Annie & Brian’s Chatham Bars Inn Wedding

Have you ever met two people and instantly thought…these two are perfect for each other? Well, that’s what ran through my mind the first time we met Annie & Brian, and then again, this spring when we got together with them for their engagement session (totally slacked on that post, but I’ll try and post those photos this winter when we’re a bit less busy).

Like Andy & me, three years separate Annie & Brian, with Annie being the more senior in the couple…also like Andy & me. They are both super smart, super sweet, genuine, kind, warm, thoughtful, sincere, caring people. Their senses of humor mesh, their interests mesh, their families and friends mesh. They’re just really good together and seem to bring out the best in one another.

Annie & Brian first met when Annie was working for McKinsey in NYC. Brian had an appointment for his second interview and one of the people sitting across the table from him was Annie. “I felt like I got the type of she was right away,” he told us. “Anyway, we ended up having to interact a bunch of times throughout the interview process and Annie and I, I thought, had started to become friends.”

If you ask Annie, her story varies slightly….which is also kind of how these two operate, and it’s adorable! According to Annie she was the consultant assigned to “convince Brian to join the firm.” So, the weekly calls were more of an obligation than a personal interest…or so she says. “(As a consultant) we usually call and every week the person has various questions about the company or the work or whatever, but the funny thing about Brian, which I found royally irritating at the time, was that he never had any questions. He just kind of wanted to chat,” Annie said.

Annie is the kind of person who really extends herself to people…she asks questions and engages and if you’ve met her more than once, you might find yourself invited out for a drink. to some thing or another that she’s hosting or going to. That’s how it was with Brian. After he accepted the job at McKinley, she casually, and without ever thinking he’d actually come, invited him to her birthday party. “I was 500% sure he would not come…I was just trying to be nice,” she said. But, he did come, much to the delight of Annie’s friends, who thought it was hysterical that “a college kid” who she’d basically recruited showed up at her birthday party. “This sparks the world’s longest facebook message thread and we see each other a handful of times over the next couple of months,” added Brian.

And, well….the rest is history, as they say. A friendship blossomed and soon they both realized that they liked each other more than just as friends. And, on Memorial Day weekend, these two lovely people, surrounded by 250 friends and family…these two seriously have a lot of really cool friends!….pledged their lives and hearts to one another in one of the sweetest ceremonies we’ve seen. I’ll admit to having welled up more than once….note above photo!

I could go on and on about these two, but I know you come here for the photos, so here they are….

Annie got ready at the Harwich home she grew up coming to every summer. Sadly, it’s been 10 years since, Annie’s mom passed away, but she and her dad still love coming to the house, which is filled with happy memories and lots of her mom’s touches. I just loved the narrow hallway leading up to Annie’s childhood bedroom. The vintage wallpaper and detailed woodwork added the perfect charm for a photo of her stunning wedding dress.

Annie’s super sweet dad, Jim, painstakingly made Mickey Mouse shaped blueberry and chocolate chip (Annie’s favorite) pancakes for Annie & her friends amid all the getting ready chaos. It was something he often did for them when they were little and you could just see how proud he was to be making them again on this very special day. Couldn’t you just hug him?

Annie’s bridesmaids, Zoe & Caitlin getting their dos on thanks to Jackie Norie & her fabulous staff at Wedding Tresses.

When her hair & make up was done, Annie gave her dad a very special gift….a frame she made using photos of her & him throughout her life, along with a sweet embroidery message of love for him. He’s generally a pretty together guy, but his reaction to this sweet gift was…..priceless!

Look at his face!!! Love him!

Annie & her gal pals, including co-MOH, Molly, take a minute to soak in the moment and enjoy some champagne before getting dressed. These girls were soooo much fun to be around!

When a bride is getting dressed it can be a time of mixed feelings…she’s excited for sure, but sometimes the zipper doesn’t go up with ease, or the nerves start to kick in and you can read it all over their face. But, not Annie….love her!

Meanwhile, across town at the Chatham Bars Inn, Brian and his besties hang out on the roof deck and enjoy the cool, crisp, perfectly sunny day.

Some wedding day details and some obligatory ironing by co-BM, Wes.

Groomsman Steve’s turn at the iron…

The happy feelings were contagious!

More happy faces on groomsmen Charlie & Lee as they chat with Brian’s super sweet dad, Kevin. Can we talk about that view?! Oh, and the ceremony took place down on the lawn there behind them, with the crazy fun party continuing behind them in the brand new and stunning Sperry Tent.

Time to get dressed…

with a little help from his friends….

Annie & Brian opted to see each other before their ceremony….to have a “first look” and then meet family & bridal party for some photos, so they could enjoy their cocktail hour (and a half…..love a long cocktail hour! Lots of time for great candids!) We discussed a couple of different options for their first look and Annie & Brian settled on Schoolhouse Ice Cream, which is just down the road from her dad’s house, and turned out to be a super cute backdrop for these two sweeties!

Yummy…

Annie & Brian love coming to this place so much that they ordered a ton of their favorite flavors for guests to enjoy at their wedding. But, they couldn’t wait and decided to enjoy a little themselves…pre-wedding. I’ll admit, I didn’t see this coming, but just LOVED that they took that time to really savor the moment (pun intended!)

These two….couldn’t you just eat them up! (Love this fun perspective through the porch railing that Andy got!)

…..I couldn’t resist taking advantage of the fun sign. Oh well guys….secret’s out about your little early dessert rendezvous.

Happiness is….sharing ice cream with your favorite person, at your favorite place on what will likely become one of your favorite days.

Off to CBI we went for some beachy fun. Poor Annie gets cold reeeeeally easily. And, I’ll admit, it was unseasonably cold on Memorial Day weekend, when they got married. But, Annie is a trooper and all I see is hot….

Get it girl….

These two are so naturally easy together….

,…and so so smitten with one another. It’s wonderful to see.

Carrying his chilled soon-to-be Mrs. for some extra body heat. And to protect those killer shoes!!

Mwwwwahhhh!

One big happy family (Brian’s youngest sister, Megan, Annie’s dad’s partner-Ginger, Jim, Annie, Brian, his dad-Kevin and mom-Jill and big sister-Jamie.

Flower girls extraordinaire-Avery & Laney and ring bearer and Jr. Bridesmaid: James and Sydney. Stop with the cuteness…I can’t!!

Annie signing the Ketubah…I don’t know why I love this photo so much…the veil is just so classically AMAZING! It doesn’t hurt that Brian is looking on with such love and pride!! Annie converted prior to the wedding.

It’s official….the new Mr. & Mrs. seal it with a kiss.

My favorite part of the ceremony was when Brian made his way down the aisle, flanked by his wonderfully supportive parents. The emotion of the moment just overcame him and I just love EVERYTHING about this next photo. I remember welling up and simultaneously smiling soooo big when I took it! Just look at how Jill & Kevin are looking at him, completely enamored and thrilled that their sweet boy is so happy! It’s what I imagine every parent wants for their child…for them to find a love this big! Just beautiful!

Annie’s turn…

Brian continued to struggle to hold it together…

LOVE this!!!

Annie…beaming.

So much love & joy….

Yellow is Annie’s favorite color….I like to think it’s because it’s such a happy color, and Annie is a happy person!

Like I said, the happy was contagious!

With this ring…

Annie & Brian wrote their own vows, which again had me welling up. These two are so thoughtful and expressive and their vows perfectly reflected that and their love for one another.

Friends enjoying all the love as it flowed….

A day and a view to remember….

This. This is everything.

Annie exchanges a loving embrace with her Aunt, her mom’s sister. Having not had my mom there for our wedding, I totally get how significant this moment was for both of these women!

Annie & Brian are different but most definitely equal and it made perfect sense that she & Brian both break a glass at the conclusion of the ceremony. Annie practiced earlier in the day and totally nailed it, but that slippery stage gave her some trouble. Being the person she is, she persisted…much to the delight of everyone…including Jill.

And with a movie star dip….

And a tender second kiss….they sealed their love.

Wooooo hoooo!

 

The staff at Chatham Bars put on quite a spread during cocktail hour…including a raw bar, freshly picked salad bar, etc.

Love me some good cocktail hour interactions….

Finding their seat….

Hellooooooo huge tent…love the cool farmers’ tables and chairs by True North Rentals.

Everything was stunning, including flowers by Patrice Milley.

Brian and friends share in a wedding day toast….we’ll go anywhere for a great shot…including lying on the floor.

Just love these sweet candid moments, hello beautiful Julia.

Brian & Annie know how to make an entrance….

And have some fun during their first dance as husband and wife….

Like no one else is in the room….

After their first dance, Annie & Brian opened the floor to everyone and I just love how Jim & Annie totally cut loose! Get it Jim!!

Is the music too loud??? LOL! Bless his little cotton socks!

Another super cool detail, which I imagine couldn’t be easy to pull off for 250 people, was having dinner served family style. So cool! As I was wondering around outside the tent, I noticed Jim, taking a moment alone to practice his speech. I live for moments like this!!!! So much story in one photo…just love that!!!

Annie & Brian react to Jim’s thoughtful words about his baby girl and his new son-in-law.

Brian’s family toasts the happy couple.

Co-best man, Jordan, infused his speech with some stuff that perhaps Brian may have wished he left out, but which was received with roaring laughter.

Brian loves those closest to him with his heart wide open and it’s beautiful to see.

Daddy’s little girl is all grown up….

Brian and his mom had some fun with their dance. You go Jill!

Elan Artists Soundhouse rocked the tent all night long!

Annie & Brian got on stage for a bit….

Before the reception came to a close.

But, the party continued into the early morning hours, with a chic, NYC club inspired after party…..

DJ Dakeya Christmas of Murray Hill Talent rocked it out….

And all was right with the world…if only for a moment in time.

Big thanks to Jamie Bohlin of Cape Cod Celebrations for three incredible day of finely tuned perfection! Thanks too to Kate Mann and the entire staff at Chatham Bars Inn. But, our biggest thanks go out to Annie & Brian, and their families for sharing such an incredible weekend with us!! Your love is inspiring and uplifting and we absolutely loved every minute of it! You two are evidence that you get back what you give in this world. The friends you’ve made and relationships you’ve fostered are proof positive that you two put a lot of love & goodness out into the world! We hope that it follows you throughout your long & happy life together!! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you for inviting us in to the fold! With big love & hugs, Christine & Andy xoxo (PS…when are we going out for drinks?! wink wink! No seriously…when?! )