October 10, 2020 (maybe people are onto something choosing cool wedding dates, 10.10.20) was truly the perfect Connecticut day for a wedding. A day filled with sunshine, seasonal temps during the day while the air had a crisp bite to it after the sun went down and the New England fall foliage had hung on to create a beautiful backdrop. Kayla and Jeff picked a spectacular day to get married.
These two (like every single one of my 2020 couples) had their wedding plans affected by the Covid-19 virus. Their original venue was an indoor one and the restrictions that were in place at the time of their wedding made it impossible to host their wedding there. Kayla scrambled to find a new venue and transition all of her wedding plans to their new site, Parmelee Farm in Killingworth, Connecticut.
Kayla and Jeff were last minute clients (we officially started working together less than 2 months before the wedding). Initially, they were not planning to hire a wedding coordinator as their original venue was full service and they felt they could handle the logistics. However, once their venue changed, so did everything else. While Parmelee Farm is a beautiful venue, it is geared more towards the DIY bride and does not include a venue coordinator. Kayla knew that with the last-minute transition, Covid changes and the overall stress of re-planning a wedding in 8 weeks that she was going to need help.
With such a short time span to become familiar with their plans (and also get to know them a bit before the big day!), we had no time to waste. We immediately set up a site visit with their catering team, Gourmet Galley, and began formulating a plan. We went over how we would use the property, locations for photographs, rain plans, staging spaces, the layout under the pavilion, and all the things related to their timeline.
Kayla and I spoke weekly to ensure we were on track and all the details were attended to. Before we knew it, their wedding weekend had arrived!
The day began with the ladies getting ready at Water’s Edge Resort in Westbrook, Connecticut and Jeff and the guys getting ready at their home in Clinton. We had two very special First Look moments – one, of course, with Kayla and Jeff but also with Kayla and her grandfather. This was one thing that Kayla stressed was really important to her. And the photos from this moment are something she will treasure forever!
Parmelee Farm had numerous spots on the property for excellent photos! The historic white schoolhouse where the couple shared their First Look, the stone barn, the 18th century farmhouse, and not to mention the 132-acres of trails and nature! I had never even heard of this venue before this wedding but after seeing the grounds, I will definitely be going back to do some personal exploration and really soak in all its beauty!
Guests began arriving around 4pm and were greeted with glasses of lemonade and blueberry-basil infused water. We began the ceremony shortly afterwards before transitioning everyone to an al fresco cocktail hour on the patio. Gourmet Galley passed a variety of appetizers including Maryland style crab cakes and fig bruschetta. As the sun began to set, guests were then asked to take their seats under the pavilion and prepare for the rest of the evening’s festivities.
In your typical wedding fashion, we kicked things off with an introduction of the bridal party. Kayla and Jeff danced their way in to Jay-Z’s “Bring ‘Em Out.” If the introductions were any indication of what was to come, this crowd was going to tear up the dance floor. And I wasn’t wrong! After dinner service, a few toasts and the parent dances, the DJ ramped up the energy and the party got started. Guests danced the night away before we closed out the evening to “Higher Love” by Kygo.
Even though this wasn’t the couples’ original vision for their wedding day, in the end, they loved every minute of it. Was the guest list a bit smaller than they initially planned for? Yep! But that meant that every person there was intentional. There wasn’t any room for the distant relatives or acquaintances they rarely speak to. Every guest meant something to the bride and groom and contributed in making the day special for them. Was the venue what they initially hoped for? No! But we made it beautiful, adjusted and everything turned out to be what they never knew they wanted.
Kayla and Jeff, thank you for being such wonderful clients, rolling with the punches, and handling everything with grace. It was an honor to watch you become husband and wife and I am so glad you chose me to play a part in your special day!
Vendor Team:
Wedding Coordination: Alyssa Jean Signature Events
Venue: Parmelee Farm
Catering: Gourmet Galley
Photographer: Alicia Petitti
Beauty: Larissa Lake
Cake: Creative Cakes by Donna
DJ / String Trio: Music in Motion
Florals: MAR Florals and Botanicals
Rentals: CT Rental Center and C&S Portable Restrooms
Transportation: Gateway Limos
XOXO,
Alysa