Dayna & Matthew: A Vibrant Beach Soirée at Gurney’s Montauk

 

When Dayna and Matthew first met at the go-to-Friday-night bar in their senior year of college, sparks flew right away. “I wasn’t looking for anything serious though. I was just trying to have a good time. But Matthew was very persistent that we were going to continue dating,” Dayna looks back and says with a laugh. His relentless effort paid off and eight years later, the couple exchanged vows in a magnificent summer wedding at Gurney’s Montauk.

We are excited to introduce Dayna, our BB Featured Bride for June. Here she shares the first part of her and Matthew’s love story.

Part 1: Proposal & Planning

Taking things slow and steady proved to be the ultimate payoff in laying the foundation for Dayna and Matthew’s relationship. She remembers, “We got to share spring break and college graduation together. At such a young age, you don’t know what the real world is all about. Having Matthew with me those first few years as we both adjusted to adult life was really special. He is honestly one of the most kind-hearted and interesting people I know. As time went on, it was obvious to both of us that we were going to do this life together.” That being said, she was in no hurry to get married.

Every winter, the couple headed south for some fun in the sun. “Miami had always been our place. On this trip, we were there with his parents,” Dayna says. “It started out as any vacation and I suspected nothing out of the ordinary.” Matthew, however, had much bigger plans. After waking one morning, he asked Dayna to join him on the balcony to take a photo. She jokingly says, “I like makeup and hair and felt a little out of my element. But I went along with it anyway.” The day went on and Matthew took Dayna to her favorite lunch spot. They returned to their hotel room in the evening to enjoy happy hour drinks before going out again. As Dayna was getting ready, Matthew asked her to take another photo on the balcony. His restlessness grew as she took her time finding an outfit to wear. “I was just thinking ‘What is your deal? Why are you in a rush?’ Then I hear the song ‘Perfect’ by Ed Sheeran and Beyoncé. I go out to the balcony and Matt is on one knee. I was so surprised! People say that you sort of black out in the moment – it’s so true. I didn’t even look at the ring until hours later!”  She continues, “We cherish our little happy hours, just drinking and listening to music together. So the proposal couldn’t have been more perfect. We got to obsess over what had just happened before heading to our late-night dinner.” The next day, they were greeted with a surprise set up to celebrate their engagement.

 

 

 

 

 

When asked what they were looking for in a wedding venue, Dayna answered, “We love the beach and the ocean and wanted to get married somewhere close to the water.” They considered a destination wedding, but quickly realized the complexities involved with planning and logistics. She continues, “Vacationing in The Hamptons, we stayed at Gurney’s Montauk and fell in love. It immediately came to mind once we started thinking about closer venues with a beach atmosphere. The location was perfect – my family is from Boston and Matthew’s is from New York.” Offering access to a 2,000-foot private sand beach, Gurney’s Montauk boasts spectacular views of the Atlantic Ocean. Multi-level outdoor decks and indoor dining and banquet spaces, a bridal suite, and award-winning catering round out the relaxed elegance that defines the Gurney’s wedding experience. Dayna finishes, “Even though we did everything from our ceremony and cocktail hour to reception in one spot, every event took place in a different area, so it felt like you were moving around. It was quaint and the perfect size. The whole day felt personal, like a party, which was exactly what we were going for.”

 

 

The couple didn’t have a wedding planner. Ironically, their vision became clearer as the cocktails accumulated during evenings spent scrolling through Pinterest and Instagram. “We had so much fun making decisions that were true to us, our style, and personality!” Steering away from traditional colors, the couple wanted a bold and vibrant palette and headed to their local paint store for inspiration. “I would recommend this to any bride,” Dayna says. “We pulled out various paint chips and arranged them into really unique color schemes. Matthew has a design background and great eye. He was actually the one who suggested we do something different and completely out of the box.” Knowing that their wedding could easily cross the line to ‘little kid birthday party,’ the couple worked together to create an unforgettable palette that was dazzling yet sophisticated.

Stay tuned next week for Part 2: Wedding Dress and Personals when Dayna talks about her striking Pnina Tornai gown and bridal personals.

Couple’s Vendor List

Venue: Gurney’s Montauk
Photographer + Videographer: Andreas & Nico
Bride’s Dress: Pnina Tornai
Bride’s Shoes: Christian Louboutin
Groom’s Suit: Suit Supply
Groom’s Shoes: Gucci
Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Dessy Group
Groomsmen’s Tuxes: The Black Tux
Hair: Tara Silverman
Makeup: Karla Valesquez
Officient: Reverend Louis Olivieri
Cake: Sugar Sugar
Invitations: Fine Day Press
Music: DJ Jon Blak (Scratch Weddings)
Rings: Betteridge (Bride) Dawn Vertrees Jewelry (Groom)
Favors: La Rosa Cigars