A Rustic Coastal Wedding at a Private Residence in Groton Long Point, Connecticut

Greek traditions and a refined palette of black, white and brass turned Chanel Champagne (28 and a retail director) and Andrew McCoy’s (30 and an attorney) waterfront wedding into an event that was truly their own. Before the ceremony, Chanel and Andrew spent hours finishing their invitations with gilded twine, leaves and gold leaf. As 120 family members and friends looked on, the couple wed in a Greek Orthodox ceremony, wearing the original marriage crowns, or stefana, used by Chanel’s grandparents over 60 years ago. “The crowns are symbolic of a couple being the king and queen of their own kingdom,” Chanel explains. “The ribbon that joined our stefana together signified our unity.” At the reception, black tapered candles and tufts of moss paired perfectly with gold-rimmed glassware. “We tried our best to keep things beautiful but understated,” Andrew says. Guests sipped mimosas and whiskey lemonades during the family-style meal, unaware that the wedding cake on display was anything but edible. “We made a fake cake ourselves using styrofoam, spackle and gold leaf,” Andrew says of serving sheet cakes from Sugar Bakery to guests behind the scenes.