With sea breezes, gorgeous beaches, an abundance of wedding and reception
locations, loads of activities, romantic sunsets, and plenty of vacation rental
homes, a wedding on Cape Cod, Nantucket, or Martha's Vineyard is the perfect
spot to exchange vows. A Cape and Islands Wedding is bound to create a
lifetime of memories not only for the bride and groom, but for the guests as well.
We have some ideas for wedding planning and also provide rental home suggestions to save your guests money and allow them to gather and enjoy! It’s never too early to start planning your Cape Cod, Nantucket, or Martha’s Vineyard wedding!
The Casual Gourmet, Centerville
Location, location, location. There are so many wonderful locations to have the
wedding and reception, ranging from romantic chapels to grand ballrooms. Consider
hosting a wedding at a quaint chapel followed by a reception at a vineyard.
Or exchange vows on the beach and then wander
over to the Summer House on Nantucket for a beautiful
reception with stunning water views. Another unique idea is to host a wedding
and reception at a local museum such as the
Heritage Museums & Gardens in
Sandwich. There are many options and combinations to accommodate large and
small weddings as well as large and small budgets. Favorite locations that offer
an idyllic setting include yacht clubs such as Chequesset in Wellfleet, or parks such as Drummer Boy in Brewster.
Outdoor venues include local
beaches,
Vineyards,
and well-known landmarks such as the Highland Light in Truro or the Sandwich Boardwalk.
Many weddings will require vendors to make the wedding vision
become reality. Cape Cod, Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard abound with reputable
and helpful vendors ranging from
florists and photographers to DJ’s and limousine services. If planning a wedding
from afar, it may be helpful to hire a local wedding planner who can assist in
the planning process. Draw inspiration from Cape and Islands centered social media accounts such as WeNeedaVacation for activities and lodging for guests, breathtaking beaches to visit, restaurants, etc.
Flowers on Chestnut, Nantucket
A big piece of the wedding puzzle is food for the reception. Whether you want
your guests to experience a casual Cape Cod clambake or refined, elegant
cuisine, the local
catering companies and chefs can meet the needs and
desires of the bride and groom. Perhaps you’ll hire some local fishermen to run a raw bar where all the shellfish is shucked right in front of you! This might be perfect if you decide to host your wedding and reception right on the beach. Once the menu has been decided, it’s time to focus on the wedding cake, a focal point of the wedding. A cake that cascades
with hydrangeas, looks like a Nantucket Basket, or a traditional white cake with
intricate detailing are just a few types that the local bakers can create. The
options are endless, so be sure to contact a local baker or caterer to help
design the perfect wedding cake.
What makes a wedding a cherished event are the guests. They are parents,
cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents, and best friends. Be sure to make their
experience a special one. Providing welcome gifts for out-of-town guests is one
way to say welcome to Cape Cod/Martha’s Vineyard/Nantucket. You can arrange to
have a local gift shop create
welcome baskets
or create your own. Be sure to include maps, lists of local attractions,
activities, and beaches. If you’re hosting a smaller wedding, consider this DIY gift that will not only save you money, but also make your wedding day much more memorable for your guests: Fill mason jars with sand and shells from a few of your favorite beaches and tie off their tops with twine. This beachy, homemade gift allows your guests to take a piece of you, your special day, and their stay on the Cape and Islands home with them.
How about accommodations for guests? This is our expertise! Suggest
that guests gather together, save money, and enjoy the space and intimacy of a
vacation rental house. On our website, you can do an Advanced Search and then view
the results on a Google Map to locate homes that are near the wedding venue. This way attendees can stay close to one another and still have the opportunity to mingle, but also have the privacy of staying in their own home rather than being confined to hotel rooms.
Most vacation rentals offer long weekend rates for the spring and fall, while summer rates are
based on a weekly rental.
Here are just a few homes that are able to accommodate
large groups and may be a perfect match to house your wedding guests. What
wedding guests wouldn’t want to stay in a large home on Nantucket (37014). Looking for an estate? Then be sure to inquire about this waterfront
home in Orleans (19054). Your guests would be thrilled to be steps from a private beach in Mashpee (16151), perhaps oceanfront with a
private pool in Eastham (8241), or a beautiful farmhouse and guest house on the Vineyard (37160). Once you
know the when and where of your wedding, head to the WeNeedaVacation.com
Advanced Search page and you can easily
search for rentals in the area that you can then share with your guests. Or
simply direct them to WeNeedaVacation.com and they can conduct their own search
to find the vacation home that suits them.
Cape and Islands vacation rental homes and weddings
are a great match, so consider including vacation rentals when planning your
nuptials.
A wedding on Cape Cod, Nantucket, or Martha’s Vineyard is a magical event filled
with love, laughter, and sand between the toes!
Looking for some Cape Cod and Islands wedding inspiration?