Manhattanites Tara Colli and Charlie Garber kept their romance hidden from co-workers at J.P. Morgan for over a year, but made it official by getting engaged at the Edgartown Lighthouse, so a wedding at the Harbor View Hotel was a natural choice.
Charlie spent his childhood summers on Martha’s Vineyard and it became a special place for the couple. “The Harbor View's location had a very personal, symbolic importance to me,” Tara said. Her mother, a collector of lighthouse figurines, and her uncle, an avid sailor, died prematurely. “With the lighthouse in perfect view and the marina right next door, the Harbor View was the perfect place for me to get married and still feel very close to the part of my family that is no longer with us.”
The couple hosted a welcome clambake and included a raw bar during cocktails before the ceremony “to bring in as much of the Vineyard experience as possible.” Their rehearsal dinner at The Dunes restaurant overlooking South Beach gave wedding guests a chance to experience another Edgartown site during their short stay.
Tara chose earth tones as her color palette to create a beach feel. “No loud colors, and absolutely no pink!” she said. “Think blue, gray, beige, and white.” In place of seating cards, she wrote names on sand dollars, which she displayed in a sandbox. Paper anchors hung from the wine glasses complemented the nautical theme.
Communication was key during the planning process, Tara said. Rather than relying on email, she had lengthy phone calls with her vendors to get her vision across. She and Charlie also developed a budget that worked for them. “We established minimum and maximum spends for various items,” Tara said. “We'd give a little on some things and take a little from others. We made sure very early on that we were on the same page about what we wanted to spend on our special day.”
Details
Wedding Planner: Kez Sandhu of the Harbor View Hotel
Photographer: Randi Baird
Caterer: Harbor View Hotel
Cake: Cakes by Liz
Music: The Ceremony Music Source
Flowers: Flowers by Donaroma’s
Videographer: Weddings MV
Hair + Makeup: Jeanne Beardsley + Amanda McCarthy
Guest Accommodations: Ashley Inn + Clarion Inn + The Edgartown Inn + Harbor View Hotel
Welcome Clambake: Martha’s Vineyard Rod & Gun Club
Welcome Clambake Caterer: Bill Smith’s MV Clambake Co.
Rehearsal Dinner: The Dunes at Winnetu Oceanside Resort
Wedding Brunch: Harbor View Hotel
