Real wedding · Middletown, Connecticut
Arianne & Michael
The Barns at Wesleyan Hills
Willow shade, a white footbridge, and a shot ski down the barn floor
- Venue
- The Barns at Wesleyan Hills
- Location
- Middletown, Connecticut
- Setting
- Barn & vineyard
- Photographs
- 23 selected
The willows at The Barns at Wesleyan Hills hang so low they nearly brush the grass, and on this bright day they did most of the work of keeping everyone cool. Morning started in two places. Arianne sat in a chair marked Bride while her hair was curled, and a woman in a mint satin shirt pressed a hand to her mouth the moment she saw her. Elsewhere, Michael pulled a friend into a long bear hug in a hotel room, and his groomsmen clinked cans before buttoning into light gray suits and sage ties.
Before the ceremony, the guys found bottles tucked in the grass under Arianne's dress and took a knee to finish them, sunglasses on, the pond shining behind them. Then the chairs filled in rows beneath the willows, facing an arch of white and blue hydrangeas. Arianne's cathedral veil pooled on the lawn through the vows, and when they turned to walk back up the aisle, petals went up into a hard blue sky and she thrust her bouquet over her head like a trophy.
Near sunset they walked out onto the little white footbridge over the pond, with the willows going soft and gold on either side. Inside, the barn glowed with string lights along every rail of the loft. The wedding party came in carrying a shot ski, four people tipping it back in unison while tables cheered. Later Arianne swapped the gown for a short white dress, and the floor turned into a crowd of foam glow sticks swinging over everyone's heads.
Getting ready
Mint satin shirts, sage ties and a few early hugs set the tone early.
Details
Ceremony
Rows of white chairs sat in willow shade, which kept faces evenly lit in full sun.
Portraits
Celebration
String lights on the loft rails turned the barn warm the moment the sun went down.
Planning a wedding like this?
On a clear summer day, an open lawn ceremony can mean squinting guests and hard shadows, so ask to set the chairs where tree shade falls at your ceremony time. Save the pond and footbridge for the last hour before sunset, when the light goes low and warm. A timber barn with string lights reads beautifully at night, but pack a light change of clothes if you plan to dance hard.
