From our very first meeting, Eleanor described the vision so clearly it felt like we could already see it unfolding.
They wanted to create an atmosphere of warmth and friendship, that effortless “endless summer” feeling every Cape Cod local dreams about. The kind of day where it is still warm enough for the beach, yet the evening air carries the slightest hint of fall. When the crowds thin, the light softens, and the shoreline feels quieter and more intimate.
They wanted elegant simplicity. Understated joy. A celebration that felt classic and natural, with an emphasis on candid moments over posed ones, where refinement meets pure, expressive happiness.
And that is exactly what their Cape Cod wedding weekend became.
Eleanor & Justin spent the week leading up to their wedding at the iconic Bunny Mellon House in Osterville, a historic waterfront estate deeply woven into Cape Cod history and once vacationed by Bunny Mellon and the Kennedys. The setting alone carried a sense of legacy and tradition, making the celebration feel rooted in something larger than a single day.
On the morning of their wedding, there was a calmness that set the tone for everything that followed. They shared their first look on the home’s historic dock overlooking the harbor, the very dock that has witnessed decades of iconic Cape Cod summers. It was quiet, intentional, and grounded. The kind of moment that reminds you what the day is truly about.
They were then married in a small church in Osterville, a heartfelt and traditional ceremony surrounded by family and lifelong friends. The intimate church ceremony offered a meaningful beginning before the celebration continued along the waterfront.
Guests later gathered at Nauticus Marina in Osterville, one of Cape Cod’s most picturesque waterfront venues. Sailboats drifted in the distance as ceremony joy carried seamlessly into cocktail hour along the harbor.
In true coastal fashion, Eleanor & Justin did not simply arrive at their reception. They cruised over by boat.
Pulling up to the dock at Nauticus Marina, greeted by cheers, they rang the lighthouse bell, a beloved marina tradition that felt both celebratory and deeply connected to place. It was cinematic without being overdone. Effortless. Joyful. Entirely them.
Their tented wedding design was a true reflection of their personalities layered thoughtfully against the natural beauty of coastal New England. It blended personality with place in a way that felt playful, textural, and refined.
A mix of textiles and patterns brought depth and movement to the tent. Unexpected pops of color added vibrancy, while the florals leaned intentionally organic and slightly “wonky,” creating an artful, expressive look rather than something overly structured.
Light blue and white draping softened the tent structure and echoed the coastal palette of Cape Cod. The most striking feature of the design, however, was the overhead installation composed of beach grass and rattan lanterns. Suspended above the reception, the installation created an immersive environment that felt as though the shoreline itself had been woven into the celebration. Textural, natural, and warm, it grounded the design while elevating the entire guest experience.
We love when a wedding celebration includes a moment of pure delight, and Eleanor & Justin’s did just that.
Right as cocktails were flowing and laughter carried across the harbor, a plane soared overhead with a banner trailing behind: “Just Married. Congratulations Justin & Eleanor.”
Guests cheered. The couple beamed. The Cape breeze carried a moment that felt straight out of a movie.
A surprise flyover for the sweetest two. Coastal magic at its finest.
As the evening cooled, candlelight and twinkle lights transformed the tent into an intimate and romantic atmosphere reminiscent of a Nancy Meyers film. Dinner felt warm and connected, filled with conversation and that understated joy Eleanor had envisioned from the very beginning.
Then the energy shifted.
An electrifying live band with powerhouse vocalists brought the dance floor to life, and the celebration unfolded exactly as they had hoped, expressive, vibrant, and full of movement. The kind of dance floor where no one wants the night to end.
From a historic dock first look to a heartfelt Osterville church ceremony, from ringing the lighthouse bell at Nauticus Marina to dancing beneath glowing lights in a coastal tented reception, every detail reflected who Eleanor & Justin are together.
A wedding rooted in history.
A celebration grounded in friendship.
An endless summer evening on Cape Cod.
An honor to bring to life.
- Photography: Maggie Braucher Photography
- Venue: Nauticus Marina
- Catering: Off the Vine Catering
- Hair and Makeup: Anna Breeding
