A Whimsical Modern Wedding at Bond Ballroom in Hartford, Connecticut

Old-world glamour and modern whimsy brought Patricia Hatch (29 and works in marketing) and Steven Roe’s (29 and a product manager engineer) mid-October wedding in Hartford, Connecticut, to life. The couple set the tone for the autumnal soiree with an elegant ceremony at Hartford City Hall, a breathtaking early-20th-century Beaux Arts structure. Soaring ceilings and ornate architectural detailing gave the event an undeniable air of sophistication, which was only heightened with the inclusion of cascading bouquets of white blooms and eucalyptus, and a live keyboardist. “Our favorite moment was walking out of City Hall onto the large staircase, where our guests stood with white and gold pompoms to celebrate our marriage,” Patricia says. After the “I dos,” Patricia and Steven whisked their guests off to the Bond Ballroom in Hartford for a night of fun-filled festivities. “We loved the old-world charm of the room, and the views outside the massive windows at sunset are breathtaking,” Patricia says. Playful details like gilded pineapples, gold pompom-accented escort cards, metallic X and O balloons and customized hand-calligraphed table names infused the refined space with an element of vibrancy and whimsy. A subtle culinary theme was carried throughout the evening, as Patricia and Steven gave cookie cutters as favors and had guests sign a copy of "The French Laundry Cookbook" in lieu of a traditional guest book. “Each table was also named after our favorite restaurants and bars from our time together and travels,” Patricia says. To keep the evening’s festive feel alive, the couple brought in a live band, which kept the dance floor packed late into the night. A tip from Patricia: “Make the day feel like your own. We put a lot of heart into the designs and motif, and it really paid off. Our other advice is to have fun! Make the day as lighthearted and fun as you can; you'll enjoy it, and your guests will have a blast.” —Libby MacCarthy