Island Weddings on Martha's Vineyard

October 19, 2013
Ceremony + Reception: Martha’s Vineyard Agricultural Hall

When Megan O’Connor and Linda Whitney got engaged on Chappaquiddick’s lovely Wasque Point, it seemed not just the perfect setting, but fitting. They had almost moved to the Vineyard not long before, but Linda was offered a job in Boston she couldn’t refuse. So what could be more poetic than having their wedding on the Island? They chose October; the slower pace and fall weather could only enhance the rustic coziness of their Ag Hall reception.

The couple undertook some do-it-yourself projects well ahead of the wedding date, including many a fun night “cutting and sanding” wine bottles collected by loved ones over a two-year period. The result: Candles in two hundred handmade holders made the whole celebration glow.

The couple strolled through Edgartown in their gowns before heading to the ceremony, which was held outside at the Ag Hall and officiated by Megan’s brothers, Ryan and Brendan. “First one started to cry, then the other,” Megan recalls.

At the welcome table, guests typed well-wishes on an antique typewriter. Tables were named for the streets of homes where Megan and Linda have lived together, and tabletop cards read: “Following the ceremony, your dinner will surround you. Eat up! You need to nourish those dancing feet!” Foregoing the traditional served meal, they opted for small plates and hors d’oeuvres that included lobster rolls, sliders, and a mashed-potato bar.

After being introduced as “Mrs. and Mrs.,” the brides strutted their stuff all night long in the cowboy boots they wore under their gowns. Fans of country music, their first dance was to “That’s My Kind of Night” by Luke Bryan. “Being introduced as one family was awesome,” Linda reflects. “My wedding day was one of the happiest days of my life.”