For many, midnight in Chilmark strikes at 10 p.m. The last wake in Menemsha Harbor has come and gone and crickets rule the airwaves. It’s part of the reason why Emily Distel and Niko Herman chose the Vineyard for their wedding – that Island magic.
It’s also when the town’s noise ordinance kicks in, and while it makes for easy sleeping, it can be a buzzkill for revelers. The couple wasn’t going to let that happen on their wedding day. “It was a deal breaker for us,” said Emily.
The June wedding, held at the Beach Plum Inn, went well past 10 p.m. thanks to a silent disco. The couple ordered 150 wireless headsets that, when tuned to the same channel, all received the same song from a playlist. Emily and Niko left the dance floor at 2 a.m. with guests still behind.
“When you took your headphones off it was silent, except for people shouting certain words, sometimes you heard some stomping of feet,” Emily said. “It was really hysterical to take your headphones off and realize what was going on.”
“It engaged people who might have otherwise left,” Niko added.
The silent disco was one of several signature touches Emily, who works for UNICEF, and Niko, an MBA student, included in their wedding. There was also the flower wall for photo backdrops (hello, Instagram) created by Krishana Collins of Tea Lane Farm, and the parking lot shack turned general store that was stocked with snacks and beach gear for wedding guests.
The couple aimed to create an Island experience for their family and friends, from the disco right down to the perfect beach day. The Friday before the wedding, guests convened in front of the Chilmark General Store with Back Door Donuts and coffee, and headed out to the south shore.
Getting married on the Vineyard was a “no-brainer” for the couple, who currently live in Los Angeles. Niko grew up spending every summer in Chilmark, and Emily had visited as a child with her family.
“When Niko was courting me, he kept trying to get me to the Vineyard,” Emily said. “It was so easy to do.”
“It was something I always wanted to do,” Niko said. “It’s such a special place, and having this special moment there was the perfect fit.”
details
Date: June 18, 2016
Ceremony + Reception: The Beach Plum Inn
Photographer: Elizabeth Cecil
Wedding Planner: KG Events & Design
Caterer: Premier Chef Services
Dessert: Val Cakes
Music: Vineyard Music and Events + DJ Nikki Pennie
Flowers: Tea Lane Farm
Transportation: Cape Destinations + Stagecoach Taxi
Tent + Party Supplies: Big Sky Tent and Party Rentals + La Tavola Fine Linen Rental
Hair + Makeup: Beauty PaRLR + Judith Koppelman + Sea Spa Salon
Favors: Back Door Donuts + Chilmark Chocolates + Chilmark Coffee Company
Guest Accommodations: The Beach Plum Inn + Dockside Inn + Harbor View Hotel + Menemsha Inn & Cottages + Summercamp
Rehearsal Dinner: Home Port Restaurant
Honeymoon: Thailand + Bali, Indonesia
