Jules and Andrew had the ultimate coastal New England wedding for their big day. Best of all, it was unapologetically unconventional and tailored to themselves!
Big lovers of Mystic, these two love finding things to do in this popular village. It’s actually where their proposal went down, too.
Here’s how they pulled off the ultimate coastal New England wedding in Mystic CT.
Tips for a Unique New England Wedding
Here are some quick tips for how to pull off a unique coastal New England wedding:
- Think of your guests: It should be an experience for your wedding guests, too. For example, skip the normal cocktail hour and replace it with something interesting like a beer tasting.
- Incorporate the water: Whether its an actual shoreline, a river, or maybe a lake or pond, make sure you’re near one of New England’s tens of thousands of water features.
- Choose unique venues: If being different is one of your goals, then skip the traditional wedding venues during your search. Opt for your whims, such as industrial, artistic, or off-beat outdoor event spaces for your day.
- Create an experience for yourselves: Leave room in your timeline to get out and away, both for portraits and to enjoy each other.
New Haven Engagement Session
New Haven is probably Connecticut’s most popular city if you’re into food, entertainment, and just walking around. It was really no surprise to me that Jules and Andrew selected it for their engagement session.
We hung out on the Yale campus (including Beinecke Library), walked the streets, and even spent some time in Wooster Square Park, a popular place to elope in Connecticut. It really gave us a great chance to gel and practice for their big day.
I include engagement sessions with all of my wedding photography packages for these very reasons. Fortunately, Jules and Andrew agreed with my advice to take advantage of their engagement session.
The Wedding Vendor Team
Here are some of the vendors that Jules and Andrew picked to make their wedding weekend a success:
- Ceremony Venue: Argia Mystic Cruises (Mystic, CT)
- Reception Venue: The Treehouse at Oyster Club (Mystic, CT)
- Hair and Makeup Stylist: Nita Taub of Nourish Aesthetics
- Jewelers: FGEMRING and robertWbruce
- Bridal Dress Designer: ASOS
- Invitation and Guest Book Artist: Prrints
Mystic Rehearsal Dinner
Naturally for a destination wedding, Jules and Andrew’s guests arrived to Mystic the day before their wedding. Everyone gathered in downtown Mystic for a rehearsal dinner.
The couple booked The Shipwright’s Daughter for their Mystic rehearsal dinner. This was the perfect choice for them.
Not only is this one of Connecticut’s best restaurants due its award-winning chef, it’s also an ideal location due to its private dining space which is perfect for rehearsal dinners.
The New England charm of Jules and Andrew’s dinner was great. I even convinced them to sneak away for a quick night walk while their guests dined. This night just proved why Mystic is a great location to host coastal New England weddings!
Destination Wedding in Mystic CT
I’m always claiming that I can deliver awesome wedding photography to bold couples. Well, Jules and Andrew were basically a perfect fit for my style.
Not interested in traditional event spaces but also wanting a quintessential coastal New England wedding in Mystic, they shared their vision with me. Here’s a quick summary:
Getting ready together at Captain’s Mansion
Captain’s Mansion, a boutique inn just minutes from downtown Mystic, is where they would spend the night before their wedding day and then get ready together the morning of.
This was really awesome: Jules and Andrew actually got ready together the morning of their wedding. Moreover, Captain’s Mansion is a quintessential bed and breakfast for any coastal New England wedding.
I wish more couples did this! It breaks “tradition” and gives you a chance to perfect your looks for one another.
Once they were ready, we took a few portraits throughout Captain’s Mansion and then headed out to downtown Mystic.
Walking around downtown Mystic
Next, we walked around Mystic to just take in the sights and sounds on our way to the wedding formalities.
There’s a reason visiting Mystic is one of the best things to do for couples. Not only is it walkable, but it’s filled with restaurants, breweries, bars, and shops. Community events are popular, too: Jules and Andrew stopped for lemonade on Main Street.
We even made a pit stop to the lovely Spencer and Lynn wine and spirit shop to see some friends.
Soon, the Mystic Bascule Bridge finally went up. A true symbol of southern New England charm, this famous bridge made for cool pictures as well.
This part of their day was really special, feeling like an elopement because it was just the two of them.
Wedding ceremony on the Mystic River
Not really interested in “traditional” Connecticut wedding venues, Jules and Andy booked the schooner Argia for their actual wedding ceremony.
As far as coastal New England wedding locations go, Argia on the Mystic River was perfect for this couple. This schooner sails the river all year except for late fall and winter. Among outdoor event spaces and as a wedding venue, it’s easily overlooked.
Jules and Andrew, however, knew what they were looking for. Their private charter was really touching as a dozen or so family members joined them as they said “I do.”
Private wedding dinner at Oyster Club
Again, these two opted for the essence of Mystic. That meant booking an award-winning Connecticut restaurant, the Treehouse at Oyster Club.
What’s really cool about this choice is that for Jules and Andy, a grand ballroom in a typical event venue just didn’t fit.
As far as outdoor event spaces in Connecticut go, the Oyster Club Treehouse is a great alternative to a traditional venue. This patio is the perfect place for a minimony or intimate wedding gathering.
And what would a fully customized wedding day be without some fireworks? This couple had it all figured out!
A Word on Downtown Mystic
Hands down, Mystic is one of the best towns in New England. So whether you’re having a “do what we want” wedding day or a more conventional one, Mystic should be on your list of considerations.
Somehow, this small village has managed to embody some of the great aspects of popular southern New England destination Newport, Rhode Island while still being accessible.
Here’s why Mystic should be on your short list of coastal New England wedding destination candidates:
- Centralized location, near highways; makes it easy to book several “wedding venues” and travel between them
- Great accommodations from traditional hotels to inns to Airbnbs
- Close to the coast with plenty of water features, including the Mystic River and Long Island Sound
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