An Exclusive Wedding Weekend at The Chanler on Newport’s Cliff Walk, Filled with Hydrangeas and Gilded Age Charm

[section title=”The Planning”]
[field title=”Wedding Colors”]

Welcome Party: Whites, Beige Tones and Soft blues Rehearsal Dinner: Ivory, Dusty Blue, Silver Wedding Day: Whites, Ivory, Creams, Beige, Gold, Natural Tones Afterparty: Black, White, Silver Brunch: Whites, Ivory, Creams, Beige, Gold, Natural Tones

[/field]
[field title=”Design / Vibe / Vision”]

Alicia and Conner are a modern couple from Toronto, Canada, with diverse roots whose journey from high school best friends to lifelong partners was celebrated with a heartfelt wedding weekend in Newport, Rhode Island. With only eight full buyout weddings hosted each year, The Chanler at Cliff Walk is as exclusive as it is iconic — and a June celebration at the height of hydrangea season is the very definition of a New England wedding dream. The destination wedding weekend was nothing short of magical, beginning with a sunset welcome party aboard a yacht cruising through Newport Harbour. Guests traveling from Canada and beyond mingled over delicious New England-inspired bites and cocktails while dancing to a lively DJ and saxophone duo on the upper deck as the sun dipped below the horizon. Friday evening brought an intimate rehearsal dinner at Castle Hill Inn, where guests were welcomed with soft hydrangea accents, satin linens, and fresh local seafood. As golden hour approached, the celebration expanded to the lawn for a sunset viewing party, where all wedding guests joined the couple for a picturesque evening under the open sky. On the wedding morning, the bride gathered the girls at Castle Hill Inn’s charming Beach Cottages, where they relaxed and got ready amidst refined details and sweeping ocean views, while the guys prepared at the historic Chanler Hotel. Following the ceremony, guests moved to the cocktail hour on the cliffside lawn, where a jazz trio played and an immersive champagne activation offered a multisensory experience where art and beverage collided. A gallery wall seating chart featured framed paintings of Newport’s famed Gilded Age mansions, with each table named after one instead of traditional numbers.

[/field]
[field title=”Proposal Story”]

Alicia and Conner’s love story began more than fifteen years ago as high school best friends, walking the hallways together and sharing countless late-night calls and spontaneous meet-ups. Over time, their friendship naturally grew into something deeper, carrying them through long-distance university years and adventures that took them around the world. When Conner decided it was time to propose, he planned something that reflected both their love of travel and their shared appreciation for meaningful moments. While in Koh Lanta, Thailand, on New Year’s Day, he arranged a private dinner on the beach at sunset. A canopy draped in soft white fabric, glowing candlelight, and a path of rose petals created an intimate setting. Beneath the golden glow of sunset, Conner knelt in the sand and asked Alicia to be his wife. Surrounded by candlelight and rose petals, she joyfully said yes.

[/field]
[/section]
[board_carousel title=”Getting Ready”]

[/board_carousel]
[board_carousel title=”Flat Lays”]

[/board_carousel]
[section title=”The Fashion”]
[field title=”Wedding Gown”]On the wedding day, the bride unveiled three fully customized ensembles. For the ceremony, she wore a Marquise Bridal gown paired with a veil designed to echo the gown’s intricate lacework. Her reception look was a daring reimagining of Kim Kassas’s “Nora” dress, featuring an entirely custom bottom half — a feat the designer had originally said would be impossible. To close the night, she transformed a third gown by designer Sarah Seven into a sleek after-party mini, a couture-inspired alteration so unique that neither the dress shop nor the alterationist had ever attempted it before.[/field]
[field title=”Bridesmaid Dresses”]

Bridesmaids wore different V.Chapman dresses in Victorian Blue Roses printed chiffon.

[/field]
[field title=”Groomsman Attire”]Groomsmen wore custom Garrison Bespoke suits.[/field]
[/section]
[board_carousel title=”Wedding Party”]

[/board_carousel]
[board_carousel title=”Ceremony”]

[/board_carousel]
[board_carousel title=”Cocktail Hour”]

[/board_carousel]
[section title=”The Details”]
[field title=”Food & Drink”]

Dinner was a decadent multi-course experience curated by Michelin-starred Chef Jacob Jasinski.

[/field]
[field title=”Florals & Decor”]For the reception, guests were invited into a glass tent adorned with whimsical drapery, French countryside chandeliers, and interior-design-inspired bar installations.[/field]
[field title=”Wedding Cake”]

The cake was a three-tier brown butter confection inspired by the art and interiors of the Gilded Age, its ornate moulded details reminiscent of the era’s grand plasterwork and carved paneling. Designed by Confectionary Designs, it was finished with the couple’s bespoke wedding monogram.

[/field]
[field title=”Readings, Ceremony Music, Reception Songs”]As the reception drew to a close, the Bride and Groom delivered an emotional speech, surprising guests with handwritten thank-you notes hidden beneath their chairs, an unforgettable gesture that moved the entire room to tears.[/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #1″]

“The Gilded Pour: A Champagne Still Life” guests to sip and mingle around a grand, ornate frame encasing a draped champagne display accented with classical statues reminiscent of Gilded Age mansions and their opulent gardens. More than a station, it was a living work of art and photo moment, with an attendant from The Chanler ensuring glasses were always full for a seamless, celebratory experience.

[/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #2″]The ceremony took place on the lawn, with the historic mansion behind and sweeping ocean views ahead. Guests were welcomed with parasols, a string quartet, and French countryside–inspired lounge seating set around the property’s antique imported fountain, reminiscent of the communal fountains of France. Lush floral arrangements framed the scene, while the couple’s beloved dogs, Marley and Skye, stole the show as ring bearer and flower girl.[/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #3″]

The night continued with an after-party on the mansion terrace, featuring sleek lounge areas, disco ball accents, a French-inspired black-and-white tiled dance floor, a custom-wrapped vintage photo booth, a custom champagne tower, and an energetic DJ. Dancing carried on until 5 AM, closing out a weekend the couple—and their guests—will never forget.

[/field]
[/section]
[board_carousel title=”Couple Portraits”]

[/board_carousel]
[board_carousel title=”Reception”]

[/board_carousel]
[board_carousel title=”Wedding Weekend Events”]

[/board_carousel]