THE WEDDING OF NICOLE & KRISTIAN

November 4, 2017 Wethersfield, Connecticut

By Rachael Devaney

Nicole Pittera and Kristian Otten’s friendship, which developed into a lifelong love, began at their hometown church. “We’ve known each other since we were five and seven years old," Nicole says.

For that reason, the couple chose a church ceremony that revolved around worship, music and loved ones. “Our family’s pastor, Cary Slater, officiated the wedding, and friends and students of ours played the music throughout the event,” Nicole says. “Because everyone played a part, the ceremony was extremely intimate.”

Before the duo exchanged their vows, they took first-look photos in a nearby forest. Wearing a Hayley Paige long-sleeved dress embellished with froths of tulle and sparkling hues of amethyst and pale pink, the bride simply glowed under the gray November sky.

Their reception was held at The Webb Barn, which was decked out with bright white lights and moody tones. “The theme was for the barn to have a glamorous, yet rustic vibe,” Nicole says. They served barbecue from Danny’s Little Taste of Texas in lieu of a formal dinner, and even brought in food trucks like Tipsy Cones and the Fryborg Food Truck.

With a jazz trio paired with DJ Rob Alberti, who played classic rock, Nicole says the casual-meets-glam theme carried over to the dance floor. She says, “My husband is a musician, so at one point he even joined the jazz trio and jammed with them a bit.”

One moment rose above the rest: “At one point we inadvertently walked out onto the patio away from the reception, and the whole wedding was literally glittering and glowing,” Nicole says. “Its beauty was whimsical in a way that was just perfect for us.”

PHOTOGRAPHY / KATIE SLATER PHOTOGRAPHY