Will I travel for weddings? Hell yes I will. Especially if it’s the wedding of two incredible people like Elise and Eddie. They were married at Chatham Bars Inn, a beautiful beachfront resort in Cape Cod, Massachusetts. This was a pretty big deal. I’ve known Eddie for years and he is a Philly boy at heart. I photographed his sister’s wedding at the Ritz Carlton – Philadelphia just a couple of years ago. Elise’s heart resides in Cape Cod and she has always known that it had to be the Cape. Her family has vacationed in the area since the 60s and she couldn’t imagine saying “I do” anywhere else.
The weather that week was all over the place – sun, rain, heat, cold… We were given a fairly chilly day with beautiful soft clouds. It was the perfect light for their beachside fete.
The wedding parties got ready in their separate quarters. Eddie gave Elise a large canvas print of the walk from her parents’ place in Cape Cod to the beach over sunset and a stunning diamond tennis bracelet.
Elise gave Eddie the Baume and Mercier watch that he had been coveting for quite some time.
The two shared their first look with a few onlookers around the side of the property.
We had budgeted plenty of time (yes!) for pictures of the two of them. We headed down to the sand.
If you’ll recall the Old City & South Philly engagement session these two shared, you’ll remember that being totally serious is really not for them. There was plenty of goofing off and some Miss Mary Mack thrown in for good measure.
We were able to take care of all of the formals before the wedding. Trust that there were plenty of lovely, smiling, formals but the groom’s attendants didn’t care much for formality.
Eddie is a very talented graphic designer and his custom invitation suite was a stunner. With his own concept and design, the large square invite was luxe letterpress on one side and printed wood on the other. Note the clever use of e2 in the couple’s MA logo.
I found Elise sharing a few moments with her father in the Chatham Bars Inn library before the ceremony.
Elise and Eddie’s Jewish-Catholic ceremony was a unique and touching fusion of the most important aspects of them. Elise’s mother met Elise and her father to walk down the aisle to Eddie. Elise’s uncle presided over the ceremony. Personal vows brought tears and laughter. Their guests shared seven blessings with the couple and they had the most perfect interfaith ring exchange ever.
Elise: “Behold you are consecrated to me with this ring according to the law of Moses and Israel.”
Eddie: “I am united with you, by this ring, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.”
The ceremony ended and the sun began to set.
Eddie’s design talents shone in little touches throughout the day: escort cards, signage, and a custom metal e & e logo for the cake table.
The wedding party opened up the reception to Elise and Eddie’s first dance – “That’s How Strong My Love Is” by Otis Redding.
This was followed by a fairly dangerous hora.
The speeches were fantastic. Again more laughter and tears. Lisa, Eddie’s sister and woman of honor, brought down the house when she got much of the wedding party and parents in on a little surprise for Eddie – clowns. Eddie is terrified of clowns.
The band was one of the best bands I have ever seen at a wedding. They had the place shaking and I’m pretty sure everyone was out their rocking it (including yours truly).
It was an amazing day and everything they had imagined in the day. There isn’t a thing they would have changed about it.
And catch all the tears whenever you cry
I’ll be the breeze after the storm is gone
To dry your eyes and love you all warm.
