Lindsay and Garrett's Clambake Rehearsal Lunch in Massachusetts

The Scene

The staff at the Osterville Historical Museum hung code flags along the front of the boat shop to mark the special occasion.

The Setup

The bride, who is no stranger to the water and sailing, put a nautical twist on the outdoor décor.

The Lanterns

White paper lanterns were hung above the long tables to add a festive touch to the casual event.

The Centerpieces

New England Garden created the centerpieces of hydrangeas, thistle, and pink wax flower.

The Fashions

The bride wore a Lula Kate dress with Jack Rogers sandals and vintage earrings, while the groom paired a Brooks Brothers shirt with khakis and Sperry Topsider boat shoes.

The Low-Key Bar

Drinks were informally served inside large buckets of ice along with red cups and straws—all fitting with the nautical color palette and casual theme.

The Napkins

Red napkins were placed in a yacht club trophy bowl—borrowed from one of the bookshelves from Lindsay's parents' home—along with a mini monkey's fist rope knot to keep them from blowing away.

The Custom Place Settings

In lieu of napkin rings, the father of the bride tied knots around the napkins with white rope. Each place setting also included a small box of gummy lobster candies and a wet nap. "Because eating lobster gets messy quickly!" Lindsay says.

The Rehearsal Group

The bride stopped to pose with members of the wedding party and their spouses: Mike (Garrett's fraternity brother and a groomsman), Carolyn (Mike's wife and a friend from college), Mark (Garrett's fraternity brother and husband of Lindsay's sorority sister), and bridesmaids Liz and Mary.

The Two Boys

Timothy and Joshua, the bride's cousins, were all smiles for the prewedding affair.

The Highlight

The couple's favorite part of the day was getting to spend one-on-one time with their guests before the wedding, "especially Garrett's family who came all the way from the West Coast and some of his friends from boarding school he hadn't seen in a while," Lindsay says. This time together allowed for the two to meet members of each other's extended families in a more informal atmosphere, too.

Local Snacks

Guests grabbed bags of Cape Cod Potato Chips set out in an old Cape Cod cranberry crate that the bride's mother discovered at the Brimfield antique show. "I'm certainly a little biased, but Cape Cod potato chips are the best," Lindsay says.

The Food

Clambakes, Etc. cooked and served traditional clambake fare. Appetizers of clam chowder and Caesar salad kicked things off, then each guest got a lobster with steamer clams, mussels, linguiça, corn on the cob, coleslaw, and watermelon. For non-seafood diners, grilled chicken and marinated grilled sirloin were available.

The Toast

Although the toasts were meant to be saved for the wedding, Garrett's brother gave one "so touching, we'll never forget it," Lindsay says.

Lobster Love

Lindsay shared a big laugh with her sister and maid of honor, Chelsea. "We're always cracking each other up," Lindsay says.

Sources

Photography: Kate Headley

Location: Osterville Historical Museum

Catering: Clambakes, Etc.

Flowers: New England Gardens

Rentals: New England Country Rentals