📸: Kim Lyn Photography // @kimlynphotography
The Meet Cute
It all started when Chiara took her brother to the groom to get, well, groomed. “My brother needed a haircut and a friend told me to take him to Tim,” she says. “That was the first time we met, although we had known of each other for a while because of a number of mutual friends.”
The Engagement
Six years after those initial sparks flew, Tim proposed during a December visit to New York City beneath the dazzling lights of the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree.
The Timing
As Chiara knows, sometimes childhood dreams change. “I always wanted to have a Winter Wonderland wedding,” Chiara explains. “My dream wedding was always to get married in Aspen, Colorado — but I would have been happy with any mountain/snow top views!” Instead, she traded in the colder temps and rocky terrain for the fresh florals of spring and the charm of New England.
The Process
When it came to wedding planning, Chiara enjoyed designing the aesthetic of the venue décor. “I knew I wanted to do black and greenery everywhere and subtle gold accents with candles,” she says. She wasn’t a fan, however, of having to gather the information needed for the invitations. Tim, meanwhile, had fun picking out and deciding on his and his groomsmen’s attire, yet could have gladly skipped figuring out the guest list.
The Aisle
Tim only had two thoughts running through his mind as his bride walked down the aisle: “She looks beautiful” and “I’m finally about to be married to her.” And though his soon-to-be-wife was nervous with all eyes on her, she was on the same page: “I was thinking, ‘I can’t wait to be his wife!’
The Special Guest
As evidenced by the photos, Chiara and Tim’s four-year-old daughter totally stole the show with her adorableness—even if she didn’t quite understand the significance of the day at the time. “But now when she sees our wedding photos around the house she always says, ‘Mommy looks like a princess!’” Chiara says.
The Hiccups
The night before the wedding, during their rehearsal dinner, Chiara and Tim made a last-minute decision to change the location of the ceremony. “It was just a bit further down from our original site, closer to the lake with a better view. It also had more room,” Chiara explains. “But it rained overnight and well into the morning and our new ceremony location flooded. So, we went back to plan A!”
The Highlights
Tim: “My first dance with my wife. And dancing with everyone all night.”
Chiara: “When our Justice of the Peace announced we were husband and wife! And I absolutely loved dancing the night away with all of our loved ones.”
The Advice: “Have fun planning. Remember that it’s yours and your fiancé’s wedding day and that you make the decisions — not anyone else. Have a backbone because you may find yourself stressed out about certain parts of planning and many people will have something to say; take it all with a grain of salt!” Chiara counsels. “And when it comes to the day of, be in the moment and savor every minute. Enjoy the moments with your wedding party, getting your makeup done, quiet moments alone and so on. When they say your wedding day goes by so fast, it truly does. The only thing you have to look back on that day is photos, videos and your own memory.”
The Details
Ceremony, Reception and Catering: Coachmen’s Lodge in Bellingham, MA | Bride’s Hair: Erin Martin of Secret Beauty Spa| Bride’s Makeup: Maddie Rae Makeup Artist | Bridesmaids’ Makeup: Kelly Young | Bride’s Dress: Ve’Lace Bridal| Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Fashion Nova | Groom’s and Groomsmen’s Formalwear: Express | Flowers: Rosebud Florist | Signage: The HarperLove Collection (owned by the bride) | Officiant: John Levreault | Maid of Honor’s Suit: Zara | Cake: Wright’s Dairy Farm and Bakery | Reception Music: John Levreault and John Glode