August 18th & 19th. 2023

Middletown, Connecticut

We are dying to share with you the details and special moments of Nina and Tom’s August wedding weekend in Middletown, Connecticut! It was a whirlwind of special moments, tons of film, Super 8, and a lot of love. We headed down to Middletown the day before and stayed the night so that we could photograph the whole weekend! Nina and Tom are not just clients to us but close friends, we vibed so quickly when we first met last year when we shot their elopement at Quincy City Hall (check out that gorgeous day here) and have been growing closer ever since. That made this weekend extra special and emotional for us. Alright, let’s get into the most magical wedding weekend, shall we!!

The Night Before

As I said, we traveled the night before for the rehearsal dinner at the Arrigoni Winery. The sky was covered in cotton candy clouds, and the photos are just *chefs kissing*! They catered a yummy taco truck and enjoyed wine with their closest friends and family. Nina presented me with the idea of doing this through a window-style photograph for every milestone in their lives. Think wedding, new house, pregnancy, baby, you get the idea! So here is the first of many window pictures. I loved this idea! Can’t wait to see all the photos we captured for them over the years. 🥹

Nina & Tom’s Super 8 Wedding Film

If you know Javi and I, then you know our love for Super 8 films, it’s the best way to capture your wedding day and remember all the little details from it. One thing we always do is encourage our couples to film each other. Nina and Tom took the challenge and learned how to shoot on Super 8, and let me tell you, their footage was even more incredible than we could have imagined. The photos of them filming each other turned out super cute too!

DIRECTOR’S CUT

SOCIAL MEDIA HIGHLIGHT

Getting Ready

Getting ready for the big day is always a special time filled with anticipation and excitement. When I got to Nina’s room, I wanted to move some furniture around in the bridal suite to get the best natural lighting possible. Sometimes, with hotel rooms, you have to play the role of an interior designer to achieve the frame you are thinking of. But let me tell you, it was totally worth it. She looked absolutely gorgeous! Some of our favorites are the photos we captured during the bridal party getting ready. I mean just look at those black and white photos.

Candids Before The Ceremony

Before the ceremony, we got some sweet candid photos of Nina, Tom, and their families before walking down the aisle. It’s not very often that I get to meet family members more than once, but on this special occasion, I had already met a handful of Nina and Tom’s family members at their elopement last year. It was a treat to see how emotional this day was for all of them, and it was special to get to know them all a little bit more! The photo of Nina and her dad hugging is one of my personal favorites from the day!

The Most Magical Ceremony

This has to be one of the most magical wedding ceremonies I’ve ever witnessed, and I could not stop the tears from rolling! The sky and view of the water were really showing off as the ceremony began. The look in both of their eyes was indescribable as Nina started walking down the aisle to Tom, just pure emotion that everyone could feel. Tom’s twin uncles officiated the wedding, and we always love the personal touch of a family member or friend taking this special spot. The love between Nina and Tom was so obvious, and we couldn’t help but feel moved by their deep connection. I don’t think there was a dry eye in the place. There was no doubt these two were soulmates. ❤️

The Show-Stopping Details

Let’s not forget about the show-stopping details, from the amazing color palette to the stunning location, the beautiful florals, and the perfect lighting. Let’s pause for a moment to give these bridesmaid dresses the moment they deserve, STUNNING. Nina is a high school chemistry teacher, so she created a periodic table for the seating chart, and it was a hit! Every single element came together seamlessly, creating a wedding that was as unique as Nina and Tom themselves. And let me tell you, the wedding party was amazing, making our job so much easier. They brought so much fun and energy to the day, and we couldn’t have asked for a better group to work with. We could not have had a more beautiful day together.

29 Rolls Of Freakin Film

The true star of the show. We shot a whopping 29 rolls of film for Nina and Tom’s wedding, including 35mm, medium format, and, of course, Super 8. We were determined to capture every candid and timeless moment, and we couldn’t have been happier with all the film’s images. 

Tom & Nina’s Romantic Last Dance

After dancing the night away with their guests, Tom and Nina ended the night with a romantic last dance. As the ceremony came to an end, they had an intimate moment, just the two of them, before leaving the venue. It was pure magic, as they danced to one of their favorite songs and soaked in those final moments. It’s such a special way to end the big day and embark on a new journey together.

Castillo Holliday Photo And Film

We have an incredible connection with Tom and Nina, and it is something we hope for with all of our couples. We just clicked instantly when we first shot their elopement, and that connection only grew stronger as we helped plan their big day. We feel so honored to have captured their dream wedding and to now call them friends. It’s couples like them that remind us why we do what we do – to capture real, authentic, and timeless love stories and become BFF’s with our couples!

So babes, there you have it – Nina and Tom’s unforgettable wedding weekend. We hope you enjoyed diving into their love story as much as we did. If you are in search of an epic film photographer and Super 8 videographer husband and wife duo look no further. Head over to inquire with us here about your 2024 and 2025 wedding and or elopement!

Vendor Team:

Photographer: Castillo Holliday Photo + Film , Instagram: @castillohollidayphotoandfilm

Super 8/Videographer: Castillo Holliday Photo + Film, Instagram: @castillohollidayphotoandfilm

Rehearsal Dinner

Venue: Arrigoni Winery, Instagram: @arrigoniwinery

Food Truck: Fiesta Taco Truck, Instagram: @fiestatacotruck

Dress: Mac Duggal, Instagram: @macduggal

Wedding: 

Venue: Saint Clements Castle & Marina, Instagram: @saintclementscastleandmarina

Hotel & Getting Ready Suite: Inn at Middletown, Instagram: @innatmiddletown

Florist: Collette Benoit, Instagram: @collettes_floral_design

DJ: Local Motion Entertainment, Instagram: @localmotionent

HAMU: Blush Beauty Collective, Instagram: @blush_beautycollective

Catering: Saint Clements Castle & Marina, Instagram: @saintclementscastleandmarina

Wedding Cake/Dessert: Chimirri’s Italian Bakery & Pastry Shop, Instagram: @chimirrisitalianpastryshop

Cake Topper: Cake Topper Art Studio

Invitations: Zola, Instagram: @zola

Calligrapher: Calligraphy by Ally, Instagram: @calligraphy_by_ally

Signage: DIY 

Her Attire: 

Dress Designer: Enaura, Instagram: @enaurabridal 

Dress Shop: Madeline’s Daughter, Instagram: @madeleinesdaughter

Veil: BridalByValeria

Shoes: ShoesForBrides, Instagram: @shoesbride

Bride’s Robe: Le Rose Stories Robes & Sleep, Instagram: @lerose_online

Reception Dress: SuPrettyBridal, Instagram: @suprettybridal

Reception Shoes: ShoeArtCottage

Bridesmaids Dresses: AZAZIE and BIRDY GREY , Insta: @azazieofficial and @birdygrey

Bridesmaids Robes: Seline Lounge, Instagram: @selinelounge

Bridesmaid Earrings: Untamed Petals, Instagram: @untamedpetals

His Attire: 

Suit Designer: Jos A Bank, Instagram: @josabank

Groomsmen Suits: SuitShop, Instagram: @suitshopofficial

Engagement Ring + Bands: Brilliant Earth, Instagram: @brilliantearth