I photographed a whimsical garden wedding in the amphitheater at Harkness Memorial Park in Waterford CT with Chris and Beth and my heart could not be more full if it tried! When I first spoke to Beth over the phone about her wedding, we connected instantly over our shared love of gardening and all things floral. Peonies full and lush? Ferns? FERNS? A floral chandelier? Once I knew that my good friend Carrie of Carrie Wilcox Floral Design in Fairfield was the creative genius behind crafting the floral design, I knew Chris and Beth’s wedding was going to be a wedding that I thought about long after I was finished photographing it.
From the details, and there were many gorgeous ones, to the happy family members frolicking on the vast lawn at Harkness, I was photographically sold. Add to this the tender and kind love that Beth and Chris have for one another… and I am just cooked. They are two of the most sweet humans, who found one another late run life and that was IT- game over for them both.
We started the morning at a gorgeous stone home close by, that was filled with light and the hustle and bustle of the wedding day to come. There was a lovely air of expectancy in the air, as Beth’s sister helped her get dressed and we decided on their first look location by the garden on property that was in full, glorious bloom!
Beth swished that Rivini gown at every chance and I was in photographic heaven each time; her face just lit up and it was pure magic!
One of my favorite elements of the wedding day was Chris and Beth’s decision to have an unplugged wedding. They asked guests to put away their phones , cameras and iPads (yes, people stick these out in the aisle and block the view!) and to just be FULLY PRESENT for their ceremony. There is nothing worse than standing up at the altar and looking out into the faces of your loved ones, only to be greeted with a sea of phones and cameras! Everyone heeded their request and it made for a calm, peaceful and amazing ceremony where the energy was palpable. Well done!
Big thank you to all of our creative partners for the day, and big congratulations to Chris and Beth! XOXO
Creative partners for the day:
venue: Eloia Mansion at Harkness Park, Waterford CT
gown: Rivini
flowers: Carrie Wilcox Floral Design
hair and makeup: Catie Bane, Guilford CT
catering: A Thyme to Cook, Stonington CT
entertainment: Elan Artists, New York City
cakes: Anna Parzych Cakes, Cheshire CT
photography: Connecticut Wedding Photographer Carla Ten Eyck
This ceremony set up (on the right) was so pretty! Way to go, Carrie Wilcox Floral Design!
Flower girls always add such an adorable element to every wedding, I could do an entire post just on them!
To see more weddings + engagements photographed at Harkness Memorial Park check the following links:
Sara + Michael’s garden wedding with Jubilee Events
Melissa + Jeff’s Spring Wedding
Liane + Alex’s beautiful engagement session at Harkness Park
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