This Pair Planned an Intimate Seaside Wedding at Hammond Castle

June 7, 2019
Hammond Castle
Gloucester, Massachusetts

Photo by Scarlet Roots

THE STORY

Nothing makes a good first impression quite like homemade cookies. So when Mike Seskevich showed up to his first date with Laura Kowalski bearing Christmas treats, he instantly won her over. Three years later, Mike had another surprise for Laura: a proposal. This time, he created holiday cards with a picture of the two of them and their dog, Cider, that read, “Christmas came a little early. We’re engaged.”

Shortly after, the couple planned a seaside wedding at Hammond Castle in Gloucester. The ocean provided gorgeous views for their outdoor ceremony, while the medieval castle served as an intimate reception space for their 84 guests. And although they tied the knot in June, Mike and Laura chose Michael Bublé’s “Cold December Night” for their first dance. “Christmas was so sentimental to us, and we didn’t have a specific song that would be appropriate,” Laura says. “So we [danced] to what we wanted to dance to!”

THE DETAILS

Photo by Scarlet Roots

DRESS

Although Laura originally dreamed of wearing a bohemian-style dress, she chose a silk ballgown with a matte lace appliqué and a plunging back from Essense of Australia. “As soon as I put it on,” she says, “it fit like a glove.”

Photo by Scarlet Roots

FLOWERS

With help from her sister-in-law and mother, Laura used silk peonies and greenery to craft the floral arrangements. “I wanted to make [the pieces] myself, [so the silk flowers] were a good way of making them ahead of time without worrying about them wilting,” Laura says.

Photo by Scarlet Roots

CEREMONY

Laura’s six-year-old nephew, Griffin, walked Cider down the aisle. “He was practicing months ahead of time. Every time [my nephew] would come see us, he’d take her for a walk,” Laura says.

Photo by Scarlet Roots

VOWS

Laura and Mike wrote their own vows and later framed them to display in their apartment. “The cute thing was that when we read them, we said a lot of the same things to each other,” Laura says.

Photo by Scarlet Roots

PHOTO BOOTH

Guests of all ages struck poses in the open-air photo booth, which delivered snapshots and Boomerangs straight to their phones.

Photo by Scarlet Roots

VENUE

Inventor John Hays Hammond Jr. designed the castle, which boasts vaulted ceilings and a courtyard modeled after what would become the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, in the 1920s as a gift for his wife.

Photo by Scarlet Roots

TABLE SIGNAGE

Instead of traditional table numbers, Laura and Mike labeled the tables with places that they had traveled to together, including Martinique—Mike’s favorite destination.

Photo by Scarlet Roots

CENTERPIECES

Candles and baby’s breath submerged in water added a simple yet elegant touch to the tables.

Photo by Scarlet Roots

THE FILE

Band Big City Wedding Band
Bride’s Dress Essense of Australia, Vows Bridal
Bridesmaid Dresses BHLDN
Catering Vinwood Caterers
Favors Nichols Candies
Hair & Bridesmaid Makeup Hilary Cohen
Photo Assistant Nicole Adrienne Photography
Photo Booth Scarlet Roots
Rentals The Event Co.

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