Blog— Weddings — Connecticut — 2022 —
Allen Hill Farm Wedding Photos
Kaitlyn & Mathew
Allen Hill Farm, Brooklyn, Connecticut (Ceremony & Reception)
September 30th, 2022
They say you never get a second chance to make a first impression and I think that's why I've love Allen Hill Farm in Brooklyn, Connecticut as much as I do. From the very first wedding I shot there back in 2015 — which just happened to be one of the first weddings they ever had on the property — this venue has always been one of my favorites to capture a wedding day at.
That's what initially made me so excited about Kaitlyn and Mathew's September wedding day. I knew if they chose to say "I do" at this beautifully underrated location that they were likely to have a very intimate and very personal celebration of their love.
It wasn't until I arrived on site that I truly knew how true that was, however, and I can think of no more fitting place for these two souls to have become one than a property that fit them so well.
And their wedding day? Well, it was one I know neither they, nor I, will soon forget.
I could tell from the moment I walked up to the familiar red barn where Kaitlyn and Mathew would later get ready that this was going to be a wonderful wedding day and I was right.
Almost from the very first moments of my coverage of their big day, I could feel the bride's nervous anticipation of what was to come and I can't say I blame her. Kaitlyn was one of my more shy brides in 2022 but I could see how much this day meant to her as she soaked in every moment of her prep and tried not to let her nerves get the better of her.
Luckily, Kaitlyn and Mathew kept their guest list rather short and the overall vibe of this being a very intimate and personal day was something I knew would help keep this bride centered and calm as she got dressed and ready to go.
As for the groom? Well, I wasn't sure how Mathew would handle the pressure and nerves of his big day but, as the ceremony began and I watched the emotions come flowing through his face when he saw Kaitlyn walk down the aisle for the first time, he didn't need to say a single word to convey how he was feeling.
Matt's simple gesture of wiping away tears as Kaitlyn and her dad walked toward him was one of my favorite groom reactions in all of 2022. So much so I made it THE groom reaction I show to prospective clients in my latest portfolio update. It was that good.
So, too, was their ceremony.
I had a lot of outdoor ceremonies in 2022 but I don't think I had one I liked lighting wise better than Kaitlyn and Mathew's. With a nice solid layer of clouds over our heads but the sun peeking out just to our left, Kaitlyn and Mathew's ceremony was picture perfect.
I especially appreciated this because of the now three weddings I've shot in this location, this was the only time the sun wasn't unbearably hot for those watching the nuptials.
I'm thankful for that because Kaitlyn and Mathew's ceremony was super sweet, incredibly personal and full of beautiful moments between the bride and groom who were clearly taking in every second of this life-changing event.
One of the reasons I love Allen Hill Farm so much is the seemingly endless landscape of trees you can use as a backdrop for formal photos and, on this September day, the venue didn't disappoint.
Kaitlyn and Mathew's formal photos were among my favorites in 2022, especially because the two of them took a break midway through to share a private vow ceremony so they could say all the things to each other that they wanted to keep exclusively for each other.
It was a sweet reminder of how special this day was for them and how, at the center of it, was a touching love story of two people pledging to be by one another's side forever.
I could've photographed bride and groom portraits of Kaitlyn and Mathew for hours but, I'll be honest, I was excited to get inside the Allen Hill Farm barn and see how they decorated it for this lovely fall wedding and they didn't disappoint.
Allen Hill Farm is one of my favorite venues to shoot a reception at, particularly because of the beautiful twinkle lights overhead and Kaitlyn and Mathew did a wonderful job of showcasing the rustic theme through the special little touches they used for things like their seating chart and memorial table.
The real fun for me, however, was the moment we headed inside for Kaitlyn and Mathew's first dance. I've said it before and I'll say it again: I don't know if there's a more beautiful place to have a first dance than under the lights of Allen Hill Farm and Kaitlyn and Mathew showed why as their first public moment as husband and wife was a sight to behold and set the tone perfectly for this amazing night.
Kaitlyn and Mathew kept their wedding reception simple. So simple, in fact, that the only formality we had following their first dance and prior to dinner was a sweet toast from Kaitlyn's Matron of Honor.
And after dinner wasn't much different. Kaitlyn and Mathew had a low key cake cutting and opened the dance floor. Their night was so relaxed, in fact, that their two beautiful parent dances were done with their friends and family members none the wiser around them and the dance floor already open.
I loved this for them. It was a beautiful way to share a special moment with the people they loved without making a big spectacle out of everything and it fit this bride and groom perfectly.
As for the dancing itself? Kaitlyn and Mathew's friends and family members really took the low key vibe of this night to heart and the dance floor was packed all night but had a very relaxed vibe as some folks danced, others enjoyed an outdoor fire pit and still others just hung out and talked all night.
It was a choose-your-own reception in the best of ways and I know Kaitlyn and Mathew loved the spirit of their big night because of it.
Where Kaitlyn and Mathew's wedding reception really stood out to me was how it ended, however. In keeping with the low key and intimate feeling of their entire wedding day, Kaitlyn and Mathew shared a final dance with their friends and family members and then had everyone make their way outside of the Allen Hill Farm barn so they could share a private last dance with just one another.
It was a beautiful moment and I could see the emotions coursing through both Kaitlyn and Mathew as they capped their evening off in the way they always dreamed.
And, to really close the night out, Kaitlyn and Mathew had one last moment planned for their friends and family members as they exited the Allen Hill Farm barn and everyone who came to celebrate congratulated them off with a spirited sendoff with some of those very same twinkle lights that made the evening so magical.
To say I loved this moment is an understatement and I can think of no better way for Kaitlyn and Mathew's wedding to have come to an end.
As I made my way home from Kaitlyn and Mathew's beautiful wedding day, I couldn't help but think how sweet and personal this day was and how it stood out so much from many of the weddings I see every year.
While I love a big, showy wedding day, sometimes it's nice to see something a little more low key and intimate and it says a lot about Kaitlyn and Mathew that they were able to have the event of their dreams and make it so touching but never have it feel like they weren't ALSO having a special moment.
Kaitlyn and Mathew's wedding was one of the sweetest I saw in 2022 and I'm so glad I was there to document it for them to relive and reflect on for the rest of their lives together. So congratulations Kaitlyn and Mathew and best of luck on your journey together as husband and wife.
-Paul J. Spetrini
Check out more of my most recent wedding blogs:
The Vendor List:
Photographer: Paul J. Spetrini, Paul J. Spetrini Photography; Bride's Hair and Makeup: Boho Bridal; Bride's Dress: Alexandra’s Bridal Boutique; Groom's Suit: Mens Wearhouse; Florist: Sola Wood Flowers; Ceremony & Reception Venue: Allen Hill Farm, Brooklyn, Connecticut.