When Alaina & Matthew began thinking about their wedding day, they wanted something that felt intimate, natural, and romantic; aiming for authenticity over tradition. Hoping to curate a wedding that looked and felt remarkably like them, they held a charming al fresco style wedding at a Connecticut Carriage House with a meal among family and friends beneath the stars. Captured by Connecticut wedding photographer CORA JANE PHOTOGRAPHY it was designed with intentional details, a hydrangea tree ceremony backdrop, thoughtful notes to the couple's parents, and so much more.
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THIS LOCATION? We stumbled upon this venue on Pinterest, of all places, and thought ‘wow, this is exactly what we’re looking for!’ After clicking on and reading the article attached to the photo, we discovered that the venue was located just a few towns over. We contacted the venue owner that same afternoon and set up a site visit for later that week. Upon arriving at the venue, we swooned over the 100+ year old hydrangea bush and Japanese maple tree and fell in love with the simplicity and stunning architecture of the carriage house. After walking around the grounds, we knew that this venue would be the perfect backdrop for our alfresco ceremony and reception. We both were raised and still live in southwest Connecticut, so it was important for us to find a venue that was not only local, but one that we felt connected to. Topstone Chalet certainly surpassed our expectations.
HOW DID YOU MEET? Our story started back in 2012 at Central Connecticut State University. We both moved into the same dormitory and were placed into the same groups to do ice-breaker activities at our freshman orientation. We were tasked with figuring out how to get four people to fit onto a small piece of construction paper on the ground. While we failed to solve the riddle that day, we managed to form the beginnings of a deep friendship. Over time, that friendship blossomed into love and the rest is history.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR PROPOSAL: We got engaged nearly one year prior to our wedding during a family vacation. We went for a moonlit walk on the beach in Avalon, New Jersey, a small beach town that my family had frequented for decades. Our moonlit stroll quickly turned into a cloudy night and when Matthew found the right moment to drop to one knee, the clouds were so thick that we couldn’t see anything or each other! Even in the pitch dark, the yes came easy. It wasn’t until we walked up to the dunes where I was able to see the beautiful ring on my finger, an heirloom from Matt’s great grandmother.
TELL US ABOUT FINDING YOUR WEDDING DRESS/ATTIRE: I only took two trips to local bridal salons to find my gown. I knew I wanted to wear something that was comfortable, romantic, and a little flirty. I had seen many gowns from the Made with Love Bridal collection that piqued my interest. I visited a local shop, Everthine Bridal Boutique in Madison, Connecticut, that carried many dresses from the collection. In the end, I chose Elsie. As soon as I saw the detachable tulle shoulder bows and delicate floral lace, I knew I had found the dress. The matching Elle veil was gifted to me by my mother and was the perfect accompaniment to my gown. For Matthew’s suit, we shopped even less. We visited Suit Shop online and selected their classic Men’s Black Suit. We knew that a tuxedo would be too formal for our wedding, but wanted him to look sleek and timeless, while having a quality piece he could wear again. .
DID YOU HAVE ANY DIY ELEMENTS?: We had many DIY elements at our wedding. We made our own save the dates, invitations, wedding signage, seating chart, and name place cards with the help of a very, very gracious friend and her Cricut. With her help, we were able to create the most beautiful details that were unlike any other.
DESCRIBE YOUR WEDDING FLOWERS: We wanted our florals not to distract from the beauty of our venue, but rather blend into and enhance the natural scenery of the carriage house and landscape. While we had little preference regarding the types of flowers used in our arrangements, we w
anted to use florals that were fresh, in season, and had a timeless elegance. We selected a palette of white, cream, blush pink, light pink, and natural greenery and allowed our florist to handle the rest. We also included a hydrangea petal toss during our recessional down the aisle, which turned out to be one of the most magical and joy-filled moments of the day.
FAVOURITE DETAIL OF THE DAY: Our favorite detail had to be our late night snack, catered to Matthew’s favorite food: pizza. We are spoiled to live so close to the pizza capital of the United States, New Haven, Connecticut. It was only fitting to end the best night with some of New Haven’s finest.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE OUT TO A COUPLE PLANNING THEIR WEDDING?: There are so many different paths you can choose when planning your own wedding. We would recommend staying true to who you are both as individuals and as a couple. Don’t be afraid to think outside of the box and forgo tradition to create a truly authentic and memorable wedding experience.
MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT? Our first look and private vow reading. We had so much excitement and nervous energy leading up to this moment. After months of planning, we were finally able to physically come together and share the day that we created. Reading our vows privately also offered us an intimate moment alone to focus on the reason why we chose each other and all that had led to this day. It was a truly beautiful and emotional experience and something neither of us will ever forget.
