An Elegant Winter Wedding at The Inn at Longshore in Westport, Connecticut

Deirdre O’Connor (32 and works in advertising sales) and Matthew Torrance (32 and works in commercial real estate) planned an elegant winter affair with a subtle rustic twist for their January wedding in Westport, Conn. While Deirdre admits that she hadn’t grown up dreaming of her wedding day and that the planning process proved to be quite the challenge, the couple effortlessly pulled off a cozy, classy event that captured their love of the winter season and their relationship.

The day started with a traditional ceremony at St. John’s Catholic Church in Darien, Conn. “I grew up attending St. Jonh’s,” says Deirdre, “so it was really special to be married there.” The couple made the ceremony feel like a true family affair, incorporating family members in every aspect of the proceedings. The readings were done by Matthew’s sister and Deirdre’s godmother; Deirdre’s cousins handed out programs and brought the gifts to the altar; and her uncle Francis whisked the newlyweds off to the reception in her grandfather’s mint-colored 1930s Ford Model A. “He had even packed a cooler of celebratory beers for us in there!” says Deirdre.

The Inn at Longshore played host to the reception, providing an intimate, welcoming backdrop for the evening’s celebrations. Ivory and sage colored linens, gold chiavari chairs and classic arrangements of ivory and blush hydrangeas and roses brought an air of timeless elegance to the decor, while votive candles in mercury glass holders cast a romantic glow over the stately space. Details like a white birch escort card display made by Matt’s sister and brother-in-law, tartan accents and a vintage ski guest book spoke to the evening’s wintry theme, while injecting the reception’s sophisticated design with playfulness and personality.

Fantastic food and music were high on Deirdre and Matthew’s must-have lists and the Inn at Longshore and New York City Swing didn’t disappoint. A mac and cheese bar went over big with guests during cocktail hour, while a Momofuku Milk Bar wedding cake and s’mores bar provided a sweet finish to dinner. NYC Swing got the party started with The Temptation’s “Get Ready” and kept the dance floor packed all night long with plenty of upbeat hits.

A tip for the taking from Deirdre: “Always remember to focus on the fact that your wedding is a celebration of your love and nothing else truly matters. Guests come to your wedding to see you make a commitment to each other, have fun and celebrate! You set the mood, so have a good time and in turn, everyone else will!”