This wedding has traditional beauty, with vintage flare. Elizabeth and Fred’s Connecticut affair is one you will be drooling over for weeks. From the perfectly styled modern gown, to the inventive decor, we know you’ll be oo-ing and ah-ing as much as we were! Not to mention the stunning photography by Blue Diamond Photography that really captured the intimate feeling of the day.
Lovely: Tell us about THE dress and what inspired your look.
Elizabeth: I wanted my dress to be effortless and chic and expressive. After coming into Lovely a few times, by myself and with friends, I decided I really just wanted my Mom and Dad to help me. We came in with the intention of getting a simple white dress that I had seen the week before, but this blush/oatmeal Watters gown had just arrived for a trunk show and my Dad insisted I try it on. It was definitely different but from the moment I put it on I knew it was not only elegant, but made me feel like a princess. Everything after the dress really fell into place- from my grandmother’s earrings to the hair and make-up. Everything was just very natural and I really let the dress (and me!) be the focus.
My veil was a family heirloom from the groom’s side and really completed the traditional bride look- in fact it made an otherwise very untraditional dress traditional! I didn’t need to jazz it up with too many accessories. After the church I added a really cool sterling chain mesh purse that was my grandmothers as well, which added another element of the vintage feel. The shoes were the absolute hardest part of accessorizing. I needed wedges, neutral formal-ish wedges. They don’t exist- they are either espadrilles, or satin, or totally embellished, or dark brown. Finally I was at Morandi with my friends and I saw a girl in the PERFECT heels. I chased her down and she told me they were Kors by Michael Kors and currently on sale for 10% off at Zappos. I had them 2 days later!
Lovely: What were the most important details to pulling off your dream wedding?
Elizabeth: The décor- hands down. We got married at my husband’s family home in CT everything needed to be brought in. Designing the tables was the most fun and the most difficult. We really wanted to keep everything local and different, so for the centerpieces we decided to use mixed potted herbs, and people could bring them home with them as a favor if they wanted. The herbs ranged from rosemary to mint to thyme to purple sage and were in patina pots. Fred decided to cut logs into 1”, 3” and 5” slabs and place white pillar candles on them to add some height to the table. Our planner Talia even had her husband cut a HUGE log to use as a cake plate for our wedding cake as a surprise. The cake topper was my maternal Grandmother and Grandfather’s and was antique porcelain and totally made the cake perfect for me. The big thing was the smell in the tent that the wood and the herbs created. When I first saw it I cried.
The other important detail was the flow. We had a fire pit- that I built- next to the tent where we had marshmallows and s’mores to roasting. We had a HUGE fireworks display, which was a non-negotiable for my husband. During cocktail hour we had a mandolin duo and we even put out some fishing rods for people to throw in a line.
Lovely: What was the most memorable moment?
Elizabeth: The most memorable moment for me was definitely walking into the tent. Our planner pulled Fred and me aside and said that we really needed to see the tent before it was full of people. Seeing our vision come to life was spectacular. It was also a quiet moment where Fred and I were able to take a step back and take a deep breath and just have a moment alone with each other, which was really special. Ultimately, there was no “one moment”. The whole day/evening was perfect. Everything was just perfect- the blend of traditional with what Fred and I love most about our family, our friends and ourselves. It truly was my dream wedding.
Lovely: If you could give future brides any advice, what would it be?
Elizabeth: Breathe, everything will come together. It’s the advice I got the most and didn’t heed as much as I should have, but the whole thing is really over in a flash and you can’t go back so breathe. Take it all in and really celebrate ALL of the love in the room because it is a super special moment.
DRESS DESIGNER: Wtoo by Watters
ACCESSORY DESIGNERS:
Earrings: My grandmother’s vintage Tiffany pearls (my something old)
Engagement Ring: Vintage
Wedding Band: Oscar Heyman and Bros.
Shoes: Kors by Michael Kors
PHOTOGRAPHER: Blue Diamond Photography
FLORIST: Maria Madsen (our neighbor on the property and a dear family friend)
WEDDING PLANNER: Talia and Lindsay at Six Pence for Your Shoe
ANYONE ELSE YOU’D LIKE TO CREDIT: Caterer- A Thyme to Cook, helped us keep the vibe local and farm to table, but at the same time completely elegant
