A Nostalgia-Filled Backyard Wedding

This October wedding, captured by Karena Dixon, celebrated the fun blend of sentiment, family, and fun that defined this couple’s love story. Tara and Dan were married in a Catholic ceremony at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen, Tara’s childhood church, and then welcomed guests to her parents’ home for a fall celebration under a clear-top tent. The house and surrounding property served as the heart and soul of the day, with a design inspired by the shift from summer to fall: dusty rose, sage green, steel blue, and burnt orange tones echoed both the foliage and Tara’s childhood bedroom. A whimsical nod to her years at Camp Seafarer, guests followed signage reading “Let’s take a hike to dinner…” on the walk to the tent. From signature napkins featuring their lab Bo, to nostalgic late-night grilled cheese and tomato soup, every detail felt deeply personal. As music filled the air — a steel drum band at cocktail hour, followed by a high-energy live band — Tara and Dan danced beneath the full moon, surrounded by nature and all the people they love most.

“I wore “The Violeta” designed by Lea Anne Belter, which I purchased at Gamberdella Bridal (the same place my mom got her dress, and it is owned by my childhood friend’s cousin). I only tried on 4 dresses. It was a stunning classic gown in off-white and embroidered flowers that were “Spun of sunlight and morning-glory embroidered tulle. “ I loved the spaghetti straps and the back that was a deep scoop with sheer sides, a few buttons, and a full skirt with a chapel train. I wore my sister’s veil and my mother’s earrings.”

“I have known Father Lou Bianco for a long time, since my youth group days. It was special to have him marry us. He shared some anecdotal stories and painted marriage in such a lovely way, and we were moved by his sermon. The readings were read by 2 of my dear friends from Camp Seafarer, and Dan’s brother did the prayer of the faithful.”

“The biggest inspiration to me was my parents’ property, it is just breathtaking and so unique. Since our wedding was in mid-October, we wanted our wedding to appreciate the beautiful foliage that surrounded my childhood home, embracing nature and the architecture. I drew inspiration from rich colors that embraced the shift from summer to fall- dusty rose, steel blue, sage green, and burnt oranges. My color palette also happened to match my childhood room. This created a warm, nostalgic vibe that felt both natural and personal.”

“Our signage to let guests know what table they were sitting at was so fun, another brilliant Lee idea. I love camp, I went to Camp Seafarer for years, and still work as a nurse during the summers. I wanted to incorporate camp somehow, and we opted to play a little on the long walk to the tent with our signage saying, “Welcome campers, let’s take a hike to dinner…” We had a little corner where we had photos of my grandparents and parents, nodding to the love that came before us!”

“The tent, oh the CLEAR TOP Tent! I was skeptical at first, but Lee never let me down! The tent allowed the surrounding nature to shine through, perfectly highlighting the color scheme inside. The clear top tent allowed nature to truly shine though. The night was clear as can be, falling a night or two after a full moon. We were truly “dancing in the moonlight.””

“I believe music is the backbone of any great party, and it was a priority for our wedding. My fondest memories of my childhood home are the late-night dance parties, a lot of which my bridesmaids were a part of, Christmas karaoke, and playing the guitar on the back patio. Both of our families grew up with music filling our homes as children! The music also had this lovely summer-to-fall transition feel as well.”