Some weddings seem to capture everything we love about summer at M&D Farm, and Paola and Devin’s was certainly one of them.
Their wedding took place in the heart of summer, when the gardens were at their fullest and the property was surrounded by layers of green, wildflowers and golden blooms. It was one of those bright, beautiful days that seemed made for an outdoor celebration.
But what made Paola and Devin’s wedding particularly special was the wonderful combination of people, cultures and traditions that came together to celebrate them.
With Paola’s Dominican roots and Devin’s Polish heritage, their wedding brought two families and backgrounds together in a way that felt completely natural. Family, friends, music and traditions all became part of the celebration, creating an atmosphere that was warm, lively and genuinely joyful.
The ceremony took place in front of the old barn doors, surrounded by the gardens at their summer peak. Afterwards, guests moved through the property for cocktails before gathering in the Dining Courtyard for dinner, surrounded by our Mediterranean-inspired trees and string lights.
Long tables filled the courtyard, dressed with soft summer florals, candlelight and simple details that complemented the gardens rather than competing with them. As daylight slowly faded, the entire space changed with it, from a sun-filled garden dinner into an intimate evening celebration under the lights.
And there was one tradition that had actually begun weeks earlier.
Before their wedding day, Paola and Devin buried a bottle of bourbon upside down on the property, following the Southern wedding tradition said to bring good weather on the wedding day. Whether the bourbon deserves the credit or not, it certainly seemed to work.
At the end of the evening, they returned to the garden to dig it back up, this time as newlyweds, celebrating the beautiful day they had just experienced. And, in true Paola and Devin fashion, the moment turned into one of our favorite photographs of the wedding: the two of them posing with a shovel and pitchfork in their own playful version of Grant Wood’s iconic American Gothic.
From there, the celebration continued into the barn, with a packed dance floor, great music and the kind of energy that comes from having so many people genuinely excited to be together.
Looking back at these photographs, what stands out most is how much life there was throughout the entire day. The gardens were overflowing, the tables were full, the dance floor was moving, and everywhere you looked there seemed to be someone laughing, embracing or raising a glass.
Paola and Devin created a wedding that was elegant without feeling formal, multicultural without feeling orchestrated, and deeply personal without taking itself too seriously.
A beautiful summer day, two wonderful families, and one very well-timed bottle of bourbon.
