This Sweet Love Story made for a beautiful September Wedding

Weddings

Donnelly and Larry’s Up Island Martha’s Vineyard wedding on September 30th, 2023

Donnelly and Larry’s love story was filled with coincidences. They shared an alma mater, Princeton, and lived four blocks from each other, but didn’t meet until the beginning of the Pandemic.

Their love story included trips to New England to see Larry’s parents and of course trips to the Island. There, they fell in love with the ocean, the spirit, and the heart of the Island and knew it was the perfect place to get married.

They choose to get married at the Agricultural Hall in West Tisbury, a place known for it’s yearly Fair every August, and its support for local farmers with the farmer’s markets in the summer.

Getting Ready

Donnelly and Larry choose to get ready at their house rental, Happiness is in Oak Bluffs.

The Ceremony

Meanwhile the ceremony was moved from a completely outdoor East Chop Lighthouse ceremony in Oak Bluffs, to onsite at the reception venue, the Ag Hall in West Tisbury. Their ceremony was led by each of the groom’s sisters. During which, a few guests shared some important reading to the couple, including an excerpt from Goodridge v. Department of Public Health, the 2003 Massachusetts State Supreme Court ruling that legalized same-sex marriage:

Civil marriage is at once a deeply personal commitment to another human being and a highly public celebration of the ideals of mutuality, companionship, intimacy, fidelity, and family. “It is an association that promotes a way of life, not causes; a harmony in living, not political faiths; a bilateral loyalty, not commercial or social projects.” Because it fulfills yearnings for security, safe haven, and connection that express our common humanity, civil marriage is an esteemed institution, and the decision whether and whom to marry is among life’s momentous acts of self-definition.

Reception

Cocktail Hour

Afterwards, guests were welcomed with cocktails, oysters, and lots of appetizers.

Hot Start

During Cocktail hour, the Grooms decided to have their band kick off with a 20 minute set to get the energy going before the reception officially started! The guests loved it, and close to every guest ended up on the dancefloor.