Ashley Caroline knows the way to my nuptial devoted soul. Case in point? This oh-so-sweet snap of the Bride and her darling flower girl. I mean, that alone is enough to melt my heart! But the sweet moments don’t stop there m’dears, we’ve got even more pretty waiting for you in the gallery!
From Ashley Caroline Photography…Sarah and Scott married in Sarah’s charming hometown in Connecticut surrounded by old colonial homes full of character. Their wedding had lots of personal touches but my favorites are the wildflower bouquets that the girls held, which Sarah collected the day before with a few added florals purchased. The flower girl was adorable with her dainty flower crown and the bridesmaids wore peach chiffon dresses in different styles. Sarah wore a delicate gold bracelet that Scott gifted her on the morning of with their wedding date inscribed. The groomsmen looked handsome in their black suspenders and grey pants and bow ties, which perfectly complimented the groom in his slim fit grey suit and narrow black tie. Sarah had an adorable braided updo and wore the biggest smile throughout the day.
The reception had unique signs and jars of honey with “W” tags, representing the groom’s last name. The cake was dressed in rosemary and topped with a “W” gold cake topper. More wildflowers decorated the room and it was lovely!
This wedding was a labor of love contributed by Sarah + Scott’s closest family and friends. Her sister designed the wedding invitations, her dad conducted the ceremony and her bridesmaid did Sarah’s beautiful makeup. I felt honored to be chosen as their photographer!
My favorite wedding day moment was when Sarah sat on a floral couch in the bridal suite and began reading her letter from Scott. In the envelope, he gifted her an inscribed necklace with their wedding date, 07262014. She wrapped the necklace around her wrist and wore it next to her initial bracelet, which she had also gifted to her bridesmaids. She read the letter to herself with a mixture of tears and laughter. She summed up her reaction in one sentence, “he’s been writing me this letter for years.” A true example of romance in this long distance relationship. I hid my eyes full of tears behind my camera and continued to click and blink them away.
From The Bride…Growing up in Connecticut, I have always loved the clean lines and simplicity of the colonial houses in my town. A lot of the planning was inspired by the venue – we wanted the aesthetic to feel fresh and simple. I have always loved how gorgeous the First Church of Christ is with stunning white and wooden pews. We did virtually no decorating at the church with the exception of a few flowers in the front, the church was so beautiful that I didn’t want to do anything to distract from it. I really loved the idea of keeping things simple and neutral and letting seasonal flowers and greenery introduce any color into the aesthetic.
We thrifted most of the decor for the wedding, buying many various glass vases from Goodwill and Salvation Army to hold the flowers at each table. We picked many of the flowers for the centerpieces ourselves from friends’ yards and gardens. Our wedding would not have been a success without the support and help of our friends and family. We were really blessed to have talented crew of family and friends willing to help! My sister designed the invitations and paper goods, a good family friend catered amazing fresh food sourced from seasonal ingredients, a friend did the floral arrangement, and my bridesmaids did my makeup! It was really great seeing how many people were willing to pitch in to make our day a success.
My favorite moment:
I can bring myself back to the moment that the gorgeous church doors opened. This is a moment that I will cherish for the rest of my life. All of the planning, and preparation of the wedding and of our hearts led up to this moment. The doors swung open, and I saw my best friend waiting for me at the end of the aisle. It felt so special to walk towards the love of my life as I walked by rows of family and friends there to support us as we committed the rest of our lives to each other. The best way that I can describe it is that it felt like a huge hug from everyone that I love and care about. It was incredible and made me feel so blessed! I would advise any bride to pause before walking down the aisle to take some time to soak in this moment – it is unforgettable.
Photography: Ashley Caroline Photography | Reception: Sarah Porter Memorial | Dress Designer: Mori Lee | Graphic Designer: Abigail Solberg