Sometimes friends know best. That is how Madeline Clappin and Rachel Roseneck met, after all. In 2017, they attended a party of a mutual friend who, at the end of the night, dragged Rachel over to introduce her to Madeline. They have been inseparable ever since.

Madeline grew up coming to the Island with her family, and Rachel accompanied her on a few trips while they were dating. When they became engaged in 2023, they knew they wanted a wedding by the water, under a tent, in a rural setting. “Ocean is simple in concept, but then actually finding sites that were suitable for a wedding was definitely [hard],” Madeline acknowledged. But, she said, “Martha’s Vineyard was perfect for it.”

They selected the Vanderhoop Homestead in Aquinnah for their all-in-one venue, and were quickly put at ease during the planning process when they saw how prepared and knowledgeable Island vendors were. “We wanted to work with a planner and lean on them, because we’re not local to the Vineyard, so having that on-Island knowledge was really crucial,” Rachel said.

Combining their creativity and organization skills resulted in a hands-on planning process for the pair. Rachel ensured that the reception’s playlist would be something they both enjoyed, since dancing was an important part of the celebration. And Madeline created a personal style guide for the day – including a desired color palette, font, and reference images – and sent the details to the planner, florist, and other vendors.

Rachel and Madeline wanted to keep their wedding simple yet cohesive, from the DIY stationery and signage to the floral centerpieces and disco balls over the dance floor. The color palette was inspired by Aquinnah itself, including the red from the clay embedded in the scenic cliffs. “It was all these colors that existed already in the environment we were in, so that was meaningful,” Rachel said.

After exchanging vows with Vineyard Sound as the backdrop, the couple celebrated the rest of the day by never leaving the dance floor. From Charli XCX to The Rolling Stones, there was something for everybody to groove to as they marked their milestone.

“By the end of the night, [we’re] on the dance floor, we’re with all of our favorite people in the world,” Madeline said. “It’s kind of a relief, because you’re like, ‘I just threw this awesome wedding and now we get to just totally enjoy it with all the people [we] love.’” 

DETAILS

Wedding Date: August 17, 2024
Ceremony + Reception: The Vanderhoop Homestead
Photographer: John David Weddings
Second Photographer: Julie Cope
Wedding Planner: Plan It Martha’s Vineyard
Flowers: Flowers on the Vineyard
Bartending Services: Island Cocktail Company
Hair + Makeup: Sea Spa Salon
Tent + Party Supplies: Big Sky Tent and Party Rentals
Caterer: Buckley’s Gourmet Catering
Cake + Dessert: Val Cakes + Pie Chicks
Ceremony Music: Lizzie Grams
Reception Music: DJ Diana
Transportation: MV Sightseeing + ResortMan
Stationery + Signage: DIY
Portables: MV Event Rentals – Mobile Restroom
Power Support: Event Power MV
Welcome Party: Nomans
After Party: The Seafood Shanty