Leander Bechtold started as Abby Kittredge’s “econ crush” at the University of Delaware, she says; then, on a random night out senior year, they ran into each other and got to talking. The night changed everything. Seven years later, Leander got down on one knee in front of Iguazu Falls in Brazil, where his family is from.
The proposal was an homage to his family, and the wedding a nod to Abby’s. Her parents got married in Rhode Island. “I grew up going to the Rhode Island coast every summer,” she says. “Leander grew up traveling to southern Brazil, where his grandmother owns a hotel on the beach. We both share fond memories with our families by the ocean.”
Castle Hill Inn, which they’d visited years before, stood out as the perfect venue. “We immediately fell in love with the view of the ocean, Newport Bridge, and the gorgeous sailboats passing by,” Abby says. “We wanted the vibe to be ethereal, romantic, and naturally beautiful.”
The couple turned to Abby’s uncle, Over The Moon The List Planner Bryan Rafanelli, to help—and it all started with a custom toile. “The toile included our childhood homes, our dog Stella, and Nantucket, one of their favorite places to vacation, among other details,” Abby says. It was used on their invitations’ envelope liners, on cocktail napkins and matchboxes, and as a custom wallpaper in the reception space, and it set the tone for the weekend of events.
Fashion, of course, was also a focus. “I found ‘the one’ at Mark Ingram Atelier in New York City; Mark is a longtime friend of my uncle’s,” Abby says. When she put on Dana Harel’s Moe gown, she immediately knew it was special. “The scalloped lace sleeves, open back, and translucent skirt details were indescribably stunning,” Abby says. “But the most special moment was when Mark came into the room and saw me in the dress and said, ‘Hold on one moment.’ He came back with one of his own open front overskirts with a front bow detail and buttons down the back, and put it on me over the full lace dress. We were all speechless.” She wore the overskirt for the ceremony and cocktail hour and completed the look with Manolo Blahnik heels and an acrylic Bella Rosa Collection clutch with interchangeable inserts. “Erica Renee Beauty created a gorgeous French twist to show off the dress and add a bit of fun and modernity to my look,” she adds. The Stylish Bride got her dressed.
On September 15, 2024, a floral arch by Winston Flowers beautifully framed the water view as Abby walked down the aisle with her dad to an instrumental of Taylor Swift’s “Enchanted.” “We put the entire ceremony together ourselves, and there were so many special moments,” Abby remembers. “During one of the readings, a cruise ship passed by and played the theme song from ‘The Love Boat.’ Everyone laughed, and it was a special, unexpected moment!” The bride’s aunt stunned guests with a rendition of “La Vie En Rose” before the couple exchanged personalized vows. “It felt incredibly intimate and unique.”
In true New England fashion, cocktail hour featured a raw bar and passed hors d’oeuvres like mini lobster rolls before guests headed into the beautifully appointed PEAK Event Services tent. “I love white flowers and the color green, so we had various in-season florals and greenery to complement the beautiful green suede and lace tablecloths,” Abby says. A gallery wall mounted on their custom toile showcased framed photos of Abby and Leander’s parents’ and grandparents’ weddings and the couple’s engagement photos from Brazil.
Jordan Kahn Orchestra took up John Mayer’s “Love on the Weekend” for their first dance (“John Mayer was one of the first concerts we went to together,” Abby says) as guests feasted on lamb and haddock atop Lola Valentina linens. Then it was time for an outfit change: Abby swapped one Dana Harel for another, this time a pearl-adorned minidress with lots of movement. “I wore a pair of gloves my mom had made for me, which incorporated part of her wedding veil, and the Erica Renee beauty team glammed me up with sparkles and long curls.”
After the wedding, the party continued. “We kept it going at the top of The Pelham, where we had our own private floor, and the very talented DJ Chris Roxx played fun dance music,” Abby says. “We danced the night away!”
