An Equestrian’s Dreamy, Rustic-Chic Wedding at Winvian Farm in Morris, Connecticut

Guy Dunkley spent hours finding the perfect spot to propose to Jennifer (Jen) Dorfman while on a quick Key West vacation. Suddenly, the opportunity presented itself—a local dog beach was within golf-cart-driving distance, and the pair had their one-year-old Cocker Spaniel with them. “Noodle played with the other dogs on the sand, and I started putting on sunscreen,” Jen recalls. “Guy took me completely by surprise and got down on one knee. When I finally finished shaking and crying, we shared a bottle of champagne and called all our friends and family to share the amazing news!”

Upon embarking on their venue-shopping journey, the couple decided they sought a rustic look. The instant they stepped onto the grounds of Winvian, they could envision their entire event. “We wanted to lean into this farmhouse-chic theme as my husband is an avid fly fisherman and I am a lifelong equestrian—we channeled our passions into the beautiful countryside surroundings to create our ideal wedding,” says the bride. With this in mind, the pair paid particular attention to their personalized details, which included a wedding logo based on their chosen hashtag: #HorseGirlAndFishBoy. The design prominently featured an illustration of Jen’s horse, Fritz, surrounded by fishing lures.

The bride and groom hosted close friends and family at a casual barbeque rehearsal dinner to kick off their wedding weekend. “It was very fitting and kept with the vibe of our wedding weekend,” Jen notes. “Our guests from the UK [where Guy hails from] absolutely loved trying American BBQ—it was a relaxed way to have everyone from all over the world get to know each other before the more formal wedding day.”

Jen and Guy readied themselves with their respective groups the morning of their ceremony. The bride donned a stunning Galia Lahav dress with a bold plunging neckline, while Guy wore a light gray suit with a blue bowtie to compliment his eyes. “I knew I wanted a dramatic dress with a long train and very intricate details,” describes the bride. “The detailed florals all over the dress were stunning, the bows on the shoulders were a really fun addition, and I loved the open back—it was such a beautifully dramatic dress.” Before their vows, the couple met for a heartfelt first look.

The tented ceremony space featured pastel blooms in the potted aisle arrangements and the verdant chuppah at the altar. Bridesmaids and groomsmen descended the aisle in deep-hued ensembles, walking underneath string lights suspended overhead. “We opted for late-summer hues with whites and greens and pops of blues and pinks in the flowers displayed on our beautiful chuppah,” says Jen. A Rabbi that the bride has known since childhood officially married the couple, and they happily led their processional as Mr. and Mrs.

Loved ones found their seats for dinner in the venue’s barn at tables displaying unique identifiers. “We had each table named after a place in the world that was important to us, including our college towns, holiday destinations, etc.,” the bride tells. Meanwhile, the newlyweds enjoyed a quiet moment for themselves. “A particularly special moment was the ten minutes directly after the ceremony where we could both take a deep breath in private, share a cocktail and reflect on the fact that we were husband and wife!”

Guests broke bread under lush vines and lavender blooms hanging overhead, accented with bright bulbs and string lights. In addition, each table displayed unique candle arrangements, giving the space a soft glow. “We loved the farmhouse tables and chairs and wanted the florals to be the main attraction on the tables,” shares Jen. “We wanted the beams in the reception area to be full of draped greenery and flowers. The lighting was so incredible, and the hanging candles added an extra romantic element (thank you, Vivid Events).”

After the wedding day, Jen and Guy also had the opportunity to have a sweet photo session with Fritz, donning their attire to snap photos with Jen’s loveable horse, who couldn’t make it to their big day. “Don’t get caught up in the small things; remember, it’s your big day!” the couple advises. “Also, having a videographer was something we are so grateful we decided to do. The day flies by, and it is so much fun to have the video to re-live the special moments—it makes us cry every time!”