The Schoolhouse at Cannondale

Last night we attended a lovely dinner at The Schoolhouse at Cannondale in Wilton, CT. It’s an adorably charming little restaurant that was converted from (surprise!) a one-room schoolhouse built in 1872 after the Civil War. The restaurant is owned by chef Tim LaBant and his wife Julia, both of whom grew up in Wilton. They are promoting the restaurant’s catering services, and so they invited several area event coordinators to come for dinner and sample the menu. It was fantastic!

They treated us to seven courses, including two desserts, wine, and coffee. Chef LaBant’s specialty is using only the freshest ingredients, often purchased from local farms, and his dedication to quality certainly comes through in his dishes. A few of my favorites from last night included artichoke soup with morel mushrooms, gnocchi with pesto and asparagus, and of course the chocolate hazelnut torte with a malted milkshake accompaniment. Perhaps the most interesting dish, however, was what we affectionately referred to as “the corn trio.” It consisted of a cornbread biscuit garnished with cherries, caramel-drenched popcorn, and corn ice cream. Yes, you read that correctly – corn-flavored ice cream. And yes, it did taste just like corn (sweet corn, of course). :-)

The Schoolhouse at Cannondale provides offsite catering services for small to medium-sized events, and also hosts events onsite at the restaurant. It is a perfect location for a shower, birthday party, anniversary party, rehearsal dinner, or intimate wedding celebration. The restaurant is also open for lunch and dinner Wednesday through Saturday, and for brunch on Sunday. If you’re ever in the Wilton area, you should definitely stop in for a delicious meal in a quaint New England setting.

[photo source: The Schoolhouse at Cannondale]

Alessandra & David | July 4, 2008

Welcome to the brand new Bliss Weddings blog! We’ve been following the blogs of several of our fellow wedding professionals for a few years now, and we’ve finally decided to join them in the blogosphere. We’ll be posting about a variety of topics – from weddings, to creative ideas, to random musings about the wedding industry, and maybe even a few snippets from our personal lives here and there. And what better way to debut our brand new blog than with Alessandra and David’s spectacular Cinderella-themed wedding?

We originally met with Alessandra and David last summer to discuss their ideas for their July 4, 2008 wedding. We have to give David props – he was one of the most involved grooms we have ever worked with, and his knowledge of the wedding plans was right up there with Alessandra's. When designing their wedding, the couple drew inspiration from Alessandra's favorite movie and childhood heroine: Cinderella. The event promised to be a fairy-tale celebration, and on the big day, it certainly lived up to that promise.

We began our day at Alessandra’s parents’ house, where she and her bridesmaids got ready. Since it was Independence Day, many of their neighbors were hosting cook-outs, and so the quaint neighborhood was already bustling with activity when Alessandra’s horse-drawn coach arrived to take her to the church. She must have felt like a celebrity, with all of the party-goers wandering over to snap pictures of the scene as she posed for formal photos with her bridesmaids around the property.

At the church, with David safely concealed out of view, wedding guests gathered outside while trumpeteers outfitted in full regalia announced the bride’s arrival. Guests applauded as Alessandra and her parents exited the coach onto a red carpet that had been rolled out to welcome them.


After the ceremony, Alessandra and David opted to separate from their bridal party and spend some quality time together while taking their formal photos. The very talented photography team of Jason and Shari Weaver from Dreamscape Studio followed them to a local ice cream shop, and then to a nearby beach to capture their first moments as husband and wife. (Be sure to check out Dreamscape’s blog in a few weeks to see the professional pictures!) Alessandra and David caught up with their bridal party and parents for more photos later at St. Clement’s Castle, where the reception took place.

Following an outdoor cocktail hour, guests gathered in the courtyard at St. Clement’s, where Alessandra and David kicked off their reception by performing a carefully rehearsed waltz.



As you can see, Alessandra had the most beautiful (and enormous!) ball gown, and - professional photographer though I am not - I was able to capture this great action shot as David lifted her and twirled her around during their dance.


When it was time for dinner, guests proceeded inside to a beautifully decorated dining room, anchored by a magnificent wedding cake created in the likeness of Cinderella’s castle.


Other whimsical details included vintage candelabras adorned with cascading floral arrangements (provided by Datura), white pumpkins dotting the place card table, and chocolate mice representing Cinderella’s companions as a reception give-away.


Alessandra and David, thank you so much for allowing us to take part in your amazing day. We hope you had a wonderful honeymoon in Disney World and we wish you all the best in your new life together!

Nuala & Rob | October 27, 2007

Nuala and Rob's wish for their late October celebration was a cozy, intimate gathering with those near and dear to their hearts. Following a touching ceremony at Nuala's childhood parish, guests moved on to a casual reception at the Historic Hartford Club in Hartford, CT, where a stationed dinner set the relaxed atmosphere Nuala and Rob desired.

The couple decided to forego much of the traditional wedding fanfare, including the cake cutting, bouquet toss, and garter toss events, to allow more time for mingling with their guests. A diverse range of musical favorites from the 80's and 90's ensured that the dance floor was packed all evening.

Here are a few images from Nuala and Rob's wedding, taken by Bliss Weddings:

[Portrait credit: David Photography]

Tami & Jason | October 6, 2007

Tami and Jason's late evening wedding took place at the Candlewood Inn in Brookfield, CT. At their lakeside ceremony, the couple exchanged marriage vows under a custom-designed chuppah adorned with rich gold fabric, while luminaries lining the aisle cast an ambient glow against the setting sun.

Though their wedding day was unseasonably warm for early October, a luscious color palette of cream and chocolate brown with accents of mango set the tone for a chic autumn wedding. Even sweeter than the colors, however, was the array of desserts that were offered. Guests enjoyed red velvet cake made from a cherished family recipe as well as rich chocolate truffles that were placed upon each table. As a final treat, a delectable buffet of cookies and milk thanked guests for their attendance as they departed from the reception.

Here are a few images from Tami and Jason's wedding, taken by Studio 1923:

Jen & Ryan | September 22, 2007

Jen and Ryan chose a theme of classic romance for their afternoon wedding, which took place at Villa Bianca in Seymour, CT. In keeping with this vision, various shades of red ranging from bright crimson to deep burgundy lent great texture and interest to a monochromatic color palette. In their wedding chapel, the couple used simple decor elements to subtly enhance the romantic feel, with a single red rose adorning each pew.

Following the ceremony, guestss moved on to the reception in one of Villa Bianca's handsome ballrooms, where favors of personalized votive candles were set against the backdrop of an elegant centerpiece - a single red pillar candle nestled on top of glass beads in a beautiful crystal vase.

Here are a few images from Jen and Ryan's weddings, taken by Touch Moffet:

Paula & Brooke | September 22, 2007

Paula and Brooke's wedding, which took place at a private residence in Weston, CT was tastefully elegant in its simplicity. Following an intimate garden ceremony, guests moved on to a tented courtyard, aglow with candlelight, for a casual hors d' oeuvre reception. The couple selected a color palette of hydrangea blue and crisp green to reflect the fresh colors of the summer season, which concluded on their wedding day.

To encourage mingling and conversation, Paula and Brooke allowed guests to choose their own seating among a variety of different table sizes, each featuring their own unique centerpiece. Guests were given delicate boxes of chocolate tied with blue ribbon to thank them for sharing in the wedding celebrating.

Here are a few images from Paula and Brooke's wedding, taken by Kelly Schatz:

Boni & Jose | September 2, 2007

Guest entertainment was of utmost importance at Boni and Jose's wedding, which took place at 707 on Main in Monroe, CT. The couple incorporated several fun and unique touches to ensure that their reception was a party guests would never forget, including a salsa band which provided dance lessons to anyone who wanted to learn.

The couple also chose a clever way to distinguish guest tables by naming them after various celebrities. Guests were given trivia questions to answer about their respective celebrities, which determined who got to take home the table centerpiece. Boni and Jose's wedding day was more than just a celebration of their marriage, however. Surrounded by family and friends, the couple happily announced that they were expecting their first child in just a few months.

Here are a few images of Boni and Jose's wedding, taken by R&J Photography: