Vanessa & Chris' Wedding at Allen Hill Tree Farm in Brooklyn, CT

Vanessa and Chris are magical, beautiful people. Their wedding last Saturday was an opportunity for them to call on all their friends and family - some traveling all the way from Alaska - to one place at one time and celebrate their blended family and marriage together. Both diehard fans of the UFC and of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, they met and fell in love at their local gym and have since moved their family to eastern Connecticut. Not far from their home Allen Hill Tree Farm is, as one may suspect, a Christmas tree farm perched atop a crest amongst rolling hills that’s been there quite a while, handed down through generations of a family Vanessa and Chris are close with. The apple orchard onsite looks well-matured, ancient even, and the spruce and pine saplings of staggered ages and heights extend into the distance. It’s an unexpected view from the top of the hill where the barn holding the cocktail hour and reception is located, and despite the heat and bright sun of late June the wedding went beautifully. Their five kids and all of their friends sprawled out around the property, running through the orchard and playing lawn games while nearly everyone else enjoyed cocktails and appetizers in the air conditioning. Champagne, fresh oysters and clams, hand-pulled mozzarella, and sliced prosciutto elevated the vibe and kept things classy while the barn adorned with signs from its years serving the area as a tree farm served as a reminder its rustic roots. The bunches of eucalyptus everywhere made the whole place smell wildly pretty and the tiered reception space made for a lovely spot for guests to relax and watch the dancing. Vanessa and Chris spent the entire day in the moment; observing their people interacting, loving one another, patiently helping their twin girls through the festivities, and enjoying the fruits of their labor. They are some of the most genuinely easy people to photograph, and it all comes down to their ability to slow down and connect with the other. The solace they find in each other is beautiful to witness, and we felt so honored to be there to document it. After we chased the last bits of light with them and packed up the car to go home, we were treated with such a wonderful sunset as it dipped below the tree line at the edge of the farm - the perfect way to end the day.

Venue: Allen Hill Tree Farm
Catering: On The Spot Catering
Florals: Symphony Flower Farm
Dress: Vera Wang
Bridesmaids Attire: BLHDN
Menswear: Indochino via Nordstrom
Desserts: Zest Bakery
DJ/Music: Mike Simonetta