Thank You.

One of my many amazing couples
last year at Bourne Farm

I am feeling really sappy today and have been reminiscing about all of the years I have been working with amazing couples, their family and friends, and some fabulous vendors and just had to pause to write this post and say THANK YOU.  I would not be where I am today, coming up on my 7th Anniversary in September, without all of you.  Your kind words that you share about my team and me on wedding websites, to your friends, to others wanting to get married on beautiful Cape Cod are just unreal and I am so gracious for every last word.

And to my awesome team - Ashley, Mandee and Marni - Cape Cod Celebrations would definitely not have grown to where it is today without you.  You are all amazing people and your continued support does not go unnoticed. 

To my wonderful husband and son who deal with my insane schedule every year - Thank you :)  Your unconditional love and support makes me who I am and allows me to do what I love.

I cannot wait to work with all of our couples this year, one down and a lot more to go!  We will be at some beautiful locations with some really different and new concepts which we cannot wait to share with all of you! 

And don't forget the NotWedding this November!  Another amazing opportunity I cannot believe I get to bring to life - Thanks Callie!

Thank you so much.

Be inspired by Cape Cod for your wedding

So you obviously chose Cape Cod to have your wedding for a reason - whether it be the beautiful beaches, the relaxed feel, the stunning views or just your amazing memories of summering or growing up on Cape - so why not take full advantage of what you have around you and become inspired by everything Cape Cod for your wedding!  If you want to give your guests a real Cape Cod feel for your wedding day, be sure to read on for ways to take the beauty of the Cape and intertwine it into your wedding day.

Colors

Take a look around you the next time you are on the Cape.  I am willing to bet that the majority of the time you are here you are on the beach, gazing at the beautiful sky, and staying for the sunset.  Now imagine all of the colors you see while there!  The blues in the water and sky, the browns in the sand, the greens in the beach grass and the pinks, purples and yellows in the sunset.  Now take all of those amazing colors and see if they fit your theme, personality, etc. and put them to work on your wedding day!

Flowers

If you haven’t guessed it already, the Cape is known for it’s Hydrangeas.  White, blue, purples, pink, green, you name it.  And in all shades nonetheless.  You could also go all natural and bring in simple beach grass or beach plumbs.  Lilacs, daffodils and tulips are also beautiful flowers to incorporate in a spring wedding on Cape Cod.  

Lighthouses

Lighthouses are an amazing structure to be inspired by on Cape Cod.  Light up your event with lanterns - metal, glass, paper.  Find a company that can up-light your venue or tent to bring it to the next level of elegance or fun.  You could also use the lighthouse and their use in your vows or in your ceremony program.  They are a beautiful symbol of lighting the way on an amazing journey.

Everything Nautical

If you haven’t noticed, Cape Cod is a very nautical location!  How can it not be when it is surrounded by water? There are so many ways to incorporate a nautical theme into your wedding, but here are a few that you may, or may not have seen before:

Anchors, starfish, sand dollars, bouys, boats, nautical maps, rope, rocks, driftwood, sea glass, nautical flags, and the list goes on.

Relaxation

Most people thinking of visiting the Cape and can’t wait to kick off their shoes, throw on their flip flops and relax on the beach - so be sure to make your guests feel relaxed at your wedding!  Provide flip flops for the dance floor, greet them with a signature drink - maybe a Cape Codder? - and plan ahead to ensure a smooth event.  Maybe consider transportation as well if your location is not easy to get to so that they do not have to stress about driving.  Anything to make your guests feel welcomed and on vacation enjoying your favorite location goes a long way!

Top Reasons to Hire Cape Cod Wedding Vendors

You have decided that Cape Cod is your perfect location for your fairytale wedding, the location is booked, the scene is set, but now it is time to find your vendors.  From florists and photographers, to DJs and caterers - everything is available to you right here on Cape Cod.  Cape Cod is a destination wedding location and a majority of the couples that get married here are not residents, but have a history of coming to the Cape with their families for years.  And because of the destination value, many businesses have started on Cape Cod to work with these couples on their dream wedding.  So today, I am going to give you the top reasons why you should hire Cape Cod vendors, instead of considering those who may have to come over the bridge.

1. In the Know

If you hire a Cape Cod vendor 9 times out of 10 they are going to be in the know about your venue.  Local photographers can recommend places near by to take photos, local caterers will know the ins and outs of certain venues - like what you can and cannot do on site - and other vendors will most likely have best practices at that location.  Cape vendors also know about, and how to deal with, traffic and how to get around it!  And that can be a big deal!

2. Bridge Traffic

If I have to pick a number one, this would be it.  Cape vendors do not have to deal with bridge traffic!  Most weddings are on weekends and most of the traffic coming to the Cape is on weekends - so if you hire local vendors, they do not have to worry about how early they have to leave so that they won’t be sitting in traffic trying to get over the bridge to your wedding!  

3. Keep it Local

If you haven’t heard it before, Cape Codders are big believers in shopping locally to support our economy here on our little slice of heaven.  So when it is possible, locals shop local and we all love when visitors shop local as well.  It just means that the more that comes back into our community, the more we can keep the Cape striving and a fabulous place for couples to come to get married every year!

4. Locals know Locals

It is always so refreshing for any vendor to work a wedding and know most of the other vendors you have selected for your event, especially when they are all from Cape Cod.  When you are working with your planner or catering manager, ask them about locals they they recommend and who they have had great experiences with.  This will help you to narrow down those in the community that will fit your style, budget and needs.

As a planner on Cape Cod, I do try my best to stay local as often as I can.  From time to time, my couples have already booked their photographer, band, or other vendor from off Cape and it is my job to be sure the vendors are educated on how to get to the locations and warn them about possible traffic.  So if you do end up booking someone from off Cape, be sure that they are well aware of the travel time to your venue and that they leave at least 2 extra hours in the summer on a weekend to ensure they get to where they need to be on time!  I can’t tell you how many times I have had a vendor stuck in traffic!

Top 5 things to consider for an at home wedding on Cape Cod

So you have decided to take the leap and have the perfect reception location in mind - only thing is...it is a blank canvas.  An open space in your parent’s/grandparent’s/friend’s backyard on Cape Cod that needs tents, tables, chairs, bathrooms, you name it.  You are not alone.  Many Cape Cod weddings take place in beautiful, private locations that need many things brought in to make it happen, so that is why we have compiled a list of the top 5 things to consider when planning an at home event.

1. Space

When you get the idea to have your wedding in a backyard, your first step will be to make sure you have the space to hold all of your guests.  I recommend starting by calling a tent company and having them come out to see the space and measure for you.  This way they can give you all of the options.  It helps to have your guest list close to final so that you can let them know how many seats you will need for dinner.  You also need to have an idea of what  kind of food you want to have - buffet or plated - and if you want round or rectangular tables.  This all helps to map out if you would have enough space for your dream wedding.  

2. Budget

One word: Rentals.  When you have a backyard event on Cape Cod, or anywhere for that matter, you have to bring in EVERYTHING.  Tables, chairs, flatware, china, glassware, tent, bathrooms, dance floor, caterer, ovens, generators, and the list goes on.  I don’t mean give you this list and use all CAPS to scare you, but to make sure you know that this is a big portion of having an event at home.  Sometimes it makes sense to hire a professional to assist you in managing all of these vendors, take the stress off of everything and to probably even help you save some money!

3. Plan B

If any of your backyard wedding is scheduled to take place outside of a tent, be sure you have a plan B.  Nine times out of ten, you will not like plan B at all, but if you don’t have plan B, you will be stuck in the rain!  Ask your tent company about last minute options for a backup tent.  Sometimes you can pay a deposit to have the tent on your order and then cancel that week if the forecast says you are in the clear.  Paying for that peace of mind may just be worth it!

4. Insurance, Permits & Noise Ordinances

Ok, so I am making #4 really 4, 5, & 6, but they all relate.  These are all legally related items that you need to look into when having a backyard event.  Usually you can get insurance easily by adding on a one day rider onto your homeowner’s insurance.  Also, make sure you know what kind of permitting you need to have a tent in your town.  Most tent companies will actually cover this for you.  And last but not least, call your town to ask about noise ordinances.  Most towns on Cape are 10pm, but some differ.  I also always recommend killing your neighbors with kindness and visiting them in the weeks leading up to the event with a bottle of wine and letting them know about the wedding, especially if they are not invited.  This way you can possibly avoid the cops being called due to noise.

5. Parking

Parking is something that seems to be overlooked a lot for backyard events and always needs to be taken into consideration.  Do you have ample parking on site or do you need to shuttle in all of your guests from their hotels?  Do you have street parking, but want to hire a valet service to make sure that your guests can easily park?  There are many different options to ensure a smooth parking situation, but be sure you have it under control.

Did I talk you out of it yet?  Don’t let me do it!  Backyard events are totally worth every second of the planning process!  Yes it can be stressful at times, but the outcome is always so beautiful, original and fun!  There are definitely other aspects you will need to consider when planning a backyard event, but these top five are the best ones to start with before you sign on the dotted line.  And if you feel you need more assistance, always ask for help!

Cape Cod Celebrations' NotWedding Experience

At the end of February, Marni and I flew down to Atlanta to attend our first ever NotWedding.  Needless to say, the 3 day/2 night experience was amazing.  We met some awesome people, learned a lot about what do to for our NotWedding taking place on Cape this November and walked away with ideas spilling out of our ears!  Many photos, notes and videos later, we returned back to the Cape and were able to announce the NotWedding Cape Cod date on March 15th.

Marni and I arrived in Atlanta on a Sunday morning, grabbed lunch with a fabulous waitress down the street from our hotel, took a quick nap (seeing that we had been up since 4:30am!) and met NotWedding creator Callie for dinner at Atlanta NotWedding caterers restaurant, Sun in My Belly.  Can you say delicious?!  We were greeted by Callie with a box of Krispy Kremes, enjoyed a fabulous dinner with lots of conversation and made our way back for a good nights sleep so that we could be ready to assist at the NotWedding the next day.

Monday we arrived at the Mason Murer Fine Art center just outside of the city with our Starbuck's in hand and got to work moving 300 chivari chairs.  We watched as the NotBride arrived to get her hair and make-up done, as the vendors came in and out to decorate their tables, set-up the ceremony space, take photos & video and so much more.  The gallery was buzzing with creativity.

At 5:45pm guests began to arrive, at 6:15pm the ceremony began.  Guests then enjoyed a wonderful buffet dinner from Sun in My Belly and dancing from an super fun Atlanta band.  The Tunnel of Love opened for guests to learn about the vendors and the night ended after the bride and groom made their exit.

Marni and I retreated to our hotel - aching after moving 300 chairs three times - looked at each other, exhausted and knowing that we both loved every minute of it. 

Enjoy the (iPhone) photos from our trip, view more by checking out the pics on the NotWedding's facebook page and mark your calendar for the first ever NotWedding Cape Cod November 24, 2013 at the Sea Crest Beach Hotel!

The 300 chairs...

Ceiling Installation

Another installation with gold painted plastic spoons!

Ceremony space coming together

This vendor, Fine & Fleurie, was started by a girl I want to high school with on Cape!

The NotCouple

NotBridesmaid (Emily Hearn) & Groomsman (her husband) - Sung the processional and recessional at the ceremony

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Top 5 Things To Do Once You Get Engaged and are Planning a Cape Cod Wedding

Photo by Stacey Hedman

You’re engaged!  Yay!  The ring is sparkling, you can’t get the grin of your face and you have updated your facebook status.....now what?  We have put together a list for you to get on your way to planning your perfect Cape Cod wedding after you have said yes!

1. Get a manicure
Funny, but true - you don’t want that sparkly new bobble to be overshadowed by some ugly nails!  Go out and treat yourself to a manicure to show off your diamond!  You can also find some pretty cheap, and awesome, press on french manicures now a days as well that will last longer!

2. Make your guest list
Open up an excel doc, word doc, Google doc, or whatever your preference is for being somewhat organized and start that guest list.  Think of close family, friends, ask your parents about who they will want to invite, and make sure you have everyone that you would want to be there.  Now go back and look at your list again.  Are there guests that should be on the B list instead?  Make sure your numbers are manageable.  And remember, if you are having a true destination wedding, an average of 20% of your guests will not attend.  There are also guests that you have to invite, but you know will not be able to make it.

3. Figure out your budget
Sit down with your fiance and start talking dollars.  How much will each of you be putting into the budget?  What about parents?  Will they be helping with half, certain items like the dress and dinner or the rehearsal dinner?  It may be helpful for you to check out lists online that show you traditional ways that the costs are split - here is a quick list from Real Simple.  Once you have your budget, you will have to compare that to how many people you are planning to invite.  Do the numbers make sense with your budget?  Do you have to cut back on the guest list to ensure you have the wedding of your dreams?

4. Find a venue & set a date
Fair warning: Unless you have had your heart set on a location on Cape Cod since you were 8 years old and you have an unlimited budget, this part of the process can be the most stressful.  But rest assured, that once you have the date and venue set it gets easier from here on out.  It is always good to reach out to any and all venues that you think would fall into your budget.  Check their availability and ask for their pricing.  This may be another good time to get out an excel doc to start comparing your options.  Every venue works differently, so it is not as easy as comparing apples to apples.  Stay tuned for another post regarding what to ask venues before you book!  But also check out this past post about how to choose your reception location.

5.  Hire a planner
I have to do it and say that one of the best things you can do once you get engaged is hire a wedding planner.  Wedding planners have connections on the Cape and can save you hours and hours of time in finding locations that fit your budget and your guest count.  They can then go on to save you money and stress throughout the planning process.  I am not just saying this because I am a planner, but when you come across other posts on the web regarding what to do after you get engaged, almost all of them say to do this!  It is totally worth looking into!

New Bridal Show Alternative Coming to Cape Cod!

It's here and we are so excited to announce our BIG news that we have been working on for a year!!  Cape Cod Celebrations is bringing a new bridal show alternative to Cape Cod this fall called the NotWedding!


Complete with a sit-down dinner, an emotional ceremony and a dance-party reception, the NotWedding has become a killer alternative to a bridal show. The hand-selected vendors perform their services as they would at a real wedding, and the “wedding guests” get to hear the music, taste the cakes, and smell the flowers… while enjoying a night of great food, dancing and surprises, leaving brides-to-be saying “I want my wedding to be just like that!”.

Marni and I attended the NotWedding in Atlanta at the end of February and it was nothing short of amazing.  Over 300 guests celebrated with the NotCouple and were inspired through a wonderful group of vendors.  Check out the video of the NotWedding Atlanta here.

The Cape Cod event will take place on November 24th at the Sea Crest Beach Hotel in Falmouth.  Tickets are limited, so brides - be sure to get yours early!  And follow The NotWedding on facebook so that you can watch for our inspiring photo shoots, meet our NotCouple, follow other NotWeddings and so much more!

We are also now accepting applications from any and all Cape Cod vendors online. Watch the video - it is absolutely inspiring!

Have questions?  Contact us at capecodcelebrations@yahoo.com or jamie@thenotwedding.com