Molly & Sean’s “Casual, Comfortable, and Classy” Barbecue and Dance Party Wedding at the Somerville Armory

Bride and groom kiss while their wedding team looks on and cheers

Molly and Sean moved to Boston from Chicago two years ago, so their guests came from near and far (through a late April “winter” storm, according to the news) to be with them on their wedding day. That’s why the ideas of “home” and “welcome” and “warmth” were woven throughout their day. At the heart of it, they wanted to create a space that allowed their friends and family to love on their new city and all of their hopes for their future together.

And I should point out, that didn’t necessarily involve fancy rented china or a band or an expensive princess dress. It did include a rock solid relationship, a group of awesome guests, good eats, and great tunes to dance to. So basically, all the important stuff!

Something I have adored about Molly and Sean right from the start is the intention behind their relationship, their wedding, and their life together moving forward. Molly said something in her vows and she said it far more eloquently than I can recall now… It was something like, “the day we stop challenging each other is the day we become merely passengers of our lives.”

Like, whoa. Can I get an amen to that!?

After all, why would you want to be merely a passenger, when you can be the creator and celebrator of your own story? And so much the better, getting to do it with your best friend by your side.

Scroll through to see all the highlights from this “casual, comfortable, and classy” celebration.

White ranunculus boutonnieres in a wooden boxGroom getting ready at the Charles Hotel in Cambridge, MA

Groom's parents kissing in hotel roomThe courtyard of the Charles Hotel in Harvard Square, Cambridge, MA

Groom & Groomsman getting ready in the mirror in the Charles HotelGroom & Groomsman getting ready in the mirror in the Charles Hotel in Cambridge, MAGroomsman adjusting his geometric cufflinksMom pinning on the groom's boutonniere before his wedding dayClose up of mom pinning on the groom's boutonniere before his wedding dayGroom pinning on his dad's boutonniere while groomsmen adjust their ties in the Charles Hotel in Harvard SquareGroom looks out the window of the Charles Hotel next to a wedding invitation suiteBlack diamond three stone engagement ring and two wedding bandsFriends of the bride drink champagne and eat GoldfishThe brides dress hangs as her friends look onBride smiles at the camera while getting ready for her weddingBride's friends look on as she enters the hotel roomWedding rings and crystal earringsBride waves away tears in an emotional first look with her dayBride holds her dad's arm as he opens a small wedding day giftBride's friends chat and laugh in her hotel roomBride holds her cathedral length flowered veil ad her friends look onBride says farewell to her friends before the first lookBride walks through the halls of the Charles Hotel in Harvard Square holding her bouquet in a jarBride with long flowered veil walks down stairs of the Charles Hotel in black and whileBride approaches her groom in JFK Park in Cambridge, MA before her first look

In black and white, bride approaches her groom in JFK Park in Cambridge, MA before her first lookBride approaches her groom in JFK Park in Cambridge, MA before her first lookBride and groom first see each other before their weddingBride in white and groom in grey suit snuggle in a park

Bride and groom snuggle with a wild spring floral bouquetBride and groom stand together before the wedding as she holds out a wild springy floral bouquet in yellow and purpleBride and groom stand together with lavender flowers in the foreground Bride's dress blows in the wind as groom in a grey suit checks his cell phoneBride in white nuzzles nose to her future husband's cheek

Bride and groom walk in windy parkGroom poses with his groomsman brother side-by-side with bride and groom kissing in JFK Park in Cambridge, MAGroom and his groomsman brother stand in blue and grey suits with yellow pocket squaresBride and groom pose for formal portrait with the groom's familyGroom in a grey suit poses formally with his two groomsmen in blue suits with yellow ties

Bride and groom smile at her family members in formal portraitBride and groom walk with their bridal partyBride smiles and her sister in a green dressBride and groom walk along a brick path behind the Charles Hotel in Harvard Square

Bride and groom are reflected in the glass door of the Charles Hotel in Cambridge, MA

Bride high fives a chef at Henrietta's Table in the Charles Hotel where they workBride and groom in black and white stand behind glass door of the Charles Hotel in Harvard Square

Somerville Armory exterior on a blue sky spring day in late April

Wedding welcome table with family photos and a signTable one centerpiece with vinyl on clear acrylic, candles, and seeded eucalyptusWedding guest and lantern centerpiece with seeded eucalyptus and fairy lights

Wedding gift signs for donations to several charitable causesWicker ball on wedding welcome tableWedding bar sign and beers

Bridesmaid in green approaches while guests look onWedding guest in a red dress smiles

Bride walks down the aisle with her dad while a friend sings I Choose You by Sara Bareilles

Wide shot of wedding ceremony at the Somerville ArmoryBride with a long veil stands with groom at a decorated archway covered in fake flowersGroom's parents look on as the groom reads them a message

Bride reads vows to her groom from a kraft paper vow book and smiles Bride and groom raise a glass and he puts a ring on her finger

Bride reads vows to her groom from a kraft paper vow bookBride and groom kiss at the end of wedding ceremony then recess down the aisleVintage bridge and groom champagne glasses that their parents used when getting marriedBride's parents look on smiling during wedding toastsGroomsman in a blue suit and yellow tie reads a wedding toastBride's dad reads a welcome toastBridesmaid in a green dress reads her wedding toastBride and groom laugh from sweetheart table during toasts

Guest raise their arms and glasses in cheers during wedding toastsBarbecue wedding dinner on a paper plate from Redbones buffetWide view of wedding reception at Somerville ArmoryBride and groom's first dance close upBride and groom's first dance at the Somerville Armory in Davis SquareBride dances with her dad at the Somerville ArmoryBride dances with her dad and kisses her groom at the Somerville ArmoryGroom dances with his mom at the Somerville ArmoryEagle eye view of the light and audio controls at the Somerville ArmoryGroom's mom dances with a family member whose hair is flyingOverhead view of dance floor at wedding reception at the Somerville Armory in Davis SquareA guest dances back to back with the groom with crossed armsWedding guests dance and point during the reception at the Somerville Armory in Davis SquareMother of the groom and family member smile and dance at Somerville Armory weddingWedding guest in a floral dress dances with arms spread wide like an airplaneBride raises her arms in the air while dancing with friendsWedding guest sings into a plastic spoonBride and her friends dance with plastic spoons as a sorority traditionWedding guests dance to the Cha Cha slideBride gets low as lights swirl nearby

Ice cream is scooped into cups at a weddingBride and groom smirk at each other while eating ice creamBride and groom smile and pose for a picture with Golden Door Photography owner Shaina

Venue: Somerville Armory // Hotel: Charles Hotel // Catering: Redbones Barbecue // Dessert: Gracie’s Ice Cream // Dress: BHLDN // Tailor: Zoya Designs // Bridesmaid Dress: JJ’s House // Hair & Make-Up: Pyara Spa & Salon // Flowers: Moonstone and Moss // Music: Elizabeth & Ben Anderson + Playlist // Rings: Anna Sheffield // Invitations: Goosefish Press

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