Hartford City Hall is quickly becoming one of my favorite wedding venues. The architecture is incredibly varied, and the natural light streaming through the large skylight in the atrium creates such a magical atmosphere! So when Alex and Natalie reached out to me about shooting their intimate wedding at City Hall, I was beyond excited.
Their story began in an unexpected way when they met on Instagram in 2014. Alex made the first move, sliding into Natalie's DMs, and the two quickly became close, forming a bond that would soon turn them into best friends. They texted and talked on the phone every day, unknowingly laying the groundwork for a relationship neither of them could have predicted.
Their first in-person meet-up was at a Starbucks in Manhattan, where they'd spend hours simply talking and enjoying each other's company. By May 2016, Alex made things official when he asked Natalie to be his girlfriend during a day at the park. From that moment on, their families welcomed each other with open arms, and their relationship blossomed.
In 2017, life brought a challenge when Alex moved to Connecticut with his family while Natalie stayed in New York to finish college. Despite the distance, they made it work—Alex driving down on weekends, and Natalie taking the train whenever she could. The long-distance wasn't easy, but their bond grew stronger, and here they are, eight years later, still going strong after all the ups and downs.
Together, they’ve built countless memories, from casual dates to vacations, and spending time with family and friends. In November 2020, Natalie moved to Connecticut, and soon after, they found their first apartment together—an exciting new chapter in their journey.
Fast forward to March 2024, when Alex proposed during their vacation in the Dominican Republic, a beautiful moment marking the next step in their love story. Initially they planned to have a large wedding in 2025 but they were why not do a small initimate wedding with just our family and close friends? So glad they did and decided to use Hartford City Hall.
The day started out at their Air BnB in West Hartford where they got dressed and then moved to City Hall . One of my highlights of the day was when her dad came to pick her up at the house and saw her for the first time. The playful chemistry between Alex and Natalie is undeniable—it's the kind of connection you can't help but notice. They balance each other perfectly. We wish them all the best as they look forward to what the future holds as they step into the next chapter as husband and wife.
Alex and cousin Matthew getting ready for the big day
Natalie doing a quick pose after getting dressed and waiting for Dad to see her.
First Look
This was such a beautiful moment as Natalie did a first look with her dad. It was definitely a tear jerker moment.
