December 8, 2018 | Maria Burton Photography
Gretchen & Christopher
The Meet Cute: Gretchen’s work colleague (and eventual bridesmaid), Elizabeth, grew up
with Chris in Barrington. As good friends do, she introduced the two the old-fashioned way.
The Engagement: Chris planned to propose at the one-year mark, but Gretchen admits she
was putting on the pressure. So, when the couple ventured to Newport for the Volvo Ocean
Race and then followed up with a replication of their first date on Second Beach, Chris got down
on one knee in the sand and simply said, “Are you ready to cry?” Gretchen said yes… And cried.
The Timing: The couple say that the idea of having a winter wedding really came out of
necessity. “Chris manages Bristol Yacht Club, so summers are too busy with his demanding
work schedule. Meanwhile, my extended family are farmers in Illinois, so spring and fall are
too busy with planting and harvest,” Gretchen explains. “Plus, a winter wedding is so fun!”
The Venue: Thanks to college summers spent as a nanny on Nantucket, Gretchen grew to
love the Nantucket Whaling Museum. “I learned of the New Bedford Whaling Museum while
there, and I visited it when I first moved to Rhode Island. I dreamt of having a wedding there,
if I were lucky enough to meet the right man, for years,” she says. Luckily, Chirs was the right
man. “We thought it was such a unique venue, very different from others, and we really liked
how the museum paid homage to New England Maritime History,” Gretchen adds.
The Aisle Thoughts: “I hadn’t seen Gretchen since the night before and was so happy just
to have her by my side. Also, I was hoping my son wasn’t locking his knees and about to
pass out behind me.” — Chris
150 | ENGAGED IN SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND 2020
“First, I was worried my dad was going to step on my dress. But then I was relieved to
make it safely down the aisle and lock eyes with my future husband. Neither of us like
being the center of attention, so we were both a little nervous.” — Gretchen
The First Dance: Though Gretchen and Chris initially couldn’t decide on a song
for their first turn on the dancefloor, it all fell into place when “Cruisin” by Huey
Lewis and Gwyneth Paltrow came to them in a CVS parking lot the week before the
wedding. “It just seemed like us,” Gretchen says. It also perfectly complemented the
snowy atmosphere of their first dance. “We almost didn’t use the snow machine,”
Gretchen recalls, “but our DJ, Luke, convinced us to use it and it made everything
so magical!”
The Highlights: “For me, it was really special to see my son, Tristan, get introduced
at the wedding reception. He came in wearing sunglasses to the song, ‘Legend,’ by
the Score, and had been practicing his dance routine for months. He really got into it.
Luke made it extra special for him by also playing the Hockey Goal Horn they play at
Bruins games.” — Christopher
“Definitely when Santa arrived during the reception. The room turned red, the snow
started to fall, Santa entered the room to the classic song, ‘Sleigh Ride,’ and the Russell
Morin staff all came out in Santa hats with trays of cookies and milk. Everyone loved
it, and we all felt like giddy school children — it was amazing. It really set the tone for
the holiday season!” — Gretchen