Tamara Merri

Feb 22, 2023

Borsari Gallery Wedding | Tatum & Colin

Updated: Apr 11, 2023

documentary photograph of Bride and groom walking up to Borsari Gallery wedding venue

Borsari Gallery - A Cape Cod Intimate Wedding Venue

Located in the charming town of Dennis, Massachusetts, the Borsari Gallery is an beautiful, rustic Cape Cod intimate wedding venue for a romantic wedding. On-site, you'll find a quaint cape cod building with interior wood-planked walls complimented by artwork depicting the beautiful scenes of the New England coastline. You can have an outdoor ceremony on the lawn or take advantage of the romantic wine cellar when the forecast shows rain (like Tatum + Colin's wedding day!) An added perk is you can get access to the living quarters upstairs for either the "day of" or multiple-night lodging - before or after the wedding! The town of Dennis is a great Cape Cod wedding destination - with its easy beach access and the historical little villages that you can explore. The best time to plan a visit - or a wedding at the Cape is in May, June, September or October. You'll find fewer crowds in these shoulder seasons, and mild weather conditions to enjoy during your stay. Summer stays by the coast are in high demand, but it's a great time to get to the beach if you're wanting to take a dip in the ocean. Winter is very well abandoned as the cold temps roll in. You'll find much more availability, and lower prices in the off-season - and a lot more privacy for an intimate wedding!

bride walking down stairs at borsari gallery wedding venue for wedding ceremony

If you love the beach as much as Tatum and Colin do, a Cape Cod wedding might be for you! After all, these two don't live in MA anymore. Here's a little story of why they chose the Cape:

"Our Cape story is our favorite. It's easily our favorite place in the world. Our first trip as a couple was to Colin's family beach house in Brewster. We exchanged our first I love you moment on the Cape. Spent a goooooood chunk of quarantine on the Cape and raised our golden retriever pup Charlie in those early months on the beaches, grabbing lobster rolls and clam strips with a bottle of wine on the beach for socially-distanced sunsets. Going to the Cape is our favorite escape, and a reminder of where we really fell in love! We love going to the bayside beaches (Crosby Landing and Point of Rocks especially), eating delicious food (seafood forever and ever), and a post beach draft beer at our favorite dive bar, The Woodshed (and yes, a literal woodshed with one beer on tap and served in miniature glasses for $2 pours- it. is. magical). Around the corner from the family beach house and live music everyday- seriously the happiest place." - Tatum

Tatum & Colin's Borsari Gallery Wedding

Bride and groom with golden retriever standing on Cape Cod beach

Not only are Tatum and Colin shockingly kind and compassionate, but they infused so many personal details into their June wedding that makes it one of my favorite days. The intention behind every decision for their day made everything one of a kind. They got several cute customized little items from Etsy shops - you can find a list of Vendors below to check them out!

Their vow books (with the quote 'as sure as the sea, it's just you and me' printed on it) and seashell place settings infused their love for the ocean from the very start of the day. Tatum's mother, an artist, even painted seashells for the day! It was no surprise that for their first look and private vows they wanted to see each other in their favorite place - at the beach.

The forecast was a bit drizzly but even so, we broke out clear umbrellas and they had their magical moment together. They included their sweet golden retriever, Charlie, which made for so many adorable photos! I'm so glad the timeline we created together allowed for plenty of time for them to spend walking on the beach together. Having a first look gives the couple time to connect before the formalities begin and the day speeds by!

couple greeting dog during first look at wedding on cape cod beach

first look with dog on cape cod beach at wedding

After their first look it began to rain a little harder, so ultimately the venue called for the ceremony to switch from the Borsari Gallery gardens to the basement cellar as a plan B. Their longtime friend was their officiant which is such a fun way to make your wedding ceremony more personal. After witnessing the start of their relationship, he couldn't help but get choked up during the ceremony reading while reminiscing their love story.

Tips for preparing for rain on your wedding day:

Have a contingency plan. A lot of venues have outdoor and indoor event spaces - check with your coordinator to find out what happens when it rains at the venue you've booked! If the venue doesn't provide indoor space options, looking into outdoor tent rentals can be a good idea just in case!
Buy large clear umbrellas. Not only do these tend to be sturdier in the rain, but they are great for photos because they let in all the light but keep out the rain! At least buy 2 so you as the couple are covered (literally!) and can even use them during an outdoor ceremony if necessary!
Prepare your guests. Send out an email, post on your Facebook, and text who you can if possible to let your guests know to bring the necessities. That may include layers, umbrellas, and proper footwear based on the location! Wearing heels on damp grass or on the beach can be tricky! Also check in with your venue to see if they provide any extras including outdoor heaters, tents, umbrellas, towels to dry off seats, etc.

Related Blog: Wychmere Beach Club Wedding

Fortunately, after the ceremony the skies dried up and we had the most perfect setting for photos. I LOVE how nature looks after a light rainfall - colors become more vibrant and everything just looks a little more beautiful! I'm so grateful we were able to go outside for photos in the Borsari Gallery garden to make Tatum's Cape Cod dreams come true!!

borsari gallery cape cod wedding venue garden portraits

After formal photos Tatum and Colin joined their cocktail hour - another perk of opting for a first look! The lawn outside of Borsari Gallery, paired with the stone deck is a perfect setting for cocktail hour. Not only were the little ones running around in the spacious yard, it's near enough for parents to watch after them while they sip on craft cocktails without their heels digging into the earth (IYKYK). I also love how the patio is further down than the lawn, which makes it easier for me to both grab candid photos and have a better angle!

After cocktail hour we headed inside for traditional dances and speeches. One of the speeches was from Tatum's grandfather, who has done a speech at each of the grandkids weddings. It's a major tear jerker and was a highly anticipated performance that did not disappoint. Even I had to keep it together behind my camera to ensure I could see clearly to capture the other tears haha.

grandfather making emotional speech at wedding and bride cryring at borsari gallery cape cod

The rest of the night had the house shaking with a packed dance floor and so much fun. The size of Borsari Gallery was absolutely perfect for their intimate wedding for it to feel like a packed house even with small guest list!!!

I absolutely LOVED working with Tatum & Colin and am so honored to have photographed their wedding day. At the end of their stay-cation in the Cape, my husband and I met up with them at their favorite bar, The Woodshed for some beers and live music. Here's our selfie from that night!! Hopefully I'll be able to run into them again next time they head to the Cape!

Keep scrolling to see more photos from their day!

Kind words from the couple:

Tammy was such a joy to work with throughout our wedding journey and we couldn't be happier with the experience. She makes you feel at ease from the first conversation, and has a natural eye for true to life photography and pictures that make you feel warm and fuzzy! From her energy and vision in our engagement shoot to the detailed, easy to navigate website (SO many resources on there too)- she understands how overwhelming a wedding planning process can be and simplifies it. On the wedding day, she had a clear vision and helped us navigate some unexpected rain for pictures/ceremony changes. She was steady, creative, and kind, and truly made the day so much smoother! Tammy is the best and makes sure every detail is covered and executed with grace. She is still talked about in our family and friend groups as a rock star vendor- hire her and you will not regret it! We are in love with our gallery and can't recommend Tammy enough.