I’m slightly ashamed to admit that Cassie and Chris’s wedding was the first time I traveled to Martha’s Vineyard, even though I grew up an hour away from Cape Cod. Believe it or not, I used to spend weekends in the summer heading to the beaches on the Cape with my friends. Now that I’ve ventured over to the quaint little (ish) island, I am quite mad at myself for not going sooner in life because I LOVE IT. It is everything I love and I miss about New England perfectly tucked into 96 square miles of the coast of Falmouth, and it’s picture perfect beaches, immaculate landscape, and magazine-worthy homes would likely be any wedding photographer’s dream [At least mine, anyway].
Therefore, it was a dream come true when I was invited to shoot a wedding alongside Ashely Spears (lead wedding photographer/owner of A Moment So Lovely) at the Harbor View Hotel this past fall. For those of you who are not familiar with the Harbor View Hotel, it is one of Martha’s Vineyard's most iconic hotels and it has been around for over 100 years! I immediately fell in love with the front porch, which had rocking chairs overlooking the water as well as a captivating lighthouse.
That excitement doubled when I got to meet the bride, Cassie, and the groom, Chris, for the first time as they were the absolute sweetest couple and you could feel their love for one another. After getting to know them a little bit better, I came to understand why they picked the Harbor View Hotel as their wedding destination. And by the end of the evening it all made perfect sense T
Aside from Martha’s Vineyard being a place near and dear to Cassie and Chris’s heart to begin with, the Harbor View hotel is a short drive away from the ferry in Woods Hole and it’s very accessible (despite what others may think!). It was also a quick (and relaxing) trip on the ferry, and not a far drive from Boston or Providence for the guests that were traveling via plane.
The Harborview Hotel also offers several different options to hold a ceremony, and I fell in love with Cassie and Chris’s vision of saying “I Do” under the gazebo on the front porch, which overlooked the water. You can’t help but get excited about this as a photographer, and from there it was an easy walk to the waterfront (and/or lighthouse) to capture some incredible wedding party images as well as bride and groom portrait shots. Perhaps one of my favorite images (although truthfully it’s hard to choose), is the one of Cassie and Chris sharing a kiss with the beautiful hotel in the background!
Once we returned from the waterfront, we entered the back banquet room which was transformed into a beautiful reception space that carefully reflected both Cassie and Chris’s style and personality. From the flowers to the little fudge parting gift at each table, it was evident how much planning and preparation went into their wedding. The staff at the Harbor View Hotel executed their vision seamlessly, and they were all very pleasant to work with! And don’t get me started on the food!
When I look back on their special day in Martha’s Vineyard, I honestly have to say it is one of my favorite wedding experiences of 2023 and it is one that I think about often. I am so grateful Ashley Spears invited me to shoot alongside her, and I could not have asked for a better wedding location (and couple!) on the Cape. Even the weather was great (even though it rained a bit!). Cassie and Chris’s wedding gallery is one that I am extremely (or rather “wicked”) proud of and I can not wait to head back to the island again for upcoming weddings h Or perhaps just to visit!
Congratulations to Cassie and Chris!
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