Haley & Evan's Wedding at La Bella Vista

Haley and Evan met in college and it is clear that their love story was one that truly blossomed early but keeps on blooming. They now live together on the Upper East Side, close to the Central Park bench where they spend their weekends reading side by side, which is also where Evan proposed. It's the kind of detail that tells you exactly who a couple is before you've heard another word about them, and it shaped a wedding day that felt just as unhurried and specific to them. (If you want to hear more about H & E and their story, check out this blog post from their engagement session!)

Getting Ready

The morning started at a hotel in Southington, where Haley got ready alongside her bridesmaids, her two nieces, and both moms, all of them in hydrangea printed pajamas that matched the flowers waiting for later in the day. Hair and makeup, done by Kelsea Trinque of Ash and Honey Salon, wrapped early, which gave the whole morning room to breathe instead of rushing toward the first look. Evan got ready across the hall with all of his groomsmen and they were relaxed and ready for a great day.

Haley did a first look with her bridesmaids and then with her dad, and both were the kind of emotional you can't fake or direct. Her bridesmaids were all obsessed with her dress, which was a surprise to all of them. Her nieces, who call her their real life Disney princess, were in awe of how stunning she looked! Not to mention, both Haley's dad and her mom were beaming with tears in their eyes seeing their little girl ll grown up.

Haley and Evan's first look at La Bella Vista was just as unguarded. Neither one tried to hold it together, and it was a beautiful moment. Afterwards, we took bridal portraits in the courtyard where they'd marry later that afternoon as well as in the fields behind the venue.

The Ceremony

Haley and Evan were married under a chuppah wrapped in white draping and blue flowers, with Evan's older brother Greg officiating. Greg had watched Evan grow up, and it showed in how he spoke about the two of them, less like a formality and more like someone who'd actually been paying attention for years. Haley's uncle gave a reading during the ceremony as well.

Haley and Evan's vows were heartfelt and almost poetic (possibly the best I have ever heard), the kind that come from two people who read constantly and think carefully about what they say to each other. After they exchanged rings and said their "I do's," they stepped on the glass together, a nod to Evan's Jewish heritage, and processed out to a courtyard already filling with the sound of a champagne toast waiting for them.

The Reception

Haley grew up dancing, and it showed during their first dance that was clearly rehearsed and loved rather than just practiced. Parent dances followed, Evan with his mom and Haley with her dad, before the room moved into toasts. Both dads and both sisters spoke, and each one made it obvious how close this family is on both sides.

The room came fully alive during the hora, with Haley, Evan, and both sets of parents lifted in chairs while everyone circled around them clapping. Off to the side, they cut a classic white cake topped with a figure of the two of them, Haley's red hair and Evan's brunette rendered in enough detail that it was clearly them and not a generic topper.

The flower girls and ring bearers spent dinner chasing each other around the dance floor while the adults sat down for their meal, which is exactly the kind of fun chaotic energy every wedding day needs. As the dance floor filled with guests, Haley and Evan were clearly having an incredible time. At one point, Haley's grandparents got up to dance with her, a beautiful unscripted moment that stopped a few people at nearby tables mid-conversation to watch.

Planning a Wedding at La Bella Vista

Sunset light across the grounds of La Bella Vista is worth building your timeline around, it's one of the best windows the property has to offer. Midday shade is limited, so if portraits need to happen earlier in the day, the courtyard is the better bet over the open fields. The bridal suite is on the darker side, better suited to storing your things than getting ready in, so plan hair and makeup elsewhere if you can, the way Haley did. Parking is plentiful for guests. An outdoor ceremony makes the most of the property's setting, but the venue also handles an indoor ceremony well if weather doesn't cooperate, worth knowing if you're deciding how much to plan around the forecast.

Their Wedding Team

• Venue: La Bella Vista, Waterbury, CT
• Hair and Makeup: Kelsea Trinque, Ash and Honey Salon
• Florist: Flawless Functions
• Decor: Flawless Functions
• DJ: Lights Camera DJ
• Cocktail Hour Strings: Pizzazz Strings
• Videography: EZ Video Production
• Dress and Veil: Elizabeth Ann's Bridal
• Shoes: Betsey Johnson
• Suit: Enzo Customs

Interested in seeing the highlight photos from Haley & Evan's wedding? Check them out below!