May 31, 2024
A LUXURIOUS WEDDING AT LE CHATEAU IN SOUTH SALEM | CAITLYN & KEVIN
No detail is too small when you want to go alllll out on your wedding day! You're wedding is a once-in-a-lifetime event, so it only made sense that Caitlyn and Kevin wanted to pull out all the stops to host an unforgettable, celebration! From destination weddings to big lavish parties, planning a luxurious wedding has never been more popular than it is right now, especially after years of delay from the pandemic which was once the "norm."
Caitlyn and Kevin dreamt of having a grandiose, sophisticated wedding which emphasized custom-details, high-end décor, and a fête that was a true reflection of their personal style! They went for a luxe look, which made an impact on their guests, full of opulence and grandeur at Le Chateau's grand ballroom. Ballrooms are some of the best wedding venues for this style, since most of them have an ornate architectural structure. Notorious for their crown molding, cathedral ceilings, glass chandeliers, large windows, and detailed fixtures—the estate’s atmosphere, soft music, and candlelight gave it a romantic ambience.
We can't dismiss that a high-end wedding calls for high-end fashion! Whether you're wearing a gorgeous gown, a tailored tuxedo, or opt for a second outfit change—Caitlyn and Kevin made sure to treat this day as if it was their very own red carpet moment! Caitlyn wore a beautiful dress which screamed classic and elegant—and a fun little number afterwards which made a HUGE statement!
Lastly, the florals! You can never go wrong with baby's breath. It’s a timeless filler or floral that is used for many special occasions and pairs well with many different themes and styles. Instead of taking the traditional route with this flower, the couple decided to add a modern twist—which complemented their personal style!
Congratulations Caitlyn and Kevin! It was an honor to serve you on your wedding day! Wishing you both love and happiness and a blissful life together!
THE LOVE STORY
"I had been living in NYC, and Kevin was living in West Hartford, CT. I went home for a weekend in November of 2021 for my cousin's engagement party. I made tentative plans to hang out with my best friend Emily (also my MOH), who is the type of person who doesn't take no for an answer, especially when it comes to going out. I was exhausted that night, and ready to fight back and tell her "I'm staying in for the night" . . . She responds that she's about to pull into my driveway so I better get dressed, and I see the headlights start to appear.
We drove over to her friend's apartment, who was having people over before heading to the bars in West Hartford. I had previously met Jamie, one of Emily's best friends from law school, and a few others there. Jamie was Kevin's roommate and friend from college, and Kevin also happened to be a 'friend of' at this law school party. I noticed him at the apartment, but we didn’t speak. We went to a few bars as a big group, and eventually I ended up sitting next to Kevin at the bar and we start chatting towards the end of the night. We exchanged numbers and headed home, and I mentioned I'd be in CT again in a few weeks for Thanksgiving and that we should hang again soon.
We hung out over Thanksgiving, and again when I was home for Christmas, and started officially dating in January 2022. In mid-March of 2020, I went to CT to visit him for a long weekend; bags packed with enough clothes for 2-3 days. This was the weekend the world 'shut down' for COVID. Instead of heading back to the city (where things were starting to get especially scary) we decided I should stay with him and his roommate Jamie for a few more days to assess the situation. A few more days turned into a few more weeks, which turned into a few months of living with these two boys in CT, in a pandemic, with my weekend's worth of belongings.
In retrospect, this time taught me so much about our relationship, each other, and myself. Not only did we make it through a time of earthly uncertainty together, but our relationship managed to flourish during this dark, scary, and unprecedented period. The first few weeks of COVID gave us unlimited time to become close - certainly a make or break situation. While I hoped in my heart that we would end up together regardless, I do credit the sturdy foundation of our relationship to COVID. Otherwise, we would have spent those important early stages long distance, which would have come with it's own different set of challenges. Flash forward again to September of 2020, and we officially moved into our apartment in Tribeca that we currently live in."
- Caitlyn, Bride
THE PROPOSAL STORY
"The weekend prior, Kevin was away on a trip with friends. I was in the apartment alone and I promised myself that I wouldn't snoop for the ring. That lasted all of 11 minutes. I opened up the bottom drawer of his nightstand, and found a ring box. "NO FREAKING WAY!!' I hesitated before opening it, but nonetheless decide to because I couldn’t help myself. I opened up the ring box and my heart stopped - we had designed an engagement ring together, and this was NOTHING like what we had decided on. I thought for a second and realized that this probably wasn’t my ring and so I took it as a sign from above to stop looking and the hunt ended there.
The next weekend Kevin picked me up from a work lunch, and we headed to Narragansett. We arrived at the hotel and had a late dinner at the restaurant downstairs. We sat at the bar and enjoyed a lovely evening. Afterwards, we crossed the street with a blanket to look at the stars. That's both our number one complaint about NYC - you can't see any stars. We looked at the stars and someone was having a bonfire nearby; it truly was a perfect night. The next day, we headed to our favorite vineyard in CT (Saltwater Farm), which is right over the RI border. All morning I noticed that Kevin wasn't himself and was acting a little nervous and jittery. I kept looking for a ring box outline in his pant pocket (Kevin's nice European style = usually tight pants). On our drive to the vineyard I noticed he kept sticking his index finger in the right pocket of his pants. 'IS THE RING FREE FLOATING IN HIS POCKET?' I thought.
We arrived at the vineyard, and headed outside where they were setting up for a wedding. I saw a photographer walking around, but I didn’t think anything of it, assuming she was the wedding photographer calibrating her camera. We sat on the Adirondack chairs, and Kevin suggested that we walk down by the water. As we walked between the vines, I see the photographer taking a picture of a group of girls, and think to myself 'what interesting bridesmaids dresses.' As we continue walking, Kevin starts to say how much he loves coming to this vineyard, and how we should make it an annual trip out here and that "we're about to have an even more special reason to continue to come back" which is when I turned around and Kevin is down on one knee (with no ring box for the record, holding the ring ever so carefully between his pointer finger and thumb).
After a few quick pictures taken at the vineyard, and then down by the waterfront in Stonington, we called our families and friends to share our amazing news. We called Kevin's parents first, and had a short conversation. Then we called my parents and there was no answer. We then proceeded to FaceTime 4-5 friends, and not a single person picked up! The timing was hilarious, and the 'missed FaceTime' screenshots are something we still laugh at to this day. Later, that night, we had a beautiful dinner at Ocean House, back in RI. One of my favorite memories of our engagement day was debriefing on all the beautiful behind the scene moments that took place into planning our engagement day. I learned that he kept his phone at home the day he had brunch with my parents to tell them about the engagement plans, and at his desk each time we went to the jeweler (we have each other's location, but for the record I'm not constantly stalking him).
He asked if I looked at the ring. I shook my head, but he's clearly not convinced by my lie. "So, you didn't find the ring box I left for you to find in the nightstand?" CAUGHT and hilarious that he set a decoy for me, knowing exactly where I'd look. Kevin planned such an incredible and memorable day.
- Caitlyn, Bride
INSPIRATION BEHIND CAITLYN & KEVIN'S WEDDING DAY
"Throughout the full wedding planning process, we have been very conscious of making decisions that most authentically represented us, both individually and as a couple. We are hoping that at the end of the night that all of our guests walk away and feel "that was so Caitlyn and Kevin." We love the juxtaposition of old New York meets modern that Le Chateau offers, which is a good way to describe our personal styles. We wanted floral choices to also reflect these sentiments - timeless, elegant, and romantic. Our vision is more of a more modern take on baby's breath, a traditional wedding floral that's typically a filler or a supporting flower, vs. the main character. Since our wedding is black tie optional, we wanted the florals and design to create a more formal atmosphere, which will pair beautifully with Le Chateau's gilded age interior and modern ballroom."
- Caitlyn, Bride
specialty flowers and fillers that were utilized in these wedding arrangements were baby's breath, white roses, and phalaenopsis orchids
I hope you fell in love with this luxurious wedding at Le Chateau in South Salem. Do you know Caitlyn & Kevin? Show the newlyweds some love, by giving this post a 'Heart' in the section below!
VENDORS & VISIONARIES
Photographer: Abby Leigh Photography - Instagram: @abbyleighphoto | Floral Design: Loreta Daka - Instagram: @loretadaka_ | Venue: Le Chateau - Instagram: @lechateau_ny | Dress: Enaura - Instagram: @enaurabridal / Nadine Merabi - Instagram: @nadinemerabi | Bridal Salon: Plumed Serpent - Instagram: @plumedserpentct | Shoes: Manolo Blanhnik - Instagram: @manoloblahnik | MOH: Reformation - Instagram: @reformation | Groom: Brooks Brothers - Instagram: @brooksbrother | Groomsmen: The Black Tux - Instagram: @theblacktux | Jewelry: Philmar Jewelers - Instagram: @philmar-jewelers | Officiant: Reverend Jim Rooney - Instagram: @fatherjimrooney | Hair: Kristine Dedmaj - Instagram: @hairbykristine1 | MUA: Suada Lalic - Instagram: @slglam | Bridal Party Beauty: The Makeup + Hair Co. - Instagram: @themakeuphairco | Stationary: Minted - Instagram: @minted | Catering: Le Chateau - Instagram: @lechateau_ny | Cake: DiMare Pastry Shoppe - Instagram: @dimarepastry | DJ: Hank Lane - Instagram: @hanklanemusic / Octane | Dance Instructor: Fred Astaire - Instagram: @fred_astaire_dance_studios | Accommodations: Hotel Zero Degrees - Instagram: @hotelzerodegreesdanbury | Transportation: J&R Tours - Instagram: @jrtoursnyc | Ribbons: Emmalinhco on Etsy - Instagram: @emmalinhco | Nails: Ballet Slippers Spa - Instagram: @balletslippersspa | Painter: Sophia Fain | Alterations: Casablanca Tailors - Instagram: @casablancacouture | Audio Guestbook: After the Tone - @afterthetone.co
ABOUT THE FLORAL DESIGNER
Loreta Daka Carrero is a premier wedding and event floral designer serving Connecticut, New York, and Coastal New England! She specializes in timeless and spiritually curated fine art floral designs for beautiful couples and extraordinary clients.
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