A Proposal on the Water Led to this Spectacular Seaside Soiree at the JFK Museum
A couple celebrates in style with a black-tie affair, brought to life by Elegant Aura.
Photo by Kate McElwee Photography
THE STORY
Randall Rosenberg and Samuel Sargent met while studying at the University of Pennsylvania, but it wasn’t until they both landed jobs at the same company in Boston that sparks flew. Six years later, on a warm afternoon in June—“one of the first real summer days,” Sam remembers—he arranged an intimate sailboat ride in the harbor for just the two of them, plus a small crew. “I wasn’t captaining it, that’s for sure,” Sam says, laughing. Once she saw the boat, Randall knew what to expect. But Sam played it cool waiting for the perfect moment, and as they were nearing the end of their cruise, with the Boston skyline as the backdrop, he popped the question.
The pair kept the waterfront theme going for their September 2018 wedding at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, where a glass-walled atrium offered the outdoor feel (and ocean views) they craved while protecting guests from the elements. After arriving in style in a vintage 1963 Cadillac convertible (generously on loan from Randall’s father), the two swapped vows in front of a large but tight-knit group of family and friends, many of whom had met before. “It was a fantastic celebration,” Sam says of the black-tie affair. “Everyone enjoyed being together.”
Photo by Kate McElwee Photography
THE DETAILS
“[We] really treat each other as equals. There’s very little that we don’t do without consulting the other—not because we feel like we have to, but we value each other’s input,” Sam says. “Our wedding was a complete product of that.”
Photo by Kate McElwee Photography
Randall gave her bridesmaids free rein to choose any black dress they felt comfortable in. “I wanted them to feel beautiful and have a good time,” she says.
Photo by Kate McElwee Photography
While the pair leaned more toward a neutral color palette for their reception floral arrangements, Randall requested a pop of color in her free-form voluminous bouquet.
Photo by Kate McElwee Photography
Flouer Specialty Floral Events designed a full chuppah for the couple, bursting with white hydrangeas and sprays of greenery.
Photo by Kate McElwee Photography
Designed by Allure Invitations, the stationery conveyed the black-tie elegance Randall and Sam hoped to achieve.
Photo by Kate McElwee Photography
“It’s more of a blank slate than other venues,” Sam says of the modern atrium. “It required a little bit of creativity and working with a phenomenal group of people who had [a] vision.”
Photo by Kate McElwee Photography
Though the couple served a variety of cookies and pastries at each table, they still wanted to do the ceremonial cake cutting. Party Favors obliged with a two-tier yellow cake, complete with a mini replica of Robert Indiana’s Love sculpture—a fixture of their alma mater’s campus.
Photo by Kate McElwee Photography
Randall and Sam paid special attention to the menu, hand-selecting every wine and spirit, and drawing inspiration from the seaside venue with local oysters.
Photo by Kate McElwee Photography
“[Our wedding] was reflective of how we were brought up—bringing old friends, new friends, and family together,” Randall says. “It was fun to have everyone in the same room.”
Photo by Kate McElwee Photography
Looking for something upbeat, the couple chose Ray LaMontagne’s “You Are the Best Thing” for their first dance.
Photo by Kate McElwee Photography
Hoping to avoid “overproduced” floral arrangements, Sam and Randall worked with Flouer to design towering, loosely cascading centerpieces with an emphasis on greenery.
Photo by Kate McElwee Photography
Throughout their wedding, Randall and Sam took care to honor their respective Jewish and Episcopalian backgrounds, even participating in a traditional ketubah signing before their ceremony.
Photo by Kate McElwee Photography
The couple incorporated old family wedding photos into their décor.
THE FILE
Band District 21
Beverages Gordon’s Fine Wines & Liquors
Cake Party Favors
Catering Gourmet Caterers
Ceremony Music Keros Entertainment
Flowers Flouer Specialty Floral Events
Hair and Makeup Parlr
Invitations Allure Invitations
Lighting DesignLight
Planning & Design Elegant Aura
Rentals PEAK Event Services; AFR Event Services
Rings Mouradian Jewelry
Transportation Rockstar Limo
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