This Gorgeous Fall Wedding in Connecticut Is Giving Us Estate Expectations

Jon and Patrick’s elegant fall wedding in Connecticut boasted timeless details and infused traditions.

Unraveling like a great novel, Jon and Patrick’s love story led them to exchanging vows on the stone steps of Gallaher Mansion, a Tudor Revival-style mansion nestled in Connecticut’s Cranbury Park.

CEREMONY

Donning matching green custom suits, the polished grooms incorporated nods to their cultural heritages: their older brothers performing a Yugal ceremony and their best friends presenting arras, two traditional elements from Filipino weddings. An applicable excerpt from a now-archived letter written by Harvard professor F.O. Mattiessen to his partner Russell Cheney in 1924 was read aloud: Marriage is a mere term; only as a dynamic vivid thing does it dominate life. That is: you can visualize marriage or you can live it. Now I am living it.

“The letter demonstrates how far we have come in the last 95 years, and how our society has chosen to embrace the love shared by two men,” says Patrick.

RECEPTION

Classic crisp white dahlias and roses blended beautifully with lush eucalyptus in milk-glass vessels that lined the tables underneath the twinkly-light capped tent. “We wanted to add floral elements that felt natural for our space, and the décor to reflect our goal for the night—create a fun, love-filled memory with all of our favorite people,” says Patrick.

The grooms designed and built the fabric signage themselves, which directed guests to their seats where they indulged in seasonal fare. As dinner winded down, Jon and Patrick cut into their croquembouche, a traditional French wedding cake. “Jon and I love a French pastry shop in Connecticut, Hen and Heifer. Whang Suh—the owner and chef—makes the most amazing cream puffs and suggested we go with a croquembouche.

As dancing started to rev up, the newlyweds swapped their suits for customized jean jackets with “Groom” embroidered on the back, accompanied by patches found at a local shop.

“The most emotional moment happened when our second-to-last song started to play! We couldn’t believe the night was almost over when [the DJ] played Noah Reid’s version of Simply the Best,” says Patrick. “We love the television show Schitt’s Creek and Noah’s version of the song is perfect for a final slow dance. The night officially ended with Ke$ha’s Die Young—full of energy, jumping, and tears: “Let's make the most of the night like we're gonna die young.”