Michelle and Paul's seaside Connecticut wedding!

A seaside venue .. Check

A lobster bake wedding dinner .. Check

A sunny 75 degree day in May .. Check

Cupcakes served out of a vintage VW bug.. Check

Two people head over heels in love .. Check

This was the scene for Michelle and Paul’s May wedding at Abbotts Lobster in the Rough in Groton, CT. May weather in New England is unpredictable so we all anxiously tracked the weather in the days leading up to the wedding and were pleasantly surprised at the forecast.

Michelle and Paul were my first wedding of the 2018 season and also the first wedding under the Alyssa Jean Signature Events brand. Michelle was referred to me by a friend of a friend and I was so excited to get to work on helping her plan her big day.

The day began with Michelle and her girls getting ready at the Mystic Marriott. They enjoyed a morning of well-deserved pampering at the spa. Paul and his groomsmen were busy picking up beer and wine (the venue is BYOB!) and delivering all the last-minute décor to the venue.

The vendors and I all arrived early to get everything in place. The plan was for an intimate ceremony on the lawn with the Connecticut shoreline as the backdrop and the reception under the signature red and white Abbott’s tent. I had a busy morning setting up ceremony chairs, organizing all the nautical décor, and ensuring the table settings were just right. Guests started arriving early afternoon and were treated to a beautiful view, lemonade and live music played by Dana Takaki and Hugh Birdsall.

As the hotel shuttle pulled into the parking lot, all of the guests took their seats and the ceremony music began. The couple opted to not do a First Look so it was imperative to ensure Paul did not see Michelle before her walk down the aisle. The parents and the bridesmaids started off the processional and then it was time for Michelle and her father to make their grand entrance. They chose to walk down the aisle to Canon in D played live by Dana and Hugh. It was such a beautiful moment and safe to say that Michelle took everyone’s (especially Paul’s) breath away!

After the ceremony, the couple shared their first drink together as husband and wife. On their very first date, they drank Café Patron and wanted to commemorate this by making their first drink as a married couple none other than Café Patron! Guests enjoyed cocktail hour on the lawn overlooking the picturesque Atlantic Ocean while Michelle and Paul took photos with friends and family. The cocktail hour spread included freshly shucked clams, fresh vegetables and dips and assorted meats and cheeses.

Things flowed smoothly right into the reception. The bride and groom were introduced and shared their first dance to “More Than Words.” The music throughout the evening was the perfect complement to the serene seaside setting. Dana and Hugh played the violin and guitar and sang all the songs live.

Once the formalities were through, guests were treated to a true New England lobster bake dinner consisting of all the necessities: clam chowder, mussels, corn on the cob and lobsters. Dessert was served out of a vintage VW bug by The Cupcake Bug. Not only is the concept of this the coolest thing I have ever seen, the cupcakes were AMAZING!

Guests lingered and enjoyed the setting and music for a while after dinner. The festivities wrapped up around sunset and guests had one more surprise on their way out – homemade seafood spice rubs made by the bride and groom!