1. Real Weddings

Jenny & Matt: A Destination Wedding in Providence, RI

Jenny and Matt first became friends as students at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) in Providence. Ten years later, their story came full circ

Jenny and Matt first became friends as students at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) in Providence. Ten years later, their story came full circle when they exchanged wedding vows in a destination wedding at their alma mater’s library, which was built within a historic building downtown. The Bride Jennifer K. Beal, 29, graphic designer The Groom Matt Davis, 29, creative director The Date May 25 After college graduation, Matt would call Jenny once a year on her birthday, but other than that, they’d hardly kept in touch. Almost 10 years after they first met, he visited her in New York City and their friendship took a romantic turn. Seven months later, Matt proposed by planting a photo of himself proposing for Jenny to find -- when she looked up, there he was on bended knee...in the same outfit holding the same diamond ring as in the photo.

The bride’s strapless, dotted organza gown by Melissa Sweet had something of a vintage look to it, with a ruffled sweetheart neckline, a ruched bodice, a trumpet skirt, and a side sash. “I use dots in my graphic design a lot,” she says. “My gown was so simple yet classic and romantic, with a touch of whimsy, just like our wedding.”
The father of the bride wore a pink bow tie and cummerbund. His vintage tuxedo and bow tie were a gift from his father, who had bought it for his own fiftieth wedding anniversary.
“I love soft, plush flowers, like peonies, and Matt likes ‘spiky’ ones,” says the bride of their reception centerpieces, which included peonies, ranunculus, green spider mums, and button mums in brighter shades than the blooms used during the ceremony. Jenny, a professional graphic designer, made the place cards, table numbers, and napkins herself.
Jenny’s bridesmaids wore full-length, light pink, chiffon dresses accented with kiwi ribbon with either a V-neck or a strapless neckline. One of Jenny’s bridesmaids, who was expecting a baby, wore a maternity style.
The bridesmaids carried pink bouquets made up of blush pink peonies and wrapped with pink and white grosgrain ribbon.
Jenny and Matt bought a chartreuse Kolo scrapbook as their guest book and used a gold birdcage for collecting cards. Peony-shaped, ceramic votive holders, made by the bride’s mother, were placed throughout the reception space.
Jenny and Matt exchanged vows beneath a custom-made huppah in the RISD library. The aisle was marked with a long white aisle runner and framed with swathes of white tulle, grosgain and satin ribbons, and clusters of blush peonies.
Instead of sticking to the wedding playlist, the band surprised the bride and groom by inviting the guests to sing karaoke. Having played in a band before, Matt wasn’t one to shy away from the challenge: The jacket came off, the suspenders came out, and the groom rocked out with his wife.
As they left the ceremony, a bagpiper dressed in full regalia heralded the couple while their guests showered them with pink rose petals, leading the procession to the reception. Jenny had hired the bagpiper as a surprise for her new husband.
The three-tiered wedding cake was decorated with Swiss dots similar to the fabric on Jenny’s wedding dress, as well as the lining and bellyband on their invites. The cake was accented with fresh green and pink mums.
Matt, a talented RISD grad, created the illustrations for the art pieces given as wedding favors. Inspired by a Dean Martin song, the cards depicted birds, bees, flowers, trees, and the moon, as well as a banner reading “…and a thing called love.”