Before they decided on any details, Melissa Murphy and David Lue knew the vibe they were striving for: black tie, but Island-style.
They didn’t know exactly how they would convey that, never mind how they would execute it in such a way that would be both elegant and comfortable, but they were committed. “We love getting dressed up and we like seeing our friends dressed up. There aren’t many opportunities in life for that,” Melissa explained. “I had this image of people in tuxes drinking out of koozies. That’s what I wanted.”
She also knew she wanted to be married on the Vineyard, despite the fact that she and David live in California. “My parents have a home in Katama and I wanted our getting ready photos to be there,” Melissa said. With the help of wedding planner Danielle Bailey, Melissa and David got their picture-perfect Island wedding. Danielle had planned the bride’s sister’s wedding a few years earlier, and though she had recently moved to Chicago she was thrilled to be involved with another Vineyard celebration – especially one with a family she numbers among her “favorite people in the world.”
Melissa and Danielle knew from prior experience that popular Island venues can book up quickly, so they wasted no time making their selections. Melissa was enamored with the Old Whaling Church, an easy choice for the ceremony. And Farm Neck Golf Club provided the casual/formal ambiance they were looking for – plus, the whole family has a penchant for golf. The couple was engaged in March of 2016 and had confirmed nearly every vendor for a September 2017 wedding within the month.
The ceremony and reception ended up exactly as elegant as Melissa had hoped they would be. (It was designated a mason jar–free zone, she said with a laugh.) But once guests were wined and dined, the couple wanted to throw a fun, let-loose party.
With Joanne Cassidy’s band The Vine Shakers on stage, that’s exactly what they did. At one point during the evening Joanne said to the crowd, “Hey, do you guys know every word to every song?!” When Melissa reflects on how perfect that perfect day in September turned out to be, that's the moment she returns to again and again.
Details
Date: September 16, 2017
Ceremony: Old Whaling Church
Reception: Farm Neck Golf Club
Photographer: Jenny Moloney
Wedding Planner: Danielle Bailey Weddings & Events
Caterer: V. Jaime Hamlin and Sons Catering & Party Design
Cake + Dessert: Val Cakes + Back Door Donuts
Music: The Vine Shakers
Flowers: Dandeneau Flowers, Weddings, and Events
Tent + Party Supplies: Big Sky Tent and Party Rentals
Transportation: Bluefish Taxi + Martha’s Vineyard Sightseeing Tours + MVP Luxury Transport
Hair + Makeup: Bouclé
Accommodations: The Christopher
Rehearsal Dinner + Post-Wedding Brunch: Dr. Daniel Fisher House + Grounds
Rehearsal Dinner + Post-Wedding Brunch Caterer: V. Jaime Hamlin and Sons Catering & Party Design
Rehearsal Dinner + Post-Wedding Brunch Music: The Vine Shakers
Welcome Party: Atria
Photo Booth: David Welch
Welcome Party Music: DJ Joshua Rockwell
Honeymoon: Palm Springs, California + Australia
Their Best Advice: Book early. “In talking to our vendors even eighteen months out, they indicated that they were already filling up or receiving inquiries for our dates.”
