Gillian and William's Nautical New England Rehearsal Dinner

The night before their big day, Gillian and Will hosted family and close friends for a welcome dinner. Fittingly, the avid sailors held the party at Sails restaurant in Rowayton, Connecticut. 

Crane & Co. designed the letterpressed invitations. The date of the dinner was embossed in gold ink on the sails, similar to how boat numbers are displayed. Gail Brill calligraphed each address, and the stamps were custom-made by Zazzle.

Upon arrival, guests were met with signs flanking the doorway. We designed, printed, and then spray-mounted each on foam boards. One announced "Welcome" and the other "Best Wishes Will + Gill." Both were strung up over the lanterns with inexpensive boat line. 

With sails festooned along the ceiling and a teak bar, which looked like the deck of a boat, the restaurant was the perfect location. 

Sailing-themed decor reinforced the theme of the evening. 

Guests were grouped in tables around the intimate restaurant but were free to pick their own seats. 

Passed hors d'oeuvres included (from top) seared beef tenderloin canapes, crabmeat with fresh mango and wasabi mayo on brioche rounds, duck spring rolls, and mini croque monsieurs.

Custom napkins bearing nautical knots were used for cocktail-hour nibbles. 

Pails of seasoned truffle fries were places around the barroom, along with delicious dips like garlic aioli, truffle mayo, and chipotle ketchup.

Two signature drinks were on offer: a classic margarita and a Dark and Stormy. The couple's names and a ship's wheel adorned each of the custom stirrers from ForYourParty.com.

The Graves family -- Will, his mother Grace, and his sister Martha Stewart Weddings editor Elizabeth Graves -- cluster around their newest recruit, Gillian.

Small tables made the evening feel really intimate.

Menus were slid into folded napkins, and clipped-on monkey's first knot key chains from Mystic Knotwork were for guests to keep. The significance? The groom and his sister (Martha Stewart Weddings editor Elizabeth Graves) always wanted to master tying this knot as kids. 

Numbers were printed onto cardstock and nestled into knots created by Karen's Rope Work. 

Each of the women in Gillian's family received delicate vintage handkerchiefs from Flapper Alley in Milwaukee that had been embroidered with the recipient's intital in New York City by Pins & Needles.

Location: Sails
Stationery: Crane & Co.
Calligraphy: Gail Brill Design
Monkey's Fist Table Number Holders: Karen's Rope Work
Coasters, Stirrers, Cocktail Napkins: ForYourParty.com
Monkey's First Keychain Favors: Mystic Knotwork
Vintage Handkerchiefs: Flapper Alley (414-276-6252)
Embroidery: Pins & Needles
Stamps: Zazzle