Outdoor weddings are often planned with visions of golden hour light, gentle breezes and perfect sunshine. However, for Ben Sinnett and Hannah Kauffman, their Allen Farm wedding did not follow this idyllic script. As the first couple in 2026 to complete their intention paperwork at the town hall, Mother Nature decided to challenge them. While conventional wisdom might view the cold, rain and wind as a wedding’s worst nightmare, it instead became the foundation for a deeply memorable and joyful celebration.
With Ben’s sister Ty and Hannah’s brother Ezra officiating, the weather became almost like a character in the day’s story, turning a standard ceremony into a legendary, intimate event that forced everyone to laugh at the absurdity of the elements. Ben and Hannah proved that a wedding’s perfection is measured by the attitude of the couple and their loved ones — and, of course, a song written and performed just for them by Isaac Taylor was a bonus.
Years down the line, Ben and Hannah won’t just look back at their wedding and remember the tempest; they will remember the roaring laughter under the tent that was doing some dancing, and the overflowing joy of loved ones who rallied around them.
As an aside, Ben’s grandfather Kim Bramhall and Hannah’s grandmother Constance Ellis have been friends since their teen years. As I told Ben, I love receiving tidbits of information like this because I get to respond wide-eyed with the simple phrase, “No way!”
Eight members representing three generations of the extended Speer family (Jan, Dawn, Drew, Renée, Christian, Kylie, Caitlin and dear friend Devon) traded the relentless pace of daily life for much-needed quality time at their home on Chowder Kettle Lane. Although the weather was slightly unpredictable, the group leaned into the cozy atmosphere and reveled in spending quality hours together. They embraced the overcast days by sharing stories, laughs and reconnecting in the warmth of the living room. This occasion marked Devon’s first visit and, in true New England style, he simply couldn’t get enough seafood. For him, the dining table may have been the centerpiece of his visit. Ultimately, the rainy spells served as a perfect reminder that time together is invaluable, and the group was left with a renewed sense of closeness and lasting memories.
The luggage is unpacked, and the quiet has settled in for Ann and Forrest Speck. Two weeks at one of the Creek Hill camps serves as a cherished prologue — a “home away from home” reset before the joyous chaos of the kids and grandkids arrive. This undisturbed interlude is defined by its gentle, unhurried rhythm. When the younger generations pull into the driveway with excited shouts and running footsteps, the grandparents are rested, grounded and ready to soak up every ounce of family time.
Barbara Morgan Armstrong has been putting her photography skills to work. She will facilitate a Chilmark Library/Chilmark historical commission collaboration called Lunch & Learn on Friday June 5 at 11:30 a.m. Barbara’s contemporary photos juxtaposed with historic images of Menemsha harbor curated from a Vineyard Gazette article of the 1938 Hurricane and antique images courtesy of the Martha’s Vineyard Museum photo collection will be one display through June 21.
Scott Larsen was greeted with a gigantic Card My Yard sign as he arrived at work. The words displayed were simple, “Happy Birthday Scott.” June 1 marked the day he completed 40 years on Earth. They say the weather on your birthday is a reflection of your year. For Scott, the sun was shining so I’d say it was a good one. To wrap up his day, he gathered with some friends at Nomans in Oak Bluffs. Kick off time for the celebration was a very respectable 7:30 p.m. Is he showing his age?
While all this is going on in town, the West Tisbury School eighth graders have jetted off to England for the second half of the UK exchange program. Stepping up to the ultimate rite-of-passage challenge are Chilmark and Aquinnah kids including: Keyshawn Devine, Oceana Dias, Stella Glickman, Abby Karlinsky, Liam Keene, Freya and Hailey Mayhew, Lewis Moore and Violet Simon. Mixed in with spending quality time with their individual host families, they will pack their schedules with visiting historic Chester and Liverpool, Alton Towers Amusement Park, Stockton Heath, Bridgewater High with their exchanges and the medieval fortification of Conwy Castle in Wales.
This article appears in June 5, 2026.