From the Bride... We were married in a garden that I played in as a child, and we drew inspiration from the lush greens of Harkness's natural beauty by choosing simple design elements only decorated with florals. Seth and I feel so blessed by the family and friends in our lives, and we wanted our wedding to feel inclusive and convivial. Our siblings stood with us under the chuppah, and our best friends were our bridal party. In memory of departed loved ones, we read excerpts from letters Seth's grandparents wrote as a young couple during WWII. We wanted the words of our wedding day to be personal and meaningful, so we asked our reader and seven blessers to choose readings that spoke to them. We asked family friends to serve as our justice of the peace and to deliver the wedding homily, and we honored our heritage by incorporating Methodist and Jewish traditions into the ceremony. For the mansion reception, we filled the bookshelves with novels written by friends and Seth's clients. Many decor elements were handcrafted by me and a special bridesmaid. We chose long tables with seasonal food served family-style in order to encourage conversation, and it was such a joy to see friends from opposing parts of the world finding common ground. Finally, we wanted to really celebrate the expansive joy we felt, and our DJ was amazing, bringing the whole party onto the dance floor!

Wedding Photography: Katie Stoops Photography / Wedding Venue: Eolia Mansion in Waterford, Connecticut / Floral Design: Hana Floral Design / Catering: A Thyme to Cook / Wedding Invitations: Rifle Paper Co. / Wedding Dress: Romona Keveza / Hair + Makeup: Jennie Fresa ~ Makeup & Skincare Boutiquerie / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Their Choice / Groom’s Suit: Black Fleece by Brooks Brothers / Cinematography: McKenzie Miller Films