July 1, 2010

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Images by Berit

For nineteen days leading up to Caragh Butler and Brian Lavoie’s June 27, 2009, wedding in Newport, Rhode Island, it drizzled, sprinkled, and at times poured. “My mom put rosary beads in every windowsill, since that’s supposed to bring good weather,” says Caragh. “We had my grandmother’s rosary beads, rosary beads from the Vatican, rosary beads everywhere!”

Destination: Newport

They must have worked because the morning of the wedding, Caragh woke to a gorgeous day to tie the knot with her boyfriend of nearly six years. Caragh, from Westwood, Massachusetts, and Brian, who grew up in Ringwood, were introduced at a party at the Jersey Shore in 2003. After getting engaged in 2007, they agreed on Newport as the perfect spot for their nuptials. Caragh’s dad’s family is from Rhode Island, and Brian graduated from the University of Rhode Island. “Plus, with guests coming from New York, New Jersey, and Massachusetts, it just made sense,” says Caragh. Belle Mer, with its waterfront location and aura of timeless glamour, proved to be the ideal locale.

After Caragh and Brian exchanged vows at St. Augustin’s Roman Catholic Church, the 198 guests arrived at Belle Mer for an indoor-outdoor cocktail hour, complete with a fire pit, steel-drum band, Champagne mojitos, sushi, a raw bar, and passed hors d’oeuvres.

The timeless yet modern pure-white reception palette was accented with pops of fuchsia from the peonies, hydrangea, and snapdragons on each table. Escort cards were displayed among pink rose petals and sea glass in driftwood boxes. Dinner featured sirloin with shrimp and grilled lemon-basil chicken, followed by a four-tiered vanilla cake with alternating layers of raspberry and German chocolate.

But perhaps the most special memory was when the couple was introduced: “Brian and I were standing at the top of a staircase looking down into the ballroom at our friends and family,” remembers Caragh. “For a year before the wedding, I’d had nightmares about tripping down those stairs. That day, though, I looked down and saw everyone we love smiling up at us. It’s a moment I’ll always remember.” After a two-week honeymoon in Hawaii, the couple is at home in Hoboken.

Sources:

PHOTOGRAPHER: Berit Bizjak, Images by Berit, Basking Ridge, 908-221-9440; imagesbyberit.com

RECEPTION: Belle Mer, Newport, RI, 401-841-0330; bellemer.com

CEREMONY: St. Augustin’s Roman Catholic Church, Newport, RI, 401-847-0518; staugustinnewport.org

BRIDE’S GOWN: Jenny Lee Couture, from Mark Ingram Bridal Atelier, Manhattan, 212-319-6778; bridalatelier.com

BRIDESMAID DRESSES: Coren Moore, Manhattan, 212-731-2017; corenmoore.com

BRIDE’S HAIR & MAKEUP: Luiz Filho, Brookline Village, MA, 617-291-8327; luzbeauty.com

TUXEDOS: Men’s Wearhouse; menswearhouse.com

FLOWERS: Stoneblossom Floral and Event Design, East Greenwich, RI, 401-884-3220; stoneblossom.com

CAKE: Scrumptions, East Greenwich, RI, 401-884-0844; scrumptions.com

ROLLS-ROYCE AND TROLLEY: RockStar Limo, Newport, RI, 401-619-3000; rockstarlimo.net

BAND: Sultans of Swing, Jerry Bennett Entertainment, Edgartown, MA, 508-627-3746; jerrybennettentertainment.com