Jessica and Nick’s wedding at The Wadsworth Mansion in Middletown, Connecticut, was a beautiful mix of timeless style and with modern flair, from the Bridgerton-inspired ceremony music to their lush, colorful, wild florals. No detail was overlooked and every element was highly personalized. It was beautifully designed by Wildflower Events and I cannot wait to share these incredible photos by Jennifer Nichole Photography.
Hi, I’m Ariana - I’m a wedding violinist and the founder of Ariana Strings. I’ve performed for 725 weddings and private events over the last 15 years and love sharing our couples’ wedding stories. Here you’ll find inspiration for your wedding ceremony music, cocktail hour playlist, as well as incredible style from this real Wadsworth Mansion wedding. Let’s dive in!
A Garden Ceremony: Classic Elegance on The Great Lawn
The Wadsworth Mansion has quite a few ceremony spaces, but the most classic is on The Great Lawn, surrounded by blooming hydrangeas and shaded by tall trees. At the top of the aisle was an incredible floral design by Rebel Rose Floral. It felt like a scene from a storybook!
The light blue and blush pink color palette was carried through the event, and I suggested that our string quartet wear dusty rose dresses to complement the blush theme. Our couple loved the idea, and the dresses matched perfectly, adding an extra layer of elegance.
Tip: If you’re getting married on The Great Lawn, rent umbrellas or consider the angle of the sun when deciding on your chair placement and ceremony flowers. Guests truly appreciate the natural shade on a hot Summer’s day.
Since Jessica and Nick had a larger event that sprawled over the full outdoor space at the Wadsworth (more on that later), we amplified our string quartet for their ceremony. The couple asked that our prelude music start off slow and romantic, and then shifted to more upbeat songs to match the joyful mood. Jessica and Nick’s song choices included:
- Justin Bieber - Holy
- The Beatles - All You Need is Love
- Aerosmith - I Don’t Wanna Miss a Thing
- The Cranberries - Linger
- Elton John - Your Song
- Ed Sheeran - Perfect
- Jason Mraz - Lucky
- Zedd, Maren Morris, and Grey - The Middle
- Maroon 5 - Girls Like You
- Sia ft. David Guetta - Titanium
- Coldplay - Yellow
The family walked down the aisle to XO by Beyoncé, while the wedding party entered to Taylor Swift’s Wildest Dreams (the Bridgerton string quartet version). Jessica made her grand entrance to Turning Page by Sleeping at Last, a lyrical motif made famous by the Twilight movies.
Jessica’s aunt officiated the ceremony, adding a Bridgerton-inspired theme with lessons about marriage based on the relationship between Queen Charlotte and King George. She connected these lessons to Jessica and Nick’s relationship, highlighting the importance of resilience, understanding, and unwavering support in building a strong and lasting partnership.
For the recessional, the couple chose Crazy Little Thing Called Love by Queen. This carefree and lively song perfectly captured the joy of the moment, especially when Nick swooped Jessica into a dramatic dip as they headed up the aisle—a moment beautifully captured by Jennifer Nicole Photography.
Wadsworth Mansion Wedding Cocktail Hour: A Pop Music Celebration in the Rose Garden
The cocktail hour took place in the rose garden near the tennis pavilion. There, we teamed up with DJ June and Garrett of June Events, plugging into their surround-sound style system. We made sure the sound was clear and well balanced for everyone to enjoy. This collaboration allowed every note to carry beautifully, creating a truly all-encompassing experience for the guests.
Jessica and Nick asked us to play pop music that everyone would know and enjoy, giving us the freedom to create a playlist that kept the energy high. During our music planning meetings, they shared how important it was that we make sure that every guest really felt included with our music selections. I knew exactly what to do: We played hits from different decades and really paid attention to what the crowd was enjoying. The couple told us that it was a huge hit:
“When my husband and I were planning our wedding we knew we wanted to incorporate live music. Ariana Strings was highly recommended by our wedding planner and for a good reason. The moment we heard the demos we knew we needed to book with them. They created a fairytale atmosphere and walking down the aisle to their music honestly gave me goose bumps. They also played during our cocktail hour and our guests were so impressed with all the modern songs they were able to play on the strings. Now my husband and I are so obsessed that we are wishing we another event just so we can work with them again. What an amazingly talented and sweet group of people. If you want to take your wedding to the next level then book ASAP….what are you waiting for?!!?”
Jessica and Nick’s wedding was a celebration of love, music, and family. With a thoughtfully curated playlist, incredible teamwork from all the vendors (lead by Lindsey of Wildflower Events), and the timeless beauty of The Wadsworth Mansion, their day was unforgettable.
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