The day Rick Bowles moved into a brownstone in Boston’s Back Bay was the first time he laid eyes on Kelly McDermott as she was doing laundry in her pajamas. A week later, on a hot and humid day, they ran into each other again and he offered to install her A/C unit. The rest, they say, is history.

Once engaged, Kelly, a physical therapist, and Rick, an orthopedic surgeon, began planning from afar. Though living in Denver, Colorado, at the time of their engagement, they knew they would tie the knot back East. “We chose [the Vineyard] because we wanted a destination wedding that honored our love for the East Coast,” Kelly said. “[It] was the perfect blend of laid-back elegance.”

With the help of planner Amira Tranchell of the Harbor View Hotel, Rick, Kelly, and Kelly's mother, Cecilia McDermott, pulled off what Kelly fondly remembers as a “beautiful and very personal wedding.” They exchanged their vows on the beach in front of the Edgartown Lighthouse under an arbor adorned with white flowers and greenery. Friend Patrick Owen served as their officiant, while Rick’s son, Anderson, and Kelly’s nephew, Sam, were their ring bearers. After the ceremony, guests walked to the Harbor View's great lawn, where they enjoyed a cocktail hour and jazz tunes.

Inside the nearby tent, oyster shell escort cards, created by Cecilia, led guests to their tables, which were decorated with gold plates and utensils, candles, and garland. The “rustic luxe feel” was made possible by a Cape rental company named, naturally, Rust & Luxe. Following dinner, guests danced to The Sultans inside the Harbor View's Lighthouse Grill.

From a welcome party catamaran sail in Edgartown harbor, to a quintessential New England–style rehearsal dinner, to their intimate wedding day, the weekend hit all of the aspects of East Coast living that Kelly and Rick love and wanted to share with their guests.

“The ocean breeze, the delicious lobster, riding bikes down the streets of Edgartown,” Kelly said. It’s the way the Island is meant for you to feel. "Relaxed, but with hints of sophistication.”

details

Date: September 3, 2016
Ceremony: Edgartown Lighthouse
Reception: Harbor View Hotel
Photographer: Laurelle + Dale Photography
Wedding Planner: A Touch of Bliss + Amira Tranchell of the Harbor View Hotel
Caterer: Harbor View Hotel
Cake: The Cakerie
Music: Infinity Strings + The Sultans
Flowers: Tea Lane Farm
Tent + Party Supplies: Big Sky Tent and Party Rentals + Rust & Luxe
Hair + Makeup: Shear Inspiration Hair Salon + Blush
Invitation + Dinner Menu Designs: Bella Figura
Accommodations: Harbor View Hotel + The Harborside Inn
Rehearsal Dinner Caterer: Kitchen Porch
Honeymoon: Iceland
Their Best Advice: Less is more. “Let the beautiful backdrop of the Vineyard take the spotlight.”