A "Beachy, Romantic" Aesthetic Influenced These Brides' Cape Cod Nuptials

More than a decade after meeting through mutual friends at Simmons University, Kristina, right, proposed to Tarra on a walk through the Middlesex Fells Reservation in Massachusetts, their favorite spot. "It was a beautiful afternoon, and Kristina suggested we take a selfie overlooking Spot Pond. As we got up to stand, Kristina kneeled down and proposed," says Tarra. "It was a very special and private moment."

After their July 2020 engagement, the couple decided to hold their wedding at another meaningful location: Kristina's family's home in Falmouth, Massachusetts. "We always try to get down to Falmouth whenever possible," says the couple. "Ever since we began dating, the Cape has always been a special and peaceful getaway destination."

Lo McShay of Lolo Event Design helped bring the couple's color palette—dusty rose and cream with burgundy accents—to the coastal location for a "beachy, romantic" atmosphere. A lavish meal, custom-labeled wine from Kristina's family, and a relaxed evening with 70 of their closest family and friends made the brides' affair on October 2, 2021, a memorable—and personal—one. "Our personalization didn't manifest in physical or tangible things," says the couple, "but the intimacy of the event and the detail that went into the aesthetic created a truly magical evening for our families that helped amplify the beauty of our relationship."

Iconic water views from the Cape Cod location set the tone for the couple's romantic ceremony and classic reception. "There are also so many moving parts that go into planning a celebration like this—at times we were worried about missing important details, but in the end, it felt flawless," says the couple.

Rose-colored envelopes set off the couple's "simple and classic" torn-edge invitations from Lynn Graham Designs. "We did not want anything over the top," says the couple. "The stationer created watercolor inserts in the envelope that matched the color palette of our wedding; the quality of the paper and stamping was incredible!"

With her mom along to offer advice and opinions, Tarra scoured boutiques in Boston and Connecticut before deciding on her Anne Barge faille wedding dress. "Thank goodness for my mom!" she says. "I really appreciated her support and honesty. I've always wanted something simplistic and clean, when I tried this dress on, I instantly knew it was the one." She accented her gown with a standout pair of rose-colored Loeffler Randall heels, and chose a round bouquet of cream-and-pink flowers.

Kristina and her mother also shopped around Boston looking for the perfect outfit. "I wanted something sophisticated, but a little bit sexy," says Kristina. "Something that was form-fitted, but something I could also feel comfortable in. Originally, I was looking for a jumpsuit but found this dress—it felt perfect." Her lace Galina Signature gown from David's Bridal also paired well with a pair of sparkling Keds x Kate Spade sneakers and a modern, oblong bouquet accented by burgundy flowers and memorial charms carrying photos of her grandparents.

Tarra and Kristina chose a different private estate for their ceremony, where a flower arch from florist The Wild Dahlia highlighted the coastal seascape, and framed the women as they exchanged vows. "The view was so beautiful, we wanted to keep the ceremony a little more simplistic," they say.

The couple asked their nephew, Wesley, to join their wedding party as the ring bearer.

After Kristina's father led her to the altar, Tarra's parents escorted her down the aisle while a string duo played Paramore's "Only Exception."

The brides remember the "adrenaline, excitement, and happiness" of meeting at the altar as their favorite moment of their wedding day.

Kelly Bourque, a close friend of both women, officiated the couple's civil ceremony, which included hand-picked vows. "We had every intention to [write our own vows], but we both knew that we would be a mess at the altar," say the women. "Instead, we wrote each other private notes to share the morning of."

The pair posed in a vintage car after saying "I do."

At the cocktail hour, guests sipped both espresso and dirty martinis—the couple's signature drinks—while servers passed mini lobster rolls, chicken and waffles, shrimp and grits, and macaroni and cheese bites.

The newlyweds sent their guests home with bottles of Kristina's family's homemade wine in custom bags with personalized labels.

A large tent at Kristina's family's home created a festive and welcoming atmosphere. "We always knew we wanted to have an intimate celebration if we got married, and getting married at Kristina's family home filled with great memories just made sense," says the couple.

Deep burgundy flowers, wooden chargers, gold vessels, and pink taper candles all added to the atmosphere inside the tent. 

"Our favorite part of the reception décor was all of the mixed textures and elements," says the couple. "The overall look felt classic, but these small details made it feel unique and special. Darker colors paired with more feminine details created a mixture that brought depth to the design."

The couple traded their first dinner menu idea—a casual lobster bake—for a more elevated family-style meal from The Catered Affair: heirloom tomato and stonefruit salad with goat cheese and prosciutto, beef filet with puréed sweet potato, Chatham cod in a corn-and-crab crust, ricotta gnocchi in pumpkin seed pesto, grilled vegetables, and roasted potatoes. "Making sure we had a meal that felt memorable was important to us, and everyone could not stop raving about the meal!" says the couple.

After dinner, Tarra and Kristina sliced a two-tier lemon cake with raspberry filling from Cape Cod Cakes. "Our florist helped decorate the cake with some fresh flowers to bring in the aesthetic of our reception space," they say.

The Sugar Babies provided Motown and pop classics that packed the dance floor. "We wanted to make sure we had music that kept everyone dancing," says the couple. "The special moment of the night was during Kristina's father-daughter dance," says Tarra. "Kristina's brother Stephen got on stage and played a guitar solo during their song, 'Sweet Child of Mine.' It was a surprise, and everyone went wild."

Kristina and Tarra worked with a choreographer to prepare their first dance to Ed Sheeran's "Thinking Out Loud." "We put a lot of effort into learning our dance, and as the lead, Kristina nailed it!" says Tarra. "It was also the first time for many of our family members to see us together like this, and knowing how accepting and happy everyone was made the moment that much sweeter."

Photography, Stephanie Vegliante
Event planning, Lolo Event Design
Catering, The Catered Affair
Flowers, The Wild Dahlia
Stationery, Lynn Graham Designs
Cake, Cape Cod Cakes
Music, The Sugar Babies
Rentals, Peak Event Services
Tarra's gown, Anne Barge  
Tarra's shoes, Loeffler Randall
Kristina's gown, Galina Signature, David's Bridal
Kristina's shoes, Keds
Hair, Lindsay Griffin + Co
Makeup, Chantal Ambroise
Bridesmaids' dresses, Baltic Born
Menswear, J. Crew
Lighting, Gateway Productions
Rings, Long's Jewelers