A Rustic-Chic Backyard Wedding at a Private Home in Pawcatuck, Connecticut

For Jessica Nicholas (27 and a nurse practitioner) and Rob Day (28 and a construction project manager), a laid-back couple with a love of the outdoors, a backyard wedding seemed like an obvious choice. Jessica’s parents have a horse farm in Pawcatuck  Connecticut with a vast, lush lawn that they were more than willing to offer for the outdoor affair. With the location decided, Jessica and Rob enlisted the help of A Polished Plan to transform the farm into the ultimate rustic-chic scene. A large Sperry tent was brought in for the reception and was decorated to the nines with vintage barn doors, patchwork-edged burlap table runners, one-of-a-kind suspended floral arrangements made by Jessica’s mother—a florist at Blush Florals—mismatched china, Edison bulbs and lanterns. Other playful details that highlighted the day’s rustic theme included horseshoe escort cards, a vintage Studebaker beer truck, cowboy boot vases, old milkmaid crates and even a quilt guest book. As an extra-special touch, Jessica and Rob created a signature scent for the day at Fragrance Bar in Newburyport, Massachusetts. “Our signature scent infused the day and we left with larger candles to light each subsequent year on our anniversary,” Rob says. “Smaller candles and small jars of honey from Jess’s mom’s bees served as our favors.” A backyard soiree isn’t complete without a few lawn games and delicious barbecue, and Jessica and Rob didn’t disappoint. The couple set up games like corn hole, battle bounce and horseshoes for guests to play as they sipped on signature cocktails and listened to the tunes of soloist Will Evans. Preppy Pig BBQ took care of all the couple’s culinary needs, whipping up a mouthwatering spread of barbecue ribs, stuffed chicken andouille, barbecue salmon and a whole host of inspired sides that went over big with the pair’s families and friends. After dinner and a course of decadent desserts, guests danced late into the night to the sounds of the Help Wanted Band.