REDUCED GUEST LIST: We’ve reduced our headcount to approximately 60 guests for additional comfort and safety, even though the state currently allows many more. THE GREAT OUTDOORS: Luckily, we already planned for this one! There will be plenty of open air and ocean breeze. MASKS: **updated 5/31** masks are no longer required! If you are not ready to shed your mask just yet for any reason, continue to rock it! Please do whatever makes you feel comfortable. We will still have disposable on hand just in case! HAND SANITIZER: We’ll have a bunch - all over the place. Use it and use it often. FOOD SAFETY: We are working closely with our caterer to ensure only masked professionals contact the food you eat. Yes, we will have buffet style dining, but it will not be serve yourself. BAR SAFETY: Please do not hover around the bar or crowd servers. We will have a variety of single serve options (cans and bottles).
ASSIGNED SEATING: We will do our best to seat you at a table with other people from your household, family, or social circle (no more than 6 per table). There will be a few additional hightops/benches/lounge areas around the dock if you’re uncomfortable taking your mask off to eat and drink with the people at your table. WE’RE TRYING OUR VERY BEST: Safety and comfort are our #1 priority for our guests, our vendors, and ourselves. We ask that you be as responsible as you can in the days leading up to the event.
Both the ceremony and reception are outside. We have built our life by the water and want to share that beauty with you on our wedding day! In case of rain, we do have tents. Depending on the forecast, you may want to plan to bring a light jacket as it can get chilly by the water at night!
Keep your black tie tux or ball gown clean for the next wedding. Feel free to wear your finest boat shoes or wedges! Wear your most flow-y summer dress or fun romper. Ditch the tie if you want. Open the top button and let your neck breathe. Is it going to be a scorcher? Wear some nice shorts. We want you to be comfortable. If you're comfortable, we'll have more fun. We're drawing the line at wearing all white, jeans, jorts, birkenstocks, muscle tanks, and tube socks (hi dad!)
You KNOW Jillian would never invite you to a party and let you go hungry. We're having a live Paella buffet, charcuterie & cheese boxes, assorted tapas, salad, and bread. There will be a meat, seafood, and vegetarian paella. You can even try more than one! Please let us know if you have allergies or dietary restrictions and we will work with our caterer. The buffet will not be self serve! Only masked employees will be serving the food and other food moments will be packaged ahead of time. Assorted desserts to follow!
It sounds exotic, but Paella is just a traditional Spanish rice based dish with varied toppings. We will have a variety of types to suit all tastes! It is well seasoned, but not spicy!
There was no "one size fits all" hotel nearby that made sense to book and wanted you to be able to book what is comfortable for you and your budget. We put a few hotel options nearby on our "Travel" tab that may have rooms available, but not enough that we could book a block. You can also check out Air BnBs and VBRO for house rentals for an alternative to a traditional hotel, motel, or Bed and Breakfast. Gloucester is a very small town with only a few hotels... so if you are looking at lodging for the evening and having trouble finding something within Gloucester, look into other towns nearby: Rockport - approximately 4 miles, 10 min. drive Essex or Manchester by the Sea - approximately 8 miles, 15 min. drive Beverly, Danvers, Ipswich, Hamilton, or Wenham- approximately 12 -16 miles, 25 minute drive
Since we did not do a traditional hotel block, we do not have organized transportation. Please consider Uber and Lyft to plan your travel with if you'll be partying with us! - For our friends and family living in Middlesex or Essex Counties in MA - it may even be less expensive for you to take a ride directly to and from the venue than to book a hotel for the evening... and you get to sleep in your own bed at the end of the night! If you're planning to drive, please see "Travel" tab for parking options in the area.
We're registered at Crate & Barrel, Bed Bath & Beyond and Bloomingdales. Our registries are also linked on the "Registry" page.
Absolutely. Don't forget some cash and coins to pay a meter (if you park nearby) or to tip your friendly bartender, and please drink responsibly!
We will have a short ceremony at 5:30 (plan to get there for 5) and then move right into the party! We wanted a relaxed summer dock party with very few rules: except to have fun, eat good food, and drink good booze with us. We want you to relax and mingle! See people you haven't seen in a long time, make some new friends (we know some cool people,) bust a move if the mood or music strikes, or take a seat and admire the beautiful Gloucester coastline views. Party ends at about 10 PM, but we may check out a local watering hole with you late night party animals. We can't wait to celebrate with you!! Cheers, Jillian and Nick