While Celeste Miles and Ned Ryan were on the Island during the first summer of the pandemic, they spent many days playing the Royal and Ancient Chappaquiddick Links golf course. “Ned and I love to play that course,” said Celeste. It’s a place on the Island that resonated so much with them, that when it came time to plan their October 2021 wedding, they knew it was the perfect spot for their union.

Except among golfers, the small, nine-hole course located on North Neck Road is not well known, although it has been around for over a hundred years. For Celeste and Ned, the venue fit with their overall intention: to provide guests with a fun and authentic experience of connecting with friends and family for their weekend of wedding events.

The logistics of turning a golf green into a wedding venue were, luckily, orchestrated by their planner. “Kate [Foster], from Plan It [Martha’s Vineyard], was responsible for making sure that we had all the stuff we needed: electricity, bathroom, the tent, and vans to shuttle people from the Chappy Ferry. She handled the coordination,” said Celeste.

Since there was a little more travel involved for the 105 guests to get over to Chappy, the couple invited them to come early in order to relax before the ceremony with snacks and beverages, including mini champagne bottles. “It takes a lot of effort for people to get to a wedding on Martha’s Vineyard, and we wanted people to feel like they were on a vacation with family and friends. We wanted to maximize their time,” explained Celeste.

The couple used their wedding announcement, their website, and emails to provide information about their day, “to minimize the room for error.” They even included Chappy Ferry tickets in guests’ welcome bags. In addition to arranging for fun activities – golf, tennis, pickleball – they hosted a casual meet-up on Thursday, their rehearsal dinner on Friday, and a Sunday brunch at Ned’s parents’ home in downtown Edgartown.

Thinking back on the wedding, Ned remembered the blue sky and remarkable weather for October like a gift or a blessing.

Celeste recalled with emotion how the ceremony began: “A good friend of ours officiated. He started by inviting me and Ned to turn around and look at the whole crowd, all the people who supported and showed up for us.”

Details

Wedding Date: October 9, 2021
Ceremony + Reception: Royal and Ancient Chappaquiddick Links
Photographer: Arletta Weddings
Wedding Planner: Plan It Martha’s Vineyard
Flowers: Of The Vine
Tent + Party Supplies: Big Sky Tent and Party Rentals
Caterer: Buckley’s Gourmet Catering
Hair + Makeup: Sea Spa Salon
Cake: Back Door Donuts
Music: Yaeko Plays Violin + The Sultans
Transportation: Lighthouse Taxi
Libations: Rosewater Wine & Spirits + Vineyard Cash & Carry
Tech Support: Event Power MV
Portables: MV PhotoBus – Luxury Restroom Trailers