Through the years, the vendors that grace the pages of SMP have become dear friends of mine. It’s one of the truly special things about what I do. And the team of talents behind this wedding at Chamard Vineyards? They are simply the sweetest, and seriously talented to boot. So it’s no surprise to me that with TRUE Event behind the design, Lindsay of Jennie Fresa in charge of all the beauty, a gown from The White Dress by the Shore, catering from Gourmet Galley and Anna Sawin capturing all the pretty, that this wedding is just Connecticut perfection. Top it all off with one adorable, could-not-be-more-in-love Bride and Groom…and ladies and gents, we have a winner. See it all here.
From the Bride… When Paul & I got engaged we were both on the same page. The most important thing for us and our guests was that the wedding reflected who we were: sophisticated, but not too stuffy, romantic, but not overdone, down home yet classic. And the most important thing… that everyone had a blast.
As we started to plan we noticed a theme coming together. A celebration of Connecticut! When I first moved to Connecticut I thought it was only temporary, a stop on the way to wherever else I was going, but it grows on you. No place has quite the combination of city & country, the ocean & the woods, the well-to-do & the down-to-earth. It is a place that has all four seasons, amazing restaurants, lots of places to visit & things to do. Best of all – it is the place where Paul & I met each other and have so many great memories. Since many of the guests were from out of town, it was important for us to showcase the best of what Connecticut had to offer.
My dress was made by Modern Trousseau. A designer who sells dresses in over 30 countries, but makes their dresses in Woodbridge, CT. I was able to go there and meet the woman who handmade my dress. Gourmet Galley, our caterers, were local to CT too and we had a farm-to-table menu that mostly included food from all over the state. The venue, Chamard Vineyards, in Clinton, not only offered the ambiance we were looking for, but also celebrates CT by growing grapes and making wine there. Our photographer, florist, make-up & hair, wedding coordinator, string trio, Justice of the Peace, cake & pastry makers were all based in our great state. We welcomed out of town guests with gift bags that celebrated the state where we began our love story. They included Pez, Deep River potato chips, Poland Spring water & Trim accessories all items made by companies in CT.
We wanted it to feel romantic yet laid back and comfortable. Much of what we decided on reflected this. From the outdoor rustic chic farm tables, to the dreamy floral arrangements of peonies, hydrangea & dahlia, to my Chantilly lace dress and fingertip lace edged veil.
Fun was high on our priority list. It was important that the Justice of the Peace reflected our style as well as kept the audience engaged. We worked with Victoria Burdick who met with us a few times for dinner & then created a ceremony that we didn’t review. We heard it for the first time when our guests did.
We wanted to keep the wedding moving along so that no one got bored & so that everyone felt that there was something to do. Fun for us meant that no one would be sitting at their tables when the music came on. We hired The Nerds. We planned the date for our wedding around their availability because we have been following them for about 10 years and knew that they would make it a real party. We also had s’mores & cotton candy to close out the night to add that extra bit of whimsy.
We knew that we did our job because we have been to a few weddings since and all the people could talk about was how great our wedding was and how they have been telling all their friends that it was the most fun they’ve had!
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Wedding Photography: Anna Sawin + Nicki Griffith for Anna Sawin Photography | Wedding Venue: Chamard Vineyards | Officiant: Victoria Burdick | Event Coordination: TRUE Event | Floral Design: Flourescent, Milford, Connecticut | Catering: Gourmet Galley | Cakes: Gourmet Galley + J Cakes | Lighting + Tent Rental: Sperry Tents | Music: O’Brien Strings + The Nerds | Hair + Makeup: Lindsay of Jennie Fresa Makeup & Skincare Boutiquerie + Timothy Pamment Salon | Transportation: STA Transportation + Post Road Limo | Accommodations: Saybrook Point Inn + Comfort Inn, Old Saybrook | Wedding Dress: Modern Trousseau via The White Dress by the Shore | Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Coren Moore via The White Dress by the Shore | Save the Dates: Pear Tree Greetings | Calligraphy (Escort Cards, Table Numbers, Chalkboard Menu): Kristen Henderson Calligraphy