Connecticut based
wedding and portrait photographer

Queer Winter Wedding at the Society Room

Weddings

January 17, 2025

Renee and Renee’s queer winter wedding at the Society Room in Hartford was SO glamorous and upscale. They began their day at The Goodwin Hotel, where we took simple, classic getting ready photos before they had their first look in the library and read their vows privately in the hotel’s cafe. (They didn’t want us hovering around photographing their private vow exchange, but we were able to sneak a few shots, and they’re some of my favorites from the day!)

Following their private vow reading, we headed to Hartford City Hall, an always-elegant destination for timeless wedding portraits in Hartford, Connecticut. We took wedding party photos both outside on the neoclassical front steps (quickly, because it was FREEZING), before heading inside to finish their wedding party portraits in the grand atrium. Then we spent a bit of time on their couple’s portraits, using Hartford City Hall’s iconic spiral staircase and beautiful arch insets to capture their upscale, Gatsby-esque look.

We left soon after for the Society Room, where the main ballroom was set up for their indoor evening ceremony. The look on Renee’s face as she watched the other Renee descend the stairs was pretty magical. (It goes to show that even when couples do a first look, it doesn’t negate the intensity of that ‘coming down the aisle’ moment for the partner waiting.)

The ceremony was simple and sweet with no words wasted, and this long-standing couple said their I do’s before their community in a way that solidified their privately shared vows earlier. This is a couple who so clearly lives in relation to others, and who sees their relationship as part of a larger web of community, so this was especially meaningful.

The reception included fine dining and a kick-ass dancefloor, as it always does at this awesome (and always queer-friendly) Hartford venue. [You can see another wonderful queer wedding I shot at the Society Room here.] I loved seeing Renee’s dress change and watching how her energy changed the minute she stepped on the dancefloor in her thigh-hugging sequined dress. Documenting this day was such a treat, as was experiencing this wedding in general: a feast for the eyes and an emotional, heartfelt event I’ll never forget.

The dark interior of the Society Room can make it a challenging place to capture high-quality photos, so if you’re looking at this venue, make sure to choose a photographer who’s comfortable with the venue and who knows how to light it! I love documenting weddings at the Society Room because I love dramatic interior lighting and because I think the space lends itself to an elevated, indoor experience for those looking for an elegant/ballroom vibe from another era. A barn wedding, this was not. I love intentional glamour!