An Elegant, Contemporary Wedding at ROIA Restaurant in New Haven, Connecticut

Ali Leibenhaut (35 and a human resources generalist) and Rick D'Amico (36 and works in construction) fused rustic and urban styles for an elegant, intimate affair in New Haven, Connecticut. The day kicked off with a traditional ceremony at Pine Orchard Chapel in Branford, Connecticut, where Ali and Rick exchanged vows surrounded by their closest family members and friends. “We chose the chapel because of its simplicity, beauty and craftsmanship,” Ali says. “It was built in 1897 and is located close to the shore, which made for great pictures.” For the reception, the couple switched gears, whisking their guests off to New Haven, Connecticut, for a night of celebrating at ROIA Restaurant. Housed in the former Taft Hotel, the charm and grandeur of the historic space provided the elegance and ambiance the couple were after. “We were looking for something timeless and classic,” Ali says. “We wanted our guests to go somewhere they had never been before, but could go back to if they wanted. We wanted a spectacular dinner with beautiful ambiance, and ROIA was perfect. We look forward to having dinner there on our anniversary every year.” The couple struck the perfect balance of romance and sophistication with a soft blush and gray palette and understated arrangements of peonies, hydrangeas and garden roses in bright shades of fuchsia, pink and white. Cocktail hour and dinner were one of the evening’s highlights, with ROIA serving an inspired selection of seasonal French and Italian fusion cuisine, followed by decadent chocolate pave and rhubarb crumble in place of the more traditional wedding cake. A tip from Ali and Rick: “We would highly recommend a smaller wedding if you can do it. Seventy people was the perfect number for us.”