A Casual Beach Wedding at a Private Residence in Old Saybrook, Connecticut

Kim Petersen (28, an artist) met Dave Herrle (33, owner of Herrle Crust) at an ocean-front bar at happy hour. Kim was on her way home from work, and Dave was with his brother. They small talked for a while, and Dave asked Kim to go on a kayaking date with him the following evening. She agreed. As she walked away, Dave told his brother that he found the girl he was going to marry.Dave being a woodworker, and Kim being an artist, both have the same outlook on life: live your life doing what you love – and that’s exactly what they did.In Spring 2013 they built our "Wee House Tree House" together. In July of that same year, Dave proposed to Kim by carving "Will you marry me?" into the main beam of the tree house over their lofted bed.After visiting a few different venues, they ultimately decided to have their wedding reception where they felt most comfortable -- in their own backyard! “The style of our wedding was ‘woods meets ocean.’ We used touches of sea foam green, wood elements and lots of twinkle lights throughout,” Kim says. “Succulents and antique blue glass bottles were used as centerpieces placed atop burlap table runners. Lots of artsy chalkboard signs with our favorite quotes completed the look. The dinner menu included hand tossed salad and divine brick oven pizzas (like fig and prosciutto) by Old World Pizza Truck, parked at the reception. For the best, folksy, feet-stompin' music at the reception we had Jonah Tolchin, The Meadows Brothers and Anthony Daniels perform live on the timber frame stage built by Dave. Guests could sit on blankets in the yard to watch, or boogie on the dance floor.”But most of all, Kim and Dave wanted their guests to get a real feel for who they are as a couple, and we think they got that across beautifully.