Susanna Kvam and Christopher “Kit” Norris first met at the Old Stone Jug, a Colgate University bar, when she was a sophomore and he was a senior. “I was talking to an old classmate from Deerfield Academy, who also happened to be Kit’s fraternity brother. A few minutes into our conversation, Kit came over to introduce himself and eventually offered to buy me a drink,” Susanna says. After dating for six years, two of them long-distance, he proposed to her in Colorado, while on a trip with her family over a Fourth of July weekend.
A family friend suggested the engaged duo check out Castle Hill Inn in Newport, Rhode Island, and they immediately fell in love with it. “We both are happiest by the ocean, so we knew it was the perfect place,” the bride says. To help plan their “relaxed elegance” wedding, they hired Jaime Nelson of Eventfully Planned. And with a color palette of light greys, blues, and greens, Emily Rose Ink and Yellow Bird created the perfect invitation suite and paper goods.
To kick off their wedding weekend, they hosted a clambake rehearsal dinner at Sweet Berry Farm, followed by welcome drinks at The Landing in downtown. The bride wore the Yvonna lace halter dress by Alexis with Stuart Weitzman nude heels and Jules Smith pearl drop earrings.
For her ceremony dress, Susanna’s father actually picked it out. After trying on more than 40 dresses in Chicago and New York, she revisited Vera Wang with her mother, two sisters, and best friend, Kathleen, in Chicago over Thanksgiving. Her dad came in near the end of the appointment and insisted she try on a dress that he pulled. “He selected a custom Vera Wang dress that just happened to be in the store that day for a trunk show. From the moment I tried on the gown, I knew it was the one. Father truly knows best!” the bride says.
To complete her bridal look, she also wore Stuart Weitzman white sandals and Capucine De Wulf earrings. Her “something borrowed” was her mom’s Cartier Love bracelet, which was anniversary gift from her father, her “something new” was a Van Cleef bracelet, which Kit had gifted her the morning-of, her “something old” was her great, great-grandmother’s gold ring, and her “something blue” was her great, great-grandmother’s handkerchief. Jennie Kay Beauty worked with the bride to create a relaxed, natural makeup and hair look.
The groom looked handsome in a navy suit from State and Liberty, blue J.McLaughlin tie, and Wolf & Shepherd dress shoes. The bride’s family also gifted him a watch to wear on the day-of, to welcome him into the family.
Bridesmaids wore different styles of grey Shona Joy dresses. “My sister, Betsey, actually found the dresses after months of trying to find bridesmaid dresses that weren’t too formal!” Susanna says.
On the day of the ceremony, the couple met for a first look at a little nook, which is known as Grace Kelly Beach. Later on under a beautiful stone arch, Father Nathan Humphrey officiated the Episcopalian service. After being declared husband and wife, a string trio played “All You Need is Love” and guests showered the newlyweds with flower petals as they walked back down the aisle.
Everyone then walked to the cocktail tent for champagne, rosé, and white wine. The main tent for dinner and dancing was decorated with custom gold orbs (found by Ryan Designs) hanging down and entwined with greenery and florals by Laura of Fig & Squill.
The two made their reception entrance and had a first dance to “Come Go with Me” by The Del-Vikings, performed by the Colgate Thirteen. “The Colgate 13, one of the oldest a cappella groups in the country, came all the way from Upstate New York to sing. Back when we were in college, Kit had been a member of the group and had serenaded me with that song during his final senior year performance,” Susanna says.
After the delicious meal, a four-tiered wedding cake and macaroons, by Confectionary Designs, and a Ben & Jerry’s ice cream cart were available for dessert.
Susanna and her father shared a dance to “Africa” by Toto— “one of my dad’s favorite songs and a staple throughout my childhood!” Kit and his mother joined in after a few verses, and then the band, Nationwide Coverage, invited everyone on the floor.
Later in the night, the newlyweds joined the band for a sing-along version of “Wagon Wheel,” and late snacks of grilled cheese sandwiches and sweet potato fries kept everyone’s energy high. “In true Colgate University tradition, the band closed out the evening with Frank Sinatra’s ‘New York, New York,’ which was then followed by a highly encouraged encore song of ‘Shout.’”
Once the reception winded down, the after-party began Brick Alley Pub & Restaurant in downtown Newport. For more dancing, the bride made a quick change into a white Zimmermann mini-dress. The couple’s friend, Ed Walker, performed saxophone live for the late-night guests and kept everyone on their toes until late into the night.
