We have a weakness for intimate beachside weddings, especially when they ooze East Coast charm, and this Cape May wedding fits the bill to a tee. Held on a cloudless September day, the ceremony took place on a picturesque stretch of white-sand beach beneath a vivid blue sky. A BBQ reception followed at a quaint, cedar-shingled cottage overlooking the sea. Opting for a clean, classic palette of navy and white, the bride, Erin, chose simply elegant elements, such as sea spray–colored calla lilies and a light, airy dress whose silk chiffon skirt swayed in the breeze like dune grass. Oceanic touches, including nautical stripes and an old crab trap that held cards for the bride and groom, were fresh and sparingly used. The casual, seaside-chic vibe perfectly represented the couple’s sensibilities. “We’re both fairly laid-back, informal people, so we wanted our wedding to reflect that,” Erin said. “We wanted both our ceremony and our reception to be about the things we love most in life: family, friends, good food, and a great party.”

The day was captured by the oh-so-talented Mary Kate McKenna, and her mesmerizing photos are a dream we want to wade into over and over again.

From the Bride, Erin

As soon as we got engaged, Vaughan and I knew that our wedding would not be as traditional as most. We both love the beach and knew that we wanted to make it a part of our wedding. Cape May was the perfect combination of beautiful beaches and a historic, picturesque small town. We wanted both our ceremony and our reception to be about the things we love most in life: family, friends, good food, and a great party. We’re both fairly laid-back, informal people, so we wanted our wedding (and especially our reception) to reflect that. That’s why we decided to hold the reception in the backyard of the beach house we rented and to serve BBQ (Vaughan’s favorite), seafood (mine), and carefully selected beer, wine, and champagne. Our wedding day was more amazing than either of us could have imagined. We were surrounded by the people we love the most, and we celebrated with elements that were the most important to us.

Vendors

Photography: Mary Kate McKenna / Ceremony venue: Trenton Beach / Reception venue: Private residence in Cape May, New Jersey / Flowers: Pacific Callas / Caterer: Spanky’s BBQ: (609) 884-9331 / Décor and party rentals: Relish Decor, Weddings by the Sea, and Petrosh’s Big Top / DJ: Bruce Pike Productions / Bride’s dress: J. Crew / Hair: Shear Elegance on Location / Invitation: Mark Burrier / Specialty Foods: The Perfect Truffle

This wedding was submitted via Two Bright Lights.