Gooseberry Beach

Newport Wedding Magazine

Real Weddings

Savanna & Matthew

By Newport Wedding Magazine | March 7, 2019 0 Comments

Savanna Lott & Matthew Wainwright on May 19, 2018

Originally published in the January/February edition of Newport Life Magazine.

Savanna Lott of Houston,TX, and Matthew Wainwright of Hillsdale, NJ, worked on the same non-profit board together for nearly a year before ever meeting in person. Life momentarily took them in different directions, but love was in the air when they reconnected for dinner one evening. While in Middlebury, VT, for an idyllic winter weekend getaway in February 2017, they stayed in a cozy bed and breakfast. As Savanna was unpacking their bags, Matthew ran back to the car to get something he forgot. When he returned, he dropped to one knee, and before he could even finish asking, Savanna excitedly hugged him and responded with an emphatic “yes!” -HL

“We wanted our wedding weekend to be a fun experience for all of our guests traveling from both near and very far, and to showcase the charm of the Newport we so dearly love.”

Families Coming Together
Savanna and Matthew wanted their wedding day to be welcoming and sacred to both of their families, and also to the third family they have found at their local church, United Baptist Church of Newport. “We knew having our wedding ceremony there would be extremely special to us both, to our families and to our church family. We also love that the church building is an old white, historic New England style church,” the bride says. The pair also hosted their reception at Gooseberry Beach Club, because of its beauty as well as family sentimentality. “Gooseberry Beach is a gorgeous bit of coastline, and we wanted our families to enjoy the picturesque location, to make new family memories together,” says the bride.

Dessert With Personality
The bridal cake was a three-tier classic white cake with frosting pearls at the base of each layer, and a French vanilla filling, the bride’s favorite. One of the most sentimental heirlooms featured in the wedding was the cake topper – a classic figurine of a bride and groom that was used at the wedding of Savanna’s paternal grandparents in 1953. Matthew’s groom’s cake was a nod to his proud Irish heritage, and the Nutella-flavored cake shaped like a pint of Murphy’s Irish Stout was a big hit with all of the guests.

Traditional and Chic
The couple chose a very traditional and unique color scheme that included white, gold and an array of pale pinks. The florals and centerpieces were comprised of pink spray roses and peonies, white hydrangeas and ranunculus. Wreaths of peonies embellished the entrance doors of the church, which were Savanna and Matthew’s favorite decorative element. For the reception, a custom, airy white curtain drape adorned the perimeter of the venue with soft twinkling lights strung across the ceiling to provide a subtle ambiance. The curtains were gently pulled back from the French doors that revealed the scenery of the beach, providing the room with natural light.

Where Are They Now?
Savanna and Matthew mini-mooned in Bermuda and plan to take an extended honeymoon to Thailand this year. They still reside
in Newport, where Savanna works as an executive director for a non-profit organization and Matthew as a CIO for the town of Middletown.

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