Beautiful beaches. Waterfront venues. Seaside charm. A childhood connection. There are many reasons that Cape Cod has become such a magical place to tie the knot. Offering venues ranging from oceanfront resorts and exquisite gardens to open fields and lavish ballrooms, Cape Cod can easily become the wedding location of any bride or groom’s dreams.
Cape Cod Style
Cape Cod weddings have a very distinct coastal and approachable style, which can be simple and beautiful, or over the top and stunning. By incorporating a natural Cape color palette of the blues of the water and the greens and sandy tones of our beaches, it is quite easy to bring the beauty of the Cape into any wedding design. Whether couples want to approach the design with nautical elements like sand or shells or a touch of boho with dried florals, there are many ways to keep Cape Cod as an inspiration and so many types of venues and vendors to accommodate the look and feel of any mood board.
Weekend Events
The Cape lends itself well to a fun weekend away for all guests, so many couples choose to turn their wedding into a weekend getaway incorporating events for all guests the night before and morning after the wedding. Kick off the wedding weekend with a welcome party following the rehearsal dinner by offering drinks and desserts or lite bites; great options include bowling and apps at Ten Pin Eatery in Hyannis, specialty pizza and martinis from Barley Neck Inn in Orleans, or margaritas and nachos at Añejo Mexican Bistro in Falmouth and Hyannis. Extend the wedding night with an after party at a local bar or restaurant, including such popular gathering spots with live music as The Chatham Squire in Chatham, Liam Maguire’s in Falmouth, Cleat & Anchor in Dennis and The Mad Minnow in Harwich Port.
Top off the weekend with a farewell brunch at The West End in Hyannis or Fanizzi’s in Provincetown, or send guests home after the wedding with a “Breakfast in Bed” box filled with local favorites from The Casual Gourmet, Hometown Juice, Bagels & Beyond, Café Chew or Cape Cod Coffee Café.
Mini-Moon and Guests
After all of the wedding weekend fun, we recommend couples extend their stay on Cape Cod by exploring Provincetown or the quaint Falmouth village of Woods Hole, or taking a ferry trip or short flight to Nantucket or Martha’s Vineyard for a mini-moon. It allows couples some relaxation and recovery after an amazing weekend, while still getting to enjoy and explore one of their favorite destinations. This can be the same for wedding guests! If guests are traveling a long way to enjoy a wedding on Cape Cod, they might as well take advantage of all this seaside retreat has to offer.
The Cape is not only a wonderful place to get married, but it lends very well to a week’s vacation. So make the best of it! Start planning your Cape Cod wedding today.
About the blogger: Jamie Bohlin is the owner of Cape Cod Celebrations, creating unique weddings and events on Cape Cod since 2007.