Perfect weather. Scallops on the half shell. Panoramic views of Menemsha Harbor. Butterfly-friendly flowers. A great mix of tunes. Friends and family from all over the nation, all in one postcard-perfect place. “You could feel the love and positivity,” Joshua Etienne said of his September wedding, where, at the Beach Plum Inn in Chilmark, he exchanged “I do’s” with Alexandra Bowman.

Josh and Alix first locked eyes in 2010 while on a college trip with the NAACP to Washington, D.C. “We went to different schools in Atlanta, but we met on that trip,” Josh said. They became good friends, kept in contact, and then one day, after both had graduated and Alix had moved away, she returned to Atlanta for a conference and sent Josh a text. They went on a date to an open mic night with live jazz. They laughed. The conversation flowed. There was a lot of chemistry.

“We ended up dating long distance for about a year before living together,” Alix said. At one point she brought Josh to the Vineyard, where her parents have a house, to meet her family. Something about the Island made sense; it was laid back and comfortable, just like them. Later, when the couple became engaged, they knew the Island was the right choice. “We wanted to get married somewhere by the water,” Josh said.

The couple opted out of hiring a wedding planner for their big day. “If we didn’t have family on the Island, that wouldn’t have been possible. It’s in your best interest to have someone on-Island or someone intimately familiar who has access to the spaces regularly,” Josh said. Luckily, Alix’s family was able to help scout locations and meet up with local vendors.

Not that Alix and Josh delegated all their tasks. “We made about twenty-five trips to the Island,” Josh said.

The back and forth was worth it, the couple agreed. “It was actually really fun too,” he added. Their most fun trip? Cake tasting. “We got to sit at The Black Dog Café and try different kinds of cakes and everyone there was just looking at us eating all these cakes,” he said laughing. “They were pretty jealous.”

At the wedding, they enlisted Aarin Clemons to DJ R&B, funk, and Motown hits. Generations of former classmates sang school hymns from their alma matters. There were also a lot of kids, which brought a fun energy to the dance party. “It was a vibe,” said Josh. Everyone was smiling. The sun was shining. They could feel the love and positivity.

Details

Wedding Date: September 7, 2019
Photographer: David Welch
Ceremony + Reception: Beach Plum Inn
Caterers: Beach Plum Inn + Blue Crab Kitchen
Cake: The Black Dog
Music: Aarin Clemons
Flowers: Morrice Florist
Tent + Party Supplies: Big Sky Tent and Party Rentals
Calligraphy + Stationery: Minted
Hair + Makeup: Friends and family
Wedding Attire + Jewelry: Allen Edmonds + Brooks Brothers + Essense of Australia + J.Crew + M.Gemi Accommodations: Beach Plum Inn + Menemsha Inn & Cottages + Summercamp + Vineyard Harbor Motel
Rehearsal Dinner: Beach Plum Inn
Rehearsal Caterer: Premier Chef Services
Honeymoon: New Orleans
Their Best Advice: It’s hard to describe the logistics of traveling to the Island to guests who have never been here before. Provide them with clear instructions and information. Also, “Encourage your guests to book and plan travel early, maybe even make a vacation out of it!”