Smith Farm Gardens Wedding:
Rena & Nate

Wednesday, Oct 11, 2023Weddings
I
photograph a lot of city weddings, so anytime I get to head out to the country it is a treat and Rena and Nate were so much fun! They got ready in the farmhouse at Smith Farm Gardens in East Haddam, Connecticut. Jessie Labaddia was working on the makeup for the ladies and Amber Papastaravros was in charge of hair. Once Rena was in her gown she headed downstairs for her first look with Nate and we took advantage of the farmhouse vibe and soft natural light inside the beautiful old house. Because this property is so unique I really wanted to use the house and grounds as much as I could and incorporate all the things they loved about the venue into the photos with both the couple and their wedding party.  
 
The ceremony was simple, sweet, and responsible for many hugs and tears! It was a cloudy day, so while there was no "golden hour", I did pull the couple out for a few portraits later in the afternoon...and after they'd had a few cocktails. I love this type of cocktail hour where everyone is spread out around a property and I can just walk around and take photos of endless laughs and candid moments.  
 
This wedding featured some epic tent decor for the reception, with flowers done by Studio Blush and the tables and linens were from Peak Event Rentals. Gabrielle Stone from Stone Event Planning was the brains and vision behind this wedding and used her coordinating superpower to put all the pieces together. Following the first dance and parent dances they had a crazy hora before Rena changed into a feathered 20s inspired dress for the reception. This day was incredible and this wedding is definitely one of my favorites from 2022. Thank you to Rena and Nate for including me in your special day, along with my associate photographer Masao Okano for helping me to capture the day!