A Romantic Coastal Massachusetts Wedding

The Glam Pad is known for being unapologetically romantic when it comes to beautiful homes, meaningful traditions, and celebrations filled with thoughtful details. So when our former intern, Jackie Lappin, shared photographs from her sister Tori’s wedding, we were instantly smitten. Jackie is now an interior designer with Dunbar Road, and it is clear to see that exquisite taste runs in her family.

Set at the bride’s childhood home in Beverly, Massachusetts, the celebration was everything we love: a charming love story, an Oscar de la Renta gown worthy of a New England summer, and a coastal palette that felt perfectly at home against a backdrop of sea and sky. Naturally, we wanted to learn more.

The starry-eyed tale of Tori and Mark Hoeman unfolded much like the pages of a classic romance novel. When asked how the couple first met, Jackie shared the story behind their meant-to-be meeting:

“Tori and Mark’s story began in 2016 with a chance encounter in an elevator during a summer study abroad program in London. Exhausted after a red-eye flight across the pond, Tori and her best friend Gigi were heading outside for some fresh air, only to walk into an elevator full of rowdy Midwestern gentlemen. One of them (Mark), who was wearing the brightest, non-Euro Lilly Pulitzer pants they had ever seen, greeted them with a ‘what’s up pretty ladies?’ before extending an invitation to go dancing that night.

Photography by Will Reid

While Tori politely declined, she later found herself in the same class as the group from the elevator, and they all became fast friends throughout the summer. The summer concluded with Tori returning to Boston and Mark to Kansas, but the two kept in touch throughout their remaining college years.

Fast forward to 2019 — Tori and Mark were still on each other’s minds, wondering if that might mean they were destined to be more than friends. They gradually started talking more frequently. Texting turned into phone calls, phone calls turned into FaceTimes, and FaceTimes turned into Tori inviting Mark to join her on a family trip to Martha’s Vineyard on a complete whim.

Fortunately, Mark accepted, and it didn’t take long for the handsome, well-mannered guy, who charmingly showed up to the beach wearing a blazer, to win over our entire family. The two started dating soon after, and the rest is history.

In the summer of 2024, Mark and Tori decided to make it official, selecting the bride’s childhood home as the backdrop for their wedding weekend. Having spent much of the COVID-19 pandemic there together, the setting felt deeply personal and perfectly suited to the beginning of this next chapter.

When asked whether Tori had always envisioned a particular wedding dress, Jackie explained:

“Admittedly, Tori arrived at her first dress fitting with no vision, but the moment she saw the one, everything clicked. The Oscar de la Renta gown felt like New England summer brought to life, with embroidered hydrangeas, leaves, butterflies, and bumblebees woven into its lace, and airy layers that let the sunlight filter through in a way that felt magical. Tori bought it on the spot and canceled all five of her other appointments without hesitation.”

The choice could not have been more fitting for the celebration. The romantic embroidery beautifully echoed the coastal setting, while subtle shades of blue tied effortlessly into the wedding paper and overall design scheme, creating a sense of harmony throughout the day.

Unsurprisingly, the color palette drew inspiration directly from the surrounding landscape. Shades of blue, green, and sandy neutrals reflected the ocean, lush grounds, and natural beauty of the Massachusetts coastline. “Working with the planning team at Sinclair & Moore, the couple set out to create a palette that honored the natural beauty of the setting: abundant, organic, and effortless. They didn’t want anything overly orchestrated or loud, but rather colors that flowed seamlessly with the landscape.”

Of course, no wedding is complete without cake, and according to Jackie, selecting the flavors “quickly became a family affair,” with Tori and Mark’s loved ones joining in to sample nearly every flavor from Soul Cake. Red velvet emerged as the clear favorite, and the cake’s design echoed the wedding’s aesthetic – a simple, clean white tiered cake adorned with fresh florals for a natural pop of color.

The invitation suite proved equally thoughtful. From curating the guest list to refining every printed detail, the process was approached with tremendous care. In the end, approximately 215 guests gathered to celebrate the couple.

“Plume Calligraphy partnered with our planning team to create invitations and day-of paper goods that were refined yet rich in detail. At first glance, the suite appears simple and elegant, but upon closer look, layers of intentional design reveal themselves: a custom VM monogram shaped like a wave, a subtle nautical stripe woven into the Welcome Party insert, carefully curated vintage stamps, and a watercolor envelope liner depicting the local coastline. Together, the details set the tone for the weekend perfectly.”

From the picturesque coastal setting to the thoughtful details woven throughout the celebration, every element felt distinctly personal and beautifully considered. Mark and Tori’s wedding was a heartfelt tribute to family, place, and a love story years in the making, and exactly the sort of celebration we never tire of admiring.