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Kaylee & Justin’s Butter Yellow Delamar West Hartford Wedding

The best parts of Kaylee and Justin’s Delamar West Hartford wedding weren’t on the timeline. They were a bathtub of penne alla vodka, a speech read off a paper scroll, and a dad who teared up the second he turned around. On August 7, 2026, one of the hottest days of the summer, about 150 of their favorite people filled The Delamar for a day that was low on fuss and high on feeling. Even better, everything happened in one place, from champagne in the morning to the last song of the night.

Who are Kaylee and Justin?

Kaylee and Justin met working the same job in college. Their first real memory of each other is a late-night Taco Bell run, sitting in the car and talking. Years later, Justin proposed on a beach in Madison, CT, during what Kaylee thought was a photo session with his sisters.

Kaylee is the extrovert, and Justin is the introvert. Even so, they’re both easygoing and mostly just want everyone to have a good time. She loves his steadiness and says he makes her laugh the most and feel the safest. He loves that she’s driven and adventurous, always nudging him out of his comfort zone. When I asked them to sum up their love in one word, they picked “comforting.” Their ideal date night proves it: dinner out, then chocolate and a movie at home.

Kaylee found me on Instagram and told me she knew after our first call. Justin looked through my work and said he trusted her judgment. We got to know each other last spring at their engagement session at Topsmead State Forest in Litchfield, one of my favorite engagement session locations in Connecticut.

Why did they choose Delamar West Hartford?

They fell for its cozy yet modern, chic feel, inside and out. They also wanted to spend the day with their people, not in a car, and a Delamar West Hartford wedding makes that easy. At Delamar West Hartford, getting ready, the first look, the ceremony, cocktail hour, and the reception all happened under one roof.

Getting ready: satin pajamas and a pool table

The morning moved slowly, in the best way. Kaylee’s bridesmaids lounged on a green velvet couch in mismatched satin pajamas while champagne got poured and hair and makeup wrapped up. Her mom, Sarah, and Justin’s mom, Angela, were right there in the mix.

A couple floors down, the guys took over the pool room, a moody space with dark green built-ins and a pool table in the middle. Justin buttoned his light grey three-piece suit and laced up his brown shoes. Then the groomsmen lined up behind the table, cues in hand, for a group shot that felt very them.

Next, Kaylee’s mom helped her into her dress and fastened every covered button down the back. The gown, from Julie Allen Bridals in Newtown, was a strapless satin A-line with a crisp folded neckline and a full skirt. There was no lace and no beading, so the fabric and shape did all the work. She added a cathedral-length veil, lace pointed-toe heels, a dainty pendant necklace, and a sleek bun.

One detail is worth slowing down for. Her bouquet of white sweet peas, ranunculus, daisies, and butter yellow roses was wrapped in her mom’s veil, finished with tiny pearls. That was her “something old.” It’s exactly the kind of piece I tell couples to set aside in my guide to wedding day details to give your photographer.

A first look in the courtyard

Kaylee and Justin had planned to read private vows during their first look. Instead, they shared them earlier that morning, just the two of them, before anyone else arrived. I love that, because it’s their day, and the timeline should bend to fit them.

To beat the heat, we tucked the first look into a shady courtyard behind the hotel, on a brick garden path under trees and string lights. Kaylee tapped Justin on the shoulder, he turned around, and his grin said everything. I gave them a few minutes alone before we eased into portraits. That’s my guided documentary approach: I’ll move you into better light or toss out a prompt for a real laugh, and then I step back and let things happen.

We stayed in the garden for a while, under the pear trees and string lights. Justin kept one hand in his pocket, Kaylee slung her bouquet over his shoulder, and they kept sneaking looks at each other between laughs. Then they walked hand in hand down the brick path past the hedges, totally at ease.

Afterward, we slipped inside for a few editorial portraits. Shot from above, Kaylee’s veil streamed down the grand staircase next to a crystal chandelier. In the lounge, she sat on a cowhide chair under a ring chandelier, with her veil pooled across the dark wood floor and Justin standing just behind her.

A first look with her dad

Kaylee also shared a first look with her dad, Brian, and it might be my favorite sequence in the whole gallery. Her bridesmaids crowded behind the glass doors to watch. Brian walked out, turned around, and teared up right away. Then he wiped his eyes, pulled her into a hug, and held on for a while.

Butter yellow bridesmaids and light grey suits

Next came wedding party and family portraits, done quickly to keep everyone cool. Kaylee’s seven bridesmaids, including two maids of honor, wore mismatched chiffon dresses from Birdy Grey in butter yellow. Meanwhile, Justin and his six groomsmen wore light grey suits from Men’s Wearhouse and skipped boutonnieres for a cleaner look. Four flower girls in white rounded out the crew, and the whole group brought so much energy that my job was easy.

A ballroom ceremony at Delamar West Hartford

Instead of the back lawn, the ceremony moved into one of The Delamar’s ballrooms, with white paneled walls, crystal chandeliers, and tall windows framed by soft drapes. Kate Evangelista of Eva Floral Designs, a close family friend, framed the altar with two garden-style arrangements. They held butter yellow roses, white hydrangea, white roses, and tall delphinium, with greenery spilling out. Soft and a little wild, they tied the whole palette together.

At 5 PM, the flower girls led the way, tossing yellow petals from little wicker baskets. Then Brian walked Kaylee down the aisle and kissed her cheek before handing her off to Justin. A mutual friend officiated, and the whole ceremony took about 30 minutes.

During the vows, I kept one eye on the crowd. Sarah and Brian were holding hands, Kaylee kept glancing back at her mom, and Justin’s grandparents were tearing up. After the rings and the first kiss, the two of them threw both arms in the air. They stopped halfway down the aisle for a dip kiss, with the wedding party right behind them.

Cocktail hour on the lawn

Cocktail hour spilled onto the Delamar West Hartford back lawn and terrace under big white umbrellas. I focused on candids, so Kaylee and Justin could actually talk to their guests instead of posing. Kaylee showed her ring to anyone who asked, and plenty of people asked.

Inside, the small touches felt personal: a mirror welcome sign, a guestbook, matchboxes printed with “The Navarras,” tissue packs for happy tears, and cocktail napkins with a hand-drawn dog.

Speeches, a paper scroll, and a bathtub of penne

The reception ballroom glowed under crystal chandeliers and gold drapes. Kate’s ceremony arrangements moved over to frame the sweetheart table, and bud vases of white and yellow blooms sat on every table. The bridesmaids entered waving their napkins over their heads, and then the new Mr. and Mrs. went straight into their first dance. Kaylee’s dress, it turns out, was made for twirling.

While they danced, Brian knelt at the edge of the floor to film it on his iPhone. Across the room, the bridesmaids huddled with Kaylee’s mom, happy crying. Afterward, Justin danced with his mom, and Kaylee danced with her dad.

While salads were served, we snuck back out to the lawn for golden hour portraits. By then, they’d fully loosened up, and you can see it in every frame: lots of laughing and one more dip kiss. At one point, they both flashed their rings at the camera and cracked up.

Now for the pasta. When Kaylee’s brother Parker agreed to be a groomsman, he joked that he’d take over the planning: the catering, the DJing, even the photography. His big decor idea was a bathtub full of penne alla vodka. The Delamar staff heard the story at the tasting and offered to serve him penne at dinner as a joke, so Kaylee found a mini toy bathtub to put it in. When we came back inside, Kaylee ran straight to his seat, and the whole table lost it.

Then came the speeches. Parker spoke first, Justin’s sisters gave a joint toast, and Brian closed it out, reading at least part of his speech off a paper scroll that nearly reached the floor. Kaylee fought back tears through all three. Instead of a cake, The Delamar served a dessert trio, which suited two chocolate lovers perfectly.

A dance floor that never emptied

After dinner, the dance floor filled up and stayed that way. Neckties became headbands, an Instax camera made the rounds, and the flower girls twirled alongside everyone else. If you’ve never seen a Delamar West Hartford wedding after dark, picture this. Kaylee left the floor only once, to change into a white satin mini dress with a beaded neckline. Their DJ, a family friend, kept it going all night.

At the end of the night, Brian came over to thank my second shooter and me. He said we were always in the right place at the right time, which is about the nicest thing a photographer can hear.

Planning a Delamar West Hartford wedding? A few photographer notes

• Everything is on site. Suites for getting ready, the pool room for the guys, the courtyard, the lawn, and the ballrooms are all steps apart. As a result, you get more time with guests and less time in transit.
• Plan for summer heat. The brick garden path behind the hotel has tree cover, so it works well for a first look and early portraits. Keep wedding party photos moving and have water nearby.
• The ballroom makes a great ceremony space. With paneled walls, chandeliers, and tall windows, it photographs beautifully, which is a relief if you’re watching the forecast.
• Save time for indoor portraits. The grand staircase and the chandelier-lit lounge are worth 10 minutes, especially on a hot or rainy day.

The vendor team

• Venue, catering & dessert: Delamar West Hartford (@delamarwesthartford)
• Photography: Courtney Irene Photography (@courtneyirene.photo)
• Makeup: @kristamakomakeup and @beautywithinmua
• Hair: @dukehairnyc and @haleysbridalhair
• Bride’s dress: Julie Allen Bridals, Newtown, CT (@julieallenbridals)
• DJ: SMD Entertainment
• Florals: Eva Floral Designs (@evafloraldesigns)
• Bridesmaid dresses: Birdy Grey (@birdygrey)
• Groom & groomsmen attire: Men’s Wearhouse (@menswearhouse)

Let’s talk about your day

If you’re planning a Delamar West Hartford wedding, or any wedding that feels like this, where you’re present with your people and the photos still catch everything, I’d love to hear about it. As a West Hartford wedding photographer serving Connecticut and all of New England, I’m now booking 2027 weddings. Take a look at my wedding collections and FAQ, browse the portfolio, or tell me about your plans.