Brad & David: Love in Cape Cod
Wedding Photography by Organic Photography
Brad and David first met at Brad’s ex’s birthday party. Both of their exes were good friends, so it was only natural that these two were brought together. Still, the encounter didn’t last. But 7-years later they ran into each other by chance on the Asbury Park Boardwalk. Brad found the courage to walk up to David and reintroduce himself after 7-years.
The first date took place in Philadelphia where they went out for dinner. This was followed by cheese and wine on a rooftop deck overlooking the city skyline, all the while listening to Fleetwood Mac, David’s favorite band. “I thought Brad was so handsome and was the nicest guy. We both felt immediately comfortable with each other and just made each other laugh.” With similar values, drive and overall outlook on life—David and Brad realized things were quickly getting pretty serious. David reflected, “it was easy from the beginning.”
“We both loved It's A Wonderful Life growing up and started seeing it in theaters every Christmas in a small theater in Princeton, New Jersey. One year we went with some of his family and friends and afterwards we walked to the local pub. Brad told me that he felt nauseous and wanted to walk around the town square for some fresh air. After walking around the huge tree in the town square Brad turned to me and said "I'm not really sick," and got down on one knee. I started essentially hyperventilating and he asked me to spend this wonderful life with him.”
To David and Brad, it seemed the stars had aligned. Now came the daunting task of planning the big day. “We were torn between Philly, where we lived, and Cape Cod, where Brad's family goes every summer and has been since his dad was a kid. We visited Cape Cod one weekend in February 2020 and decided to have it there. We planned most of it that weekend but decided a few months later to delay a year due to Covid-19. The extra year didn't help as we waited until a few months before to put the final touches on the wedding.”
David and Brad’s focus was to ensure that they made a relaxing and fun event for all who were joining. They planned the wedding over a weekend and invited all attendees to the rehearsal dinner which included pizza trucks followed by dancing. Waking up for their wedding day, they were shocked to see that it was raining. Thankfully, the weather cleared just in time for the ceremony. Brad and David had their ceremony in their friend’s backyard on a bluff overlooking Cape Cod Bay. The reception was down the road in a tent on the field in the same neighborhood. The great part about this Cape Cod Wedding was that everyone was able to walk to the events and stumble home after dancing the night away.
“Brad's father, John performed the wedding and we wrote our own vows. We made sure to include important promises, like ordering pizza at least once a week. We were standing with the bay in the background, surrounded by the best family and friends anyone could ask for.”
Quintessential to a Cape Cod wedding, the grooms featured a raw bar at their reception, along with the open bar and catering service. “White's Catering presented a great dinner. We told everyone that was dancing that they were required to set the tone and we think it worked because everyone kept dancing long after the DJ closed up… someone brought their own speaker! The night was beautiful and unseasonably warm for that time of year but we lifted the sides of the tent and let the fresh September air in. It was so beautiful and the most fun."
“We were both just fully aware of how lucky we are on the wedding day. We were in a beautiful location and had family and friends travel from all over to be there for us. We felt especially lucky realizing that this wouldn't have been recognized anywhere in the US until just a few years ago. We were able to celebrate thanks to the tireless blood, sweat, and tears of so many advocates who came before us. We were also aware how lucky we were to have our families there and supportive. Both of our dad's struggled when we came out, which was why it was so important to have Brad's dad officiate. Both of our father's, and mothers, came such a long way and put their love of us before their pre-conceptions.”
Brad and David’s favorite part of the wedding weekend included the dancing on Friday night after the rehearsal dinner, “it was so impromptu and a lot less pressure since it was not the actual wedding day. Our families and friends got to meet each other and laugh together all night. It was a truly joyous moment.”
Memorably, David commented on the ornate details from the wedding, including their table names and description. "Instead of table numbers, we chose cities that were significant to us and had a brief history and description of the town. My mom made every name card and every town card.”
David found that planning the details of the wedding was the most surprising part of the process, but with the help of their catering team they were able to ensure everything was just right. As for advice, Brad and David recommend grooms try to take a deep breath and relax, and to also hire a videographer because the day goes by so fast it can be a blur. “The most surprising thing about the wedding day was how fun and low stress it was. We were both just in a place of calm because we had done everything we could and the rest was up to fate. The day went by great with only minor hitches but none that anyone noticed. I would tell a couple getting married to not sweat the small stuff because it's the feeling your'e creating for the day, not the logistics that make the wedding day special.”
Following the wedding, David and Brad opted to contribute their honeymoon funds towards a house in the suburbs. As newlyweds and new home owners, David and Brad are living happy and healthy together in the suburbs of Philadelphia.
Photography — Organic Photography
Videography — UpAbove Creative
Officiant — John Button
Catering — White’s Catering
Cake — Cottage Street Bakery
Apparel — Suit Supply
Floral Designer — Moorestown Flower Shop
