Alexander Wolff’s family has something of a tradition when it comes to weddings. His family has summered on the Vineyard for three generations, and his parents and siblings were all married in Edgartown. Alexander hoped to follow in their footsteps, so as soon as he decided to propose to Martina Montalbetti, he began putting the pieces in place.
He chose a date and secured the Old Whaling Church and the Edgartown Yacht Club.
All he needed next was a “yes,” which Martina happily provided. She also eagerly supported Alexander’s vision for their wedding. “While I was generously given the option to choose wherever in the world I would like for the wedding to occur, and was told these venues only held security deposits, I too wanted to be a part of his history on the beautiful Island that the Wolff family introduced me to,” she said.
In an ironic twist of familiar fate, however, their plans were upended by the pandemic. In April of 2020, with their wedding six months away, they decided to postpone their celebration by almost a year. Then, two weeks before the new date, an indoor mask mandate was reinstated. Martina and Alexander opted to move the reception from the Edgartown Yacht Club to the club’s tennis courts, which meant they would now require tents, generators, mobile bathrooms, outdoor catering equipment, lighting, and more staff.
As if that weren’t enough, the rehearsal dinner was cancelled when the chef contracted Covid. “Within a matter of hours, Christian and Greer Thornton of Atria saved the day and adapted our menu,” she said. By the morning of the wedding, they thought they were in the clear. And then, ants! An infestation discovered at the tennis courts sent Martina racing to the hardware store for ant spray.
With the help of family and friends, the wedding became a memorable group effort. “I still laugh thinking about the photos I have of all of them pitching in to help on the week of the wedding – gluing moss down to foam boards for our escort card table, sticking candles into hurricanes, organizing and personalizing the menus,” she said.
Despite all the hurdles, the ceremony unfolded perfectly and the couple made it to their first dance. “We looked into each other’s eyes and without saying a word we both knew, we had done it!” Martina said. “All the hard work paid off and we had the best night of our entire lives.”
Details
Date: September 10, 2021
Ceremony: Old Whaling Church
Reception: Edgartown Yacht Club Tennis Courts
Photographer: Randi Baird
Day-Of Coordinator: Plan It MV
Videographer: Harborview Studios
Caterer: Edgartown Yacht Club
Cake: Cakes by Liz
Ceremony Music: Griffin McMahon
Reception Music: The Sultans
Flowers: Island Ambiance
Tent + Party Supplies: Big Sky Tent and Party Rentals
Transportation: ResortMan
Hair + Makeup: Sea Spa Salon
Getting-Ready Location: Dr. Daniel Fisher House
Calligraphy + Stationery: Papier UK
Rehearsal Dinner: Atria
Brunch Caterer: Espresso Love
Welcome Party: The Reading Room
Welcome Party Caterer: Black Sheep
Guest Accommodations: The Charlotte Inn
Honeymoon: South Africa + Benguerra Island
