Pachaug Pond Airbnb Elopement in Griswold, CT | Lauren & Josh
A SPRING WEDDING AT THE CABIN ON PACHAUG POND
Arturo and I kicked off our 2021 wedding season with Lauren and Josh at their waterfront Airbnb in Griswold, Connecticut. They’re both outdoorsy people and love to kayak, hike, and fish all year round. The Cabin on Pachaug Pond was a perfect place for them to do all of those activities, and also elope with their closest family members by their side!
Arturo and I met Lauren when she was a member of the wedding party at Kate & Britt’s wedding last January. When she reached out to see if we were available for their wedding at the Airbnb they rented that overlooks Pachaug Pond, I was ecstatic! What an honor it was for us to be the ones to capture Lauren’s own wedding day as she and Josh exchanged vows and promised the best of each other for the rest of their lives!
It may have been a cloudy, windy, early spring day, but all of those elements made for some soft, romantic portraits! So many people worry when they see clouds in the sky, but overcast days are some of our favorites for wedding days. Though temperatures were chilly that afternoon, Josh and Lauren braved the gusty winds and were up for just about anything when it came to their first look and later newlywed portraits along the water!
THE LOVE STORY
Josh is an elementary school teacher, and devised a plan to include his students in his wedding proposal to Lauren! He asked each of his third graders to list reasons why Lauren should say yes when he asked her to marry him. As you can imagine, the ideas the kids came up with were sweet, and others quite clever! Some of the responses from his students included things like, “Mr. L. is respectful and always helps us,” and “He’s good with kids.” However, one of my favorites was simply, “Mr. L is the best”. You can definitely tell these students love their teacher! Lauren laughed and giggled as Josh went down the list and read each response from his students. After getting engaged, they were married about a month later!
Lauren and Josh have known each other since middle school. They were one grade apart, and though they weren’t in the same circle of friends, Josh and Lauren knew of each other because they each played baseball and softball, respectively. As it turns out, Lauren thought Josh was pretty cute and had a crush on him; she even drew hearts around his photo in her middle school yearbook!
Through the years, they remained friends on social media and eventually reconnected later on. Lauren’s crush on Josh hadn’t totally faltered, so she decided to message him! They enjoyed their first date together, and by the third date, they were official. After almost four years together, the love they share is now even sweeter as they begin this new season of life with each other!
Congratulations Lauren & Josh! Thank you for including us on your wonderful wedding day. Wishing you both endless happiness in the years to come!
Lauren’s engagement ring and wedding band are family heirlooms from Josh’s side of the family. I loved that special detail of their day!
Before the ceremony, Josh and Lauren had their first look along the water. It was such a sweet moment!
I’m telling you, these two are a perfect match!
They’re MARRIED!
I hope you enjoyed this spring waterfront wedding in Griswold, Connecticut! Do you know Lauren and Josh? Show the newlyweds some love by commenting below!
CREATIVE TEAM
Venue: Private Airbnb in Griswold, Connecticut | Photography: Shaina Lee Photography | Officiant: Creative Concepts by Lisa | Floral Design: Loreta Daka Floral Boutique | Bride's Wedding Gown Designer: Baltic Born | Groom's Attire: Ramani's Clothiers | Bride’s Engagement & Wedding Rings: family heirloom | Groom’s Wedding Ring: Mallove’s 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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