Nicki and Drew’s Intimate Wood Acres Farm Wedding in Terryville, CT
There is something incredibly special about photographing a couple through more than one chapter of their love story.
For Drew and Nicki, I first met them on the night their relationship took a beautiful turn, from longtime sweethearts to newly engaged. Their Festival of Silver Lights proposal and engagement session at Hubbard Park in Meriden was filled with twinkling lights, winter air, and the kind of surprise that leaves you completely speechless.
That night, we photographed their engagement portraits immediately after Drew proposed, while the excitement was still fresh and the ring was still being admired every few minutes.
Months later, I had the incredible honor of photographing them again. This time as they became husband and wife at Wood Acres Farm in Terryville, Connecticut.
And now, there is an even bigger chapter ahead for these two.
Drew and Nicki are expecting a baby!
Their wedding day already felt like the beginning of something new, but knowing they are now preparing to become parents makes these photographs feel even more meaningful.
High School Sweethearts, Finally Saying “I Do”
Drew and Nicki have been together since high school, which makes their wedding day feel even more significant.
This wasn’t the beginning of their story. It was another milestone in a relationship that has already grown through so many seasons of life.
Their wedding at Wood Acres Farm was intimate, surrounded by family and a handful of close friends. It wasn’t about having a huge guest list or putting on a production. It was about bringing together the people who have been part of their lives and celebrating the fact that after all these years, they were finally getting married.
And if you’ve followed their story here on the blog, you already know that this wasn’t the first milestone I’ve had the privilege of documenting for them.
From a surprise proposal underneath the glowing lights at Hubbard Park to those just-engaged winter portraits, and now their wedding day, it has been such a joy to watch their story unfold.
Getting Ready in the Sweetest Little Cottage
One of my favorite things about photographing a wedding at a venue like Wood Acres Farm is the variety it gives you throughout the day.
Nicki got ready in the cutest little cottage, creating a cozy and personal start to the wedding day.
There is something special about photographing these quieter moments before everything begins. I love being around the excitement, the anticipation, the little details, and the people closest to the bride.
But one of the most meaningful parts of Nicki’s day was still ahead.
A First Look With Dad and Her Brothers
Nicki chose to have a first look with her dad and brothers, and it was such a beautiful way to slow down and take in the significance of the day.
A first look doesn’t always have to be with your soon-to-be spouse.
Sometimes, the people you want to see you first are the ones who have known you your entire life.
Watching Nicki share that moment with her dad and brothers was a reminder that a wedding isn’t just about two people. It’s also about the family and friendships that helped shape them along the way.
A Wedding Ceremony With a Little Rain
Of course, no Connecticut wedding story would be complete without talking about the weather.
Rain decided to make an appearance during Drew and Nicki’s ceremony.
But instead of letting it take away from the moment, their maid of honor and best man simply grabbed umbrellas and held them over the couple.
Honestly, there was something pretty wonderful about it.
The rain became part of the story.
It didn’t stop the ceremony. It didn’t stop the celebration. It simply meant that a couple of the people who loved Drew and Nicki most literally stood beside them and helped keep them dry while they said their vows.
And then there was their ring bearer.
He may have been one of the cutest members of the wedding party, but he also had a very important job to do.
During the ceremony, he kept watch over the grounds from the balcony while enjoying some crackers.
I think it’s safe to say he took his responsibilities very seriously.
A Brother as the Officiant
Another incredibly personal part of the day was having Nicki’s brother officiate the wedding.
There is something especially meaningful about having a family member standing at the front of the ceremony, not simply as someone performing a formal role, but as someone who knows the couple and has been part of their story.
For an intimate wedding surrounded by family and close friends, it was a perfect fit.
The people standing around Drew and Nicki weren’t just wedding guests.
They were their people.
When the Rain Stopped at Exactly the Right Time
One of my favorite things about wedding photography is learning to embrace whatever the day gives us.
And on Drew and Nicki’s wedding day, the weather gave us a little bit of everything.
Because the rain pushed us onto the patio and inside for some of their portraits, we were able to create a completely different set of photographs—cozy, intimate images that wouldn’t have happened on a sunny day.
And then, almost as if it had been planned, the rain stopped at exactly the right time.
We headed back outside and were able to use the grounds at Wood Acres Farm for more portraits.
That gave their gallery so much variety.
We had indoor portraits that felt warm and intimate, followed by outdoor images with the beautiful farm setting surrounding them. Instead of fighting the weather, we used it to our advantage.
And that’s one of the biggest reasons I always tell couples not to panic when rain shows up on their wedding day.
Sometimes the unexpected moments end up becoming some of your favorite photographs.
From Proposal to Wedding Day—and Now a Baby
When I look back at Drew and Nicki’s story, it’s pretty amazing to think about how many milestones I’ve been lucky enough to witness.
I photographed Drew planning a surprise proposal beneath the Festival of Silver Lights.
I watched Nicki realize what was happening and experience that incredible moment when she went from girlfriend to fiancée.
I photographed them immediately afterward, while their excitement was still completely fresh.
And now, I got to photograph them as husband and wife.
But their story isn’t stopping here.
They’re having a baby!
There is something incredibly special about knowing that these wedding photographs will eventually become part of their child’s family history.
Someday, they’ll be able to look at these images and see their parents surrounded by the people who loved them most, celebrating the beginning of their marriage.
They’ll see their mom getting ready in that little cabin.
They’ll see their dad standing beside her on their wedding day.
They’ll see the umbrellas during the rainy ceremony, the family gathered around them, and all the little moments that made the day theirs.
And they’ll know that before they arrived, their parents had already built a beautiful life together.
Photographing the Moments That Become Family History
This is why I love being a wedding photographer.
Yes, I love beautiful portraits. I love gorgeous venues and beautiful light. I love finding creative ways to use a space like Wood Acres Farm.
But more than anything, I love photographs that mean something.
The first look with a father and brothers.
A brother standing up to officiate his sister’s wedding.
A maid of honor and best man holding umbrellas while their friends say their vows.
A tiny ring bearer eating crackers while keeping watch from the balcony.
A couple who has been together since high school finally becoming husband and wife.
And now, a baby on the way.
Those are the photographs that tell a family’s story.
Drew and Nicki, thank you for trusting me to document another chapter of your love story. From that magical winter night at Hubbard Park to your wedding day at Wood Acres Farm, it has been such an honor to be there for these milestones.
And now I can’t wait to see where this next chapter takes you.
Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Hanelt! And a giant congratulations on your newest little adventure. 🤍
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