A Block Island Wedding 2010 by Chris Barrett

Wedding 2010

A Block Island

A Publication of

The Sullivan House an island original

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BEAUTIFUL venue ranked with top wedding spots in Ireland, Italy, South Africa and British Virgin Islands.

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A Block Island Wedding

Table of Contents

Photo by John Fuller

Wedding Mag Intro

A wedding that was relaxed, comfortable and fun

They felt that they were floating on air

This couple got the Block Island wedding they wanted

Block island offers spectacular locations for wedding photos.

A casual and intimate wedding on the beach

The mothers of this couple had their wishes come true

by Fran Migliaccio

11 Sites for Smaller Weddings

Photo by Leslie Ulrich

A Block Island Wedding

Photo by Mia Campopiano

Seating

Positive energy from everyone and three hundred guests by Fran Migliaccio

Fireworks topped off a perfect day

Even a little rain didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t spoil a thing

The weather smiled on this wedding

Island wedding ideas / Weddings with Island flavor

Wedding transportation

Attention to detail produced a perfect event

Everyone they worked with exceeded their expectations

Wines for the wedding party

Island Wedding Information

Advertiser Index

by Fran Migliaccio

A wonderful celebration in a spectacular setting.

ast fall, we celebrated the wedding of my niece Adrienne and her husband Blake at Lewis Farm. It marked the fourth time that members of my family have been married on Block Island. Over five generations, the connections that we have formed to this magical place are deep and unyielding. So special has this island become in all of our lives that when the time comes to plan that most special of days, all other locations pale in comparison. Block Island provides a link to our shared history and its one of a kind scenery lend the event a sense of hope and promise. Though two of my brothers and two of my nieces all had weddings here, each ceremony was completely unique. The range of services and settings on our tiny island is truly staggering, and as Adrienne and Blake soon found out their were a team of talented professionals (and helpful family members) available to help them put their own imprint on the magical event. Plus, they discovered that even though Block Island’s rolling hills, sandy beaches and staggeringly beautiful sunsets make it feel like a world away, it’s close enough to home to make it an easy to reach destination wedding that all your friends can attend. As this picture attests, it was a glorious event. The food and music were fantastic, we all danced late into the evening, and even though the afternoon brought showers, the clouds parted and a gorgeous sun streaked skyline emerged just in time to take pictures. Many of the guests remarked that it was the best wedding they had attended. The setting for the fourth family wedding on The stories in these pages will tell you all you need to know about planBlock island was spectacular. ning your Block Island wedding. It’s a practical guide that will take you everything from picking the right caterer and DJ to mastering the ferry schedules to finding the perfect wedding dress and jewels to match. Although your special day will be all your own, seamlessly arranged to match all your dreams for the biggest day of your life, one thing I can promise is that choosing Block Island will be one of the best decisions you ever make. It will be an unforgettable wedding -- Block Island style. Sincerely,

Fraser Lang A Block Island Wedding is an annual publication of The Block Island Times, which was founded in 1970. The Publisher is Manisses, Inc. and the publications include The Block Island Times (52 issues per year), The Block Island Summer Times (4 issues per year), Block Dining (annual) and the House and Garden (two issues). Celebrating our fortieth year.

P.O. Box 278. One Ocean Avenue, Block Island, Rhode Island 02807 www.blockislandtimes.com • mail@blockislandtimes.com 401-466-2222 • 401-466-8804 fax This publication does not assume any responsibility for an error in an advertisement. We will correct any errors in reporting.

Block Island Wedding 2010

Publishers . ..............................................................Fraser Lang/ Betty Rawls Lang Editor...............................................................................................................Fraser Lang Production Manager...................................................................... Christopher Izzo Contributors.................................................................Fran Migliaccio, Brent Lang, Photographers..........John Fuller, Gillian Lang, Fran Migliaccio, Keith Lang, Robin Langsdorf, Cindy Wilson, Alice Jacob, Rosemary Schaller, Mia Campopiano, Lesley Ulrich, Eloquent Images, Trevor Holden, Sean Cassidy, Kari Curtis, Lee Cushman,Tracey Belliveau, Daria and Andy Bishop, Lizzie Wiles Copy Editors........................................ Brent Lang, Jean Taber, Lesle Steinberg, Kari Curtis, Shane Howrigan Advertising.................................................... Betty Rawls Lang, Shane Howrigan Advertising Design................. Christopher Izzo, John Barry, Susan Fillipone Cover Photo...................................................................................................John Fuller

A Block Island Wedding

Photo by John Fuller

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A Block Island Wedding

Wedding Profile: Story by Fran Migliaccio, Photograph by Lizzie Wiles

A wedding that was relaxed, comfortable and fun Lizzie Elliot and Blue Wilding July 11, 2009

“W

e chose to be married on Block Island because we came here when we were dating,” said Lizzie Elliot Wilding. “Blue had been here previously, and a couple of years ago he brought me here for the first time. I loved it, and we made it an annual thing. Wilding proposed to Elliot on the island, on the deck of the Gables II. “To us, Block Island is a magical, wonderful place, everything people would look for in a getaway. If you can’t relax on Block Island, I think you can’t relax,” Elliot said. The Wildings considered various places for their wedding. On the recommendation of a friend who lives near them in Brooklyn, they chose the Atlantic Inn. “I called Brad [Marthens, Atlantic inkeeper], and knew immediately that I felt comfortable dealing with him,” Elliot said. “He did an excellent job with all the details of our wedding — it was all very personalized.” “The quality of the food, beverages and service were very important to us, and the Atlantic had it all,” Elliot added. So taken were the Wildings with the Atlantic that they chose

Lizzie Elliot and Blue Wilding exchange vows on the Atlantic Inns lawn. 4

it for their rehearsal dinner, too. For that event, they chose a downhome New England clambake. The couple welcomed their weekend guests with small personal touches that had special meaning for them. “In our gift bags, we included Littlefield Bee Farm honey — it’s a bad time for bees on the mainland, and it was wonderful to be able to support bee farming. The Block Island honey is delicious!” Elliot said. They also included sandy footed turtles, a favorite confection from Chapel Sweets, and gave everyone a deck of cards to commemorate the couple’s meeting. “Blue and I met over a card game,” Elliot said. “We were playing Texas Hold ’Em for quarters.” “The days leading up to the wedding were rainy, but the weather cleared in time for the rehearsal dinner,” said Elliot. “The weather was beautiful for our wedding!” The wedding ceremony took place on the croquet lawn of the Atlantic Inn, with the animal farm in the background. The bride’s mother, a Unity Church minister, performed the ceremony and the couple had readings from a Persian poet and Hawaiian wedding chants. “It was different, all-embracing, and very fitting to the location, with the animals nearby,” Elliot said. For the ceremony, the couple chose folksinger Wayne Morrison, of Newport, a one-man band who plays guitar and banjo and has repertoires of pop, rock, folk, classical, Irish, and original compositions to fit every occasion. “We wanted a traditional bluegrass feel,” Elliot, who is from Virginia, explained. Her husband, Blue, is a musician who plays guitar. The reception unfolded across the spacious grounds of the Atlantic Inn. “ We were on the veranda and mostly indoors, but all our guests enjoyed the gardens and the beautiful views. We had the entire inn for the weekend, and it was very relaxing,” Elliot said. Flowers for the ceremony and the reception were provided by Jamie Rose of La Bella Rose, located next door to the Atlantic at Rose Farm Inn. When the bridal dinner ended, the music and the guests moved indoors for dancing to a playlist emceed by DJ Marc Scortino. The next morning, the couple hosted a wedding brunch at the Atlantic for everyone. “We truly felt as though the Atlantic was our place for the time we were there,” said Lizzie. “Brad and Anne were very welcoming A Block Island Wedding

and accommodating, and their staff made everything smooth and comfortable for us in every way. By Sunday, we were convinced it was our place — it was funny, seeing people checking in as we were leaving and wondering who all the strangers were.” In choosing Block Island, the couple felt they were sharing and introducing the important people in their lives to a place that had great meaning to them both. “It was important to us that our guests discover Block Island as we had — the relaxed pace and way of life on the Island, and the beauty of it,” Elliot said. “We wanted the weekend and our wedding to be casual, relaxed, comfortable, and fun — with an island feel.”

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A Block Island Wedding

Wedding Profile: Story by Fran Migliaccio

Photograph by John Fuller

They felt that they were floating on air Adrienne Michelle Steinberg and Carleston Blake McCallister October 3, 2009

or Adrienne Steinberg, the decision to get married on Block Island was a natural choice. “We chose Block Island as our wedding destination because it has special significance for my family,” she said. “My grandfather bought a house on Block Island in the 1950s and my mother and her brothers spent all their childhood summers there. I grew up in Virginia, but have come to Block Island for summer vacations and visits as long as I can remember. There was no doubt in my mind I would get married on the island.” Because Adrienne’s family and the Lewis family are close, she was fortunate in being able to have her wedding and reception at Lewis Farm. Blake, who grew up in Baltimore and had never heard of Block Island before meeting Adrienne, added, “My first trip to BI was in March 2009, right after Adrienne and I got engaged — and I loved the island then, even on a cold, stark winter weekend. It was a very easy decision to get married there.” Adrienne and Blake’s rehearsal dinner was held nearby, at the house newly purchased by Adrienne’s mother, Leslie Lang Steinberg. Leslie had closed on the house a week before the wedding, and bravely went forward with plans to host the dinner seven days later. As soon as the house was hers, Leslie’s brothers and nephews cleared brush, chopped a tree, changed lightbulbs, cleaned windows, moved furni-

Adrienne Steinberg and Carleston McCallister at the Lewis Farm. 6

ture, and made it “Leslie’s Place” with speedy efficiency. Of the dinner, Leslie noted, “It started small but kept growing. I kept telling our caterer, Pat Doyle, that we were adding more, and in the end we had 90 people.” Said Pat, a partner in Celebrations Catering, “A caterer needs to be flexible and roll with what is needed. I concentrated on the main course, and Leslie’s brothers and their wives pitched in to provide the most amazing assortment of wonderful hors d’oeuvres!” It was a fine evening, and Leslie was able to augment the living and dining areas with her large outdoor deck. Meanwhile, Adrienne and Blake had consulted their caterer and de facto wedding planner, Sean Kivlehan of Block Island Gourmet, about the weather on their wedding day. When he told them that rain was likely, the couple rehearsed the ceremony outdoors on Friday night, then rehearsed it in the tent that Sean had set up for the reception, in case a Plan B was needed. The morning of the wedding it rained torrents. Adrienne and her wedding party had their hair coiffed, and Adrienne, over at Payne’s Harbor View, attired herself in her white gown for the 2 p.m. ceremony at Lewis Farm. “Our Plan B, to get married under the tent, became the new Plan A,” she noted. “Uncles and cousins scrambled to gather umbrellas, arrange shuttle van drop-offs, and try to keep guests as mud-free as possible. Guests were advised to bring flip flops and dress appropriately.” Many guests thought Adrienne’s Uncle Keith Lang was part of the catering staff, wearing shorts and flip flops and carrying an umbrella to conduct people to the tent. He did a quick change for the ceremony but sensibly left his flip flops on. Adrienne herself was transported with great care from New Harbor to Lewis Farm. “Blake’s high school friends were ready with umbrellas to shield me from the rain as I walked in,” she said. There were 50 chairs and 110 guests, so older guests sat for the 20-minute ceremony and the others stood behind them. The ceremony, performed by a friend of Blake’s from the University of Virginia, was written by Blake and Adrienne. Said Adrienne, “While the rain made us shift gears, we loved having the ceremony under the tent. Having our guests crowded around us felt as though we were in a warm hug by all of our family and friends as we said our vows. About an hour into the reception the skies cleared up enough for photos to be taken outside, and we were treated with the most magnificent sunset!” Blake added, “I had heard that late September, early October was A Block Island Wedding

the best time of year for Block Island, and this was absolutely the case — the island was stunning. And while we did have some rain on the day of the wedding, the day before and day after were beautiful, so all of our guests got to see the island as it should be seen. And on the day of our wedding, once the rain broke, the remaining clouds gave us an amazing sunset that we would not have gotten on a ‘perfect’ day.” It was important to Blake and Adrienne that everything about the wedding be natural, organic if possible and waste-free. Names of guests were hand-painted (by Adrienne and her cousin Gillian) on beach rocks, with table numbers on the reverse side, for place settings. Flowers for the occasion, provided by Suzanne Nolter of Blazing Star Farm, were hydrangeas, a familiar sight on Block Island. They were arranged, by the bride’s Aunt Kathy Lang, and friend Peg Lewis, in vintage canning jars from the Lewis Farm, and tied simply with green satin ribbon. Adrienne’s bouquet had several eye-feathers from peacock plumes, because she enjoyed routinely encountering a magnificent peacock on her morning runs on the island’s west side. Motifs on the men’s ties, too, resembled peacock feathers. A brochure, given to all guests upon their arrival on-island, listed wedding activities with times and places, telephone numbers of the family, names and numbers of taxis, a map, places to eat or relax, and things to do on the island. The brochure was the project Adrienne delegated to her brother Joel, a Montessori schoolteacher, who not only researched and put together the information but painstakingly handstitched the spine of every single one. The brochure was included in the plain brown gift bags, stamped with the shape of Block Island, given to guests. Other items in the bags were a Block Island Times (donated by Adrienne’s Uncle Fraser and Aunt Betty), Block Island Conservancy calendar (donated by Adrienne’s Uncle Keith), taffy, a map, and coupons for drinks at some of the bars. Instead of a wedding cake — in keeping with a waste-free philosophy — the couple opted for chocolate and vanilla cupcakes, made by caterer Sean Kivlehan. DJ Marc Scortino was on hand for the reception. Said Adrienne, “Blake and I are both ‘indie music’ fans and we were very particular about the music. We gave Marc a lengthy list of ‘definitely play’ and ‘definitely DO NOT play’ songs. He did a great job of using our requests as well as adding his own touch, and he had people on the dance floor for the entire reception.”

Photographer John Fuller was hired after the couple met him for a drink in New York and looked at his portfolio. “We provided him with a list of desired photos and he got them all, plus some spectacular dance floor photos,” said Adrienne. “The biggest thing missing from our wedding,” said Adrienne, “was my father, Richard, who passed away in September 2007, and Blake’s mother Connie, who passed away in July 1997. These two incredibly wonderful people were certainly there in spirit, however. They were spoken of on Friday night at the Welcome Dinner and we let the tears come out briefly, but Saturday was sheer jubilation.” Adrienne shared her first dance with Martin Wein, her father’s best friend, who also gave a toast as a stand in for her dad. Adrienne added, “Our wedding couldn’t have happened the way it did without the amazing participation of my family. I’m blessed to have four wonderful sets of uncles and aunts — three of whom have houses on Block Island — six wonderful cousins, and a fantastic mother, brother and sister. Everyone pitched in.” Of the couple’s vision for their wedding, Adrienne said simply, “Blake and I both wanted to have ‘a really big party’ and I wanted to wear ‘a fancy dress.’ We wanted it to be a fun and joyous occasion, and it was a rousing success. We had an amazing time at our wedding — felt as though we were floating on air the whole time!” Added Blake, “I couldn’t be happier that we had our wedding on the island, and I am definitely looking forward to collecting a lifetime of Block Island visits and experiences and memories.”

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This couple got the Block Island wedding they wanted Abby Elizabeth Sheehan and Jonmathew Huftalen Swienton October 10, 2009

“I

t wasn’t difficult to decide on a Block Island wedding,” said Abby Sheehan. “Jonmathew and I met on Block Island. He grew up on the island, I worked there in the summers, and from the time I began working at the Spring House, I knew I wanted a Spring House wedding.” The couple met in the summer of 2002, when Abby waited tables at the Spring House and was also a chambermaid at the Hygeia House, overlooking New Harbor. Her roommate at the Hygeia introduced her to Jonmathew Swienton, who was working at New Harbor for the town Harbors Department. The couple dated for several years and became engaged in June 2007. They celebrated with an engagement announcement party for family and friends at Twin Maples, the summer lodgings and bait and tackle shop that comprise the Swienton family’s business. “I had started graduate school that fall, and decided to to wait to get married until after getting my degree,” said Abby, who holds a master’s degree in public policy and now works at the National Governor’s

Abby Sheehan and Jonmathew Swienton. 8

Association in Washington D.C. as a legislative associate. The weekend of their October wedding this year was a busy one, starting Thursday, when Jonmathew’s father, John Swienton, began to collect guests from the inbound ferries. On Friday night, a rehearsal dinner was held for family and guests in a waterside tent at Twin Maples. “Our friend, Alan Lemire, cooked a feast of chowder, wings, ribs, shrimp and a lot more,” said Abby. “It was fun and informal, and we were able to talk with everyone. It was a great chance for all the out-of-town people to meet.” Many guests were staying at Twin Maples; others were dispersed throughout the Spring House, Harborside, New Shoreham House, Hygeia House and National Hotel. Abby and Jonmathew were married on Saturday, at St. Andrew Church on Chapel Street. As a personal touch, the bulletin for the service had a pen and ink drawing of the church on the cover drawn by Jon, a talented artist. After a break of about an hour, a reception at the Spring House followed for the couple’s 170 guests. “Danielle is fantastic to work with,” Abby said enthusiastically, referring to Spring House event coordinator Danielle Dziok. “I worked there eight summers, so I knew the whole crew at the Spring House. It was a very easy wedding to plan from that perspective.” For floral arrangements, Abby called on Jamie Rose, of La Bella Rose, who put her creative touch to work to make Abby’s vision of the wedding come true. “Jamie impressed me all the time, with her dedication to providing the best,” said Abby. After years of working on the island, it was easy for Abby to choose her photographer. She had seen John Fuller photographing weddings at the Spring House many times, and knew she wanted him to do her wedding photos. Abby also knew John’s wife, Julie Fuller, general manager at the National Hotel, where Abby had worked for three summers. As the reception began, with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres on the veranda, Marc Scortino played mellow keyboard tunes while people got drinks from the outside bar and helped themselves from a giant sushi array and a cheese table. After the seated dinner in the hotel’s dining room (featuring, as one entrée choice, Abby and Jonmathew’s favorite shrimp and lobster fettuccine), the party moved into Victoria’s Lounge. Dancing got underway, to the play list that the couple had agreed upon with Scortino, now morphed into a DJ. The tunes were varied enough to appeal to all ages, and the space enabled everyone to mingle easily and comfortably, on A Block Island Wedding

and off the dance floor. “Victoria’s Parlor is a perfect place for dancing!” enthused Abby, noting that she and Jonmathew were able to make the rounds and enjoy the music every bit as much as their guests. The wedding cake, cut and served later in the evening, was the creation of Laura Tierney, the wife of Abby’s Uncle Rob Tierney. The Tierneys were married at the Spring House several years ago, and Laura, a popular wedding cake baker, has family living on Block Island. The gala wedding weekend concluded with a farewell breakfast, prepared and hosted by the Swienton family at Twin Maples. “It was a perfect end to all of the celebrating and a great send-off for our guests,” said Abby.

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A Block Island Wedding

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A casual and intimate wedding on the beach Patrice Cronin and Randy Pincins June 13, 2009

electing Block Island for their wedding ceremony was the logical choice for Patrice Cronin and Randy Pincins. After all the couple got engaged on the island, so their tie with the place always had a romantic cast. However, Pincins and Cronin insist that the real reason they choose to have their wedding on Block Island was because it was both fun and practical. “Being married on Block Island turned our wedding day into a wedding weekend,” Cornin said. “The extra time spent with our family and friends made it that much more memorable.”

Patrice Cronin and Randy Pincins at Ballard’s Inn.

The couple had 50 guests, and their rehearsal dinner was held at the Beachead. For the wedding itself, Patrice and Randy wanted an informal beach atmosphere. To this end, they selected Ballard’s Inn for the reception, and opted to have the wedding right on Ballard’s beach. Floral designs for the bridal party, ceremony and reception were created and arranged by Claire McQueeny, owner of Block Island Wedding Flowers. For a personal touch, Patrice and Randy requested splashes of pink throughout the flowers, as décor for the ceremony and on the linens for the reception. “It looked beautiful against the beach backdrop,” Cronin said. The reception was held outside on Ballard’s Inn back patio, overlooking the beach. Rather than a wedding cake, Patrice and Randy opted for cupcakes made by Aldo’s Bakery. Music for the reception was furnished by Marc Scortino (www.islandweddingdj.com). “Marc played a live piano for the cocktail hour, followed by a mix of classic hits and dance music,” Pincins said. “It was a beautiful sunny day until the middle of the reception when it started to rain, and we moved the dance floor from the patio to inside.” Ballard’s, with a spacious indoor space and plenty of room to dance, offers good options if a celebration needs to move inside, Pincins added. “Most of our guests were able to spend the weekend with us, and we had a brunch at Ballard’s the morning after the wedding,” Cronin. Despite the rain, the couple said that the happy day was everything that they had hoped it would be. “We wanted a casual and intimate beach wedding, and it was perfect,” Cronin said.

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Wedding Profile: Story by Fran Migliaccio

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The mothers of this couple had their wishes come true Sarah Maguire Riordan and Jonas Shaw Szabo June 29, 2009

arah Riordan and Jonas Szabo met as teenagers at a Block Island beach party one summer in the late 1980s. Both had families with homes on the island, and Jonas had grown up here year round, attending the Block Island School. The two remained friends for years before beginning to date seriously. And for years, their two mothers, without mentioning anything to Sarah and Jonas, had discussed the wedding that they hoped their children would some day have on Block Island. The couple became engaged on-island during Columbus Day weekend of 2008. The day before, Jonas had asked for Sarah’s hand in marriage while helping her father, Dennis, move a kayak. Dennis gave a jubilant “Yes!” and he and Penny celebrated with champagne. For the proposal, Jonas enlisted the help of Sarah’s dog, Scout. As the couple embarked on a beach walk, Jonas tied the engagement ring to Scout’s collar. All was well, but when Scout started wandering here and there through the dunes, as dogs will do, Jonas decided he simply couldn’t take the suspense any more, and popped the question. From then on, it was full steam ahead with the planning process, to the delight of mothers Kathy Szabo and Penny Riordan, who work together in the Block Island Chamber of Commerce office. Adding to Kathy’s excitement was the fact that Jonas is the eldest of her three sons, and the first to marry. Sarah Riordan was teaching school in Maryland at the time, so the two mothers did a lot of legwork for her and worked out the details of the island wedding. The reception site was already in place: while Sarah and Jonas

Jonas Szabo and Sarah Riordan. 14

were still dating, before they became engaged, Adrian Mitchell had offered his farm as a wedding site, if the two ever decided to marry. When it came to other needed services, Sarah knew the players, having worked on Block Island many summers. She knew, from working at the Beachead, that she wanted her wedding catered by Kimberly Ward through Ward’s business, Catering by Norman and Kimberly. Sarah also knew that she wanted Claire McQueeny, of Block Island Wedding Flowers, and photographer Cindy Wilson, to work on her wedding. “Everyone did a fantastic job!” said both Kathy Szabo and Penny Riordan. For the 190 guests, some from out of town, Kathy and Penny gave advice on how to get accommodations and told everyone which establishments had 2-, 3-, or 4-night minimum stays required. The two mothers also created a booklet to put in all the hotel rooms where guests would be staying, listing things to do, places to go, names and numbers of taxis, cell phone numbers for Kathy and Penny and a schedule of wedding events, with locations pinpointed on an enclosed map. As Chamber of Commerce professionals, the two were particularly well poised with this information at their fingertips. The wedding was on a Monday, leaving the weekend days free for pre-wedding festivities. On Saturday, a cookout at the Riordans’ house, produced by Jonas — whose family owns and operates Rebecca’s Seafood Takeout on Water Street — and the Rebecca’s staff, provided guests an opportunity to meet and greet one another. Billed modestly by Sarah and Jonas as “just burgers and dogs, don’t worry mom!”, the cookout turned out to be a feast of mahi mahi, ribs and chicken, in addition to the burgers and dogs, with a raw bar as well. Many guests said it was the first time they’d been to a cookout where they went to the grill and put in an order, then came back for it when called. The rehearsal dinner on Sunday was held at the Hotel Manisses. As with the cookout the night before, “iffy” weather during the day became gorgeous in the evening, allowing the crowd at the Manisses to have cocktails outside before dinner. During the evening, a “power point presentation” photo display of Jonas and Sarah in their growingup years was presented, complete with depictions of childhood and school years. For the wedding ceremony, Sarah chose the Harbor Church, with music provided by church music director Carrie Todd, a trumpeter, and island violinist Heather Russo. During the ceremony, when it came time to present the rings, Sarah and Jonas turned and looked expectantly down the aisle. To everyone’s delight, Scout the dog trotted obediently to the altar, bearA Block Island Wedding

ing the rings in a floral collar created by Claire McQueeny. A fun personal touch was that the couple rode through town after their wedding in the white Cadillac convertible belonging to Jonas’s father, Joe Szabo. A friend had made a red and white banner for the car that said, “Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Szabo!” Other little touches were the pencils, personalized “Jonas and Sarah,” given out at the rehearsal dinner; the pens, stipulating “Jonas and Sarah Szabo,” given out at the reception; and the drink koozies, personalized with the couple’s names and the wedding date, given at the reception. When it came to cakes, there were two. Sarah and Jonas knew that they wanted their wedding cake baked by island pastry chef Amy

‘creative ambiance for the home’

Couet, who had attended Johnson and Wales University in South Carolina simultaneously with Jonas. The other cake, a personal touch on Sarah’s part, was a groom’s cake, baked by Toni Lemoine and decorated with a Boston Red Sox theme for Jonas, an avid fan. Music at the reception was provided by Marc Scortino, a popular DJ for island weddings. “He got everyone involved!” said Kathy Szabo and Penny Riordan, of the lively dance floor. Sarah and Jonas live most of the year on the mainland. Sarah teaches fifth grade at St. Michael’s School in Newport, and the couple owns a house in Narragansett. They will continue to spend summers on Block Island, arriving in time for Jonas to open Rebecca’s Seafood Takeout for the season.

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Wedding Profile: Story by Fran Migliaccio

Photograph by Trevor Holden

Positive energy from everyone and three hundred guests Roberta Donna Dailey and Robert Joseph Closter, Jr. September 25, 2009

n offseason wedding worked out perfectly for Roberta Dailey and Robert Closter. “We had the best September weekend for our wedding!” Dailey remembers. “It wasn’t a great month for weather this year, but we got lucky!” Dailey and her husband both grew up on Block Island. Dailey from the age of eight, when she arrived on-island to live with her aunt, Vicki Carson, and entered the island school. Closter has lived here his entire life. The two knew each other for years and began dating seriously as young adults when both were working on the island, after their school and college years were behind them. Closter’s father, Robert (“Red”) Closter, Sr., is a contractor onisland; his mother, Linda, is nurse director at the Block Island Medical Center. One element of growing up on Block Island for the Closter family was regular attendance at St. Andrew Church. When Closter and his two sisters, Jill and Bridget, were children, the priest at St. Andrew was Father Robert Randall. A close personal friend of the extended Closter family on the mainland as well as Block Island, Father Randall had baptized all the Closter children and officiated at the wedding of at least one Closter cousin. It was a natural choice, therefore, for the couple to ask Father Randall to return to Block Island for the celebration of their wedding. Wedding events began with a rehearsal dinner held at the Hotel Manisses. The couple had both worked during summers for the Abrams and Draper families at the Manisses — Closter as a bartender, and Dailey as a waitress at the Manisses and The Oar. “For our rehearsal dinner, we had appetizers and cocktails on the deck,” Dailey said. “It was very personal. The dinner was excellent: great food, great service — of course!”

Roberta Dailey and Robert Closter, had a September wedding on island. 18

The day of the wedding was sunny and clear. In the early afternoon, the National Hotel offered a special on beer in honor of Closter, who had worked there as a waiter for several summers. The wedding was a large one; as nearly everyone on the island knew the happy couple. Of the 300 guests, 100 were family members. St. Andrew Church on Chapel Street overflowing people, most of them having known each other for years. Father Randall conducted the ceremony with his characteristic humor, and sprinkled in several personal touch having been a family friend for years. Dailey’s maid of honor was Caitlin Fallon, who had worked with her at The Oar and whose mother hosted a bridal party brunch at the Fallon home. Closter’s best man was Mikey Kiley, son of the island’s late first warden, Dickie Kiley. Dailey walked down the aisle on the arm of Steve Draper, who gave her away. Dailey’s nearest relative, her aunt Vicki Carson, was escorted down the aisle by Justin Abrams. The bride wore a strapless white gown with a full, bustled skirt, by Judd Waddell. Her off-the-face veil was fastened to her hair with green cymbidium orchids. She carried a bouquet of white roses and green cymbidium orchids. Her bridesmaids, dressed in navy blue boat-neck sheaths, carried bouquets of white roses and white cymbidium orchids. The bouquets and floral arrangements were created by Suzanne Nolter, of Blazing Star Farm, assisted by Danielle Duffy. Hairstyles for the bridal party were done by Kara Sasso. Closter and his groomsmen were outfitted in “Nantucket red” trousers, white shirts open at the neck, blue blazers and topsiders. Following the wedding, a reception was held in a tent set up on the lawn of Closter’s parents’ house on Cooneymus Road. The large yard, flat and rectangular, has served at times as an athletic field for school games, as Closter is not only a school athletic coach, but also recreation director for the Town of New Shoreham and the athletic director for the Block Island School. The small bleachers at one side of the yard provided great seating for family wedding photos. Photography for the occasion was provided by Trevor Holden, the brother of a friend of the couple, who summers on the island. Photo sites, in addition to the church and the reception, were a private dock on Cormorant Cove and the back of the St. Andrew Parish Center property on Spring Street, overlooking the ocean. The reception was catered by Kimberly Ward, who runs Catering by Norman and Kimberly. Passed appetizers and tables filled with hors d’oeuvres allowed guests to mingle outdoors and inside the tent. Music by DJ Marc Scortino lured all inside for the entrance of the bridal couple and the first dances: Dailey with Steve Draper, and Closter A Block Island Wedding

with his mother, Linda Closter. The music continued, giving everyone the option to dance as well as mingle. An informal buffet dinner included Block Island littlenecks, pasta primavera and caesar salad. Dancing continued throughout the evening with DJ Scortino keeping the dance floor hopping by playing the couple’s favorites. The wedding cake, created by Manisses chef Ross Audino, was a three-tiered white cake, with fresh flowers cascading down one side. “Elegant, outdoorsy, and classy,” Dailey said. A second cake, a croquembouche tower created by Beachead cook Johno Sisto, proved popular and was quickly devoured as soon as it appeared.

beauty shine

Special personal touches at the reception reflected the help and goodwill of many in the island community. Bamboo arranged on the tent poles came from the yard of the Huggins family on Corn Neck Road. In addition, Closter’s father grew flowers especially for the wedding, and so did many of his friends. The blooms were all lovingly collected and arranged by Red himself for the tent reception. “Our vision was to have a casual and elegant wedding. For the reception, we wanted a huge cocktail party with lots of good food and dancing — no sitting down, just a great party where everyone could mingle and dance and eat when they wanted to. Everyone there was happy and all of our friends and family were so much fun — we had so much positive energy from everybody!” Dailey said.

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Wedding Profile: Story by Fran Migliaccio

Photograph by John Fuller

Fireworks topped off a perfect day Rebecca Dean and Luke Baril September 19, 2009

“I

’m from Rhode Island,” said Rebecca Dean, “and Luke and I came to the island when we were dating. He hadn’t been here before he knew me, but he loves the island, and it was a very easy decision to have our wedding here!” Rebecca and Luke selected the Rose Farm Inn for their reception. “We love the Rose Farm Inn, and Mona did an awesome job!” said Rebecca, of Rose Farm Inn wedding coordinator Mona Dwyer Helterline. “Every detail was taken care of; I can’t say enough about her! She had a list of where all our guests were staying, and made sure our gift bags and lists of activities were delivered to their rooms.” The parents of the bride and groom rented cottages at the Spring House, conveniently near the Rose Farm Inn. “It was funny,” said Rebecca, “they were doing laundry, and in the basement, they found a newspaper from October 1993, filled with coverage of the Kennedy wedding — the ceremony at St. Andrew, the reception at the Spring House — it was interesting to find it, right there where it happened!” For their rehearsal dinner the night before the wedding, Rebecca

Rebecca Dean and Luke Baril at the Rose Farm Inn. 20

and Luke chose Ballard’s. “We were on the back patio, overlooking Ballard’s beach,” said Rebecca. “It was informal, lots of fun, and a perfect island setting. Ballard’s did a great job with all the food: we had a choice of lobster or steak, and everything was cooked perfectly, with every steak just as each person wanted it.” Friday night had been a trifle chilly, Rebecca said, but on their wedding day the weather was in the 70s without a cloud in the sky. Their wedding ceremony was celebrated with 160 guests at St. Andrew Church. “Father Protano was very gracious in allowing an Episcopal ceremony to be held at St. Andrew,” said Rebecca. The couple brought their own priest from the mainland to perform the simple ceremony, without communion. “Afterward, we were driven through town in a red Jeepster convertible,” said Rebecca. “It belonged to a friend of my parents, and was a really nice personal touch. It was stocked with champagne and snacks for us.” Floral bouquets and arrangements were created by Jamie Rose, of La Bella Rose. “Everything she did was excellent!” said Rebecca. “Jamie was so easy to work with, it was wonderful. Our colors were blue and white; I didn’t want blue hydrangeas, and Jamie found blues that worked beautifully!” The choice of Sean Kivlehan, of Block Island Gourmet, to cater the reception was the result of a tasting that Rebecca and Luke had with him in June. “The quality of everything he prepared was outstanding; we knew we wanted him to do our wedding,” Rebecca said. The couple asked Laura Tierney to bake and decorate their wedding cake. “It was carrot cake, our favorite, and it was wonderful!” said Rebecca. Decorations for the reception, from Ryan Designs, paid homage to the sea: pilings stood at the entrance to the tent, an oar with Rebecca and Luke’s names was hung over the entrance, and lobster pots and hanging fishnets completed the look. Photographs of the rehearsal dinner, wedding and reception were taken by John Fuller. “John did the rehearsal dinner, and his assistant, Cecilia DelViscio, did the photographs on Saturday,” said Rebecca. “They are very professional and discreet about taking photos, and their work was just what we wanted.” Music for the reception came from two sources. “We had Jason Roseman playing steel drums during cocktails,” said Rebecca. “It was something a little different, very island-y. All our guests loved it.” Later, everyone danced to the music of the seven-piece Clockwork A Block Island Wedding

Band of Boston. “The dance floor was packed all night long, the sound was great, and the announcing was spot on,” said Rebecca. “Luke and I got paid the highest compliment by several of our guests who told us that our wedding was the best wedding ever!” Clockwork has performed at wedding receptions all over New England since 1990. Rebecca and Luke had a special surprise for everyone, but had taken wedding coordinator Mona into their confidence. At 9 p.m., they directed the band to announce that everyone needed to move, and face the eastern sky: whereupon, the wedding guests and indeed the entire island, was treated to a magnificent fireworks display. To be viewed from the Rose Farm Inn, the fireworks were set off right on Spring Street. Jason Leone, owner of the fireworks business, arranged for police to block the road for the event. On Block Island, no one minds waiting a few minutes here or there for fireworks. “We wanted to have the type of wedding that was a weekendlong event, and people could join in with us during all of it,” Rebecca said of their wedding. “Our vision was certainly realized, and everyone, including us, had a great time!”

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Wedding Profile: Story by Fran Migliaccio

Photograph by Rose Schaller

Even a little rain didn’t spoil a thing Jessica Oberlander Fay and John Joseph Nunnari September 12, 2009

“I

used to come to Block Island to work in the summer, from 1990 to 1995,” said John Nunnari. “I worked at Ballard’s for two years, the Atlantic Inn for two years, Captain Nick’s one year, and I worked for Derek Van Lent for a year. Jessica and I both love the island, and I knew the people and the places here, so we decided to have an island wedding.” “We wanted a smaller, intimate wedding,” said Jessica. “We loved the view and the feel of The 1661 Inn, and everyone there was wonderful to work with.” Accordingly, when Jessica and John invited their 50 wedding guests to the island, they planned a weekend that they could enjoy with their guests. They prepared welcome bags for each guest with information about the island, a schedule for the wedding and related events, and included island products like fudge from Blocks of Fudge and little jars of honey from Littlefield Bee Farm. “Many of our guests stayed at The 1661 Inn, the Manisses and the Anchor House, so we were all located near each other. We all met

John Nunnari and Jessica Fay with daughter Kathryn at the 1661 Inn. 22

for breakfast in the mornings at the 1661, and it was very family-like,” said Jessica. On Friday, the night before the wedding, John’s parents hosted a welcome dinner at the Atlantic Inn. “It was raining when we came over on the boat,” said John. “It stopped about four o’clock. We had drinks and appetizers on the porch, then had dinner inside, instead of on the croquet court, as we’d originally planned. The dinner and service were perfect down to the last detail, and the indoor setting very comfortable. “Actually,” he added, “our original plan was to have a Frogmore Stew on the beach. Instead, we had an indoor version, and the Atlantic Inn kitchen and staff handled it beautifully.” The next day, before the wedding, Jessica particularly enjoyed the experience of going to Mark’s Beachcomber. She and Kathryn, her daughter by a previous marriage, had their hair styled for the wedding. “It was a really nice experience,” she said. “Earlier in the day, we picked up lunch at Harry’s Café and spent time on the swings on the back lawn at The 1661 Inn. That was our special time together.” The wedding ceremony, performed by Town of New Shoreham First Warden Kim Gaffett, took place on the patio in back of The 1661 Inn. “It was foggy that day, but the rain held off so we could be married outside,” said Jessica. “Kim did a great job — it was just what we wanted.” For the reception, everyone moved into the Inn’s large, covered back porch with its sweeping view of sea meadows and ocean. “Tables were set up for us, and the Inn did a wonderful buffet!” said Jessica. “A friend of mine from high school arranged all the flowers, and that was a personal touch that meant a great deal to us.” During the reception, photos of Jessica and John in their growingup years, collected and put in digital form by John, played for all to view. “It was a very nice touch, and everyone enjoyed seeing the pictures,” said Jessica. Cake baker Laura Tierney had been recommended to the couple by a friend from the Island, so for their wedding, they asked Laura to make cupcakes. “She also made John’s favorite — banana chocolate chip muffins. They were a great hit!” said Jessica. When it came to music, John’s work experience at Captain Nick’s came in handy; he knew what music people liked to dance to. They got proposals from five or six different DJs and opted for premiermusic.com. “We had six hours of songs we liked to hear,” said John. “Everyone had so much fun that we extended the open bar and the DJ.” Photographer Rose Schaller took pictures of the wedding and reception. “She was wonderful!” said Jessica. “Rose really listened to A Block Island Wedding

what we wanted. There were more formal pictures with the family before the ceremony, and a lot of candid shots as well. We couldn’t have been more pleased.” Some of the guests opted to stay on-island the next day, so Jessica and John organized a kayak tour, through Corrie Heinz of Pond & Beyond (www.blockisland.com/kayakbi), for about 15 people. “We went all over the Great Salt Pond, Trim’s Pond and Harbor Pond,” said John. “It was the first time I’d ever kayaked on the ponds with a group. We had a great time!” For their part, Jessica and John stayed on the island a few extra days for their honeymoon. “We stayed in a cottage at The Harbourview, on Corn Neck Road. It was quiet and romantic, and very good friends of ours stocked the cottage with wine, cheese, gourmet crackers and other goodies,” Jessica said. She added, “Our vision in planning our wedding was to get away from a lot of the formalities that other weddings seem to have. We wanted to emphasize the outdoors as much as possible, but we always had an indoor option, too. We received a lot of good, expert guidance from Elizabeth at The 1661 and from Brad at the Atlantic Inn — they were all professional yet personal, and Rita and Elizabeth were very genuinely excited about our wedding, just as much as we were. There were seven children who attended — they really enjoyed the Animal Farm across from the inn, and Justin let them inside to pet the kangaroos! It was a wonderful wedding, with something for everybody.”

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A Block Island Wedding

Wedding Profile: Story by Fran Migliaccio

Photograph by Tracey Belliveau

The weather smiled on this wedding Paris Miller and Matthew Godbout July 11, 2009

Paris Miller and Matthew Godbout on the beautiful shores of Block Island.

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or Paris Miller, there was no question that she would be married on Block Island. As Paris put it, “I have been traveling to Block Island every summer with my mother, Judy Gordon, and my sister, Hayley Miller, for twenty years. It is the most beautiful and peaceful place I have ever been. Matt and I began traveling there together after we started dating. Since childhood, I have wanted to get married on the beautiful shores of Block Island.” To make their 160 guests feel at home on Block Island the weekend of their wedding, Paris and Matt made a website for their guests, highlighting the couple’s favorite restaurants, beaches, and activities. Both the bride’s family and groom’s family rented houses for the weeks prior to and after the wedding weekend. Added Paris, “Matt and I really wanted to support the vendors on Block Island as much as possible. We used only flowers grown on Block Island from Blazing Star Farms, and our party favors were beeswax candles from Littlefield Bee Farm. My wedding party had their nails done at Koru Eco Spa the day before the wedding.” For their rehearsal dinner, Paris and Matt decided upon the National Hotel. “We chose the National,” said Paris, “because of the gorgeous ocean views at sunset and the delicious lobster dinner they

Musi

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John Curran, flutist

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offered. My sister, Hayley, also happened to work at the National this summer as a waitress — they gave her the night off for our rehearsal . Working with the staff at the National was great. We had a traditional lobster bake, and the National easily accommodated our party of 25.” The couple’s wedding and reception, the next day, were at the Spring House. For the ceremony, held on the back patio overlooking the ocean, Paris and Matt wrote their own vows. The reception dinner for 160 at the Spring House featured filet mignon and cod Provençal. The weather smiled upon them. “After what seemed like months of rain,” said Paris, “we had the most beautiful day for our wedding. All sun, not a cloud in the sky. We never spent our time worrying about something we couldn’t control and it seemed to work itself out!” The wedding party and guests enjoyed Block Island to the fullest while here, noted Paris: “We went to the Yellow Kittens to party after our rehearsal dinner and after our early afternoon wedding reception as well. The morning after our wedding, we walked down to the National for breakfast and to say ‘Bon Voyage’ to our guests who were leaving that day. Later, our families surfed the waves at Mohegan Bluffs.” For their Block Island wedding, said Paris, she and Matt “Wanted to have beautiful natural backdrops for our wedding and rehearsal dinner, and two spectacular venues where our guests could enjoy themselves fully. The Spring House and the National exceeded our expectations.”

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Wedding Tips

Wedding Favors

Exclusive Hair by Nicole or Mark’s Beachcombers Hair Design know Block Island weather and will ensure your hair stays in place with Block Island breezes. How about using an oar as a guest book?

Use Block Island products – honey from Littlefield Bee Farm, treats from Blocks of Fudge, or items from 234 Water Street – to remind your guest of their visit.

Photo by Rose Schaller

Photo by John Fuller

Photos by John Fuller

Wedding Jewelry Local jewelers – Golddiggers and Jennifer’s Jewelry – offer engagement and wedding rings and unique Block Island designs for the bridegroom and attendants.

Photo by Rose Schaller

Free Time? Take a sail. Charter a fishing boat, take a walk on one of the island trails or enjoy a special meal in a relaxed atmosphere.

Photo by Rose Schaller

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A Block Island Wedding

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Wedding Transportation Book reservations for your car well in advance, check the ferry schedules, reserve local taxis in advance (see page 34) and consider limousine services from trains and airports to ease arrangements for the wedding party and guests (Call Little Rest Livery and A Airline Express).

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A Block Island Wedding

ll l 27

Wedding Profile: Story by Fran Migliaccio

Photograph by Daria and Andy Bishop

Attention to detail produced a perfect event Kristen Iverson and Jason Nill September 26, 2009

“W

e’ve been coming here for years- everyone knows it as ‘our place,’” said Kristen Nill, when asked why she and her husband, Jason, chose to be married on Block Island. “We got engaged here, we love the beach, and whenever we are visiting we feel as though we are in another world. Block Island is also centrally located for Jason’s family in Long Island, my family in Vermont, and our current home, which is Boston.” As the weekend unfolded, the couple greeted every single ferry that arrived on Friday, and two on Saturday. “This meant racing between Old Harbor and New Harbor with signs in hand,” Jason noted, “because the Long Islanders were on the Viking Fleet.” Each guest, upon arrival, received a welcome box filled with snacks, drinks, goodies, and a customized welcome packet that included a greeting from Kristen and Jason, a schedule of events, things to do on Block Island, directions, and a map. Guests spent most of Saturday exploring the island, as the wedding at St. Andrew Church took place at 3:00 p.m. Kristen added, “We have seen so many pictures of our guests on bikes or mopeds, out by the lighthouses, at Mohegan Bluffs, down by the beaches, and cruising through the countryside. Everyone felt so at home and knew exactly what was going on. One thing we were especially complimented on was our attention to detail; we had a wedding website and sent out an email two weeks beforehand with updates,

Kristen Iverson and Jason Nill at the Sullivan House. 28

weather info and ferry schedules.” The weekend was well orchestrated. “We rented out the entire Inn at Old Harbor for the groom’s family and groomsmen — Barbara was great!” said Jason, referring to innkeeper Barbara Butler. “We helped all of our guests find their accommodations, and put the majority at Water Street Inn, Hendrickson House, and the Blue Dory. People appreciated the thought we put into recommending where they should stay.” After the 5:00 wedding rehearsal at St. Andrew Friday evening, Kristen, Jason and their guests all walked up to the Spring House for a BBQ buffet rehearsal dinner. “Because it was late in the season we had the entire dining room to ourselves,” said Kristen. “We had originally planned to have the rehearsal outside on the back patio but it was too windy. Being inside turned out to be really cozy, we had our own private bar set up too. After the dinner we welcomed all our guests to a cocktail party from 7:30 to 9:00 p.m. This was a huge hit! The Spring House put out all kinds of appetizers and desserts and it was great to see everyone in a relaxed atmosphere at one of Block Island’s iconic landmarks. We all went out to the National for a nightcap afterward, and it was a great way to start the weekend!” The wedding at St Andrew was celebrated by Father Joseph Protano. Bridesmaids wore navy blue strapless dresses with pear green sashes and carried bouquets of green roses, green hydrangea and hypericum berry accents. Echoing the color scheme, the groom and his party were attired in khaki suits, navy blue gingham shirts, navy blue ties and topsiders with green rose boutonnieres. Kristen and Jason rode to their reception at The Sullivan House in Kristen’s mother’s 1976 robin’s egg blue VW bus. “My mom drove it down from Vermont, and it became the unofficial mascot of the weekend and our transportation everywhere,” said Kristen. “Having an old-fashioned car in an old-fashioned place like Block Island really made it feel special.” Of the feast and the cake created by Sean Kivlehan, of Block Island Gourmet, Kristen and Jason agreed, “It was fantastic! Five-star, from start to finish!” The couple added some personal touches to A Block Island Wedding

their reception décor and handouts. They created a custom logo that appeared on their maps, stickers, welcome boxes and favors. They brought many items to the island with them to achieve the look they wanted for their wedding: vases, Chinese lanterns, linens, table décor and candles. Kristen hand-painted the favors and hand-crafted the napkin rings. Flowers were provided by Jamie Rose, of La Bella Rose, who brought her versatility to bear on both wedding and reception. Kristen carried a traditionally elegant round bouquet of white mini callas, cream dahlias and cream roses bound by a wide champagne satin ribbon that matched the sash on her dress. For the reception, tent poles wrapped in green fabric were adorned with bright arrangements of deep pink and fuschia gerberas, esperanza roses, green hydrangea, bells of Ireland, and cobra lilies accented by greenery. The same color scheme was carried through both the high and low centerpieces and the wedding cake decoration. Chinese lanterns in white and all shades of green hung throughout the tent and green silk shantung linens completed the look. Music for dancing came from a seven-piece wedding band from Boston, the Airtight Wedding Band, that played something for everyone: oldies, pop, 80s music, ballads and current hits. When the reception ended, everyone adjourned to the Yellow Kittens for an after party. The weather was seasonally beautiful: “Saturday was a picture perfect September day,” said Kristen. “The sun was shining, the water

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was sparkling, it was beautiful! It got a little chilly at night, but we had heaters on in the tent so everyone was comfortable dancing the night away!” On Sunday, the couple had a brunch at the National Hotel for their guests. “Sunday was pouring rain,” said Jason, “so people stopped by to grab a quick bite and say goodbye before hopping on the ferry.” Kristen continued, “Our vision for the wedding was twofold: Make every guest feel as though they were our number one priority, and, as most of our guests had never been to the island, to have everyone tell us how much they LOVED Block Island and that they were planning to return. These were both accomplished!”

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Wedding Profile: Story by Fran Migliaccio

Photograph by Rose Schaller

Everyone they worked with exceeded their expectations Lauren Miller and Joel Orkin-Ramey September 26, 2009

“L

auren has been coming to Block Island all her life,” said Susan Miller, the mother of bride Lauren Miller. Susan spoke on behalf of her daughter and son-in-law, Joel, who had deferred their honeymoon a couple of months and were in New Zealand when this story was written. Susan continued, “My husband, Rob, bought our property through Dorothy Sullivan in 1965, when he was 19. He had been drafted, and he wanted to be able buy something for his future. We finished building our house in 1982. It’s the Japanese-looking house on Spring Street.” She added, “Lauren always wanted to get married on Block Island, and Joel fell in love with the island, too, early in their relationship. Joel is from Berkeley, California; he and Lauren met at Hamilton College in New York. Their friends had all learned about Block Island too, through Lauren and Joel. They all loved it, and were thrilled to come here.” The 1661 Inn was a natural choice for the wedding, said Susan: “We used to walk down the street on Sunday mornings to have brunch at The 1661, and we got to know the staff there. And, as of the wedding, it’s the only place on the island we’ve ever stayed since our house was built.” The Millers, understanding that many of the guests were young friends of Lauren and Joel and might have difficulty paying for a place

Photo by Rose Schaller

to stay, put up eight guests at their own house, and booked a room at The 1661 Inn for themselves. “It worked out perfectly,” said Susan. “We were right there on the site, we could relax away from home, and the kids had a great time staying together in our house.” The weekend began with a family get-together at the Atlantic Inn on Thursday night. “The food and service were absolutely perfect,” said Susan. On Friday night, the Millers hosted a cookout at their Spring Street house, high on the bluff overlooking the water, for all 95 wedding guests. “It was very informal and a lot of fun,” said Susan. “Everyone could just kicked back and relax.” For the wedding itself, on Saturday, the weather was magnificent. Lauren and Joel’s wedding ceremony was held on the picturesque lawn behind the The 1661 Inn, with the ocean in the background. One of Susan Miller’s best friends, a superior court judge in Connecticut who had known Lauren “since before she was born,” said Susan, officiated at the service. “It was interesting — we had to go through State Representative Donna Walsh to have a bill introduced in the Rhode Island General Assembly, allowing an out-of-state person to solemnize a marriage in Rhode Island,” commented Susan, herself a lawyer. For the reception, everyone went inside the inn; the wedding party had the entire back porch and inn to themselves. “The kids had put up several oars over the years, at The Oar in New Harbor,” said Susan, “so their guest book was an oar that everyone signed. Our flowers were done by Claire McQueeny, and she did an exceptional job — everything was perfect, and we knew from the very beginning, when we started to work with her, that it would be.” Musician and DJ Marc Scortino provided music for the ceremony and reception. “He was terrific,” said Susan. “Lauren and Joel chose informal music that meant something to them personally. For the processional at the ceremony, Marc played “Moon River.” The recessional was “I’m a Believer.” During the cocktail hour, he played quiet music, then went into a full program of dance music after dinner.” The sit-down dinner featured meat and chickJoel Orkin-Ramey and Lauren Miller with the Southeast Lighthouse in the background. en entrée choices, as well as a vegetable strudel.

A Block Island Wedding

“Everything was delicious, and everyone at the inn was very professional and accommodating!” said Susan. Instead of a wedding cake, the couple opted for cupcakes. Guests loved them because they could nibble on them after the meal, between dances. Photography was done by Rose Schaller. “She did a beautiful, beautiful job!” Susan said enthusiastically. “The feel of this wedding was exactly what we wanted,” said Susan. “It was beachy, informal, fun, and beautiful. The whole feel of the wedding was what we wanted. It took a lot of planning, but everything and everyone we worked with met and exceeded our expectations. Friends said it was one of the best weddings they’d ever been to. Everyone could just enjoy having this reason to get together. We invited people who we knew would enjoy themselves, understand why it was so special to have the wedding on Block Island, and enjoy and appreciate the island as much as we do. For some of our friends, it was their first time on Block Island, and they already want to come back to visit!”

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