a block island wedding

WeddingsBlock Island

Weddings2011

Inside:11 Real Island Weddings

Week-by-WeekIsland Wedding Planner

Island Resource Guide

Close To Home, A World Away

Block Island Weddings 1

Table of Contents

Block Island Weddings 2011Publishers ............................Fraser Lang/ Betty Rawls Lang

Editor .................................................................. Lisa Stiepock

Designer ....................................................... Christopher Izzo

Contributor ......................................................Judith Tierney

Photographers ....Berit Bizjak, Mia Campopiano, Kari Curtis,

Thea Dodds, John Fuller, CDennis and Xien Gignac,

Bryan Halay, Trevor Holden, Alice Jacob, Kitty Maer,

Matt Palma, Laura Sanford, Rose Schaller, Lesley Ulrich,

Stefanie Wendland

Copy Editors ........... Kari Curtis, Shane Howrigan, Dan West

Advertising.................... Betty Rawls Lang, Shane Howrigan

Advertising Design .......George Donnelly, Susan Filippone

Cover Photo ........................................................Lesley Ulrich

Block Island Weddings is an annual publication of The Block Island Times, which was founded in 1970. The Pub-lisher is Manisses, Inc. and the publications include The Block Island Times (52 issues per year), The Block Island Summer Times (4 issues per year), Block Dining (annual), Block Island Magazine (annual), and House and Gar-den (two issues per year).

Celebrating 41 years.

P.O. Box 278. One Ocean AvenueBlock Island, Rhode Island [email protected]

401-466-2222 • 401-466-8804 faxThis publication does not assume any responsibility for an error

in an advertisement. We will correct any errors in reporting.

Copyright 2011 by Manisses, Inc.

3 Why B.I.?

35 Block Island Wedding Resource Guide

ISLAnD WeDDInG PLAnneR

4 10 to 12 months out

5 6 to 9 months out




26 3 to 4 weeks out

27 1 to 2 weeks out, day before, day of

WeDDInG STORIeS

7 Stacy Ferraro and Paul Henshaw 8.19.2010

9 Alexis Ott and Frank Leddy 6.12.2010

10 Alicia Leone and Abel Sprague 10.10.2010

14 Terin Brown and Kyle Draper 6.17. 2010

18 Cindy Aitken and Adam Sharp 9.18.2010

21 Missy Gallagher and Seth Lemoine 7.8.2010

23 Jocelyn Ruppell and Jack Lagier 8.7.2010

25 natalie Sisto and J.T. Means 8.21.2010

29 Christine Wendland and Kevin Tierney 4.3.2010

31 Roseanne Hues and Kevin Barney 9.18.2010

33 Katrina Mabbitt and nate Bornstein 10.8.2010

On the cover: On the dunes at an entrance to Crescent Beach are Andrew Collins of Block Island and Miriam Kelleher of Cork, Ireland, who were married September 8, 2010, at Saint Andrew. Photo by Lesley Ulrich.

Table of Contents

Photo by JFuller Photography

2 Block Island Weddings


Why Choose Block Island for your Destination Wedding?

“Everyone was on vacation. They spent a week with us and they were in relaxed vacation

mode. They weren’t running home to meet the sitter or let the dog out.”

Natalie Sisto,who married J.T. Means 8.21.10

“The weather was perfect. The place was perfect.”

Alicia Leone,who married Abel Sprague 10.10.10

“Some other places feel hectic and fast paced, like wedding factories. Even with as many

weddings as there are on Block Island, ours felt customized and relaxed. We had a wonderful

vacation week and one of the days, we happened to get married.

Katrina Mabbitt,who married Nate Bornstein 10.8.10

“Block Island is a unique place and you might have to go to plan B. Even your plan B out here is better than getting married anywhere else.”

Stacy Ferraro,who married Paul Henshaw 8.19.10

“On Block Island, the wedding is the honeymoon.”

Alexis Ott,who married Frank Leddy 6.12.10

“This wasn’t just a wedding, it was an event. There was so much to do. Everybody just loved

it – all the generations, from my 93-year-old grandfather to the youngest kids. It was a

vacation for five nights. We had people from Massachusetts, Florida, San Francsco, Belgium: They all said it was the greatest wedding they’d

ever been to.” Frank Leddy,

who married Alexis Ott 6.12.10

“It was always where I wanted to get married ...whether I married an island boy or not.”

Missy Gallagher,who married Seth Lemoine 7.8.10

“Our guests absolutely loved it. We were lucky to celebrate on such a beautiful island.”

Christine Wendland,who married Kevin Ben Tierney 4.3.10

“It’s a very beautiful, magical place, probably one of the most memorable weddings I could

have ever had.”Terin Brown,

who married Kyle Draper 6.17.10

“Our friends and family fell in love with the island, and want to come back now. They kept

thanking us for showing them the island.”Kevin Barney,

who married Roseanne Hues 9.18.10

“We thought about Monterey Bay and Carmel...but it was actually a lot cheaper to get

married on Block Island.” Jocelyn Ruppell,

who married Jack Lagier 8.7.10

“You know how sometimes in movies or shows the location almost plays another character? I feel like that’s how Block Island was for our

wedding. It would not have been the same were it not on Block Island.”

Cindy Aitken,who married Adam Sharp 9.18.10

Photo by Mia Campopiano Photography


A. Jessica and Shane snag some alone time on The Sullivan House’s wraparound deck with its 360-degree water views; this side overlooks New Harbor. Photo by Rose Schaller Photo. B. Katrina Mabbitt says looking out at the “vibrant blue” water is one of her favorite memories of her Spring House wedding. Photo by Authentic Eye Photography.

10-12 months outCome up with an estimated guest count

Discuss a budget

Decide on three dates for your wedding and list in order of preference Remember that June and September is peak wedding season on Block Island – venues may have restrictions that don’t meet your guest count or budget. July and August weddings – most hotels will have a three-night minimum required of your guests. If you are on a tight budget, consider having your wedding on a day other than Saturday.

Discuss what kind of wedding you envision

– Formal or Casual?

– Tented or Indoor?

– Buffet or Served?

Discuss what your priorities are

– Food? Good Music? Decor? Location?

Book ceremony location and pay deposit

Book reception location and pay deposit

Reserve blocks of rooms for wedding guests

Begin gathering ideas from bridal magazines and websites

See what your tastes are regarding flowers, decor, cakes, dresses, invites

Gather pictures to show these vendors your vision

Select your bridal party

Courtesy of Mona Dwyer Helterline, blockislandweddingplanner.com

A

B


A. Evan and Meaghan Wargo bask in a post-ceremony and post-sunset glow on the lawn of the Atlantic Inn. Evan is the head chef at Eli’s restaurant. Photo by Rose Schaller Photo. B. Guests enjoy the gorgeous flowers and rolling hills that sur-round The Rose Farm Inn – perfect for lawn games, a reception trend. Photo by Cecilia DelViscio Photography.

6-9 months outFinalize guest list

Create a save-the-date insert or e-mail

Your guests will require more information due to the special circumstances regarding a Block Island wedding. An informational insert or e-mail along with the save-the-date will urge them to make their travel arrangements early.

Things to include:

– Any other events outside of the wedding day that you would like to invite them to, such as a rehearsal dinner or Sunday brunch

– Transportation information – ferry, taxi or bus

– Room blocks or recommended accommodations

Send out a save-the-date

Book caterer and pay deposit

Book DJ or band and pay deposit

Book ceremony music and pay deposit

Book photographer and pay deposit

Book videographer and pay deposit

Book officiant and pay deposit

Book cake designer and pay deposit

Book florist and pay deposit

Book bride and groom accommodations

Book vendor accommodations

Book vendor ferry tickets if applicable

Order bridal gown and accessories

Book rehearsal dinner location

Begin researching invitations and wording

If you are inviting all of your guests to the rehearsal dinner, consider integrating this into your invite and RSVP. Pocket-fold invitations are very useful for presenting info about multiple events as well as gathering RSVPs.

Shop for wedding bands and get ideas for engraving

Begin researching honeymoon spots


A

B


Lewis Farm 8.19.2010

She: 36, teaching assistant at the Block Island School, waitresss at Eli’s and taxi driver in summer; from Glastonbury, Connecticut He: 43, construction worker, bartender at McGovern’s Yellow Kittens; from Roxbury, Connecticut

Now live in Block Island, Rhode Island. How did you meet? At Yellow Kittens during a summer working on the island years ago. We started dating six years ago.

How did he/she propose? Over the dishes. It was New Year’s Day and we were going to the Polar Plunge. He got down on one knee and asked me when I took off my rubber gloves.

How did Block Island become your wedding destination? It first became our home. Paul had spent 20 summers out here; I’d spent 16.

How did Block Island make your wedding special? All our family and friends were able to come and spend a week and see why we love it so much.

Where was the reception?At a good friend’s home up the road from Lewis Farm. The Manisses catered it, and good friends did homestyle antipasto and desserts.

How many guests? Almost 200.

What did guests tell you about the wedding afterward? People are still telling us it was the best wedding they’ve ever been to.

What is your most beautiful memory of your wedding day? If I had to choose just one? It was a crystal clear, perfect day. My father and I walked through some tall grass to get to the site, and we took a moment to look around – everyone was there, the sun was shining, it was perfect.

Do you have advice for others who wed here?Plan as much in advance as you can. Know that Block

Island is a unique place and you might have to go to plan B. Even your plan B out here is better than getting married anywhere else.

Where was your honeymoon? A short one to Nantucket. We usually don’t leave the island in August!

Will your bridesmaids wear their dresses again? Probably not.

What was your most bridezilla moment? When rehearsal dinner food almost didn’t make it to the island.

What was his most clueless groom moment? Being a little late to the rehearsal dinner at Kittens.

Would you have changed anything? No.

How do you like marriage so far? Better than I expected. People say it doesn’t change things, but it does, in a good way. I feel there’s a little bit more of a closeness.

Photos by Trevor Holden. Interview by Judy Tierney.

Stacy Ferraro and Paul Henshaw


Alexis Ott and Frank Leddy

Spring House 6.12.2010

She: 32, V.P. in Global Public Affairs at Citigroup; from Short Hills, New JerseyHe: 31, litigation associate at Rivkin Radler; from Monroe, New York

Now live in Hoboken, New Jersey.

How did you meet? At Villanova University senior year. Then we ended up living in the same suburb of Philly. Then, after law school, I moved to Hoboken and bumped into Alexis again. It turned out she needed a roommate and I needed a roomate. We were just roomates for a year and a half, and suddenly we weren’t.

How did he/she propose? On painted rock. I surprised her when we drove by on mopeds.

How did Block Island become your wedding destination? It was a no-brainer. I’ve been coming to the island since I was a small boy and my parents ended up buying a house up there. Then, independent of me, Alexis had gone to a wedding on B.I. about ten years ago, and from then on she always wanted to get married there. We just knew it would be Block Island. Alexis: And we knew it was going to be the Spring House: ‘That’s where you do it,’ as Frank’s dad would say.

How did Block Island make your wedding special? All our family and friends were able to come and spend a week and see why we love it so much. Everybody just loved it, from my 93-year-old grandfather to the youngest kids. It was a vacation for five nights.

How many guests did you have? 175.

What is your most beautiful memory of your wedding day? Alexis: It sounds corny, but walking down the aisle was it for me – hearing the music, talking to my dad, starting to cry, seeing Frank, and seeing everybody. Frank: Our band, Sugar, the last song they played was Hallelujah by Jeff Buckley, and all the guests got up around the parlor and linked arms and swayed.

Do you have advice for others who wed here?Frank: Rent houses for everyone! Don’t make it a

wedding day, make it a wedding week. Alexis: I would definitely say hands-down use Jamie

Rose and Laura Tierney. The cake by Laura was just amazing – five tiers and Jamie did flowers that matched; it really impressed me.

Other highlights?– All our guests got canvas gift bags with Blocks of

Fudge fudge, B.I. Blonde beer from Redbird, and Block and Barrel potato chips from Three Sisters.

– Thursday we did a cocktail cruise on Ruling Passion. – Friday night we had a rehearsal wine-tasting dinner at

The Atlantic Inn. Brad [Marthens, owner] let us use his antique pickup and there was a bagpiper on the lawn, it was phenomenal.

– Saturday morning the groomsmen brunched at the Narrangansett while the girls had their nails done at Koru.

– After the wedding, Brad and Rick from Island Antiques let us borrow that car they keep outside their shop to tool around in and take pictures.

– On Sunday Rita [Draper] set up a nice brunch at the Manisses by the fountain, and that night we had a bonfire on the beach for everyone who stayed.

Where was your honeymoon? On Block Island the wedding is the honeymoon! We spent 5 or 6 nights on the island and then went to Napa for 3 nights. Then we spent 16 days in Hong Kong and Thailand over the holidays.

What did guests tell you about the wedding afterward? We had people from Massachusetts, Florida, San Francisco, Belgium. They all said this was the greatest wedding they’d ever been to. It wasn’t a wedding, it was an event. There was just so much to do.

Where did you find your dress? Vera Wang. She was actually there, she put the dress on me and took pictures. It helps to be there during Fashion Week!

What was your most bridezilla moment? Driving those gift bags around.

What was his most clueless groom moment? He insisted on renting these vintage umbrellas from Seattle in case it rained , but they cost a lot of money if you lose or break them and I was like ‘people won’t know to return them.’ Frank: I lost that battle – but if you ever have an opportunity, check out Bella Umbrella.

Would you have changed anything? Frank: No. Alexis: I would have given myself more time to enjoy cocktail hour at the wedding; we went for pictures and missed our cocktail hour. Frank: I agree with that.

Photos by Berit Bizjak, copyright 2011 Images by Berit, Inc. Interview by Lisa Stiepock.


Saint Andrew 10.10.2010

She: 22, works with dad Johnny renting mopeds; from Block Island, Rhode IslandHe: 25, works with dad Joe as a heavy equipment operator, from Block Island, Rhode Island

Now live in Block Island, Rhode Island.

How did you meet? We went to the Block Island School. When she came to kindergarten, I was in the third grade.

How did he/she propose? Abel: I just asked her. Alicia: It was my twenty-first birthday. Abel: She thought I was joking. Alicia: So I said no. Then he showed me the ring,

and I said yes.

How did Block Island become your wedding destination? We were born and raised out here. I’m tenth generation of my family here – she’s probably the same. Our great grandparents, grandparents, all were married out here. It’s tradition.

How did Block Island make your wedding special?Abel: It was nice to see everyone in my favorite spot. Alicia: Everybody could come.

Where was the reception? Ballard’s.


What did guests tell you about the wedding afterward?Alicia: They raved about the fireworks and about how

great Ballard’s looked.Abel: My cake [a replica of his truck] was awesome!

My brother in law Evan [Turenne – Eli’s sous chef ], Sara’s husband, made it as a surprise. I had it for a long time in my basement, and then my dog ate it.

What is your most beautiful memory of your wedding day? Alicia: The fireworks, it was a nice ending to the day.

[Cousin] Jason and [Uncle] Leo and Abel’s dad did it for us and they were ordered especially for us, so it was all silver and purples, the wedding colors. The spot was perfect. It was better than the Fourth of July!

What was the most unique thing you did? Abel: We took this ‘69 Camaro around the island. It was great. I’ve loved that car since I was like five.

Other highlights?– Everyone loved the kids buffet , especially the

sliders.– Jamie’s flower design was awesome.– And then what the Ryans did to decorate Ballard’s!– We had a DJ and a band: Mark Scortino and Family

Affair.

– Heather Russo and Jayme Hennessy played music in the church .

– The rehearsal dinner at McNamara’s was really good; the moms made the desserts .

– We gave the girls B.I. key necklaces of Jennifer’s. She made my engagement ring, too.

– At the B.I. wedding show we met Denise from Alterations Unlimited. She did the dress and tuxes and you couldn’t ask for anything better.

What was the most unexpected thing that happened? Alicia: They went to move the cake and it had

collapsed. Even the flowers on it were completely ruined. My uncle [Aldo of the bakery, her dad’s twin brother] had a bunch of frozen cakes so they threw a new one together that day. Evan’s mom decorated it. It was really good, but apparently the first one they did was just spectacular.

Do you have advice for others who wed here?Alicia: Start planning early. We put it off until like the

last 3 months. I would have started much sooner.

Where was your honeymoon? Vermont right after, for a mini-moon. We’re gonna do a one-year anniversary trip, maybe Fiji and New Zealand. Would you have changed anything? No, the weather was perfect. The place was perfect.

Photos by Rose Schaller Photo and Matt Palma for Rose Schaller Photo. Interview by Lisa Stiepock.

Alicia Leone and Abel Sprague


4-5 months outBook bride and groom ferry tickets

Book hair stylist and/or makeup artist

Select and order Invitations

Order bridesmaid dresses and accessories

Select and order tuxes and accessories

Meet with ceremony officiant and begin planning ceremony

Meet with caterer and begin finalizing menu details

Give guest list to bridal shower hostess

Make honeymoon reservations

Purchase wedding rings

Select style for escort cards, place cards, table numbers, menus, and programs

Order what can be ordered ahead of time

Schedule bridal gown fittings

Write all payment and contract deadlines on calendar

Balances due, final counts due, menu choices due, rental order due

2-3 months outMail Invitations

Mail rehearsal dinner invites

Order linen rentals

Order favors

Confirm that bridal attendants have purchased their attire and accessories

Take rings for sizing and engraving

Purchase gifts for bridal attendants and parents and don’t forget the person you will be marrying :)

Decide who will be reading and/or performing in wedding ceremony

Finalize reception menu

Select ceremony music: attendants’ processional, bride’s processional, recessional

Select reception music: first dance, father/daughter dance, mother/son dance, Must Play and Do Not Play list; give all of this information to the DJ/Band


A. If you are bringing cars over, don’t forget to make ferry reservations; The National Hotel is a popular rehearsal dinner spot. Photo by Michael Medford. B. Order favors, such as these Block Island honey and candle gifts, two or three months before the wedding. Photo by JFuller Photography. C. Finalize your menu choices, such as this raw bar on the Sullivan House lawn, two or three months out as well. Photo by Rose Schaller Photo.

A

B C


The Sullivan House 6.17.2010

She: 28, dental assistant working toward hygienist; from Mountain Home, Idaho He: 29, Rhode Island state trooper called back to the guard to go to Afghanistan for a third time; from Block Island

Now live in Providence, Rhode Island. How did you meet? It was on Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho in April of 2007. Kyle was one of my patients. We became friends but he was deployed, his second deployment, four months later. We e-mailed back and forth while he was in Afghanistan and started dating when he got back in 2008 .

How did he/she propose? It was Mother’s Day 2009 [daughter Carmyn is 6 and son Gavin is 2]. He took me to the Bluffs and he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him . Turns out he had asked my dad a few months before.

How did Block Island become your wedding destination? Kyle is from there, but also a lot of our mutual friends are from there. The first time I went out it was amazing; I had never been to the ocean. When I thought about the pictures and the wedding

– the amazing views, the people, the sights out there. I knew it would be the perfect place!

How did Block Island make your wedding special? Because our close friends and family were there and we could share it with everybody. . Where was the reception?Behind the Manisses. I had a lot of help from Rita [Draper of the 1661 and Manisses, Kyle’s mom] and Kimberly [Ward of the Beachhead]. Kimberly plays a special part in our lives; she’s our son Gavin’s godmother. They met with chef Brian Hartman to plan the menu and helped with everything.

How many guests? I’m not sure, but I heard 435.

What is your most beautiful memory of your wedding day? Seeing Kyle for the first time on the wedding day ... his smile and the way he looked at me. And the way he looked at me, too, when he saw me out on Coast Guard Beach [where the couple posed for pictures].

Do you have advice for others who wed here?I believe it’s a very beautiful, magical place, probably one of the most memorable weddings I could have ever had. It’s a great community, with lots of activities to take advantage of.

How long did your guests stay? Family came for a week; a couple of military people came for a couple of days; the bridesmaids for a couple of days.

What did guests tell you about the wedding afterward? We left packets in the hotels for off-island guests with what to do, rent bikes, mopeds, shopping, restaurants, the Abrams’ zoo, and a map for trails, lighthouses. They loved it!

Where did you find your dress? It’s a very unique dress, a Maggie Sottero dress. A corset top with one shoulder flower, made of long chiffon and fitted through the waist, it flowed naturally.

Will your bridesmaids wear their dresses again? They could wear them again. They have a corset top with flowy chiffon down to the knee in marine blue.

What was your most bridezilla moment? He was too agreeable [for me to have any].

What was his most clueless groom moment? I’d love to say the whole wedding, but what tops it is when we were cutting the cake and we were supposed to feed each other the cake – and he just ate it.

Photos by Trevor Holden. Interview by Judy Tierney.

Terin Brown and Kyle Draper


1-2 months outOrder wine, liquor and/or champagne, if necessary

Select readings for ceremony

Meet with officiant to finalize ceremony details

Do trial runs for hairstyles and makeup

Schedule pedicure and manicure for the day before the wedding

Schedule ceremony rehearsal time

Decide when and where you will get your marriage license If both the bride and groom are legal residents of Rhode Island, you must obtain the marriage

license from your local town clerk. If out of state, you must obtain your license on Block Island (can be done as late as the Thursday before your wedding).

Be fitted for bridal gown

Select or write vows

Begin drawing up an itinerary of wedding day details Thinkaboutwhenyouwouldlikethefollowingeventstotakeplace:brideandgroom’sfirst

dance, parent dances, best man’s toast, maid of honor toast. Will you have a bouquet and garter toss? Are there special announcements or other special toasts that you would like to include in the reception events?

Begin writing ceremony program

Purchase ceremony accessories: unity candle, ring pillow, etc...

Purchase reception accessories: card box, toasting glasses, guest book, cake knife, garter, etc.

Begin receiving RSVPs in mail

Track meal choices and accommodations

Write thank-you notes as you receive shower and/or wedding gifts

Arrange for a babysitter if necessary

Get a pre-wedding haircut

Create a Rain Contingency Plan

Courtesy of Mona Dwyer Helterline, blockislandweddingplanner.com A


A couple months out you should: A. Schedule a manipedi for the day before the wedding. Photo by Lesley Ulrich. B. Do a trial run of your hair and makeup. Photo by JFuller Photography. C. Photo by Cecilia Del Viscio. D. Create a wedding day itinerary. Photo by Alice Jacob.

B

C

D


Southeast Lighthouse 9.18.2010

She: 32, producer for Associated Press television; from Oak Lawn, IllinoisHe: 32, just started a new job at Twitter as its D.C. liaison; from Stamford, Connecticut

Now live in Washington, D.C.

How did you meet? In Intro to Journalism at Medill [part of Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois] thirteen years ago.

How did he/she propose? Adam proposed. It was the Fourth of July 2009. We went hiking and came to this nice clearing, a natural spot to stop and sit and look and be glad you’re kind of in the middle of nowhere. After a few minutes I got up to walk away and he grabbed my arm, and when I turned he was down on one knee, and of course I said yes. Then he kind of walks away and he goes to this tree and he pulls out a picnic basket!

How did Block Island become your wedding destination?Adam: Growing up in Stamford our yacht club would

do a summer cruise every year and we’d hit the nearby ports: Mystic, Cuttyhunk, the Vineyard, Nantucket, Block Island. After my father passed away when I was eight, my mother and I didn’t do the cruises anymore. We sold the boat. But every summer we’d go to Mystic or I’d visit friends on the other islands. Block Island was the only destination of that summer tradition we never went back to, so it became the only one with fixed memories of my father.

In the summer of ‘07 Cindy and I were talking about where to go for our summer vacation and I’d been having this recurring dream of getting off the boat in New Harbor with my dad. So we went there.

Cindy: I felt an immediate connection to the place. We got off the ferry and just immediately relaxed. We rented bikes, did a ton of hiking, went kayaking, it was just this place unlike any other. No chain hotels or restaurants, the nicest people on the planet, food that’s yummy but not pretentious. We’d gone to Nantucket before and I didn’t quite feel like I fit in with the crowd. Block Island is just as pretty, but it has a completely different feel.

How did Block Island make your wedding special?Cindy: You know how sometimes in movies or shows

the location almost plays another character? I feel like that’s how Block Island was for our wedding. It would not have been the same were it not on Block Island.

Adam: Having it on water like this was like being able to have my father at the wedding, which meant a lot to my mother as well.

Where was the reception? The 1661


What did guests tell you about the wedding afterward? They have all fallen in love with Block Island. One afternoon we were all talking about how we’d spent our mornings, and several had been in town looking for rentals for next summer!

Who married you? The Very Rev. James Parks Morton, the longest-serving dean of St. John the Divine in Manhattan. He had married my parents, baptized me, and done my father’s memorial as well.

What is your most beautiful memory of your wedding day?Adam: Definitely when Cindy first came out at the

wedding, definitely that! But also this one random moment during the dinner, just looking around at our friends from different aspects of our lives having a good time interacting, and thinking it all worked.

Cindy: Walking down the aisle with my dad and seeing everyone. The day was so beautiful and my dad was just beaming and I was just beaming. I was indescribably happy! We had surprised my dad, who is Scottish, with a bagpiper. The piper had to hide in this tiny corner of the lighthouse. The rest of the wedding party walked in to the violinist [Heather Russo], and then the guests heard the bagpiper come out of nowhere with this big sound – it was magical and memorable.

The most fun, though, was the photo shoot down on the beach – climbing up and down the stairs and over the rocks in my dress and heels. My shoes got completely ruined, but it was one of the best parts of the entire weekend.

Other highlights? We used our favorite island places as much as we could. We got earrings for the bridesmaids at Glass Onion. We sent folks to Ernie’s and to the zoo. We made a whole weekend for them:– Thursday night we all went to Eli’s for dinner. We

kind of took over and came in waves, and they could not have been nicer.

– Friday afternoon we went to Three Sisters and Friday night we had a welcome dinner at Ballard’s.

– Saturday morning a bunch of us went out sailing on the Ruling Passion.

– Sunday we had an informal goodbye brunch at 1661.

Adam: Oh, and first, last, an in between we got lobster rolls from Rose at Old Harbor Takeout. She called us “the lobster wedding.”

What was unique about your wedding? Cindy: I said I wanted to be able to smell Adam’s

cooking while I walked down the aisle – my bouquet had rosemary and thyme; the boutaniers had sprigs of rosemary; the centerpieces had rosemary, sage, dill... It smelled amazing.

Adam: All the groomsmen wore these sailors bracelets. As a kid on our sailing trips, I would always get one of these bracelets at our first port and cut it off at the end of the trip, when it was beyond

disgusting. I had gotten one at Star Department Store on our vacation out here in 2007.

At the time I was working as a staffer to Senator Mary Landrieu of Louisianna, and on my way to a press conference I realized I was still wearing that bracelet and I had nothing to cut it off with. Jack Reed was the first to show up and he notices the bracelet, asks, ‘Do you sail?’ I say, ‘Yes, in fact I got this in your state.’ Then Whitehouse and Kennedy come in and start talking about it, too. So now it’s my little totem of what I’d rather be doing. I’m never without it. I’m actually still wearing the one from the wedding.

Cindy: It’s a little dirty. Adam: It’s not too bad.

What was the most unexpected thing that happened? We didn’t tell our guests where the ceremony was. Everyone was told to meet at the Manisses at six p.m. and the school bus would pick them up. We’d actually given a clue because the compass rose that was on the invites, on everything really, had the exact coordinates. It turns out one couple had figured it out, but they kept our secret.

Do you have advice for others who wed here? Cindy: If you don’t live on the island hire Mona

[Dwyer Helterline, wedding planner]. Adam: The single best decision we made at any point

in the process was hiring her. A lot of our guests were T.V. producers, who really know how to obsess over every detail, and they were blown away by her.

Cindy: Keep it small, people you just absolutely have to have with you.

Adam: A friend told us: Don’t judge your guest list by who you feel obligated to invite, instead ask yourself who in ten years would you look back and say how could we possibly have done a wedding without them?

Where was your honeymoon? Four days in Paris and a week in the south of France.

During planning, what was the easiest thing for the two of you to agree on? The lighthouse as the location.

The toughest? The budget. Adam all along wanted lobster to be part of the weekend. At first he wanted it for the reception, and I was like I don’t want to wear a bib over my wedding dress. We ended up making it work [for the rehearsal dinner] and it was worth it. The Ballard’s chefs walked in with these three big platters, heaping mounds of lobster, and you would have thought they were celebrities; everyone crowded around taking pictures.Adam: I wanted to do a traditional New England

lobster bake in sand with seaweed and Ballard’s did it for us. After dinner we went out and had a big bonfire on the beach and made s’mores.

Photos by Bryan Halay, Halay & McGuinness Photography. Interview by Lisa Stiepock.

Cindy Aitken and Adam Sharp



She: 33, 3rd- and 4th-grade teacher at Rectory School in Pomfret, Connecticut; from Glastonbury, ConnecticutHe: 35, civil engineer for Smithfield, Rhode Island; from Block Island, Rhode Island

Now live in Plainfield, Connecticut, and Block Island, Rhode Island.

How did you meet? On the island, when we were about fifteen. Seth grew up here. My family spent summers. About four years ago, one night at Mahogany Shoals, a spark developed.

How did he/she propose? He proposed on the third of July, during the fireworks.

How did Block Island become your wedding destination? It wasn’t even a question. It was always where I wanted to get married, no matter who I married, whether it was an island boy or not. It’s home to me.

Where was the reception? At The Knoll, a friend’s house. Kimberly Ward, from the Beachead, was our caterer. People especially loved the mini lobster rolls.

How many guests did you have? 180 or so.

How long did your guests stay? Most live here. The wedding was on a Thursday so a lot of those from out of town rented a place and spent four days.

What did they tell you about the wedding afterward? The weather was beautiful, the food was amazing, the view was incredible.

What is your most beautiful memory of the island/ your wedding day? That’s a hard one. I feel like I’m cheating one if I say the other. So many small things. Getting ready with all of my girls in the morning, relaxing with them (my bridesmaids).

Were you worried about the weather? No. We had one of those big tents. A friend got married the summer before and it rained, people were wakeboarding under the tent and it was one of the best weddings I’d been to. [See photo, page 27.]

Do you have advice for others who wed here? There’s the Block Island Factor – sometimes things don’t happen as fast as they do on the mainland. Just enjoy the day.

Where was your honeymoon? We went to Roatan Island off Honduras over the holidays.

Will your bridesmaids wear their dresses again? I think so, but doesn’t every bride think that: You can totally wear that again!?

During planning, what was the easiest thing for the two of you to agree on? We wanted our dinner to be set-up, we did not want a traditional sit-down dinner. My mom wanted it, but we stood firm.

The toughest? Fighting with my mom about the sit-down dinner.


How do you like marriage so far? It’s been great. I love being married and being married to him.

Photos by JFuller Photography and Laura Sanford. Interview by Judy Tierney.

Missy Gallagher and Seth Lemoine


Hotel Manisses 8.7.2010

She: 30, speech language pathologist at Good Samaritan Hospital in San Jose, California; from North Kingstown, Rhode IslandHe: 30, in sales and marketing for Driscoll’s berries; from Ripon, California

Now live in Scotts Valley, California.

How did you meet? Match.com.

How did he (or you?) propose? It was January last year. We were in London for his sister’s wedding. His aunt introduced me as Jack’s fiance and I said, ‘What?’ and she said, ‘Oh not yet!’ and laughed. So they weren’t very good at keeping the secret. He waited until the last night we were there. I’m asking him to help me pack and I turn around and he’s kneeling in front of this picture window looking out over the [River] Thames. We forgot about packing and took a snowy walk along the Thames.

How did Block Island become your wedding destination? When we were first dating, he came out to visit my family in North Kingstown and we decided to take some trips around Rhode Island. I’d been coming out on day trips to the island with my family since I was thirteen. Every summer we’d ride bikes, go to Ballard’s. So I took Jack and he loved it. We thought about Monterey Bay and Carmel for the wedding, but it was actually a lot cheaper to get married on Block Island. I never spent a night there ‘til my wedding!

How did Block Island make your wedding special? Everyone out there did such a good job. Elizabeth at The 1661 was fabulous. She just recommended all the vendors on the island. We had Claire do flowers and Rose do photos and Mark Scortino DJ. We called them all in January, and it all fell into place.

Where was the reception? The 1661 Inn.

How many guests? 75.

What did guests tell you about the wedding afterward? They said it was the most fun wedding they’d been to in a long time. The California folks loved the island, especially visiting the lighhouses.

What was your favorite moment? We’d been out taking pictures all over the island and we came back and everyone was out on the patio. They announced us and we came in and did this waltz to Until by Sting that we’d been practicing for so long. It was really magical – out on the patio overlooking the ocean. The sun hadn’t set yet, it was the golden hour in the afternoon. Then at dinner we just had a blast. My mom got up and sang a song, which was a really beautiful surprise.

Other highlights?– We had a bachelorette party the day before, just said

meet at Ballard’s. It wasn’t planned, but it was great. Everyone was swimming, even my grandmother. People got on the banana boat and went parasailing. The California folks really loved swimming -- they thought it was so warm!

– Thursday night people who came early had tapas at the Atlantic Inn and loved it.

– And the rehearsal dinner was on the private back deck at the National. It was fabulous.

Where was your honeymoon? Curacao.

What was the most unexpected thing that happened? At the reception I sat down next to my dad’s friend to talk to him and someone on the opposite side of the table had a glass of red wine. I saw it tipping like a slo-mo horror movie moment and went to grab it and it went all down the front of my dress. Everyone was dousing me with salt and seltzer water.

My mom was more upset than I was; I had gotten a dress to wear to party at Nick’s afterward so I just put that on a little earlier than I’d planned. And then there was the moment when my dad drove his car into a ditch!

What was a unique thing about your wedding? Jack’s dad really wanted everyone to have almonds from his ranch in California, so he sent this giant bag of Jordan almonds to my mom and she and my uncle and grandmother spent months assembling them.

What was your most bridezilla moment? When I though I had Lyme disease the day before the wedding. There was this big bullseye [rash on her arm], and everyone was like, you have to get to medical center. I went up there and they couldn’t take me right away ‘cause there was this moped accident victim and I was like, I’ve got to get to my manicure appointment and the rehearsal is going to start; I kept asking how much longer? Finally, they said come back in twenty minutes. So I ran down to Koru and got my nails done really quick and ran back to the medical center. I just lost it and Jack was so calm and collected. He just made me feel so much better, and I was like, this is why I’m marrying him. [It turned out not to be Lyme, rather a likely spider bite.]

What was his most clueless groom moment? He did all his freaking out the months before. He and my mom fought over everything: what kind of container the almonds would go in and what color ribbons would go on the jar. Once here he was totally calm and he had so much fun.

Would you have changed anything? Maybe I wouldn’t have had red wine at my wedding!

Photos by Rose Schaller Photo. Interview by Lisa Stiepock.

Jocelyn Ruppell and Jack Lagier



She: 26, a strategy consultant for government agencies and nonprofit organizations for Accenture in D.C.; from Upper Arlington, OhioHe: 26, a veterinary technician in oncology at Friendship Animal Hospital in D.C.; from Upper Arlington, Ohio

Now live in Washington D.C. How did you meet? We’ve been dating since high school, since we were fifteen years old.

How did he propose? He gave me a huge box and inside was a set of nesting boxes. The last four said will-you-marry-me? and then the smallest one had a ring in it.

How did Block Island become your wedding destination? My great grandfather used to come out here golfing and my grandparents made it their permanent residence in 1990. I worked on the island at the Book Nook with my uncle Johno [Sisto] and at The Harborside for two summers as a waitress. I first brought J.T. out here eight years ago. He’s a huge nature guy so he loved it right away.

How did Block Island make your wedding special? What we really loved was that everyone was on vacation. They spent a week with us and they were in relaxed vacation mode – they weren’t running home to meet the sitter or let the dog out. I’d run into my guests downtown and on the beach.


What did guests tell you about the wedding afterward? This is the best wedding ever.

What is your most beautiful memory of your wedding day? It sounds really corny but I loved our vows; I got really giddy and excited realizing the moment was there! And I had a lot of fun with it when we went to take pictures on the Bluffs and at the Lighthouse. We hadn’t seen each other all day and it had been a crazy week. Kitty [Maer, the photographer] and her assistant Sarah made us feel like we were the only ones there.

Do you have advice for others who wed here? Jamie Rose did a beautiful job on the flowers and everyone was raving about the cake Laura Tierney made; it was beautiful, but it was also delicious. [Wedding planner] Mona was amazing. You could tell that Jamie, Mona, Laura, just love their jobs, they’re willing to go above and beyond.

Where was your honeymoon? We spent four days in Newport for a mini-moon. We’re going to go on a honeymoon next fall before he goes to vet school. We’re looking at New Zealand.

Will your bridesmaids wear their dresses again? I think that some of them will. It’s a simple dress, pretty versatile, and I had necklaces made up to go with them – I picked out the beads. One of my bridesmaids lost her dress and had to rush order a new one to the island and my matron of honor locked her dress in the car at the airport in Michigan and had to have AAA break in. They only told me this afterward!

What was a unique thing about your wedding? All these adults piling into Howie’s yellow school bus on the way to and from our rehearsal dinner at my grandparents’ house. On the way there they were picked up from hotels and on the way back they were dropped off at bars. We had some unique island favors: I gave Chilean three legged pigs from Scarlet Begonia as good luck charms to my bridesmaids. And we had

Block Island Blue Pottery block islands as placeholders; my mom wrote all the guest names and table numbers on the back. A lot of those ended up on Christmas trees this year. And my sister painted us an oar that we used as our guestbook.

Other highlights? Everyone raved about the food. They loved the meal at the Spring House – Danielle helped us put together a great menu. Another family friend arranged a lobster clambake Thursday. For the rehearsal dinner, we used her grandparents’ home on Old Mill Road and [Kimberly from] the Beachead catered it. It was all so good, and the mini crabcakes and the lamb lollipops were the big hit.

What was the most unexpected thing that happened? There were a lot of little mishaps, things I found endearing: mopeders going by yelling congrats, planes overhead during the readings. Oh, and my heel got caught between the boards in the Spring House porch; I didn’t expect to fall down the aisle, but it loosened me up!

Will you return for one of your anniversaries? Absolutely! We are planning on coming this summer.

What was your most bridezilla moment? When I was getting into my dress – it was entirely lace-up in the back and my mom kept making it looser and my sister kept making it tighter.

His most clueless groom moment? When he let the two mothers talk him into going for a hair cut. He knows I prefer his hair longer, but he went anyway. That was our only wedding-week argument – but of course he looked great.

Would you have changed anything? No

Photos by Kitty Maer Photograpy. Interview by Lisa Stiepock.

Natalie Sisto and J.T. Means


3-4 weeks outPick up wedding bands

Final bridal gown fitting

Complete event schedules

Finalize event and table layout

Have wedding program printed

Have escort cards/chart, place cards, menus, ceremony program printed

Wrap attendant gifts and attach a note of thanks

Call guests who have not yet RSVP’d

Confirm head count for vendors

Confirm menu choices to vendors

Obtain marriage license

Purchase items for guest welcome bags

Create a welcome letter with info for guest bags A welcome letter, schedule of events, transportation, what to do around

Block Island, the couple’s favorite places

Compile a list of where guests are staying; this will make gift bag distribution much easier!

Plan order of processional and recessional


A

B

A. The last few weeks before your wedding will fly by, so try to do things like hand writing place cards and tags four weeks ahead. Photo by Cecilia DelViscio.B. Get your final gown fitting about a month before the wedding and stop worrying about it! Photo by Alice Jacob.


If you plan for it, rain, even a lot of rain, can just make things that much more fun. Photo by JFuller Photography.

1-2 weeks outPrepare a must-have photo list for photographer and videographer

Check weather forecast – Rain Plan?

Call all vendors and confirm the details

Complete escort cards and table numbers – or send to print

Plan ceremony seating

Groom haircut

Make sure all grooms attendants try on tuxes and have obtained all accessories

Obtain/print final checks and prepare tip envelopes for vendors

Finalize seating chart for reception and rehearsal dinner if necessary

Finalize wedding-day timeline and distribute to vendors and wedding party

day before, day ofPick-up Linens

Decide if rain plan will need to be put in place

Attend pedicure and manicure appointments

Inform attendants of their duties

Gather ceremony and reception items

Rehearsal – bring marriage license

Attend hair and makeup appointments

Attend photography portrait sessions before wedding, if applicable

Provide snacks and drinks for attendants

Bride and Groom! Don’t forget to eat and drink water.

Make sure to sign marriage license!



Payne’s Harbor View Inn 4.3.2010

She: 28, working in marketing, from Bielefeld, GermanyHe: 24, working on his PhD in computer science, from Bethany, Connecticut and Block Island, Rhode Island Now live in Bielefeld, Germany (her); Copenhagen, Denmark (him). How did you meet? We met in Osnabrück, Germany, where I was studying and Kevin was on a study abroad program. We met in a bar where they were showing a war movie… after the movie we sat at nearby tables and Kevin came over to ask if my two friends and me would like to go to a club with him and his friend after we finished our drinks… we went. How did he/she propose? He proposed on a flight from Europe back to the U.S. He said he had a gift for me and handed me a bag in which I found a little box. How did Block Island become your wedding destination? Kevin’s parents live on the island [ Judy, who interviewed other brides and grooms in this magazine, and Ron are pictured above] and I fell in love

with it when Kevin brought me there for the first time. Judy knows all the people on the island, so she could help organize a wedding in just three weeks. How many guests? about 50 What did your guests tell you about the wedding afterward? They absolutely loved it. It was a beautiful day, very warm for the time of the year.

How did Block Island make your wedding special? It is a unique, beautiful location, and Judy’s and Ron’s home. Really nice island people helped us organize: Kimberly from the Beachead, Carol Payne, Kim Gaffett, Jamie Rose and others made our wedding day perfect.

What is your most beautiful memory of your wedding day? After the reception, when many of the guests had left to catch the last ferry… it suddenly went from sunny and clear blue sky to completely foggy… I realized how lucky we got with that beautiful day and that we were able to celebrate on such a beautiful island. Do you have advice for others who wed here? It’s the perfect location! Choose a time that is not too

crowded. The island is so much nicer when there are fewer tourists. Where was your honeymoon? We haven’t really had a honeymoon yet. But our room at Payne’s was the biggest hotel room I’ve ever been in and was a perfect honeymoon suite! Will your bridesmaids wear their dresses again? I had one bridesmaid, my sister, she was wearing a pantsuit (which I liked!) and she is going to wear it again, yes.

Would you have changed anything? If I could have had my parents and some of my German friends at the wedding, it would have been even better. Everything else was perfect.

What was up with that chicken? Kevin put up the chicken as a lucky charm. We like chickens and it’s not an ordinary chicken, but a Rhode Island Red ! Photos by Stefanie Wendland and Kari Curtis. Interview by Lisa Stiepock.

Christine Wendland and Kevin Ben Tierney



She: 33, financial operations specialist for the Department of Health and Human Services; from New YorkHe: 35, marketing and communications manager for Boston Cannons Lacrosse team; from New York

Now live in Boston.

How did you meet? Match.com.

How did he/she propose? We bought a house together and the day we moved in, we were in our empty living room. I presented her with her favorite thing, a Coach bag, and she wouldn’t open the bag – I had to open it for her and inside was a ring.

How did Block Island become your wedding destination? My granddad’s cousin had a house there, so growing up I spent one to three weeks a summer on the island with my family. I hadn’t been in fifteen years, since I was eighteen. But we were thinking destination weddings and I thought Block Island. So I brought Roseanne out and she fell in love with it.

How did Block Island make your wedding special? The biggest thing was being able to bring our families together. We rented four houses and spent the week before the wedding together.


What did guests tell you about the wedding afterward? So many of our friends and family fell in love with the island, want to come back now. They kept thanking us for showing them the island.

What is your most beautiful memory of your wedding day?Roseanne: There’s a lot. I think the beach at Ballard’s.

We went outside just before sunset at the reception, everyone came out and relaxed. There had been a hurricane at sea, and the weather was gorgeous.

Kevin: Everyone filtered out to the beach and was in awe at how beautiful it was, the lighting. We climbed on the lifeguard stand and took photos.

Do you have advice for others who wed here? Kevin: DO it. Roseanne: Mona Dwyer was a lifesaver.

Where was your honeymoon? Jamaica, a month later.

Will your bridesmaids wear their dresses again? Probably not.

Will you return for one of your anniversaries? Yes. We’re going back next year. His parents booked a house.

What was your most bridezilla moment? When there was a pickup miscommunication on the glassware for the reception.

His most clueless groom moment? Packing the car.


Photos by CDennis & Xien Gignac/www.pictureperfectphoto.us. Interview by Judy Tierney.

Roseanne Hues & Kevin Barney



She: 27, facilities manager for an insurance company; from Seattle, WashingtonHe: 28, emergency medicine resident; from San Francisco, California

Now living in Hartford, Connecticut.

How did you meet? We were set up at a wedding in 2007. We both went to UWashington, Seattle, and had mutual friends. At their wedding, I was a bridesmaid and he a groomsman. We met on a Wednesday or Thursday and had ‘til Monday [to get acquainted]. We kept in contact and flew to meet each other every six weeks in Idaho, Montana , California. I moved to Hartford in August 2008, because he was he doing his residency here.

How did he/she propose? We were leaf peeping in New Hampshire. He tried to get us on a hike to a waterfall in the White Mountains. But we hit horrible traffic, so he ended up proposing in the parking lot of the trailhead as the sun was setting!

How did Block Island become your wedding destination? We came out for a weekend trip, Labor Day 2009, to hike and bike and just fell in love with it. We decided since everyone would have to travel anyway (my parents are in Michigan, other family is in Florida),

why not make it a really cool place? Block Island was perfect. We did a week long thing – rented four houses – his family, my family, extended family, some of the bridal party. Thirty people came Sunday to Sunday. Some were skeptical before they came. Now we hear from them what a fantasic, magical place it is.

How did Block Island make your wedding special? The feel of the island. Some other places feel hectic and fast paced, like wedding factories. Even with as many weddings as there are on Block Island, ours felt customized and relaxed. We had a wonderful vacation week and one of the days we happened to get married.

What is your most beautiful memory of your wedding day? Looking out to the outcropping of really black rocks and the vibrant blue water you see from the patio of the Spring House.


What did guests tell you about the wedding afterward? Let’s all go back every five years for your anniversary. They want to recreate the week.

What was your favorite moment? The rehearsal. We had a seafood place [Finn’s] cater it at one of the houses. Then we rehearsed at the Spring House, where there was a gorgeous sunset, all reds and yellows. All of our friends and family were there without the formality of a wedding day.

What was the most unexpected thing that happened? The weather. It went from so stormy and nasty early in the week to so peaceful and gorgeous later on.

What was a unique thing about your wedding? We had an apple theme. Washington is an apple state and Nate’s family has their home in Napa and they are proud of their Gravensteins. The tables were named for apples; the head table was Gala.We picked apples to make pies with and used the smaller ones for the tables.

What was your most bridezilla moment? The day before everyone got to the island. I was concerned about flights, the ferry, not forgetting anything.

His most clueless groom moment? Well, not really clueless but it was a small disaster. We worked with the ferry to get group tickets, which were sent to our house. Nate cleaned up and threw away the majority of the tickets. I spent three or four hours going through the garbage and recycling, but never found them. The ferry company overnighted more for us!


How do you like marriage so far? Great. We’re enjoying not planning the wedding anymore!

Photos by Authentic Eye Photography. Interview by Judy Tierney.

Katrina Mabbitt and Nate Bornstein


BI Wedding Resource GuidePAGE AdvErtisEr WEbsitE MAin PhonE nuMbEr ACCoMModAtions 2 The 1661 Inn and Hotel Manisses www.blockislandresorts.com 800-626-4773/401-466-2421 Back Cover Atlantic Inn www.atlanticinn.com 401-466-5883 20 Ballard’s Inn www.ballardsinn.com 401-466-2231 8 Ballard Hall Real Estate www.blockislandproperty.com 401-466-8883 32 Barrington Inn/Inn at Block Island www.theinnatblockisland.com 877-324-4667/401-466-5524 6 Beach Real Estate www.bibeachrealestate.com 401-466-2312 22 Hygeia House www.thehygeiahouse.com 401-466-9616 34 Narragansett Inn www.narragansettinn.net 401-466-2626 17 The National www.blockislandhotels.com 401-466-2901/800-225-2449 6 Rose Farm Inn www.rosefarminn.com 401-466-2034 34 Seacrest Inn www.seacrestinnbi.com 401-466-2882Inside Back Cover Spring House Hotel www.springhousehotel.com 800-234-9263/401-466-5844Inside Front Cover The Sullivan House www.thesullivanhouse.com 401-466-5020 27 Sullivan Real Estate www.blockislandhouses.com 401-466-5521

bAnQuEt/CAtErinG sErviCEs 2 The 1661 Inn and Hotel Manissess www.blockislandresorts.com 800-626-4773/401-466-2421 30 Block Island Beverages www.drinkbibbs.com 617-266-3333 26 Block Island Gourmet www.blockislandgourmet.com 401-466-5672 4 Catering by Kimberly www.thebeachead.com 401-466-2249 28 Celebrations Catering 401-466-5440/401-466-5053/860-921-7034 FLFLoWErs 32 Blazing Star Farm www.blazingstarfarm.com 401-466-5797 28 La Bella Rose www.labellarose.com 401-499-2035 22 Ned Phillips Jr. & Co. 401-466-5161 8 Weedweavers of Wakefield www.weedweavers.com 401-789-1453

MusiC And EntErtAinMEnt 22 Island Wedding Entertainment www.islandweddingdj.com 413-374-8102 6 Jason Roseman steel drum www.jasonroseman.com 401-226-6165 17 John Curran Flutist www.flutecenterofri.com 401-943-8295 30 Leone Fireworks 401-474-1137 26 Malloi wedding band www.malloi.com 401-481-2281 28 Moondance Productions DJ www.moodancedj.com 401-782-4981/800-494-4981 22 Music Mixers Entertainment www.musicmixersdj.com 401-789-3889 20 Professional Highland Bagpiper Ensemble 860-599-2217/860-535-0091 6 Shutterbooth www.shutterbooth.com/rhodeisland/ 401-533-2638 32 Ted Collins Band www.tedcollinsband.com 401-783-6367 8 Yankee Toad / Virginia Dare www.yankeetoadmusic.com 401-466-5482

PhotoGrAPhErs 8 Alice Jacob Photography www.alicejacob.com 201-281-1944 20 John Fuller Photography www.jfullerphotography.com 401-855-9555 32 Mia Campopiano Photography www.miacampopiano.com 401-286-9721 30 Lesley A. Ulrich Photography www.biphotodog.com 401-466-5858 36 Rose Schaller Photography www.roseschallerphoto.com 401-824-9172 24 Trevor Holden Photography www.trevorholden.com 401-290-7041

hAir dEsiGn, MAKEuP And sPAs 17 Exclusive Hair by Nicole www.exclusivelynicole.com 203-727-3662 30 Koru Health and Eco Spa www.koruecospa.com 401-466-2308 17 Mark’s Beach Comber Hair Design 401-466-5100 22 Self Essentials www.selfessentialsbeauty.com 401-783-1746 34 Salon One www.salononespa.com 860-928-0121

trAnsPortAtion 24 A Airline Express www.aairlineexpress.com 401-295-1100 28 Block Island Express www.goblockisland.com 401-466-2212/860-444-4624 34 Interstate Navigation www.blockislandferry.com 401-783-4613/866-783-7996 34 McAloon’s Taxi 401-741-1410 24 Mig’s Rig www.migsrigtaxi.com 401-480-0493 13 New England Airlines www.block-island.com/nea/ 800-243-2460/401-596-2460/401-466-5881PAGE


BI Wedding Resource GuidePAGE AdvErtisEr WEbsitE MAin PhonE nuMbEr WEddinG GiFts / FAvors / JEWELrY 34 A Block Island Flag Co. 401-466-2137 34 Block Island Conservancy www.biconservancy.org/wedding.html 401-466-3111 32 Chapel Sweets www.blockislandusa.com 401-378-0062 8 Esta’s Park 401-466-2474 20, 24 Golddiggers www.blockislandgolddiggers.com 401-466-2611 30 Ink It 401-466-5800 8 Jennifer’s Jewelry www.jennifersjewelrybi.com 401-466-7944 32 Jessie Edwards Studio www.Jessieedwardsweddings.com 401-466-5314 6 Littlefield Bee Farm www.blockislandhoney.com 401-466-5364 32 Martin David Jewelery www.martindavidjewelers.com 401-466-2744 32 North Light Fibers www.northlightfibers.com 401-466-8976

WEddinG PLAnnErs 34 Mona Dwyer Helterline www.blockislandweddingplanner.com 401-714-2023

dECor 5 Ryan Designs www.ryan-designs.com 401-742-0464

vEnuEs 2 The 1661 Inn and Hotel Manisses www.blockislandresorts.com 800-626-4773/401-466-2421Back Cover Atlantic Inn www.atlanticinn.com 401-466-5883 20 Ballard’s Inn www.ballardsinn.com 401-466-2231 22 McNamara’s 401-466-2930 34 Narragansett Inn www.narragansettinn.net 401-466-2626 17 The National www.blockislandhotels.com 401-466-2901/800-225-2449 6 Sea Meadows Reception Site www.seameadowsreceptions.com 401-466-2034 Inside Back Cover Spring House www.springhousehotel.com 800-234-9263/401-466-5844 Inside Front Cover The Sullivan House www.TheSullivanHouse.com 401-466-5020 32 Wetherbee’s www.wetherbeesbi.com 401-466-5900

rEntALs 6 Antonio’s Tent Rentals www.blockislandcarpetcleaning.com 401-466-5305 24 Block Island Party Rentals www.blockislandpartyrentals.com 401-466-5672 28 Newport Tent Company www.newporttent.com 401-683-9160

rECrEAtion 30 Hula Charters www.hulacharters.com 401-263-3474 22 Ruling Passion Sailing Charters www.rulingpassion.com 401-741-1926/401-741-1290

rEstAurAnts 2 The 1661 Inn and Hotel Manisses www.blockislandresorts.com 800-626-4773/401-466-2421 Back cover Atlantic Inn www.atlanticinn.com 401-466-5883 20 Ballard’s Inn www.ballardsinn.com 401-466-2231 22 McNamara’s 401-466-2930 34 Narragansett Inn www.narragansettinn.net 401-466-2626 25 The National www.blockislandhotels.com 401-466-2901/800-225-2449 Inside Back Cover Spring House www.springhousehotel.com 800-234-9263 / 401-466-5844 32 Wetherbee’s www.wetherbeesbi.com 401-466-5900

othEr sErviCEs 34 Alterations Unlimited www.jimsformalwear.com 401-789-6901 12 Block Island Wedding Show www.blockislandweddingshow.com 401-466-2222 16 The Wedding Experience www. engaged.rimonthly.com 401-649-4800 oFFiCiAntsBaptist Harbor Baptist Church Rev. Stephen Hollaway 401-466-5940Episcopal St. Ann’s-by-the-Sea Rev. Fr. Daniel Barker 401-466-2911Jewish Congregation Sons & Daughters of Ruth St. Andrew Parish Center Cantor Elliot Taubman 401-466-2861Roman Catholic St. Andrew Church Rev. Joseph Protano Jr. 401-466-5519Christian Non-Denominational Barbara MacDougall 401-466-2929 ; Johno Sisto 401-466-8986Civil Ceremonies First Warden Kim Gaffett 401-466-2224; Second Warden Ray Torrey 401-466-5691; Richard Kyte 401-568-6875, [email protected]; Michael Lenihan 401-596-4794

Block Island Chamber of Commerce www.blockislandchamber.com 800-383-2474/401-466-2982Block Island Tourism Council www.blockislandinfo.com 401-466-5200

a block island wedding

Documents

block island times

rhode island

block island magazine

block island summer

andrew collins of block

real island weddingsweek

ocean avenueblock island

block dining annual