In Love & Living Local

by Grace Finch

When I received my save-the-date invitation to the wedding ceremony of a dear friend of mine I was thrilled at their choice of location. Brewster's Drummer Boy Park is the perfect backdrop for a wedding ceremony.

The large white bandstand sits amid an open grassy field that overlooks the sand dunes and water of Cape Cod Bay. A nearby playground invites families and children to play and enjoy the surroundings, and an old windmill stands tall on top of a hill along the edge of a beautiful wildflower garden.

The bride and groom had chosen this location because they'd both grown up in Brewster and had visited this park their whole lives.

Each of their guests who were born and raised here also had a strong connection and love for Cape Cod. Their families live here, as do many friends who make this community a unique and special place to live. I grew up in Brewster, and this picturesque place has always brought me great joy.

I was equally delighted when the bride explained to me that everything incorporated into her wedding was to be local. Every detail of this special day would support and include family, friends and local businesses.

The first detail to attend to was the dress, which was tailored at Sue's Workplace, in Orleans, where the bride and her sister had a great time at the fittings. They were treated very kindly by the new business owner with laughs and very fair prices.

The bridesmaids' dresses came from Chantilly Bridal, in Hyannis. Made from a beautiful emerald green floor-length fabric, they featured a white sash tied around the upper waist that hung long in back. The girls had their hair done by a best friend of the bride and they all looked stunning.

Suits for the gentlemen came from Puritan, also in Hyannis, and complimented their homemade peacock feather corsage (a theme throughout the wedding) that was pinned to their jackets.

The bride grew flowers in her own garden to construct her beautiful bouquet of white roses, purple cosmos and greenery. Some of the flowers for the centerpieces came from a farm in Harwich called In The Weeds, where my friend cut them herself for all the arrangements.

The wedding rings were purchased from a local business, LAM Goldsmith, in Dennis. When the bride ordered personalized Alex and Ani bracelets for each of the bridesmaids from The Potted Geranium, in Harwich, she was kindly given a complimentary piece for her purchases and support of the local gift shop.

The weather on Sept. 14, 2013, was warm and pleasant. The sun shone brightly amid a few passing clouds as guests congregated at the bandstand where my father played a soft medley on the flute and an acoustic guitar was being played by my uncle. It sounded wonderful echoing from the bandstand across the field as I walked up to join the crowd who were all patiently awaiting the bride.

A vintage convertible car slowly drove across the grass and stopped at the top of the hill. There was my friend, beautiful as ever! The bridal party took their turns walking down the aisle that was lined with peacock feathers, and when it was the bride's turn, with her older brother by her side, she paused at the top of the hill and smiled, confident and happy that this day was just perfect.

The photographer, Ryan Birchall from Orleans, is a friend of the bride and groom. He did an amazing job capturing so many spectacular moments throughout the day and into the magical evening of celebration.

A friend of the bride had made the marble wedding cake that featured colors of the wedding throughout the frosting, adorned with flowers and peacock feathers. It was delicious.

The reception following the ceremony was just a few miles down the road at Bosari Gallery, recently voted "Best Wedding Venue" by the readers of Cape Cod life. Located in Dennis on historic Route 6A, the beautiful barn dating back to the 1800's has been renovated into an art space providing a stunning backdrop for the event.

We all gathered on the well manicured back lawn surrounded by dense forest and a marsh in the distance. Scrumptious appetizers and a buffet dinner were served by the local catering company Eat Your Heart Out, of Mashpee. Everything I tasted was delectable. The ambiance of an old wine cellar and detailed stone work made the atmosphere comfortable and elegant.

The sun was beginning to set as we all moved inside to the dance floor for the bride and groom's first dance. The DJ, also local, had a great playlist and we all enjoyed the evening laughing, singing and dancing the night away.

I was honored to be a part of this special day and so proud of my friend for her dedication to supporting her local community. Her creativity fueled my desire to write about her wedding day and all the key elements that made it come together in such a harmonious way.

When it comes to honoring the sacred moments in life, you need look no further than home.

All photographs courtesy of Grace Finch

Grace Finch is a native Cape Codder who has been landscaping for over 16 years and now has her own small gardening business that focuses mainly on perennial and vegetable gardens.

Grace enjoys spending her free time walking Cape Cod beaches year round with her dog Kaya and writing about nature.

She is a regular contributing writer to the magazine.

You can visit her blog at grace-findings.blogspot.com.