heart ready to burst. Pure happiness and undeniable love. After a round or ten of professional photographs, we cruised down Ocean Boulevard back to the Ritz, poppin' champagne along the way. The newlyweds made their grand entrance at cocktail hour.

The appetizers during cocktail hour blew me away. Presentation wise they were classy and creative. Taste wise they were top notch. There was a broad variety to please every palate and plenty to go around. Cigar boxed mini baguette sandwiches boasted  ham and melted cheese on a warm crusty baguette wrapped in a brown paper bag.Black truffle mac-n-cheese was  elegant and laced with panko breadcrumbs.

The tuna tartare cones were fun!

Fried calamari and rock shrimp drizzled with a lemon aioli missed the camera. A mozarella tomato pesto bite with balsamic viniagrette drops were a playful take on classic flavors and ingredients. The lamb chops were exquisite. My grampy doesn't even like lamb, or so he thought. He raved after two and ate about five more. From the bar, the usual to start things off.
And Vodka Pineapples with a lime to follow. The reception was held down the hall at Angle a contemporary american "super club". A dark intimate space with sleek urbane decor, tonight done up with in glistening gold wedding essentials and white linens. Flowing tastefully through the room were elaborate white floral displays accented with pink roses and green leaves. Tables were dotted with floating candles. The food was phenomenal.For the salad course, a creamy bacon dressing over spinach greens with crispy empanadas and a citrus garnish. And the entrée - a breaded filet mignon over baked onion, potatoes au gratin with steamed vegetables and a moist juicy herb encrusted chicken. The meal had a little something for everyone.

And it was a meal worth raving over. Plated with a dollop of whipped cream and a drizzle of caramel, the vanilla raspberry buttercream cake was amazing. So was the rest of the evening. I'll spare the dance floor antics in an effort to finish up, even though nights like this, you never want them to end!After the reception we hung out at the fire pit terrace wrapped in teal and gold sequin blankets. And began our day there the next morning, too!We enjoyed brunch once again at Temple Orange. This time I splurged on Bloody Marys and Eggs Benedict.

A leisurely brunch was followed by a day at the pool.

The End.