New England Summer Wedding at The Inn at Longshore in Westport, CT | Kate & Dan
A NEW ENGLAND SUMMER WEDDING AT THE INN AT LONGSHORE
To say that Arturo and I had been excited for Kate and Dan’s summer wedding at The Inn at Longshore in Westport, Connecticut would be an understatement! These two and their families are some of the most lovely people, which made our jobs of photographing their wedding day that much better! Dan and Kate had reached out to us 2 years before their wedding day and booked with us soon after. From the first moment I spoke with Kate about the details of her wedding photography, I knew she and Dan would be an incredible couple to work with!
Dan, being from Ohio, has that genuine kindness that all of our midwestern friends have, and Kate is a burst of sunshine. When we began our day with each of them, Arturo and I were greeted with hugs and smiles by our bride and groom. Kate got ready at her childhood home, which had an abundance of natural light (one of the most important factors for choosing a location to get ready on your wedding day!). Her bridal style was timeless and classic, featuring a Stella York wedding dress with buttons that ran all the way down to the end of the gown’s train. As I was photographing her bridal portraits, one of the bridesmaids said, “Kate, this is your Jackie O. moment!” She was right… just wait until you see what a stunning bride Kate was!
If you’ve been following me for a while, you know how much I love when our couples incorporate family heirlooms and personal touches to their wedding. Dan took it one step further and wore his grandfather’s tux that day, in which he looked dapper as ever. It really shows that a classic tux will never go out of style!
After getting ready, we headed to the church nearby for the ceremony. When Kate and Dan saw each other from opposite ends of the aisle, smiles beamed across both of their faces. After exchanging vows and rings, the new Mr. & Mrs. shared their first kiss as friends and family clapped with joy. As the ceremony ended, Dan and Kate turned to their guests who were sitting in the pews and pumped their arms up into the air as if to say, “We’re finally married!”
Once we had completed family portraits at the church, we traveled over to The Inn at Longshore to finish up the formal photos of the day. Dan and Kate’s wedding party was made up of an incredible group of people who truly surrounded the couple with love. Kate had ordered about 20 paper cones filled with white rose petals for the bridesmaids and groomsmen to toss in the air for the final group portrait. I love when our couples are open to some creativity like this, because it allows me and Arturo to capture fun photos of them with the some of the people they love most!
Views of the water surrounded us as we photographed the bride and groom on the back lawn of The Inn at Longshore. The excitement of being newlyweds was clearly present on Kate and Dan’s faces, which will be forever frozen in their wedding photos! Arturo and I always want our couples to enjoy cocktail hour with their guests, and we made sure to finish up their portraits in time to do so (plus, The Inn at Longshore really does have the best cocktail hour bites!).
When I asked Kate to describe her wedding design and style, she responded, “Coastal grandmother before it was a trend.” Based on that answer alone, I knew the day she and Dan had planned was going to be a lovely one! Their florals included white and blue hydrangeas, a classic New England coastal element. Kate and Dan even included their wedding monogram on everything from drink stirrers, cocktail napkins, the wedding cake, and more!
Guests celebrated the newlyweds late into the evening with beautiful toasts and some of the most energetic dancing we’ve ever seen! If music was playing, their guests were on the dance floor. It was truly a day to remember, and one that Arturo and I will always be grateful to have been a part of!
THE LOVE STORY
Kate and Dan first met in January of 2016 on Bumble while they were both living in Cincinnati. After their first date, they fell in love over the next few months exploring the city and learning more about each other’s passions. It didn’t take much time for Dan and Kate to find their love of adventure together, going to Nashville the following summer, followed by vacations to Florida and Cape Cod with Kate’s family. In March of 2021, they made the big move back to the East Coast, and it didn’t take long (5 days, if we’re counting!) for them to get their dog, Archie.
It was such a treat for Arturo and me to be the ones to capture their day because these two truly are sweet as pie. Congratulations Kate and Dan! Wishing you many beautiful years ahead!
Kate’s bridal style was beautifully timeless and classic!
I love when our couples incorporate family heirlooms and personal touches to their wedding. Dan took it one step further and wore his grandfather’s tux that day!
They’re MARRIED!
We loved spending time with this joyful group!
How sweet are these newlyweds?!
Kate and Dan personalized their day by including their wedding monogram on a variety of their reception details. I especially loved that they added it to their 3-tier wedding cake!
Even on cloudy evenings, golden hour at The Inn at Longshore is dreamy as ever!
I hope you enjoyed this summer wedding at The Inn at Longshore! Do you know Kate and Dan? Show the newlyweds some love by commenting below!
CREATIVE TEAM
Wedding Venue: The Inn at Longshore | Photography: Shaina Lee Photography | Floral Design: Flowers by Danielle | Hair & Makeup: Blow Dry Westport | DJ: E-Squared Productions | Bride's Wedding Gown Designer: Stella York | Bridal Salon: Kleinfeld Bridal | Bride's Shoes: Sam Edelman | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Azazie | Groom’s Attire: Family Heirloom | Groomsmen's Attire: The Black Tux | Cake: Lovely Cakes | Invitations & Paper Goods: Surcie | Engagement Ring: Krombholz Jewelers | Wedding Bands: Fairfield Center Jewelers
ABOUT THE PHOTOGRAPHERS
Shaina Lee Photography is a husband and wife photography team serving Connecticut, New York, and beyond. We specialize in timeless, elegant, and romantic weddings while celebrating all couples in love.
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