Inside Influencer Amanda Elizabeth Nord's Vintage-Inspired Coastal Newport Wedding Weekend

Amanda Elizabeth Nord and Scott Nord brought their love of fashion, timeless interiors, and thoughtful entertaining to the Rhode Island coast with a wedding weekend that felt deeply personal from beginning to end. Choosing Newport as the backdrop, the couple embraced the city's historic charm and effortless seaside elegance, filling every celebration with collected details that reflected their story. Antique linens, heirloom-inspired lace, silver accents, and abundant organic florals created a refined yet inviting atmosphere, while a Gatsby-inspired welcome party introduced guests to the weekend with rich textures, candlelit glamour, and sweeping waterfront views. Amanda's bridal wardrobe echoed that same philosophy, from a vintage Ralph Lauren runway look for the welcome party to a custom Cinq Bridal gown crafted from antique French lace. Layered with meaningful traditions, beautifully considered design, and the warmth of lifelong friendships, the celebration offered an elegant reflection of the life Amanda and Scott have built together.

Our Welcome Party

The Location

Before the celebrations began, we welcomed our family and friends to the Gardiner House in Newport for an evening inspired by old-school glamour. Rich tones, layered textures, and thoughtful details brought a sense of Gatsby-era elegance to the waterfront setting, creating a vibrant contrast to the timeless charm of Newport.

Décor & Ambience

To encourage guests to settle in and savor the evening, we filled the space with intimate seating areas, creating cozy pockets for conversation. A fresh New England raw bar paid homage to Newport's coastal heritage, while Champagne and thoughtfully crafted cocktails were passed throughout the night, adding to the effortless sense of celebration.

Our Style

Both of us wanted to wear something bold for the Gardiner House welcome party. Amanda wore a vintage Ralph Lauren dress from the Spring 2007 runway collection, paired with a classic Chanel red lip. Scott wore an off-white linen suit by Ralph Lauren.

Our Love Story

The Day We Met

Scott and I met during freshman year orientation at the College of Charleston. We became fast friends, serving as one another's confidant and sounding board for three years before making it official our senior year. Nearly nine years later, we've built such a full life together, including starting and running a fashion distribution company where we discover niche European designers and bring them to the United States. Our relationship has always been friendship first, which made our wedding weekend feel even more meaningful.

The Proposal

Scott proposed on the last night of our trip to Saint-Tropez while we were staying at Lily of the Valley in 2024. He led me into a little garden scattered with lights. He couldn't even get the ring out before I said yes.

The Engagement Ring

My ring is a vintage marquise diamond, which feels so perfectly me. The story behind it is still one of my favorite parts: Scott went to his hometown jeweler and asked if he could help source a vintage marquise-shaped stone, and the jeweler immediately smirked and said, "I have exactly what you need in the safe." From there, they went through the process of contacting the family who owned the loose diamond to see if they would be willing to sell it. It made the ring feel even more special knowing it had a history before us and that Scott had found something that had been in his hometown for the past four generations.

Our Wedding

The Vision

I've always been drawn to vintage fashion, East Coast nostalgia, and a very classic, all-American aesthetic, so Newport felt like the perfect setting for our wedding. We wanted the weekend to feel timeless, personal, and celebratory, with nods to old-world romance, coastal summer style, and the elegance of Rhode Island. As far as the details, we wanted very organic floral arrangements, silver accents, vintage lace, and antique linens that had been sourced over time. All of my female guests served as my "something blue," making the sea of blue gowns at the ceremony an extra-special moment. The vision for our wedding was to evoke another era, weaving together the people, heirlooms, and collected pieces that have marked the chapters of our lives.

Our Team of Vendors

We were so incredibly lucky to work with such a talented group of vendors, many of whom felt more like friends by the end of the process. Every person brought so much care, creativity, and intention to the weekend, and it truly felt like everyone understood the world we were trying to create. From the planning and design to the florals, photography, fashion, music, food, and all of the smallest details in between, each vendor poured so much of their craft into making the celebration feel personal and seamless. Looking back, what made the weekend so special was not only how beautiful everything was but also how deeply loved and supported we felt by the people helping bring it all to life.

The Location

Newport has such a unique energy. It feels historic, romantic, coastal, and iconic all at once. For us, it captured everything we love aesthetically: the architecture, the water, the sense of tradition, and the ease of a summer weekend on the East Coast. It gave our family and friends a place to fully escape with us and celebrate not just the wedding day, but the entire weekend.

The Ceremony

The ceremony was incredibly emotional and intimate. After so many years together, standing there in front of our closest family and friends felt surreal in the best way. We wanted that part of the day to feel heartfelt, personal, and grounded in the story we've built together.

 The Reception

For the reception, we wanted everyone to feel like they had stepped into a beautiful summer celebration that was elegant but still full of warmth. The manor itself, as well as the gardens that surround it, really set the tone for our vintage accents.

The design was inspired by heirloom lace linens, grand florals set against the architectural character of the manor, and tablescapes that reflected the timeless elegance of the space's original features. More than anything, we wanted the room to feel full of love and elegance, with a nod to the family members who helped us source all of these vintage accents.

The Special Touches

Some of my favorite details were the ones that felt the most personal—the fashion, the location, and all of the small touches that made the weekend feel uniquely like us. One of my favorite examples was having our guests serve as my "something blue," which felt like such a sweet and meaningful way to include everyone we love in the tradition. Everything felt cohesive without feeling overly designed, which was exactly what we had hoped for.

Another detail that made the process so special was that I was truly working with friends throughout the entire wedding journey. My best friend from college created our invitations and wedding detail cards, my dress was made by two incredibly talented designers who became some of my closest friends through the process, and my planner, Alyson, was someone I had looked up to since college. Planning this wedding with her felt so full-circle, and it was such an honor to watch my dear friends pour their talent, care, and craft into our day.

^{Our Favorite Moment}

One of the most memorable parts of the weekend was the moment I did my first look with Scott. After all of the anticipation and emotion leading up to the day, seeing him for the first time felt so grounding and surreal. It was one of the few moments when everything around us seemed to quiet down, and we could just take each other in before the celebration began. After so many years of building our life together, it felt incredibly special to have that private moment before sharing the rest of the day with everyone we love.

Our Style

The Bridal Looks

Fashion was one of the most important parts of our wedding because Scott and I work in the industry together, so every look felt like an extension of who we are. I've always been drawn to vintage pieces with a sense of history and timelessness, so I knew I wanted to blend old with new throughout the weekend. For the welcome party, I wore a vintage Ralph Lauren dress from the Spring 2007 runway collection, while my ceremony look centered around a custom Cinq gown made with antique lace from France. I completed the weekend by mixing vintage heirloom jewelry from my mom with pieces from Logan Hollowell.

My wedding dress was everything I had envisioned—classic, feminine, and a little nostalgic. I worked closely with Macye and Madeline of Cinq Bridal to create a long-sleeve, boat-neck lace gown with embroidered vines, blossoms, and cascading calla lilies. Paired with vintage Chanel shoes and a matching lace-trimmed veil, it felt timeless and completely true to me. For the after-party, I changed into a Galia Lahav lace corset gown with a ruffled skirt, which brought the perfect balance of playfulness and ease to end the night.

^{The Groom Looks}

Scott's look was classic and refined, which felt so right for Newport. We wanted him to feel timeless and polished without anything feeling overly formal or forced. Scott knew that a custom Ralph Lauren black tuxedo was the only way to achieve the all-American, sophisticated, and tailored look he was going for.

The Bridesmaids' Looks

Both of my bridesmaids—my younger sister and my sister-in-law—wore custom navy V. Chapman Studio gowns. The navy dresses featured subtle florals that tied back to my dress in the most perfect way.

Our Advice

^{For the Planning Process}

Make choices that feel true to you. The most meaningful parts of our wedding were the details that reflected our personal style, our relationship, and the life we've built together. And yes, that sounds cheesy, but it's something to remember throughout the planning process.

^{For On The Day}

In the morning, make sure you spend some time together. Just a few moments to say, "I love you," and, "I can't wait to marry you," sets the tone for the entire day.