A Branford House Wedding

A November wedding at the Branford House in Groton, Connecticut. Kristen and Owen celebrated their wedding day surrounded by their closest family and friends. Their day was one of windiest days I’ve ever been a part of and the wind gusts allowed us to create images so full of life. As a Branford House wedding photographer a wedding day like this is less about directing and more about observing. It’s about noticing the way they reach for each other without thinking, the way their families lean in close during toasts, the way the room glows once dinner begins. Shot on both film and digital, their images carry that same softness and depth — romantic, warm, and quietly timeless.

Kristen and Owen’s Story

Owen and Kristen met the week after high school graduation and have been inseparable almost ever since. Over the past decade they’ve grown up side by side, best friends who spend most of their days laughing: a quality their friends always point out and admire. They’ve come a long way from their wonderfully awkward first date at a California Pizza Kitchen in their hometown of Richmond, Virginia.

After graduating from James Madison University, they lived in Richmond for a few years before heading west to Denver in 2022. The mountains have always been their happy place, so it was only fitting that Owen proposed in the heart of wildflower season in Breckenridge. He packed a picnic with Kristen’s favorite food (sandwiches he made that morning) and asked her to marry him in a joyful, private moment that felt perfectly them.

They chose Mystic, Connecticut, near Owen’s parents’ home in Westerly, Rhode Island, for their wedding; a place woven with many of their favorite memories. Now it holds the most special memory of all: the day they promised to keep laughing, growing, and choosing each other, every single day.

Planning a wedding at Branford House

The Branford House holds up to 200 guests, although they often recommend smaller sizes for the most comfort throughout your day. Every room is full of character and thoughtful design. Your ceremony can be held indoors overlooking the water or indoors in front of either of their gorgeous fireplaces.

Dinner tables spread across two rooms, making the space feel intimate without being too closed off from all of your guests. The ambient light of the venue greats a warm, elevated feel to your dinner.

A venue ideal for any type of weather. Even on the windiest day of the year when we couldn’t be outside, the Branford House held the most beautiful light indoors for formal photos. Having moments photographed with your family is an important part of all of my couples wedding days so having a beautiful space for this, no matter the weather is a major bonus!

An elevated evening documented on film and digital

A candle lit day, full of warm light and soft moments. The Branford House was the perfect base to bring their vision to life.
The grain that film holds allowed us to fully encapsulate the atmosphere of the day.
Film was not only important to Kristen and Owen, but it also brought a further emphasis to the warmth and nostalgia for the day.