When Hil & Will got engaged, they didn’t wait long to say “I do”. With less than a year to plan, they set their sights on a joy-filled, color-forward Cape Cod wedding that felt deeply personal to their story. Planned and designed by Lia Bancroft Events, the celebration unfolded in Orleans, Massachusetts, a place that holds special meaning for the couple and their families. The result?! A vibrant, heartfelt Cape Cod wedding that beautifully reflected their roots, their love of bringing people together, and the start of their next chapter.
The Location
Set in beautiful Orleans, Massachusetts, a small quaint coastal part of Lower Cape Cod, Hil and Will’s weekend naturally became a celebration of the coastal places that shaped them both. Orleans is a significant part of Hil’s story, as it’s a place where she grew up spending much of her time, and a place her parents still call home. For Will, although he never grew up there physically, they incorporated several subtle nods to Maine, a place where he grew up spending many of his summers (I mean how cute are the hand-painted buoys?!).
For their venue, the Nauset Beach Inn, this holds a particularly special place as it is infamously known for Hil’s several “Cape Escapes” with friends, weekends full of lobster bakes, ocean breezes, and ABBA dance parties. Those same traditions became the heart of her and Will’s weekend, creating everything a Cape Cod wedding should be: vibrant, coastal, heartfelt, and full of personality.
The Bridal Look
Hil wore a romantic gown designed by J. Andreatta. It incorporated delicate floral lace woven throughout the bodice and skirt, with subtle touches of periwinkle, creating a soft look that perfectly suited the seaside setting. The silhouette felt timeless and feminine, balancing elegance with an effortless coastal ease.
The Couple & Their Inspiration
Every element of Hil & Will’s Cape Cod wedding was designed to celebrate not just their marriage, but their shared roots, their love of color, and their ability to bring people together. Lia Bancroft Events delivered a wedding that felt effortless, joyful, and unmistakably them. As planners often say, the best wedding design tells a story, and this one told the perfect one.
Hil intentionally envisioned the day as a celebration of joy and resilience. As a breast cancer survivor and the founder of Oncovery Care, a startup dedicated to supporting cancer survivors once they enter remission, this wedding was designed as a visual expression of happiness and life, filling every space with flowers and light.
The Ceremony
Hil & Will exchanged vows overlooking the ocean beneath a traditional Jewish chuppah adorned with vibrant florals, delivering a ceremony that beautifully wove together the couple’s heritages and personalities. The view of Nauset Beach stretched endlessly behind them, grounding the entire celebration in the beauty of home. Lush arrangements in peach, yellow, soft coral, and airy whites lined the ceremony aisle and framed the chuppah, while bentwood chairs, woven lanterns, and low floral groupings softened the lawn ceremony setting.
The Cocktail Hour
To kick the night off right, cocktail hour featured light, coastal-inspired bites, including vibrant watermelon appetizers, setting the tone for a quintessential New England celebration. A sprawling raw bar with local oysters and signature cocktails, including Cape Cod cranberry bourbon sours topped with Cape-shaped stirrers, tied into this wedding’s playful palette and coastal inspiration. From the buoy escort cards hand-painted in Maine to the relaxed oceanfront atmosphere, the experience felt fresh, summery, and perfectly suited for an elevated Cape Cod wedding.
The Reception
Planned and designed by Lia Bancroft Events, the reception was transformed into an immersive coastal garden filled with layered florals, soft lighting, and thoughtful textures that made the space feel both vibrant and welcoming. Custom draping, tailored lighting, hand-built bar structures, and plush lounge furnishings created a warm, celebratory environment. Reception tables featured abundant centerpieces, glass candle cylinders, and beach-inspired touches, including pillar candles layered with sand sourced directly from Nauset Beach.
Personal details woven throughout the design told the story of the couple’s shared life. Escort cards were displayed on mini hand-painted buoys sourced from a Marine artist and tied to vintage lobster traps, honoring the groom’s long connection to Maine. Each table was marked with a small pennant instead of a number, named after places meaningful to the couple and their travels together. In one of the most unique moments of the weekend, the bride’s parents also surprised the couple with a custom LEGO recreation of the wedding, using the design plans to replicate the ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception spaces in miniature. The set arrived in six boxes and was presented during the after party as a heartfelt gift for the groom, a longtime LEGO enthusiast.
The Party
Wrapping up a special day and an amazing weekend, the celebration continued through the night! Featuring a bluegrass band (a longtime family favorite!), guests danced the night away under the stars along the coast of the Cape. To make it even more memorable, Hil & Will even performed two songs together, to officially close out the night on a deeply personal and joyful note!
Hil & Will’s vibrant Cape Cod wedding was a heartfelt celebration of meaning that paid tribute to the places and people who mean the most to them. From meaningful traditions to joyful moments, every part of the weekend reflected the couple’s story and the spirit of the Cape. If you loved this celebration, be sure to read Coastal Wedding At The Linwood Country Club for even more seaside wedding inspiration!
