Madison Beach Hotel Wedding in Madison, CT | Jackie & Michael

A MADISON BEACH HOTEL WEDDING

Arturo and I love photographing coastal Connecticut weddings: the water, the breeze, the timeless New England backdrop, and the feeling that the people you love most are all gathered in one place.  Jackie and Michael’s Madison Beach Hotel wedding in Madison, Connecticut was all of that and more, with a day that was equal parts elegant, relaxed, and full of the kind of moments you simply can’t plan for.

Their October wedding day started with a little surprise: an unseasonably warm 80° afternoon, complete with bright sunshine and clear blue skies.  It felt more like summer than fall, but no one was complaining.  Michael and Jackie were completely at ease throughout the day.  There was an effortless comfort between them that made photographing their portraits feel less like posing and more like simply documenting two people who genuinely love being together.  With the coastline nearby and the sun shining down, we made the most of the beautiful weather before heading inside to cool off for a bit.

However, this is New England after all, and the weather decided to change its mind.  When we stepped back outside for the ceremony, a blanket of clouds had rolled in, softening the light and creating beautiful, even overcast skies.  It was the perfect backdrop for an intimate ceremony surrounded by their closest family and friends.

Of course, there was one very important member of the family who had a job to do.  Ollie, the couple’s mini Australian Shepherd, was their ring bearer, and he absolutely understood the assignment!  He made his way down the aisle and delivered the rings to his parents like a total professional.  It was one of those moments that had everyone smiling, and there was really no better way to bring their family into the ceremony.

The ceremony itself was filled with all of the emotion you would expect from a wedding day, but it still felt personal and relaxed (shoutout to Justice of the Peace Tiffany Blake for the way she incorporated the bride and groom’s story into this part of the day!).  Jackie and Michael were surrounded by the people they love most, and you could feel just how meaningful that was to both of them.

When it came time for their first kiss, a light rain began to fall almost perfectly on cue.  The wind picked up along the water, too, creating movement in Jackie’s dress and veil and adding an unexpected bit of magic to their newlywed portraits.  What could have been an inconvenience instead became one of our favorite parts of the day.  The soft rain, dramatic skies, and coastal breeze made everything feel cinematic and completely unique to them.

That’s what we love about wedding days.  The most memorable photographs aren’t always created when everything goes exactly according to plan.  Sometimes it’s the unexpected weather, a dog running down the aisle, or a little wind off the water that turns an already beautiful moment into something unforgettable.

Michael and Jackie’s Madison Beach Hotel wedding was elegant without ever feeling overly formal, romantic without feeling staged, and most importantly, centered around the people they love. And honestly, that’s exactly how a wedding should feel.

THE LOVE STORY

The newlyweds’ story began at Franklin & Marshall College where they somehow managed to attend classes together twice before really meeting. Despite a student body of only about 2,300 students, Jackie and Michael’s paths didn’t truly cross until the fall of their junior year, when they found themselves in the same class. With only about 15 students in the course, you would think they would have been paired together constantly, but somehow they never ended up in the same group or discussion.

Michael, however, had already started noticing Jackie. He lived across the street from her and would often try to catch up with Jackie on the way to class. Nonetheless, she was so focused on her classes that semester that she never noticed the guy walking alongside her. Jackie does remember seeing Michael leaving his apartment around the same time she did, though! Michael remembers things a little differently. He thought Jackie was incredibly smart in class and admitted that she seemed a little intimidating. Jackie, of course, strongly disagrees with that assessment.

Their next class together was Criminology during the spring of their senior year. Once again, despite there being fewer than 15 students in the course, they were only paired together for one group discussion. It wasn't until the end of the semester that things finally changed. Every year, Franklin & Marshall students have a tradition of heading to Myrtle Beach for four or five days before graduation. Michael was graduating that spring, while Jackie was preparing to return to campus for one final semester.

Somehow, they ended up on the beach at the same time, and finally had their first real conversation. The two talked for so long that their friends eventually left them behind. For the rest of their time in Myrtle Beach, they kept running into each other and spending hours together, talking about everything and nothing. Both Jackie and Michael remember how naturally the conversation flowed. They had so much in common; their sense of humor was almost identical, and being together simply felt easy.

When they returned to campus, they started spending every day together leading up to graduation. Jackie even helped Michael pick out his graduation outfit! Then graduation arrived, and suddenly they both had to pack up and head home. Despite the incredible two weeks they had just spent together, there was a moment when they wondered if this was simply where their story would end.

Thankfully, it wasn't. They continued texting throughout the summer and spent hours talking on the phone. In July, Michael drove up to Connecticut to spend a long weekend with Jackie, and somewhere during that visit, they both realized they had found their person. When Jackie returned to campus for her final semester, Michael was living only about an hour away and would come visit her every weekend. From that first long conversation on the beach in Myrtle Beach, they were pretty much inseparable.

Now, years later, they're getting married on the beach. It seems that, from the very beginning, the beach was exactly where their story was meant to lead them. Congratulations, Jackie and Michael! Cheers to many beautiful years ahead!

I hope you enjoyed this fall wedding at Madison Beach Hotel!  Do you know Jackie and Michael?  Show the newlyweds some love by commenting below!

CREATIVE TEAM

Wedding Venue: Madison Beach Hotel | Photography: Shaina Lee Photography | Officiant: Justice of the Peace Tiffany Blake | Floral Design: Cynthia’s Flower Shop | Hair & Makeup: Nadia’s Beauty Spot | DJ: J&S Entertainment | Bride's Wedding Gown Designers: Flora Bridal & Alena Leena Bridal | Bridal Dress Boutique: Everthine Bridal | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Birdy Grey | Groom & Groomsmen's Attire: The Black Tux | Cake: J Cakes | Specialty Event Lighting: J&S Entertainment | Specialty Rentals: Serene Scapes

ABOUT THE PHOTOGRAPHERS

Shaina Lee Photography is a husband and wife photography team serving Connecticut, New York, and beyond.  We specialize in timeless, elegant, and romantic weddings while celebrating all couples in love. 

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