A fall Vyne Restaurant wedding in Middlebury CT with Kristina and Joe closed out my fall season in the best way. Kristina is the last sister in the Ford family who’s wedding I was honored to have photographed. Even typing that is making me feel so nostalgic and just ramble on down memory lane. In 2007 I photographed her sister Alicia’s wedding, then in 2009 sister Marissa with Michael Pratt (he will always be a two namer for me!) followed! Ten years alter so oh so worth the wait was my girl Kristina and her beau Joe. I adore them both so much; their energy is positive and real, their love for one another is so tangible I could hold it like Kristina holds Joe’s face when she sings to him and dances. I love them! Add Chuck and Nancy (her Mom and Dad) to this little cuddle fest and it’s a party!
When Kristina and Joe set the date they said there are TWO things we need: Carla Ten Eyck and The Clark Eno Orchestra! Clark was there for both Alicia and Marissa’s weddings as well, and interestingly enough, also for ANOTHER sister group of three who’s weddings I also was the photographer for!! I suppose we are a legacy duo, Clark!
Many of Kristina and Joe’s images were asking me to be black and white. Now, for those of you very familiar with my work- and even if you are not- just give a quick scroll through my Instagram @c10ike and you will see my love of color is super clear and present. But man, oh Manishewitz these images just yelled at me: MAKE ME BLACK AND WHITE. So, I listened. Go on, you, look!
Creative Partners for Kristina and Joes’s Vyne Restaurant wedding, Middlebury CT:
Wedding Gown: WTOO/ Watters / @wtoowatters from The Wedding Embassy, Watertown CT / @weddingembassy
Venue: The Whittmore Room at Vyne Restaurant, Middlebury CT / @vynerestaurant
Ceremony: Asylum Hill Congregational Church, Asylum Ave. Hartford CT
Flowers: Pots and Posies, Barb Brewer, Simsbury CT
Catering: Vyne Restaurant, Middlebury CT
Cake: Vyne Restaurant Middlbury CT
Cake Topper: Etsy via Theroomba
Hair + Makeup: Icon Salon, Avon CT / @iconsalonct
Band: Clark Eno Orchestra, Danbury CT
Rings: Bill Selig Jewelers, Simsbury CT/ @billseligjewelers / Lux Bond & Green, West Hartford CT / @luxbondgreen
Photography: Carla Ten Eyck, Hartford CT
OK, ok, maybe not this one! But look at that smile! So radiant and happy! What a great way to start the day.
My ladies, oh how I adore you all!!
See? All you can focus on is Kristina’s smile. No distractions! Nancy is smiling, Alicia is smiling! Marissa I’m not sure what you are doing but it’s still wonderful! She’s smiling inside.
This image felt Vogue-ish to me, I love it!
Something borrowed turning into something new?? Probably not Kristina, but nice try!
She is just so happy she radiates love.
Right before seeing her Dad, Chuck.
Look at these faces!
Honestly sometimes first looks with Dads (and grooms and brides) can be such a visual bummer. No reaction! My man Chuck here was all smiles and claps and I was there for it!
Nikki, my second shooter was with Joe getting some snuggles with Joe and his son and Dad. GAH. Love love love. Especially those BOOTS!!!
I love this image Nikki got of Joe and their kids while getting ready.
Kristina was worried there wouldn’t be spots to photograph outside at her Mom’s It was super cold out (not that you can tell here, it looks so warm!) But Kristina was so happy to brave the cold for some gorgeous images. I scouted the area before walking in and was like: GIRL. There is a few darling little areas we can work in, don’t you worry! Which makes me segue to: TRUST YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER. You know why? I mean, because. But also: I see things in a way that you do not. I have been trained for years and years to interpret light and backgrounds and how light plays with that and how my lenses work and where to put you and allla that stuff so you can just relax and let me do what I do best! To be fair, Kristina totally trusted me, she just alerted me to something she was worried about and I handled it! Boop. I’ll take that little side slice of yard that no one pays any mind to and create magic.
Some of the girls! Again, nostalgia lane here…
They love snuggling like this!
I was a little bit ok a lotta loving this wall and how 1950’s this whole scene felt!
These cake toppers were so cool, I was obsessed! what a really cute keepsake from your wedding.
The Clark Eno Orchestra rocked the HOUSE all night long!
Me and my girls!!
Kristina and Joe and all of the Ford Family: thank you all so much for trusting me with your memories. It means so much to me to create and document your lives. I cannot WAIT to start our Ford Family Mini sessions each year and document your beautiful families now! XOXO
To see more weddings Carla has photographed click the links below:
The Spa at Norwich Inn, Norwich CT
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