Connecticut Wedding Photographer Bruce Plotkin

When Caitlin and Matt chose a venue for their beautiful Fall wedding, high on their wish list was not only to be by the water and the Long Island Sound, but to find a spot where Otis, their French Bull Dog, could be included in the day. And of course our home away from home, The Inn at Longshore, was the most perfect of choices. On a perfect September evening, Otis and friends gathered for Caitlin and Matt’s ceremony by the shore.

With the fun and exquisite nautical theme provided by our good friends Chris and Peter of Elegant Effects, the yummy cupcake desserts by Crumbs of Westport, and with the stealth and uber-talented film maker Matt Fink of Digital Media Odyssey by my side, it was an evening to remember.

After we made a quick stop for photos at the famous Bedford Oak (estimated to be more than 500 years old and one of my favorite new photo spots), we headed to Paige and Garrett’s reception at the Bedford Golf and Tennis Club. On a picture perfect night, under a magnificent tent courtesy of Northeast Tent Productions, with the gorgeous decor orchestrated by Cecily Grand and the music provided by DJ Scott Cameron, their party, quite simply put, “rocked”. With thanks to Paige and Garrett for including me in their amazing day, I bring you this second episode of their wedding extraordinaire.

It would have been both simple and beautiful had they chosen to get married in the chapel of St. Matthews in Bedford, New York, where she grew up, but Paige had wonderful memories from her youth of the times, when the weather allowed, that the the services were held just a short walk out back in the “chapel in the woods”. In Paige’s own words: “It was so beautiful out there and peaceful, that we couldn’t see why not to do it.” From where I stood, it felt like we were in the woods of Maine, or New Hampshire. The majesty of the centuries old forest, the simplicity and serenity of the chapel within, with routes that ran deep through her childhood, nothing could have been more personal, nothing more meaningful.

Their ceremony performed by the Reverend Terry Elsberry, a good friend of the family, the music provided by Anthology of Strings. Paige, in her gown and veil by Pnina Tornai, made the most dramatic of entrances with her dad, walking the length of the path through the woods to the chapel, where Garrett, and their guests, so patiently waited. With exquisite floral arrangements by our friend Cecily Grand, and weather helped along by mother nature, this celebration of love and commitment was truly something to behold.

To add to the classic glamour of the day, Paige and Garrett departed for the Bedford Golf and Tennis Club, where the reception was to be held, in her dad’s classic 1928 “Stutz”. A wonderful addition to their story was that when he bought the car he had his and her mom’s initials monogrammed on the front doors and Paige’s on the back door, knowing how much she loved to ride around in his cars. Now what could be more special than that?! Photos of their celebration, of course, to follow.