Location: Middletown, Connecticut, USA
Setting: Estate at a historic mansion
Wedding season: Spring
The number of guests: 150
How long did the couple plan the event: 1 year
Wedding theme/style: Elevated classic black and white wedding with some funky Brooklyn vibes.
Nicole and Matty’s love story began 11 years ago in a dive bar in their Connecticut hometown, where fate brought them together as wingmen for their friends. Nicole, drawn to Matt like a magnet, took the initiative and approached him first. Their connection was instant, and as they stood at the bar talking for hours, it felt like the rest of the world faded away.
A few years later, the couple embarked on a new chapter, moving to New York City. Nicole pursued her career in fashion and beauty, while Matt realized his dream of opening several restaurants, including the popular Pineapple Club in the East Village and Bees Knees in Brooklyn. Today, they reside in Brooklyn with their beloved dog Petunia.
As the wedding planning unfolded, Nicole and Matty focused on creating an experience that would be uniquely theirs. Working with planner Chelsea Suddes from Pearl Weddings, they translated their vision into every detail of the wedding day. The goal was to invite their family and friends into a snapshot of their lives, making the celebration unmistakably “theirs.”
Nicole’s stylish accessories, including gloves with heartfelt messages and black-and-white sunglasses, added a personal touch. Punchy colors, inspired by the Pineapple Club’s lounge, were infused into stationery design, creating a vibrant and cohesive atmosphere.
The bride looked stunning in her Jane Hill gown as if it were tailor-made specifically for Nicole. The dress highlighted the bride’s slender figure impeccably, creating a beautiful, timeless, and romantic image.
The lovely Nicole and her bridesmaids while capturing memorable photographs, looked stunning. All the bridesmaids adorned themselves in stylish black dresses, each uniquely tailored to accentuate every woman’s individuality. The bride had a calla lily bouquet that was minimal and simple, complementing her dress and her bridesmaids held simple calla lily bouquets as well.
A pivotal and tender moment during a wedding is the first look, where the groom beholds the bride adorned in her wedding attire for the first time. This experience transcended the ordinary for Nicole and Matt, as the moment he glimpsed her in the wedding gown unfolded as an incredibly touching and heartwarming episode.
The venue where the ceremony took place exuded enchantment and magic. The aisle was lined with chic modern rectangular black candle holders that lead to the floral arch that was covered with lush greenery, white roses, hydrangeas and other elegant white florals. All this beauty was brought to life through the talent and creative vision of the planner Pearl Weddings.
The ceremony was touchingly beautiful. It was set against a picturesque historic mansion where Nicole and Matt united their lives in the bonds of matrimony. The bride gracefully walked down the aisle, accompanied by her father, towards the groom, who eagerly and reverently awaited her by the exquisite ceremonial arch. Guests witnessed heartfelt moments as Matt and Nicole exchanged vows, creating a truly memorable and emotional atmosphere.
After the wedding ceremony, Nicole and Matt set aside a special moment for each other. They fondly reminisce about this time with a unique love, as they need to spend a few moments alone to reflect on the joyous moments experienced during the wedding ceremony. In these moments, they could truly appreciate the happy memories created during the ceremony and cherish their shared mutual love and well-being. This secluded moment became particularly significant in their shared history, imprinting joyful and meaningful memories from their wedding day.
The couple took photos with a classic 1961 Rolls Royce, keeping in touch with the Wadsworth Mansion’s elegant vintage vibes. Photographer Elizabeth Grant perfectly captured their chic modern personalities next to the Rolls Royce.
After the ceremony, guests enjoyed delicious cocktail drinks from the fun bars, which planners Pearl Weddings covered by white umbrellas. A chic lounge area was created using luxury furniture rentals from Rent Pearl that was perfectly complemented by the pineapple backdrop built by Emu Studio, inspired by Matty’s first restaurant, Pineapple Club.
For their wedding Nicole and Matty desired an elevated, classic design that was white, black and minimal. Pearl Weddings brought their dream wedding to life by taking their wedding desires and reflecting who they are as a couple – fun, classy, chic, and elegant.
As guests made their way to their seats from cocktail hour, they found their name card adorned with a Quartz crystal. Quartz crystals are meant to clean the energy of the space and act as a deep soul cleanser, they also make for the perfect favor for guests to take home.
Pearl Weddings added fun punchy colors, like shades of pink, to spice up their stationery design.
The entrance of the bride and groom at the reception was extraordinary. Their friends formed a unique tunnel, interlocking their hands beneath which Nicole and Matt made their grand entrance. It was a truly distinctive and joyful moment! Following this, the newlyweds shared their first dance, an exceptional performance illustrating the close bonds uniting them and symbolizing their love.
Instead of cutting a cake the couple opted to perform a champagne tower pour with a huge bottle of champagne, brought from Matty’s restaurant.
The guests danced the night away on a black and white checkered dance floor under a clear top tent on the mansion’s patio. Their night carried on under the stars with the mansion as their backdrop.
Advice from the couple:
• “Plan for a moment alone as a couple right after you walk down the aisle. Walking down the aisle together after the ceremony ended was incredibly momentous and emotional, so it felt so good to have a few minutes alone immediately following the ceremony to take a deep breath together and say, “We did it!” We took a celebratory shot of tequila too. It ended up being one of our favorite, most memorable moments of the day.
• Plan for a mindful moment in the morning before the day begins. We decided to break the tradition of staying apart the night before the wedding – my partner is the person who grounds me the most, so I knew I wanted to start the day with him! Before I left to start getting ready, we did a 10-minute guided meditation together that I played on my phone. It made me feel so calm and connected to him, which helped me approach the day with a positive headspace and reminded me what the day was all about: marrying my best friend!”
PLANNING & DESIGN Pearl Weddings | FLORALS Petals & Plates | VENUE Wadsworth Mansion | CATERER A Thyme to Cook | PHOTOGRAPHY Elizabeth Grant Photography | VIDEOGRAPHY & PHOTOBOOTH Powerstations | BRIDAL DRESS DESIGNER Jane Hill | MUAH All Dolled Up | BRIDAL SHOP Everthine Bridal | GETTING READY LOCATION The Apiary Collective| DJ Jock in the Box | RENTALS Rent Pearl | INVITATIONS Bonhomie | TRANSPORTATION Dattco
