From Backyard “I Do” to Waterfront Magic: A Connecticut Shoreline Wedding at Guilford Yacht Club
Bold and romantic florals with yellow peonies in a shoreline celebration.
Let me tell you a love story—not the meet-cute kind (though I’m sure theirs was adorable), but the kind forged through time, patience, and a whole lot of rescheduling. This couple originally tied the knot during the height of the pandemic in a quiet, backyard ceremony with masks, a DIY chuppah, and the smallest of guest lists. Fast forward three years—and countless emails, color palettes, and Pinterest boards later—and they finally got the celebration they’d been waiting for. And friends, it was so worth the wait.
Set at the serene-yet-grand Guilford Yacht Club on the Connecticut shoreline, this wedding was a glorious blend of cheerful color, heartfelt design, and the kind of floral moments that make your heart do a little skip. Working alongside Maggie from Sláinte Events (an absolute gem of a planner and one of our favorite vendor partners), we turned this long-awaited dream into reality—with armfuls of locally grown blooms, sunset-hued ribbons, and more yellow peonies than I thought humanly possible.
So grab your iced coffee and get cozy. We’re walking through all the juicy details—from those sunshine-soaked bouquets to the waterfront ceremony, all the way to the dancing-under-a-tent magic that unfolded as the sun set behind the sailboats.
Get inspired by this real wedding full of vibrant blooms and joy.
bouquets + bouts:
Let’s start with the bouquet, shall we? Because OH MY, was she a beauty.
Our bride carried the kind of bouquet that makes guests audibly gasp when she walks down the aisle. It was joyful. It was bold. It was a hand-tied garden-style bundle of everything good: butter yellow peonies (yes, the yellow ones that are nearly impossible to find—we sourced them locally!), apricot ranunculus, delicate spray roses in soft blush, ruffled garden roses in that perfect creamy yellow, and a flutter of butterfly ranunculus just to keep things feeling extra airy.
The result? A bouquet that felt like summer in full bloom—warm, whimsical, and completely unbothered by formality. It was tied with a silk ribbon in soft gold, letting those blooms take center stage in the best way.
For the groom, we kept it tonal and textural: a compact boutonnière with a petite garden rose, sprig of fern, and a tiny pop of coral charm peony petal for contrast. No bridal party meant we could go all-in on the couple’s flowers—and let’s just say, we understood the assignment.
Our bride absolutely stunned in a low V-neck gown adorned with delicate floral appliqué and just a touch of beading. The soft tulle hem gave her dress a floaty, ethereal quality—like something out of a fairytale. No bridal party meant no visual distractions, and she was able to fully own the moment (as she should!).
The groom’s soft off-white suit was the perfect counterpart—chic, a little unexpected, and incredibly stylish. A pale green tie added a subtle nod to the reception palette and tied everything together.
A cheerful yellow peony bouquet with seasonal blooms from local flower farms.
Stylish groom look with soft neutrals for a shoreline ceremony.
Textured floral dress details perfect for a summer wedding at the shore.
ceremony
Ceremonies at the Guilford Yacht Club are something special. The lawn stretches right out toward the water, and with a soft breeze coming off the Sound and sailboats lazily drifting by, it’s basically a scene out of a Nancy Meyers movie. Naturally, we leaned into the setting.
For their ceremony, we built a birch pole chuppah—organic, slightly wild, and dripping in local foliage. There were no giant floral foam installations here—just natural, textured branches and greenery from some of our favorite Connecticut growers, artfully arranged into a corner accent and a grounded piece at the base. It was romantic without trying too hard. The kind of thing that looks like it might’ve grown right there on the lawn.
We always say you don’t need a million flowers to make a big statement—you just need the right flowers, in the right place, at the right moment. And this was exactly that.
Bonus tidbit: My husband and I actually built the original backyard chuppah for their Covid ceremony years prior, so setting this one up felt like a full-circle moment in the most sentimental way.
A sustainable ceremony design using 100% local foliage at Guilford Yacht Club.
Natural birch and greenery ceremony arches perfect for outdoor venues.
A natural birch wedding arch adorned with seasonal greenery.
Wild and organic chuppah setup at a shoreline wedding ceremony.
Locally sourced blooms transform a classic venue into a personal love story.
centerpieces
Inside the tented reception (because, of course, this party needed room to dance), the design was all about balance—elevated but approachable, refined but full of personality.
We alternated between two centerpiece styles: classic gold lita compotes overflowing with peonies, ranunculus, and spray roses in those sunset tones… and clusters of candles nestled into lush greenery. The compotes featured some of our favorite ingredients from the day—locally grown maidenhair ferns, mustard spray roses, fluffy yellow peonies, and blush garden roses. They were rich and romantic without ever feeling stuffy.
Those greenery + candle tables? Chef’s kiss. Textural, warm, and a perfect way to create visual variety without overwhelming the space.
The tables themselves were dressed in soft sage green linens (hello, perfect neutral!) with gold Chiavari chairs for a bit of sparkle. The whole space glowed as the evening sun filtered through the tent and flickered off the glassware. It was breezy, fresh, and totally coastal chic without being too theme-y.
And honestly? The floral color palette just sang in that tent. The yellows popped against the green. The blush tones softened everything. And those vibrant coral charm peonies did what they do best—steal the show.
Bold and romantic florals with yellow peonies in a shoreline celebration.
behind the scenes
A few fun “you heard it here first” notes:
No bridal party? No problem. This trend is here, and we love the intimacy it brings to the ceremony and portraits.
Yellow is having a major moment. From butter to mustard to bold marigold, we're seeing sunny shades pop up in a big way.
Local flowers = better blooms. Everything we used that day was sourced from local growers, and it made the designs not only more meaningful, but more vibrant and seasonally rich.
Also? Big love to Maggie from Sláinte Events. She kept everything running like a dream and truly helped bring this couple’s vision to life—pandemic hurdles and all.
This wedding reminded me why we do what we do.
It wasn’t just about pretty flowers (though, trust me, we delivered on that). It was about honoring a journey. About celebrating not just a wedding day, but everything it took to get there—masks, pivots, backyard vows, and all.
The energy was joyful, the design felt deeply personal, and the setting couldn’t have been more stunning. Guilford Yacht Club continues to be one of our favorite Connecticut wedding venues for a reason—it gives couples the best of both worlds: coastal romance and classic New England charm, all in one.
If you’re planning a shoreline celebration and want your flowers to feel like you—a little wild, a little polished, and a lot joyful—we’re here to help.
the vendor team
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the vendor team *
Photography: Jeremie Barlow Photography | Venue: Guilford Yacht Club | Floral Design: First Blush Weddings + Events | Wedding Planning: Slainte Event | Catering: Gourmet Galley
