Edward, in a Tommy Hilfiger tuxedo, and Rebecca embrace after being pronounced husband and wife; "We were both thinking, 'We did it!'" the bride recalls.
Bride: Rebecca Christensen
Groom: Edward Herrman
Location: Bonnet Island, NJ
Theme: Seaside wedding
A seashell bouquet of Babylonia spirata, Murex virgenues, Murex indivia, brown chullas and strawberry strombus by Kim Hirst for Michelle Rago, Ltd. served as a ceremony keepsake. The arrangement was wrapped in brown satin ribbon and tied with baker's twine.
Bride: Rebecca Christensen
Groom: Edward Herrman
Location: Bonnet Island, NJ
Theme: Seaside wedding
All eyes were on the bride in an Alvina Valenta gown and a pearl and crystal headpiece and fingertip-length organza veil from The Perfect Dress. The bride carried a fresh bouquet of white Vendela roses and pink and white majolica spray roses, by Kim Hirst for Michelle Rago, Ltd.
Bride: Rebecca Christensen
Groom: Edward Herrman
Location: Bonnet Island, NJ
Theme: Seaside wedding
The bride’s 6-year-old niece made an adorable flower girl in a silk dress and sash created by Rebecca’s stepmother. She carried rose petals in a handmade Nantucket-style basket covered with seashells.
Bride: Rebecca Christensen
Groom: Edward Herrman
Location: Bonnet Island, NJ
Theme: Seaside wedding
Located near Long Beach Island, NJ, and bordering a national wildlife refuge, Bonnet Island Estate offers panoramic ocean views.
Bride: Rebecca Christensen
Groom: Edward Herrman
Location: Bonnet Island, NJ
Theme: Seaside wedding
The invitations consisted of a decoupaged nautical puzzle; the save-the-date is the first piece to arrive, followed by the invite and response cards set on a bed of sea stones in a box tied with nautical knots by Karen Bartolomei for Grapevine.
Bride: Rebecca Christensen
Groom: Edward Herrman
Location: Bonnet Island, NJ
Theme: Seaside wedding
The petite ceremony programs by Karen Bartolomei for Grapevine, featured embossed sea horses (a fish that mates for life). They were displayed in a vase filled with finger starfish both from HomArt.
Bride: Rebecca Christensen
Groom: Edward Herrman
Location: Bonnet Island, NJ
Theme: Seaside wedding
The island’s Boathouse Chapel opens on all sides onto a beautiful bay; wind chime-like mobiles made from sand dollars and starfish hanging from branches decorated the barn doors.
Bride: Rebecca Christensen
Groom: Edward Herrman
Location: Bonnet Island, NJ
Theme: Seaside wedding
The welcome baskets for out-of-town guests featured saltwater taffy, an ocean-scented candle, soaps and more in a copper bucket adorned with vintage Jersey Shore postcards, by Michelle Rago, Ltd.
Bride: Rebecca Christensen
Groom: Edward Herrman
Location: Bonnet Island, NJ
Theme: Seaside wedding
An oversized coffee-table book filled with shell photographs was used as the couple’s guest book, preserving the memory of the wedding along with family and friends’ well wishes.
Bride: Rebecca Christensen
Groom: Edward Herrman
Location: Bonnet Island, NJ
Theme: Seaside wedding
In a creative twist on the escort card table, a custom-built sailboat by Billy Hirst for Michelle Rago, Ltd., helped guests "navigate" the way to their seats.
Bride: Rebecca Christensen
Groom: Edward Herrman
Location: Bonnet Island, NJ
Theme: Seaside wedding
Even the signature cocktail—an aptly named Blue Bay Bonnettini made of vodka, blue curaçao and pineapple juice garnished with a lemon twist—reflected the couple’s color scheme.
Bride: Rebecca Christensen
Groom: Edward Herrman
Location: Bonnet Island, NJ
Theme: Seaside wedding
Fresh seafood creations, like these hors d’oeuvres of tuna carpaccio and seaweed salad on potato blinis, were on the menu created by Alan Perl for The Ultimate Caterer in Marlboro, NJ.
Bride: Rebecca Christensen
Groom: Edward Herrman
Location: Bonnet Island, NJ
Theme: Seaside wedding
Fanciful table dressings and place settings continued the nautical theme; the seashell napkin treatment, by Michelle Rago, Ltd., became a cute memento for guests.
Bride: Rebecca Christensen
Groom: Edward Herrman
Location: Bonnet Island, NJ
Theme: Seaside wedding
Half of the reception centerpieces consisted of white majolica spray roses, white stock, green hypericum berries and tweedia in a square vase embellished with starfish by Kim Hirst for Michelle Rago, Ltd.
Bride: Rebecca Christensen
Groom: Edward Herrman
Location: Bonnet Island, NJ
Theme: Seaside wedding
The ballroom’s massive vaulted wood ceiling resembled the inverted hull of a boat, while the wall of windows provided breathtaking vistas and flooded the dance floor with natural light; guests had ample space to enjoy the live band after dinner at round tables with chairs from Party Rental Ltd.
Bride: Rebecca Christensen
Groom: Edward Herrman
Location: Bonnet Island, NJ
Theme: Seaside wedding
The couple’s candy station reflected a family effort: The bride’s mother and stepmother made chocolates in the shapes of starfish, sand dollars and scallop shells for the event. Small bags decorated with a sailboat line drawing done by the bride’s grandmother (not shown) invited guests to take these and the other sweets with them when they left.
Bride: Rebecca Christensen
Groom: Edward Herrman
Location: Bonnet Island, NJ
Theme: Seaside wedding
The couple’s monogrammed oyster and white wedding cake by Buddy Valastro for Carlo’s Bakery is an informal yet chic beachy treat. The vanilla-cream cake was filled with crème chantilly and fresh strawberries, covered with rolled fondant, and finished with painted pearl color and edible luster dust. Hand molded and painted seashells created a finishing touch.
Bride: Rebecca Christensen
Groom: Edward Herrman
Location: Bonnet Island, NJ
Theme: Seaside wedding
