A Rustic Chic Wedding at Brodie Park in New Hartford, Connecticut

Crista Morrow (39 and an attorney) and Michelle Walker (34 and an elementary school principal) were friends for a long time before they became a couple. Michelle was the principal at the school Crista's children attended and their children were also friends. "After supporting one another through ending ten year marriages, our friendship eventually became something more," says Michelle. "By the time we were engaged, we lived together with our four children. Despite the unconventional start to our relationship, our engagement was more traditional." Crista called Michelle's parents and asked for their blessing, then surprised Michelle with a proposal during a sunset walk on one of their favorite waterfront trails at Blackie's Pasture in Tiburon, CA. The couple were married at Brodie Park in New Hartford, CT, overlooking West Hill Lake. Michelle's family owns a cottage nearby and Michelle has been going to the lake for years, so when the couple was looking for a relaxed setting to tie the knot, it seemed the perfect spot. Crista and Michelle opted for a rustic chic aesthetic to fit the setting and kept the decor minimal. "Being a second marriage for both of us, we wanted everything about our day to be celebratory, but not overdone," says Michelle. "We chose neutral colors for the linens and then added color to the tables through blue hydrangeas. We also strung white lights across the ceiling to complete an outdoor, rustic feel. Because of our busy lives with jobs and four kids, we used Paperless Post for our invitations."