Real Wedding: Meghan & Kris
Montauk, New York
Floral Design: Flowers by Beth Photographer(s): Shane Carpenter and Lindsay McDonald Event Coordination: Lyndsey Hamilton Events
   |
Meghan White never liked New Year's Eve. So instead of making plans to go out and celebrate the New Year, she asked her boyfriend, Kris Grossman, if they could do something laid-back and quiet to celebrate together. He agreed, made reservations at a restaurant, and told Meghan to be ready to leave at eight o'clock.
That day, Kris avoided her all day, to the extent that Meghan was not looking forward to dinner with him, but decided to go anyway. At 7:30, Meghan finished getting dressed and walked into the living room. There, she found Kris, just standing in the middle of the room. The lights were dimmed, the Christmas tree was lit, and there was music playing. "I think Santa may have left one more present in your stocking," Kris said.
Meghan reached into her stocking, felt a ring box, and turned to look at Kris, who was resting on one knee. As he asked her to marry him, Kris forever changed Meghan's life, as well as her feelings toward New Year's Eve. Later, he admitted that he had to avoid her all day because he was so nervous to propose!
Meghan and Kris met while they were both living in New York City after college. On February 3rd, 2006, Meghan went to the Financial District to meet some friends for a night out. As the night went on, one of her friends encouraged the group to move to another bar a few blocks away where she knew a few more friends. Luckily for Meghan and Kris, the cold walk through the City was worth it. Kris was at the bar with the group and he and Meghan clicked instantly. That night they discovered that they only lived five blocks away from each other, so they exchanged phone numbers and planned to hang out again. The very next day Kris called and asked Meghan to go out with him again, and soon, they were inseparable. They started dating, spending summers in Montauk, and eventually moved in together.
Choosing the location for their wedding was easy. Kris was raised in Nutley, New Jersey, and Meghan in Briarcliff, New York. They both spent a lot of time on the beach growing up-Meghan had spent summers with her family in Montauk-and a lot of time vacationing to the beach together. Wedding in Montauk allowed them to plan a day that would be classy and beautiful, yet relaxed, as they relived some of their favorite memories from vacations as a couple. Their ceremony was planned for September 26th, 2009.
It was important to Meghan and Kris that their wedding be an enjoyable experience for both them, and their guests. They did not incorporate any typical wedding traditions into their ceremony. Instead, they strived to create a relaxing, laid-back atmosphere that highlighted the natural comforts of Montauk. They worked with Chef Michael at the Montauk Yacht Club to create a custom menu, comprising fresh seafood from local fishermen. Focusing on the unique qualities of the area helped their guests to understand why the location was significant to Meghan and Kris. It offered a sort of "insight" to their personality as a couple, which was further expressed as they shared their first dance to Brad Paisley's "Then." Congratulatory speeches were offered from Meghan's father, the Best Man, and the Maid of Honor.
Luckily, Meghan and Kris were blessed with beautiful weather the day of their wedding. "The entire day was perfect," Meghan says, "Everyone had a great time." But making sure the day was fun for everyone was Meghan's premier objective. She focused on enjoying the experience, not being nervous, and not worrying about small details. "Make it a day you both always remember," she advises, "Take random moments throughout the day to just absorb everything and smile."