Environmental educator and activist Sarah Michler crossed paths with film director Henry-Alex Rubin back in 2014 while she was working as a production assistant where she assisted on commercials and PSAs he directed, and later co-produced the movie Semper Fi, which he wrote.
After a surprise picnic proposal on Nantucket in June, they initially considered postponing their wedding until the following summer, hoping for a resolution to the pandemic to have the grand ceremony they’d always dreamed of. But as time went on and uncertainty lingered, they decided to embrace a small October wedding. Adhering to state guidelines, Sarah and Henry opted for an intimate outdoor ceremony in her family’s backyard with only close family and friends. Despite its size, they found the smaller wedding to be even more meaningful than their original plans!
Choosing to have the wedding at her family’s Connecticut home held special significance for Sarah. The backyard had the perfect views overlooking Long Island Sound, with a pool where she first learned to swim, and a majestic sweet gum tree towering at 200 feet, once adorned with a rope swing that defined her childhood playtime.
After the beautiful outdoor ceremony guests gathered to the pool area for cocktails, where a quartet transitioned into a Django Reinhardt–style jazz performance. Meanwhile, Sarah and Henry stepped inside the house for a virtual toast over Zoom with loved ones. “It was a wonderfully chaotic moment welcoming so many friends and family; we had over 300 participants from around the globe,” Sarah recalls. “We saved the live feed and the lively chat as our cherished wedding video memory.
When walking into the reception tent, they wanted the interior design to feel like the film The Secret Garden.
This iconic tree took center stage on the invitations, crafted from plantable seed paper, while her talented artist friend Andie Dinkin created a watercolor illustration of the couple beneath its branches for the wedding program.
Their incredible florist, KDJ Botanica took inspiration from the natural beauty of the Connecticut coastline, Katherine of KDJ Botanica worked to incorporate natural accents throughout the wedding, such as seagrass and golden reeds.
As golden hour light began, guests made their way to a tent nestled at the property’s edge for dinner. Tables adorned with bouquets of white ranunculus, foxglove, and forget-me-nots created an enchanting scene, while giant bamboo branches swayed gracefully overhead, casting playful shadows. Dinner was complemented by natural wine from Henry’s family village in Alsace, France, making the meal truly memorable.
Embracing sustainability, the Marcia Selden catering team curated a menu featuring locally sourced ingredients, with menus printed on plantable seed paper, promising blooms in the spring!
Though dancing was omitted due to the pandemic, the evening remained magical. After dessert, guests lit sparklers, forming a sparkling path to the waterfront, where Sarah’s family boat awaited. With a backdrop of the Long Island Sound, the couple embarked on a serene journey into the night.
