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Ashley Tilton

1.1.15

Catie & Josh

June 28, 2014
Ceremony: East Chop Lighthouse
Reception: Farm Neck Golf Club

Classic, playful, and heartfelt describes the mood of Catie Coogan and Josh Reynal’s romantic waterfront ceremony and festive celebration. On her cloudless wedding day, the bride’s father, Greg Coogan, drove her in a friend’s vintage 1940 Buick to the ceremony site – the lighthouse just down the road from her childhood home in Oak Bluffs. Catie and Josh met as post grads in Josh’s hometown of Richmond, Virginia, where they live now with their rescue dogs, Beamer and Allie. Josh is an estimator for a commercial-landscaping company. Catie is a special-education teacher at a low-socioeconomic elementary school, perhaps following in the footsteps of her father, who is a retired teacher.

“My dad always told me I was going to have only peanut butter and jelly sandwiches at my wedding,” says Catie. “A don’t-set-the-bar-too-high kind of thing.” To her surprise, maid-of-honor Nell Coogan and three of Catie’s middle-school friends made heart shaped PB&J sandwiches to serve to guests as Catie’s dad walked her down the aisle. “I was shocked,” Catie says, “and loved it!” Additional elements of surprise added to the sense of play and joy. An unexpected photo session on her parent’s sailboat brought back fond memories, as the boat has been in family photos since Catie was a baby. Both bride and groom are avid football fans. The ring bearers carried pillows of opposing teams (the Patriots and the Redskins) and it was kept secret from Josh until the kids were walking down the aisle.

During the father-of-the-bride speech, there wasn’t a dry eye in the place. It was also a whimsical moment, when, as per a Coogan family tradition at celebrations, napkins were turned into hats and donned by many. “If you are a Coogan, or a relative of one,” Catie says, “you know how to make a napkin hat!”

Details

Photographer: Ashley Tilton
Rehearsal: Sailing Camp Park
Rehearsal Caterer: Truly Scrumptious Catering
Cake: Cakes by Liz
Flowers: Island Ambiance
Hair: Shear Inspiration Salon
Favors: Chilmark Chocolates