Real Wedding: Christine & Marc
Nantucket, Massachusetts
Cake: Mim Galligan Cakes, Catering & Reception Site: Sankatay Gold Club, Gown: Mary's Designer Bridal Boutique, Invitations: Kramerdrive, Inc.
Before they even began dating, Christine Lambert and Marc Pentino regularly sailed off into the sunset together — literally. Both were on the board of the Downtown Sailing Center in Baltimore, Maryland, and spent many evenings sailing around Baltimore Harbor, organizing events and activities, and getting to know each other. “You learn a lot about a person sailing around an industrial harbor on a J-22 with no motor,” says Christine. One night, when the boat docked, Christine and Marc went to dinner, and they have been together ever since.
After dating for five years and purchasing a house together, both knew that marriage was in their future, but they took their time getting engaged. Strolling the streets of downtown Nantucket while vacationing one summer, they saw a vintage Tiffany wedding band that Christine fell in love with. However, when Marc went back to get it the next day, he told Christine it had been sold. Disappointed, Christine and Marc continued to look at rings until they came across a vintage Edwardian old European cut diamond ring, which Marc immediately purchased, but he waited to propose. Knowing that Marc had the ring, Christine was anxious but tried to remain patient. One Saturday morning, Marc went out early to run some errands, but it wasn’t long before he called home. “Marc called around noon and asked me to come outside into the park in front of the house,” says Christine. “I thought it was odd because it was a little rainy, but I went anyway.” Marc motioned for Christine to sit down on a bench before kneeling in front of her and placing the long-awaited Edwardian ring on her finger, asking Christine to marry him. From his car, Marc lead a five-month-old poodle puppy over to Christine, and attached to his collar was the Tiffany wedding band. “He said that the two of them came as a pair, and I just said yes to the both of them,” says Christine. At long last, they were engaged.
There was no question that Christine and Marc would have their wedding on Nantucket. They had vacationed there for years and had always admired the island’s natural beauty and peaceful atmosphere. Christine settled on a blue and cranberry color palette for the celebration: “Blue is my favorite color, and cranberry is so fitting for Nantucket, especially in the fall.” Her florals were a wonderful blend of light blue and deep, vibrant cranberry hues, with some fresh berries for texture. Next to the place cards, Christine had a magnificent old-fashioned bird cage, intertwined with flowers and fruits, set against the backdrop of the gorgeous Nantucket marshes.
The ceremony and reception took place at the Sankaty Golf Club, a location the couple felt was both fun and relatively casual. Blessed with perfect crisp fall weather, the ceremony was held outdoors, with the Sankaty Lighthouse in the background. Per family tradition, Christine slipped a dime in her shoe that her grandmother had also worn at her wedding, and her father walked her down the aisle, something that she was afraid wouldn’t happen. “He had about two years of health issues that prevented him from walking for a time,” says Christine. For her, the walk was extra special.
Guests then celebrated indoors, snacking on homemade desserts made by Christine's mother and aunt and admiring the beautiful cake, in the shape of a sailor’s valentine, reminiscent of the sailor's valentine Christine had made for Marc out of shells in a wooden frame their first Valentines Day together. With gorgeous weather, a beautiful backdrop, and good company, the couple agreed that their wedding day had at least one thing in common with their old days on Baltimore Harbor: It was smooth sailing.