At their lake-side ceremony, Brett's parents escorted him down the aisle to a wrought-iron trellis where Lisa and her father met him soon after. "We scouted the land to find the best view," says the bride of the trellis's location on a grassy field overlooking the lake and forest.
Bride: Lisa Bartlett
Groom: Brett Mitchell
Location: Sherman, CT
Theme: Rustic wedding
Lisa's white strapless sateen-tulle Stewart Parvin gown was accentuated by a chocolate-brown bow; Brett wore a classic Armani tuxedo and black bow tie.
Bride: Lisa Bartlett
Groom: Brett Mitchell
Location: Sherman, CT
Theme: Rustic wedding
The bridesmaids' chocolate dresses with ivory sashes, by Ann Taylor, complemented Lisa's white gown with brown bow.
Bride: Lisa Bartlett
Groom: Brett Mitchell
Location: Sherman, CT
Theme: Rustic wedding
Ceremony programs, crafted by Lisa with help from her sister, were made of brown recycled paper and ivory ribbon. By adorning their ceremony programs, cocktail napkins and wedding cake with a simple "M" (for Mitchell), the bride and groom tied together the elements without going overboard.
Bride: Lisa Bartlett
Groom: Brett Mitchell
Location: Sherman, CT
Theme: Rustic wedding
"There's something so clean and fresh about the fall," says the bride, noting the cool temperature and the changing hues of the foliage. "We were outside, yet the day felt so intimate." The couple's color palette of chocolate brown, sage green, white and hints of yellow echoed the lush surroundings of Brett's aunt and uncle's scenic property.
Bride: Lisa Bartlett
Groom: Brett Mitchell
Location: Sherman, CT
Theme: Rustic wedding
The picturesque site needed little in the way of embellishments, so Lisa and Brett chose understated arrangements of calla lilies, orchids, roses and lily grass in green, white and yellow shades to lend an elegant look to the rustic landscape.
Bride: Lisa Bartlett
Groom: Brett Mitchell
Location: Sherman, CT
Theme: Rustic wedding
The couple's centerpieces featured sage green hydrangeas, orchids and roses.
Bride: Lisa Bartlett
Groom: Brett Mitchell
Location: Sherman, CT
Theme: Rustic wedding
The adjoining peaked tents where the cocktail hour and reception were held didn't need many enhancements either. Garlands of green and white roses were wrapped around the poles, and low centerpieces of hydrangeas, cymbidium orchids and roses adorned the tables. The tents were aglow with candles on the tables, bandstand and food stations; spotlights on the trees and floating votives on the nearby lake also added to the ambience. With the help of Jennifer Reilly, an event coordinator with Marcia Selden Catering in Stamford, CT, Lisa and Brett chose an approach to the menu that complemented the lively atmosphere. Guests dined on sushi, Peking-duck wraps and lamb, all served at stations. "We wanted to keep the reception casual, so we didn't assign seats," says the bride.
Bride: Lisa Bartlett
Groom: Brett Mitchell
Location: Sherman, CT
Theme: Rustic wedding
A three-tier vanilla confection made by Lisa's aunt, who has baked every wedding cake in Lisa's family for the last two generations, completed the feast. The cake was surrounded by votives and fresh blooms, including green cymbidium orchids and white roses. In addition to serving wedding cake, Lisa and Brett offered a sundae station with all the fixings and had waiters pass around trays of candy, including SweeTarts, Smarties and taffy.
Bride: Lisa Bartlett
Groom: Brett Mitchell
Location: Sherman, CT
Theme: Rustic wedding
At their reception, Lisa and Brett's lighting designer projected hearts onto the dance floor and stars overhead. After some memorable moments on the dance floor—the newlyweds' first dance, as well as an impromptu a cappella performance of Etta James's "At Last" by their band's lead singer when the couple's iPod failed to play—everyone was lured outside by the booming sound of fireworks. The brilliant colors illuminated the black sky, giving Lisa and Brett's outdoor celebration a fitting grand finale.
Bride: Lisa Bartlett
Groom: Brett Mitchell
Location: Sherman, CT
Theme: Rustic wedding
Pink cookie favors had a special message attached, letting guests know that a donation was made in each of their names to the American Cancer Society, an organization that's meaningful to the couple.
Bride: Lisa Bartlett
Groom: Brett Mitchell
Location: Sherman, CT
Theme: Rustic wedding
