Lorell and Derek were married on September 16th, with a ceremony and reception at the Jonquil Farm in Stonington, Connecticut.
Even though Derek and Lorell went to high school together, they didn't actually know one another at the time. It wasn't until ten years after graduation that they met at a birthday party of a mutual friend, and the rest is history.
They fell more and more in love as they discovered one another's senses of humor and shared passion for animals. In fact, Derek proposed by taking pictures of each one of Lorell's animals with a poster that said "will" "you" "marry" and then him holding the "me" poster. He framed each picture and had them waiting for her when she got home from work!
Knowing their love of animals, the farm was the perfect setting for Lorell and Derek to be married. The Jonquil Farm belongs to a friend of the family and has the most beautiful rolling hills and horse pasture—something that was key for this couple since they have horses themselves.
At the start of the day, Lorrell and Derek got ready at separate hotels. As I photographed Lorell getting ready, I couldn't help but think that she looked like a tree fairy! With her minty green tulle skirt and the whimsical bouquet—not to mention the FRYE cowboy boots to complete the look!—she looked ethereal and stunning while somehow still down-to-earth. Derek looked like a dapper gentleman in his suspenders and bow tie. By the time they met up for their first look at the farm, I couldn't get over how gorgeous they both looked and how they seemed perfectly suited to complement each other.
After the first look, it was off to the ceremony itself—one of my favorite parts of the whole day. Even Mother Nature seemed to agree with me on that. It had been humid all day, but the moment Lorell started to walk with her dad, this cool mist and fog rolled through the ceremony and cooled everyone down. It was quite magical—and brought a beautiful setting for photos to complement the ethereal fairy feeling Lorell was already sporting. One of my favorite images of the day was of the two of them walking off into the fog—it was the perfect peaceful, intimate moment.
After the fairytale wedding, it was time to party—and no party is complete without a wood-fired pizza truck! The truck was a massive success and fit well with the whole country scene as the truck served up fresh pizzas made right there on the spot. How cool is that?
Once the dance party opened up, the energy escalated quickly. The dancing crew was one of the best I've seen, but the best part was seeing Lorell and Derek out dancing with their friends and family. That's just who these two are—they love life and laughter, and they share it freely with everyone they know.
At the end of the night, we went out for one more quick photo session before it got completely dark, once again taking advantage of that fog. It was the most romantic, moody setting you could have asked for, and I loved it!
Lorell & Derek, your day was peaceful, majestic, and full of so much love radiating all over that sweet little farm. I am over the moon happy for you both and blessed that I was able to stand by your side. Sending you all my love and best wishes!