Beautifully captured by GRACE TORRES PHOTO, Grace and Andrew’s September wedding at SHEPHERD’S RUN in Rhode Island brought together the romance of an English garden party with the warmth and colour of a New England fall. With DONOVAN-GROVES EVENTS guiding the celebration and FIG & SQUILL creating the abundant, textural florals, the day felt elegant without being overly formal, and deeply personal from beginning to end.
Grace and Andrew’s story stretches back to high school, when they first fell in love. They remained together through college and the beginning of their careers, despite spending years apart, before Grace eventually moved to New York to join Andrew. Thirteen years after they first got together, Andrew proposed on the rooftop of their Tribeca home, with the New York skyline behind them.
Inspired by a fall English garden party, the design combined classic elegance with the russet, ochre and earthy tones of autumn in New England.
An English Garden in New England
When searching for a venue, the couple were drawn to somewhere that felt almost European, with lush gardens, timeless architecture and enough accommodation for many of their loved ones to stay on site. SHEPHERD’S RUN offered all of this, along with a series of distinct spaces that allowed the celebration to unfold naturally throughout the day.
Rhode Island itself also held particular meaning. Andrew’s family are Rhode Island natives, and choosing a venue there meant his grandparents could be close enough to take part in all of the weekend’s celebrations. The garden became the setting for the ceremony, followed by cocktails in the courtyard and dinner beneath the tent. Inspired by a fall English garden party, the design combined classic elegance with the russet, ochre and earthy tones of autumn in New England.
Autumn Abundance
Laura of FIG & SQUILL interpreted the couple’s vision with layers of seasonal colour and texture. Tall fall branches brought height and movement to the reception tables, while flowers were interspersed with fruit, acorns, antique brass and other natural details. The result transformed the tent into something resembling an abundant autumn garden.
Fruit was particularly personal to Grace, who loves both cooking and food, while individually designed bridesmaids’ bouquets added another playful element. The previous evening had offered a lighter interpretation of the setting, with classic coastal arrangements of hydrangeas and delicate bud vases complementing the waterside rehearsal dinner.
Tall fall branches brought height and movement to the reception tables, while flowers were interspersed with fruit, acorns, antique brass and other natural details.
Personal Details
Stationery by TEN STORY helped establish a visual thread across the weekend. Grace had admired the UK studio’s handcrafted work for years, choosing romantic, classic designs for the wedding itself and something more whimsical and coastal for the rehearsal dinner.
Hand-painted watercolours referenced details meaningful to the couple, including a sail representing their love of boats and illustrations of their wedding coupes. Their beloved dog Wallace also made an appearance throughout the celebration, from cocktail napkins featuring a family member’s hand-drawn illustration to a tiny detail incorporated into the custom cake stand made by Grace’s father’s woodworking team.
Tall fall branches brought height and movement to the reception tables, while flowers were interspersed with fruit, acorns, antique brass and other natural details.
THE CEREMONY
THAT FELT LIKE THEM
The couple wanted their ceremony to feel intimate, relaxed and personal rather than overly formal. Family friend Allen Groves officiated, incorporating vows centred around mutual trust, understanding and respect, alongside readings from friends and family.
Guests were seated in a circle around the couple, creating a warm sense of inclusion. One particularly personal moment came when their officiant shared what each had named as their favourite quality in the other: Grace chose Andrew’s steadfastness, while Andrew chose Grace’s loyalty.
A Quiet Start to the Day
Before the celebrations began, Grace and Andrew shared one of their favourite moments of the entire weekend: reading their vows privately over coffee in the morning light. Later, they met again for a private first look before the ceremony. Having that time together before guests arrived was important to them, and taking their portraits beforehand also meant they could fully enjoy the cocktail hour that followed.
Grace wore a LOUVIENNE gown from LOVELY BRIDE NYC with a KHYA veil and blue satin MANOLO BLAHNIKS. Her jewellery carried its own family history, including her grandmother’s Victorian diamond and blue topaz ring, alongside a diamond tennis bracelet gifted by Andrew.
Andrew chose a custom ENZO CUSTOM tuxedo, personalised with his initials and a distinctive white lining, finished with his grandfather’s Rolex and vintage cufflinks gifted to him by Grace.
Cocktails, Oysters and Dancing
Cocktail hour celebrated another shared love: seafood. A raw bar served fresh local oysters at the height of Rhode Island’s September oyster season, accompanied by signature cocktails and selections from Shepherd’s Run’s own winery. Music carried through the entire celebration courtesy of SILVER ARROW BAND, beginning with strings for the ceremony. Grace walked down the aisle to Hozier’s “Like Real People Do”, while Fleetwood Mac’s “Everywhere” accompanied the newlyweds back up the aisle.
The reception moved into classic rock, 80s pop and 90s favourites, eventually leading to one of the couple’s favourite moments, joining the band on stage to dance. And the celebration didn’t finish there. The after-party doubled as Andrew’s 30th birthday celebration at a local beachside dive bar, where guests danced on barstools, drank beer with the ocean spray drifting in and presented the groom with a birthday cake at midnight.
After a weekend that balanced elegant traditions with plenty of personality, Grace and Andrew escaped to Bora Bora for their honeymoon, spending their days snorkelling, scuba diving, boating and exploring together.
