Connecticut is this little dream land for me. Even though I’ve never actually been there, I seriously think it is the most magical place in the world and judging from the images from this amazing wedding by Visual Obsession Photographers, I’m right! It is everything you could hope for in a Connecticut wedding: the perfect preppy-nautical-boaty wonderfulness that makes this state so great, plus the venue at the Greenmanville Church at Mystic Seaport has one of the most breathtaking ceremony backdrops I’ve seen. This bride used her graphic design skills to make every lovely detail polished and so, so adorable that you would never know they were DIYed. There is so much more in the gallery, right here.
From the Bride… I never thought I would end up having the type of love I have seen my parents share over the past 27 years. They met when they were 14 and 16 and have been together ever since. I always wished that could be me. Well, I’m not far off. Mike and I met when we were 18 and 19, as freshmen attending Endicott College in Beverly, Massachusetts. We hit it off right away and spent the next 8.5 side by side. After moving in together two years ago, I really wasn’t expecting a ring anytime soon. Well, Mike surprised me, that’s for sure. He proposed in our new apartment and took me out to a beautiful dinner, where both my parents and his parents were waiting to celebrate our engagement. It was everything I could have ever wished for.
With me being from Connecticut and Mike being from Massachusetts, we tried to find a venue mid-distance for our families and friends to attend our wedding. After looking at a few venues, Mystic Seaport beckoned. Mystic is so beautiful, and we felt its rustic, casual feel would offer the perfect backdrop to our special day. We wanted a casual feel to our wedding, no sit-down dinner, just tons of seafood and stations piled high with delicious offerings for our guests. We took on the nautical theme, and I ran with it. We got married in a little church on the grounds of Mystic Seaport, where our 175 guests barely fit — we wanted a very intimate ceremony where our guests could truly be a part of our commitment to each other as husband and wife. The wedding was a success, and not one thing went wrong. If I could do it again I would in a heartbeat.
Planning our wedding was easy for me. I am a graphic designer, so I was eager to take on the creative side. Spreadsheets and Excel didn’t interest me, so everything I did, I did my own way, inspired by the beautiful setting at Mystic. Adobe Illustrator was my best friend throughout the process. I designed everything for the wedding, which began with save-the-dates and extended to engagement party invitations, the wedding invitations, the nautical-themed table names and even the signature drink. I got out my X-Acto knife, glue guns and DIY hat and created our escort card display and aisle decorations. Not pictured are the wedding favors I crafted for the guests. The favor included five pieces of salt water taffy wrapped up in a little bag tied with green and white baker’s twine. I also found the oar, painted it and sanded it myself with the help of my mom and dad!
Wedding Photography: Visual Obsession Photographers / Ceremony: Greenmanville Church at Mystic Seaport in Mystic, Connecticut / Reception: Latitude 41 at Mystic Seaport in Mystic, Connecticut / Floral Design: Just For You Floral Design Studio / Wedding Cake: Mystic Market / Wedding Invitations + Paper Goods: Christine Meahan Designs (The Bride) / Violinist: Golden Scroll Soloists / Reception Band: Silver Streaks Band / Wedding Dress: Demetrios / Bride’s Shoes: RSVP / Hair: Borrowed & Blue / Makeup: Simply Gorgeous by Erin / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Alfred Sung / Groomsmen’s Suits: Men’s Wearhouse