This Connecticut wedding was the perfect blend of classic and chic style

With a classic and elegant style, this timeless wedding by Connecticut wedding photographer CORA JANE PHOTOGRAPHY will stand the test of time. With black tuxedo's, neutral bridesmaids' dresses and a chic gown from KLEINFELD BRIDAL it was anything but boring. Held at THE RIVER HOUSE AT GOOD SPEED STATION, the couple really wanted to get married near her Connecticut hometown with bride Kirsten sharing with us, "We knew we wanted to get married in a Catholic Church as that is how we were both brought up and then we picked our reception venue because we loved the space and vibe. We wanted more of a classic ballroom style and loved the indoor/outdoor space and it had a great view!"

WHAT WAS THE INSPIRATION BEHIND YOUR WEDDING STYLE? The inspiration behind our wedding style was timeless, classic and elegant. We really wanted a classic vibe with black tuxedos, neutral bridesmaid dresses and a vibe that would always be in style. I am a big fan of neutrals and classic pieces, but didn’t want it to be boring!

HOW DID YOU MEET? We met at Siena College during our junior year and started dating a few months later.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR PROPOSAL: Mike proposed the week before Christmas in 2021. We were going up to a resort in Lake George, NY for lunch since we would each be spending Christmas with our families. It was snowing and he took me outside by the lake and proposed while a photographer took hidden photos! Afterwards we went down to Saratoga Springs, NY where he surprised me with both of our families and friends!

TELL US ABOUT FINDING YOUR WEDDING DRESS/ATTIRE: I had an idea of what I wanted for my dress before I went shopping – I wanted something simple, elegant but not boring. I went to Kleinfeld’s and tried on about ten dresses. My dress was maybe the 8th I tried on and kept going back to it and that’s when I knew it was the one!

DID YOU HAVE ANY DIY ELEMENTS? I DIY’ed all of our signage. I also created the menus and ceremony programs.

DESCRIBE YOUR WEDDING FLOWERS: Our wedding flowers followed the same theme of simple, classic/timeless and elegant. The flowers were all white ivory with hints of greenery. My favorites are roses so I wanted to make sure those were incorporated in a lot of the arrangements.

FAVOURITE DETAIL OF THE DAY: Our favorite detail was our ice sculpture during cocktail hour. It was a big N for our last name with our wedding date and we created a signature drink to pour through it. We also had engraved napkins next to it. It was a fun detail for all!

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE OUT TO A COUPLE PLANNING THEIR WEDDING? Enjoy it! It can be super stressful especially as it gets closer, but when it is all over you will miss the excitement of planning your dream day. Details are important but also don’t sweat some of the little details – most people really don’t notice and they also won’t notice if something goes wrong especially if you are just happy and enjoying the day!

MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT? We had 2 most memorable moments (hard to just pick 1!)

Right after we were officially married we walked out of the church and all of our friends and family were on the steps cheering. That was truly a “wow we are really married” feeling and it was the best!
We also loved our first dance – during the first chorus of our song, cold sparks lit up the room while Mike lifted me and everyone screamed/cheered which was amazing.

WHAT ASPECT OF THE WEDDING WAS THE MOST IMPORTANT TO YOU BOTH? Being really present with each other and constantly taking little moments together to soak it all in. We also wanted it to be really fun for our guests and our dance floor was packed all night long!

TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOUR HONEYMOON: We honeymooned in Grenada for 11 days. It was absolutely amazing! We originally wanted to go to Europe but ultimately decided we wanted less planning and a more relaxing honeymoon on the beach. We chose Grenada because it was small and quiet, but still had a lot to offer for fun! It was the perfect mix of relaxation and entertainment.

IS THERE ANYTHING YOU WOULD CHANGE OR DO DIFFERENTLY? We wouldn’t change anything about our day! The only thing I would change is to be more present and enjoy the week leading up to the wedding more/be less stressed about little things.

A huge thank you to Connecticut wedding photographer CORA JANE PHOTOGRAPHY for sharing this beautiful wedding with us. Cora tells us, "People and relationships are everything to me. I’m the kind of person who values the deep conversations you have on road trips and loves the process of getting to know new people. Coming from an academic background, and being married to an engineer, I know two things: foundations are important, and your support system is everything. Building relationships with the people who will capture the most precious beginnings of your life should reflect that. You should feel valued and important. The best stories are told by people who know them and one of my favourite elements of being a wedding photographer is getting to know people’s stories." You can see more of her portfolio here.