A Sophisticated, At-Home Wedding With Garden-Inspired Flair at a Private Residence in New Canaan, Connecticut

Rebecca Shaw (a producer at Brand Experience Agency) and James O’Callaghan (a senior associate at an investment firm) planned an elegant backyard affair with a palette of pale peach, sage green, mist, ivory and gray tones. Rebecca’s parents’ home in New Canaan, Connecticut, was the perfect place to tie the knot, offering a stunning natural backdrop for the monumental event and plenty of sentimental meaning as well. Rebecca and James met in high school in New Canaan and Rebecca’s parents said their “I do’s” 26 years earlier in the very same spot. “Words can hardly describe the feeling as I walked down the aisle toward the man of my dreams with my dad by my side, veil blowing in the breeze and the sun shinning through the trees behind us, all in my backyard. It was simply magical,” Rebecca says. The ceremony was held on the home’s expansive lawn early in the evening, with the couple fusing traditions from their Jewish and Christian faiths and sharing vows they’d written themselves under an opulent wedding arch draped in garden roses, eucalyptus and dahlias. Cocktail hour followed by the pool, where, set to the sound of smooth jazz, guests indulged in cocktails and small bites like gazpacho with mini grilled cheese, oysters on the half shell with grapefruit mignonette and watermelon, mint and cucumber skewers. Guests were whisked off to an open-air tent for a night of dinner and dancing. The planning team at Bellafare and the florists at Dragonfly worked their magic, to bring Rebecca and James’s vision for an elegant garden affair with a vintage, eclectic twist to life. It included lush, varied centerpieces of romantic blooms, carriage lanterns with old-world charm and wooden farm tables with warm, country flair. Wreaths of eucalyptus, garden roses and hydrangeas decorated the ceilings, heightening the evening’s intimate garden feel, while gold and silver accents introduced a luxe undertone to the evening. An 11-piece band, Eric Nicholas & One Love, got guests onto the dance floor with their lively energy and upbeat jams, while a photo booth stocked with playful props provided a fun way to remember the evening.