A Summer Wedding at LionRock Farm with an Enchanted Garden Aesthetic
It was early summer, 2021. Romy Malbin swiped right. David Frank was quick to follow. Chats turned to conversations, which turned to a first date at The East Pole in Manhattan's Upper East Side. Romy was late, but it all worked out. The first hug was so good that David asked for a second. A bottle of wine was ordered, conversations flowed, and he wasn’t shy with the first kiss. Who knew this would change everything?
It was quickly discovered that they had great chemistry, shared goals, and lots in common. It didn’t take long for him to suggest they become exclusive while swimming off the coast of Greenwich, at Tod's Point Beach. David easily integrated into Romy's family, and she into his.
Building a Life Together
Before the summer was over, the couple decided to take their first trip together to Mexico. They realized playing rummy and drinking champagne went well together under a beach hut. David told Romy he was going to marry her one day. It might have seemed like a crazy idea this early on, but he knew. A promise ring ensued.
“I savored every moment and remember it all with great detail.”
Before long, Romy and David were essentially living together. They developed routines, including morning workouts, picnics in the park, and evenings watching shows – often with great wine.
By the year-end, Romy had met David’s two children, Hunter and Lior. She embraced the dynamic, and her authenticity was embraced by the kids. Relationships quickly developed. Nights were filled with home cooked meals, board games, movies and more. Soon, Romy joined in the Frank ski trips. Lior relished that this was something she could teach Romy (with David’s help), and Hunter was excited to demonstrate his skills. As their relationships progressed, the four ventured to St. Barts. Sun, sand, and waves helped cement their connection.
A Year Later
On the one-year anniversary of their first date, David made plans to take Romy to Tod's Point beach. He had known for a long time that she was the one he wanted to spend the rest of his life with, and it was time to make it official. They walked out in the water, where David expressed his love and commitment to her, then he dropped to one knee and placed a diamond engagement ring on Romy’s finger.
The whole family was on standby, awaiting the exciting news of their engagement. To celebrate, the couple had lunch with Romy’s family the next day at Longshore Restaurant, before jetting off with the kids for a weeklong trip to Vail with David’s family.
Planning a Summer Wedding at LionRock Farm
After an overwhelming search for the perfect wedding venue, the couple found themselves planning a summer wedding at LionRock Farm in Connecticut. As soon as Romy stepped onto the farm and smelled the heady mixture of plants and flowers coming from the garden, she knew she’d found the right place.
“It was the first venue I visited and also the last,” she shares. “I cancelled every other appointment. I knew I wanted to be married on grass, feel the air on my skin, and smell the summer. This was the most idyllic place and could not have reflected my vision more.”
“Another easy decision was asking Melani to be our photographer,” she adds. “Our family has worked with Melani for years; she photographed my mother's wedding to my stepfather, as well as the wedding of my sister. I loved her work and knew that she would go to any length to get the perfect shot.”
One of the best aspects about hosting a wedding at LionRock was that it’s close enough to the couple’s home, yet still provided them with a destination wedding experience. Everyone from their immediate family stayed in various houses located on the property, and the couple arrived Thursday to spend time with loved ones before the larger wedding activities commenced on Friday.
“This extra time served to imprint the place in my memory,” Romy explains. “As you can imagine, I wasn't able to sleep in with all the excitement. On Friday and Saturday mornings I woke up early and walked around LionRock grounds in my bare feet, taking in the natural beauty. Other brides had shared with me that their wedding weekend was a blur; this was not true for me. I savored every moment and remember it all with great detail.”
An Enchanted Garden
Summer weddings in New England have a special brand of romance, and Romy and David’s wedding at LionRock was no exception. For the décor, the bride envisioned an enchanted garden with flowers that reflected the season – hydrangeas, peonies, and delphinium. The color palette consisted of blue, green, and white, and the sides of the wedding tent were open, so guests had panoramic views of the garden.
“One of the best decisions I made was having the tent poles decorated with enormous boughs of birch trees,” she says. “They gave the tent an ethereal look, especially with the beautiful lighting. During the speeches, a hummingbird entered the tent and flitted about for a while before finding its way out. It was a pretty magical experience.”
An Epic Honeymoon in Japan
The newlyweds followed up their enchanted garden wedding with an epic honeymoon in Japan. It was a new destination for both of them, and the couple flew into Tokyo where they stayed at the Kimpton Hotel for four nights. Afterwards, they journeyed on the Shinkansen bullet train to a traditional family-owned ryokan, Beniya Mukayo, located in the Ishikawa Prefecture. They had a wonderful two-night stay before hopping back on the Shinkansen and traveling to Kyoto for four nights at Hotel The Mitsui, overlooking the Nijo Castle. During that time, they took a half day trip to Hiroshima to pay tribute.
Romy and David also flew to Okinawa to spend four nights at the 5-star Halekulani Okinawa. Their honeymoon in Japan was topped off with an additional two nights back in Kyoto, as they fell in love with the city and extended their honeymoon to experience it a bit more.
“Japan was the most unbelievable trip of our lives,” Romy shares. “We so loved meeting the people, learning about their history, rituals, and customs. Highlights were definitely the food, watching a sumo practice, and learning how to apply gold leaf with masters of pottery at the Kinzangama Kiln & Gallery. We greatly appreciated the respect and reverence for life and others that permeates Japanese culture. We know it will be the first of many visits to this incredible country.”
WEDDING TALENT
Location: LionRock Farm, Sharon, CT; Planner: Debbie Gordon; Floral Design: Country Gardeners Florist; Rentals: Events Unlimited Party Rentals; Catering: Hunt & Harvest; Wedding Dress: Anne Barge; Veil: The Plumed Serpent Bridal; Hair: Eva Notis; Makeup: Jess Shin; Entertainment: DJ Phil Karatzia, Hank Lane; Invitations: Westport Wedding Ware; Cinematography: OTB ProMedia; Photography: Melani Lust Photography