“I loved going home to Connecticut to photograph Annisa and Greg’s rustic chic wedding at Tunxis Plantation in Farmington. Greg and Annisa are two kind, thoughtful, and hilariously funny people who anyone can see are completely in love with each other. They were married on Friday, July 3, which also marked Annisa’s parent’s 50th wedding anniversary. Annisa got dressed in her beautiful Cotton Bride gown at her and Greg’s new home in West Hartford before heading over to the Hill-Stead Museum for photos. When Greg arrived for the first look, he stepped off the trolly and said to me, “Meny, bring me my bride!”

This wedding was also a bit of a reunion for me. I grew up with Greg and went to high school with the majority of the groomsmen. Not having seen many of my former Conard High School classmates since graduation, I had no idea what to expect from their dancing skills. While I don’t remember splits, flips, handstands, or Boyz II Men serenades from prom, I was thrilled to capture it all 10 years later. Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Teich!” –Eileen Meny Photography

What is your favorite wedding day memory?

Walking up behind my Husband at Hillstead Farm, where we took our pictures for our first look and he turned around and was pink in the face and kind of misty eyed. I could tell he was taken aback by seeing me in the white dress, all dolled up and that was a really amazing moment for me.

What did you DIY for your wedding?

EVERYTHING! As a Marketer and Design hobbyist, the brand and look of the wedding was very important to me! From our wedding logo to our save the dates and invites, to combining a vintage/handmade feel to the 4th of July weekend using fireworks throughout, interpreted as paper pinwheels – it was all painstakingly thought out. I drove everyone {and myself} crazy with perfectionism, but when you get closer to the day, the fatigue of that endeavor starts to wear you out and having everything look and run perfectly becomes far less important!

Myself, my mother and friends spent HOURS creating all the paper pinwheels that decorated the venue, including the firework-like background behind the app and dessert counter. Cake toppers, pictures and frames, dessert platters, table cloths, garlands, jars, vases and candles were all bride curated. Table runners were also created by Bride and mother of the bride from purchased vintage and family crochet doilies, it was exhausting but so worth it!

Did you have a something old, new, borrowed and blue?

The sentimentality of the day ran deep in many ways.

For my Something Old, my bouquet was actually a gift from my father at my very first dance recital when I was just 4 years old. It was a tiny nose gay with babies breath, blue and white ribbon roses and some lace ribbon around the edges. I had it on a shelf in my room for decades until my mother retired and of course saved it in a box for me. It was a cherished gift from a formative memory for me. I was front and center as the youngest class {hence shortest} at the recital during the finale. He defied parental instruction and got up from his seat to reach up to the stage and give me this beautiful nose gay. In that moment I literally thought the entire world revolved around me. It was pretty much how my Dad made me feel all the time, but at 4 years old, it become a moment I will never forget. So to have that same bouquet refreshed in new babies breath, retaining the same ribbon roses, and wrapped in new lace and burlap for use on my wedding day was a way to have my Dad there as I smiled all the way down the aisle alone.

My Something Borrowed was actually our wedding date itself! The day would have been my parents’ 50th wedding anniversary, but my Dad passed away in 2007 from complications related to Type 2 diabetes. So the timing of that day/year around my own engagement was a dream tribute to my amazing parents and their love. From that day, Greg and I drank and toasted from engraved glasses my parents used on their wedding day.

Lastly, for my Something Blue, I wore my Grandmother’s vintage Italian gold necklace – a gorgeous pendant adorned with a delicate blue porcelain flower and beads.

Any advice for brides currently in the planning process?

Truly remember what the day is all about. Don’t get caught up in Pinterest perfection. Something, anything and maybe everything will go wrong, but you are marrying a man you love and that should always remain the most important aspect of the day. Believe me, this is advice I didn’t heed until far too late in the process, but Greg knew he was marrying a crazy person :-) so he was amazingly supportive. -Annisa, the bride

Event Credits

Photographer: Eileen Meny Photography // Venue: Tunxis Pavilion // Day of Coordination: Peony Events Co. // Florist: A Special Place Floral // Catering: Tunxis Pavilion // Transportation: Limo Affair // Engagement Ring: Quality Gem // Bride's Attire: The Cotton Bride // Bride's Shoes: Vince Camuto // Bridesmaid's Attire: Weddington Way // Groom's Attire: J. Crew