An Elegant, Nautical Wedding at the Ocean Cliff Hotel in Newport, Rhode Island

Ever since an eighth-grade trip to Newport, Rhode Island, to visit the iconic Newport mansions, Yecelin Chacon (28 and an event planner and designer) had always dreamed of a wedding in the historic seaside town. So when Adrian Gamba (30 and a graphic designer) proposed on a romantic sailboat ride in Miami, Florida, it wasn’t long before the couple settled on the New England spot as the place to say their “I dos.” With backgrounds in event planning and design, the couple planned the event themselves, quickly settling on a nautical theme for the day. From the sailboat escort cards to the navy and white-striped linens and the globe guest book, every detail played tribute to the couple’s love of the sea and the wedding’s waterfront locale. The Ocean Cliff Hotel provided the ultimate backdrop: beautiful ocean views, elegant architecture and a long, rich history that captured the couple’s hearts. While the two hoped to host their ceremony outdoors, the weather forced the festivities inside. Luckily, the historic mansion boasted plenty of rooms with expansive ocean views and Yecelin and Adrian were able to exchange vows with the deep blue in view in the distance. After the ceremony, the couple and their guests headed to the ballroom for an unforgettable night of dinner and dancing. The ballroom was a seaworthy scene, decked out in striped linens, carriage lanterns and anchor motifs. Gold accents added a subtle regal note to the decor, while lush bunches of hydrangeas, peonies and roses served as a nod to the spring season.