Oh Robert & Kathleen Photographers, we love the way you KNOW your way around a camera. And we just can’t help but swoon over every image you send us. And when said images are taken at a beyond stylish Connecticut shoreline wedding, we. die. The day was fantastic, as were the moments captured by Robert & Kathleen. We couldn’t help but fall for this adorable couple, so I’m warning you – make room in your heart for these two before you check out the gallery!
Shane and I met in homeroom during our junior year of high school. When we received our yearbooks at the end of the year, we signed each other’s. I was beyond excited to see that Shane had written his phone number in mine! I called him that summer – and we became inseparable for the next 10 years.
In June of 2010, we went to Nantucket, Massachusetts for a long weekend. I grew up vacationing on Nantucket with my family, and Shane and I also spent many vacations there. This island has always been such a magical place to us, and Shane knew that this trip would present the perfect time and place to propose.
We thought of having our wedding on Nantucket, but we were afraid that some of our family and friends would not be able to make the trip. So we decided to have the wedding in Connecticut, and during the search for the perfect venue, we found the Guilford Yacht Club. It felt like a little piece of Nantucket in Connecticut to us! It had everything we were looking for…a beautiful, long green lawn overlooking the water (where we held the ceremony) a stone patio and deck outside for cocktail hour, and a beautiful ballroom that is open, light and airy with huge windows looking out to the lawn and water.
Our look was nautical, elegant and classic – inspired by a Nantucket summer. Our blue, green and white color palette expressed the theme perfectly, with navy blue fabrics accented by light blue and green hydrangeas and white micro baby’s breath. Seashells that had been collected by family and friends were used throughout the décor. We made our place cards by writing our guests names on razor clamshells and the dinner napkins weresimply rolled and tied together with jute and a seashell. Even the tall glass cylinders that held the floral arrangements at the “altar” were filled with shells.
We decided to have a ‘first look’ before the ceremony. This was mostly because we wanted to be able to enjoy cocktail hour with our guests right after the ceremony, instead of taking all of our pictures. We were so happy that we did this – especially because it gave us a private moment together when we saw each other for the first time that day. It also got most of our nerves out before the ceremony!
My Mom had a large collection of sea stones from the beaches of Nantucket, which she brought to the ceremony. Our guests each picked one out before they were seated, and were asked to hold the rock during the ceremony while thinking of a wish or blessing for Shane and me. We now have those rocks in our home, and are surrounded by all of the loving energy in them.
After the ceremony was over, we had cocktail hour on the patio outside. One of our favorite parts of this time was having singer/songwriter PJ Pacifico perform. We became friendly with P.J. when he played at the wine bar where Shane and I frequented, and we knew that having him perform at the wedding would be so unique and special. PJ sang and played acoustic guitar during the cocktail hour, and when we moved inside for the reception, he performed the song for our first dance (“Green Eyes” by Coldplay). It was truly an unforgettable moment.
Shane and I are lucky to say that we had the wedding of our dreams. It was the best day of our lives, and we are so thankful to everyone who helped us along the way and celebrated our love with us.
Venue: Guilford Yacht Club / Photography: Robert & Kathleen Photographers / Musician: PJ Pacifico / Event Planning & Design: Jordan Caterers / Deserts & Catering: Jordan Caterers / Florist: Bakes & Baldwin / DJ: Powerstation Events / Beauty: Headliner’s Salon & Spa / Dress: Priscilla of Boston / Dress Shop: The White Dress by the Shore / Bridesmaids: J.Crew / Head Piece & Bracelet: Maria Elena / Invitations: Papyrus / Programs: InviteSite / Entertainment: P.J. Pacifico