As seen on HamptonBRIDE.com.
Some love stories start with fireworks; theirs began with finger-paint and snack time. Laura and David met teaching preschool — friends first, drawn to each other’s warmth, humor, and the gentle way they cared for their students. It wasn’t dramatic or rushed. It was steady, natural, rooted in everyday joy. So, when it came time to choose where to marry, they followed that same instinct: choosing a place that felt easy, honest, and entirely true to them — Montauk.
The Pull of Montauk
Montauk wasn’t chosen; it was felt. Since 2019, Laura and David had been escaping to The End for salty-air weekends, lazy mornings, and the kind of calm that makes the rest of the world fade.
“We fell in love with the vibe immediately,” Laura shares. “It’s friendly, casual, open… it just feels like you can breathe here.”
So, when planning began, Montauk was the only place that made sense. Still, the right venue didn’t appear instantly. They visited several spots without finding the one, until a spontaneous stop at Solé East changed everything.
They walked in during a charity event, where a woman with a guitar paused mid-set and told the crowd: “Think about your special place in Montauk — maybe it’s popular, maybe it’s private — and hold that place in your heart while I sing this next song.”
Laura and David looked at each other, both on the verge of tears, thinking of the same place they love.
“That moment sealed it for us,” Laura says. “Solé East just felt right.” We love how intimate Solé feels, and how it felt like such a local neighborhood spot that was filled with so much love. The heart and magic of Montauk exists in Solé East’s backyard.
What they didn’t realize until later….
That singer was Nancy Atlas — one of Montauk’s most beloved musical voices, truly Montauk Royalty.
“We had no idea who she was,” Laura laughs. “We just knew the moment felt incredible. When we later learned who she was and how much her music means out here, it made the story even more special.”
Montauk had spoken — and Solé East became home for their wedding weekend.
The Look and Feel
When it came to fashion, Laura’s style struck the perfect balance of modern minimalism and romantic nostalgia.
Her ceremony gown — the Henry by Alexandra Grecco — was elegant and architectural. “I wanted something simple, structured, and timeless,” she says. “I fell in love with it the second I put it on. It felt like me.”
Her rehearsal dinner look carried even deeper meaning. “I wore my mom’s wedding dress, a vintage Laura Ashley,” Laura shares. “My mother-in-law did the alterations — she made it more modern, with an open back and no sleeves. It was so special, this blend of both families’ love and care.”
“We even used a piece of the original fabric as a ribbon around my bouquet.”
Another very special detail was my necklace on the wedding day. It belonged to my late Nana, my dad’s mother. All of my aunts and cousins wore it on their wedding days, so it was really special and very emotional to wear.
Florals by Amagansett Flowers by Beth completed the look — blue and green tones, hydrangeas, and coastal textures that mirrored the natural beauty of the East End. “Beth totally got it,” Laura says. “I told her I wanted the flowers to feel like the set design for our story.”
Planning the Production
The couple got engaged in August 2024 and started planning almost immediately. “We took two weeks to just enjoy being engaged,” Laura says, “then got right to it. The first thing we booked was the venue, everything else followed from there. Well, that and the band. Having live music was non-negotiable.”
Laura and David handled most of the planning themselves, with Laura leaning on her producer instincts. “I’ve produced indie film, TV, and theater projects, so I knew how to stay organized,” she says. “Spreadsheets were my lifeline. It was definitely a hands-on project.”
Her must-haves were clear: connection, conversation, and creativity. “I wanted open communication with our families,” she says. “Everyone’s opinions mattered. But when it came down to it, live music and great photography were everything to me.”
They found their dream photographer in Taylor Friedman, who shot both digital and film. “We wanted documentary-style photos—nothing posed or fake,” Laura explains. “I didn’t want pretend moments of laughter or zipping dresses. I wanted the real stuff. The magic of what was actually happening.”
The Ceremony
Their ceremony was heartfelt and personal, officiated by their friend Sam — who, serendipitously, worked at the preschool where they met. “She’s an amazing actress and speaker,” Laura says. “She knew both of us before we were together, so it felt deeply personal.”
Laura walked down the aisle with both parents by her side. “It was emotional seeing everyone I love looking at me with so much joy,” she remembers. “All the nerves disappeared the second I saw David.”
In her vows, Laura quoted Juliet from “Romeo & Juliet.” “It just felt right,” she says. “Love and theater — it’s who I am.” “It felt like everything paused,” she says. “It was real, raw, and the most connected I’ve ever felt.”
The Party
As an actor, Laura approached her wedding like a production — not in the sense of spectacle, but of storytelling. “A wedding is a theatrical event in every way,” she laughs. “There’s a cast, an audience, a set, a script — and definitely a soundtrack.”
Once the vows were sealed, it was time to celebrate. “Our reception was a party,” Laura says, grinning. “We entered to ‘Don’t Stop Me Now’ by Queen, which I’d dreamed of for years.”
Music became the anchor of the evening. From the ceremony to the after-party, every moment had intention and rhythm. “I got technical with timing during planning — the exact second certain songs needed to start,” she says. East Coast Band delivered a showstopper performance that guests are still raving about, seamlessly blending Colombian beats in honor of David’s heritage with East Coast classics.
And then came the night’s unexpected encore — Laura’s impromptu rendition of “Defying Gravity.” “I completely lost my voice by that point,” she says with a laugh, “but it didn’t matter. Everyone was singing with me. My husband lifted me up at the end, and then I took my bouquet as a broom and rode off out of the tent — it was wild, emotional, perfect.” Total Broadway energy. It was ridiculous — and absolutely perfect.”
And from there, the night only built. When the rain began mid-reception, guests ran outside to dance in it. Cinematic, unscripted, perfect.
If this wedding were a musical, Laura doesn’t hesitate with the title: “Beginning at The End.” It’s a nod to Montauk — their place of calm — and to the beginning of their forever. And the show-stopping dance number? “Laura Gets Her Oscar.” A perfect double meaning, since David’s first name is Oscar. Some love stories write themselves; this one practically came with its own playbill. Bravo!
Final Bow
This was a Montauk wedding with a soundtrack, a plot line, and a cast of characters — a love story lived in full color and full voice. A wedding that wasn’t trying to be trendy, just true. A celebration directed straight from the heart.
A finale worthy of a standing ovation.
Reflections from Solé East
In the soft afterglow of the celebration, Solé East owner Cindi Ceva shared a few reflections that perfectly captured the spirit of the celebration and the easy, joy-filled energy that defines a Solé East wedding.
Cindi Ceva has seen countless celebrations unfold beneath Montauk’s golden light — but Laura and David’s stood out for its warmth and effortless joy. Known for their signature family-style dinners (which are currently trending), Cindi explains that the family-style approach has always been part of the Solé East experience. “Big families love to dine like that,” she said. “It prompts sharing, conversation, and keeps the energy moving. Service flows beautifully, and dinner never feels like it slows the celebration down.” That sense of connection — plates passed, laughter shared — fit Laura and David’s day perfectly.
One of Cindi’s favorite memories came mid-reception, when Laura ran up to her, glowing, and said, “I am having sooooo much fun!” A small moment, but one that captured the heart of the night: joyful, genuine, and unmistakably Montauk.
Venue: Sole East Montauk
Band: East Coast Band
Photography: Taylor Friedman Photography
Video: Weddings by Bo
Hair: Samantha Jean Hair
Makeup: North Fork Bridal Makeup
Florals: Amagansett Flowers by Beth
Stationary: Casey Tucker Art (my maid of honor!)
Cake: Sugar Sugar Custom Cakes
Photo booth: JMC Photobooth