The majority of Gregory and Hannah’s family live in Massachusetts, so when the couple decided to say “I do” in Cape Cod, everyone was excited and on board. “My grandparents own a bed & breakfast in Harwich called the Commodore Inn,” says the bride. “All of our family had a place to stay for the week, so it made it easier for everyone to travel.” The wedding location was sentimental for the couple in many ways because they have a long history with the area.

“My husband is in the U.S. Coast Guard and we relocated shortly after the wedding to Florida,” says Hannah. “The wedding was bittersweet, but we were able to enjoy the Cape with the people we love the most…the entire weekend was more than we could have ever imagined.” In addition to having their loved ones in attendance, the couple was blessed with beautiful weather on their W-Day.

Thanks to her mom and grandparents, Hannah was able to plan the entire wedding without the help of a wedding planner. “My grandparents own a B&B and luckily they were able to refer a couple of vendors to me. I was amazed at how helpful everyone was.” While the bride was organized and prepared throughout the planning process, there were some things she simply couldn’t control.

“The only trouble we had was with some of my husband’s friends. A majority of them were in the military and a lot of them were out on patrol the weekend of our wedding and were unable to make it. We had one groomsmen that called saying he was unable to make it the day before the wedding. They had to go out for an unexpected search and rescue case. Luckily, I asked everyone who was in the military to wear uniforms and one of his other friends filled in.”

Gregory’s profession was a big influence in the wedding’s planning and décor. “Since my husband is in the Coast Guard and the location was by the beach, I decided to do a nautical theme,” says the bride. “Our reception venue was an old sea captain’s house and it had a lot of the history and design elements that we were looking for.” The couple let their historic venue do most of the talking and kept the decorations quite simple. 

In the end, the couple pulled off the sentimental, beautiful Cape Cod wedding they were after. Because Hannah planned the whole thing herself, she has some helpful and insightful information for other soon-to-be brides. “Be organized! It is a lot of work and preparation, but definitely worth it. There will always be something that doesn’t go exactly as planned, but don’t sweat it – no one will notice but you. It is one of the only days where you will have all of the people you love the most together in the same place. Soak in all of the love that will surround you on that day.”

Vendors: Photographer: Sarah Murray Photography, Ceremony Site: Our Lady of the Cape in Brewster, MA, Reception Site: Captain Linnell House in Orleans, MA, Florist: Stop & Shop, Cake: Annie Driscoll with Cottage Street Bakery, Hair and Makeup: Colby with Regis Salon, Gown Designer: Anthropology/BHLDN, Groom’s Clothing Designer: United States Coast Guard uniforms