Birch Archway / Shelley and Safa / Gurneys Montauk / Flora and Fauna

Beach Chic at Gurney’s Montauk

There’s nothing quite like saying “I Do” with the sea as your venue! Shelley and Safa embraced the last of the summer sun in their wedding at Gurney’s Montauk.

 

 

The beautiful couples’ relaxed vibe was felt through the entire space with natural and overgrown floral elements, whimsical touches, and a Bollywood-pop flash mob at their reception! Shelley and Safa have a very funny story of meeting as told by their maid of honor. “Safa, you met Shelley…when she was your boss,” their maid of honor started. “And now she’s your wife, so really not much has changed!”

When it came time to celebrate their love in front of their friends and family, Shelley and Safa commissioned the services of husband and wife planning team Whimsy Weddings, who we’ve worked with on quite a few beautiful nuptials!

The theme of the day was beach chic – a kind of low-key elegance that perfectly matched this couple’s playful demeanor. The bride wore a gorgeous long-sleeved A-line lace wedding gown with a simple bateau neckline and a beautiful brush train. Her bridesmaids coordinated with her blush, mauve and burgundy palette wearing different shades of purples and pinks in a variety of silhouettes, reinforcing the casual chic theme of the day.

Shelley insisted on a refined and elegant flower crown to accompany her gorgeous updo. It featured baby’s breath, ruscus, jasmine and spray roses. Everyone carried whimsical bouquets of cafe au lait dahlias, roses and spray roses, ranunculus, scabiosa, astilbe, jasmine, dusty miller and Italian ruscus, tied in gold and ivory satin. “With Shelley and her lovely maids bouquets, we kept the focus on creating rustic elegance by giving the bouquets movement and creating an organic shape,” recalls Bride & Blossom founder Rachel Trimarco. The groom coordinated with his beautiful bride with a boutonniere made of ivory garden rose, jasmine vine and ruscus, tied in ivory ribbon. The groomsmen sported interesting boutonnieres of cream astilbe, ivory spray roses and Italian ruscus.

With less than 175 guests, their intimate beach ceremony faced the calming ocean and featured a beautiful white birch wedding arch adorned with cafe au lait dahlias, quicksand and tibet roses, cream astilbe and hydrangea, plum scabiosa and a variety of greenery including jasmine vine, Italian ruscus, lemon leaf and dusty miller. The setting September sun created a warm glow and the couple recited their vows and became man and wife.



We typically see brides and grooms embrace florals for their escort card tables, but Shelley and Safa had a different idea in mind to welcome guests to the reception. Instead of traditional place cards, tequila shots awaited each guest with a lime wedge and their names displayed on toothpicks, which looked like little sailboats! It was definitely a fun and silly way to welcome guests into a night of great food and dancing. A miniature Hulk Hogan also made a few appearances, our favorite in which he held up a sign encouraging guests to take pictures on disposable cameras and sign the couple’s guestbook! The reception featured beautiful and large low centerpieces to keep the space intimate. Sitting atop low birch cylinder vases, we arranged cafe au lait and plum dahlias, quicksand and juliet roses, scabiosa flowers and pods, jasmine vine, dusty miller and Italian ruscus into a rustic and romantic centerpiece. Guests enjoyed their night on the dancefloor when a massive flash mob came out to get the party started!

Wedding Film

 

Wedding Vendors

 

Planner: Whimsy Weddings

Venue: Gurney’s Montauk

Photographer: Love Flora Fauna

Videographer: SparkStory Wedding Cinema