“Shelter Island does their fireworks the week after the Fourth of July,” artist and stationery designer Larsen McDowell notes. With a perfect view from their porch, she and Michael Truettner planned to watch the show at home. But Michael had other plans. He suggested they pick up lobster for dinner, and Larsen, who is admittedly notoriously bad with directions, didn’t notice anything unusual when he drove toward their favorite beach instead. Once they reached the sand, Michael got down on one knee and asked her to marry him. Moments later, after she said “yes,” her sister and best friend appeared from their hiding places to celebrate with Champagne and seafood.
“I always knew I wanted to have my reception at my parents’ house,” the bride shares. “They got married there 30 years ago when it was my grandparents’ house, and it is the backdrop of so many happy memories for our family and friends.” Larsen and Michael would say “I do” at Union Chapel before heading to their garden escape for the following celebrations. Gabrielle Jaworskyj of Gabrielle Events, who Larsen had already worked with on another project, took to all of the planning for the summer affair, and Michelle Pullman of St. Chelle photographed.
Apart from the stationery, Larsen’s bridal wardrobe was her top priority. “I worked in fashion before doing my art full time, so the dress was an important piece for me,” she says. “I ended up doing a custom dress. I reached out to Luisa Beccaria after seeing a dress she had made in the past and asked her if she would do something for me and she agreed!” The pair decided on a classic shape in eyelet fabric—“felt similar to what I would normally wear on a summer day in a much more elevated silhouette.” As a sentimental final touch, Larsen wore her mother’s veil, crafted from the same delicate lace that once adorned her grandmother’s wedding dress.
“A few years ago, my grandfather retired and Michael inherited his collection of ties,” the bride explains of the sentimental choice for Michael’s wedding tie. Paired with his cream linen suit, it added a personal touch to his ensemble.
Larsen’s sister and future sister-in-law made up the bridal party, each wearing a white dress of their choosing. The groomsmen also matched in the same cream linen suit Michael donned. They added Hermes ties from Larsen’s grandfather’s collection on the morning of the wedding, a thoughtful nod to family tradition. Salon Xavier applied the finishing beauty touches.
The bride admits she was stumped when it came to what her ring bearers would wear. “My amazing now mother-in-law sourced their outfits,” Larsen shares. “She worked with Calypso at Baboushkini to have their outfits made and they turned out so darling. They carried a little pillow that my mom needlepointed. “
A dear friend of the couple officiated the July 13, 2024 ceremony. “It was short and sweet and felt very reflective of Michael and my relationship,” the bride recalls. “I felt calm the whole entire weekend. Michael is from the West Coast, so it was amazing to have all of the people we love so much on Shelter Island.”
The reception kicked off on the pool deck for cocktail hour. Though the day began with a rainstorm, the skies cleared just in time for the first round of drinks to be served. “My parents’ pool is surrounded by lavender and our amazing florist, Arthur Golabek, had the genius idea to create a bar out of moss and florals in the same soft purple palette as the lavender,” Larsen details.
Underneath the tent, the mother of the bride’s pottery decorated the tablescapes. In-season florals brought the room to life and Larsen’s stationery elegantly detailed the seafood spread to come. “I obviously designed all of the stationery for the entire event,” she smiles. “But we also collected shells from the beach where we got engaged. The week before the wedding, my friends and I hand-painted them all pale pink, and I hand painted each guest’s name on them as place cards.”
With the ingredients of the North Fork top of mind for the couple, caterer Grace and Grit kept the menu as local as possible, serving local greens, spaghetti and clams, and followed by entrees served in a family-style setting. For the cake, Lydia of Stars Cafe baked a strawberry shortcake.
“The whole thing was so dreamy, but I think my favorite part was the dinner,” the bride reminisces. “It really felt like we just had all of our favorite people for a big dinner party. Our dogs were roaming around, and the sun was setting outside the tent—it was just a very magical part of the night.”
After dinner and dancing guests made their way back to the pool deck to watch the fireworks—a nod to where it all began. Ending the day with a splash, the newlyweds and their guests leaped into the water.
