Nicole + Sabin | Lighthouse Point Park Wedding | New Haven, Connecticut

Some couples are fun to photograph. Some couples make you feel something. Nicole and Sabin are both. And their wedding at Lighthouse Point Park reflected all that right back to you

These two have been through hard things, separately and together, and what they have built on the other side of that is something that is genuinely rare to witness. They love each other with this pure, deep certainty, like two people who know exactly how lucky they are and refuse to take a single second of it for granted. They are sentimental and kind and they feel everything deeply, and that love does not stay contained between the two of them. It radiates outward to everyone in the room.

Their May 23rd wedding at Lighthouse Point Park in New Haven, Connecticut was also one of the most creatively, chaotically, joyfully packed days I have ever photographed, which tells you a lot about exactly who Nicole and Sabin are.

It rained all day. Cold, windy, relentless May weather from start to finish. And it did not matter even a little bit.

Before the ceremony, Nicole and Sabin did a first touch instead of a first look. They stood around a corner from each other, holding hands without being able to see each other, and at one point Sabin covered his eyes, bent down, and kissed Nicole’s hand. I did not expect to almost cry before the ceremony even started but here we areeeee

At the ceremont, in the front seat, there was a memorial to Nicole’s mom. Every member of the wedding party walked down the aisle and placed a flower on that seat. It was one of the most powerful things I have seen at a wedding, and I could tell how much it meant to Nicole to have her mom present in that way.

This wedding was in the details, and there were so many of them.

Sabin getting ready and adjusting his collar in a circular mirror, colorful Best Day Ever wall art in the background, Hampton Inn New Haven

Nicole and Sabin have four dogs, and while they weren’t there, they showed up everywhere. The cocktail toothpicks had their dogs faces on them. Nicole had paintings of her dogs on her shoes. Their mini wedding cake had rubber ducks on top dressed as a bride and a groom. Nicole gifted Sabin a handkerchief that said “keep your shit together.” After the first kiss, they did their secret handshake before walking back down the aisle together. These are two people who do not do anything generically. Everything is personal. Everything is adorable.

At cocktail hour, baby goats arrived. Dressed up baby goats. Guests lined up to hold them and pet them and nobody wanted to do anything else. Nicole held one of them instead of her bouquet for family photos, and those might be some of my favorite family photos of all time. The goats were more of a hit than the open bar.

And what was more of a hit than the wild dance floor? The tattoo station.

Guests could choose from a flash sheet and get a real tattoo at the wedding. A grandma got one. I got one. There were more people crowded around the tattoo station all night than there were on the dance floor, which is saying something because the dance floor was very much also happening.

Dinner was whole lobsters. A full clam bake. I think about it regularly. I bet every single guest does too

Groomsmen in tan suits laughing together inside Lighthouse Point Park venue, large windows with water view behind them

Bubble guns made multiple appearances throughout the day. The ring bearers and flower girl blew bubbles down the aisle before the ceremony. They came back out during the grand entrance. And then they made a full return on the dance floor and turned the whole thing into a chaotic bubble storm.

The first dance started with All of Me by John Legend, slow and beautiful and very them. Then, in a very Nicole and Sabin way, it switched. Soulja Boy. Lean Back. Money guns appeared from somewhere. Absolutely nobody saw it coming and everyone absolutely lost it.

For couples portraits we headed outside between the heaviest rains. We used the lighthouse, the rocks by the water and braved it all with their umbrellas. They truly made the most of the situation and didn’t for a second seemed upset about it. There is something about shooting at Lighthouse Point Park in the rain that I will never get tired of. The light off the water, the drama of the sky, the way the whole park feels when it is moody and wet and the couple in front of you is completely unbothered by all of it.

Nicole and Sabin, all of it was such an honor

Nicole and Sabin performing their secret handshake right after the first kiss, still standing at the altar, guests watching

What is Lighthouse Point Park like as a wedding venue in New Haven?

This is my third time photographing a wedding at Lighthouse Point Park and I will never get sick of it. It is one of the most genuinely unique wedding venues in Connecticut, and it photographs beautifully in every season and every weather condition that gets thrown at it.

The venue sits right on New Haven Harbor, with the historic carousel, the lighthouse, and the Long Island Sound all within walking distance. The Pavilion is where indoor events take place, and it has large windows that face the water and bring in a lot of natural light, which is especially helpful when the weather pushes everything inside. The ceremony space converts into the reception area, so there is some movement involved during cocktail hour, but with the right details and enough goats, nobody really notices.

Outside, the rocky shoreline, the lighthouse, and the open water give you portrait options that feel completely different from anything you would get at a traditional venue. On a clear day the light off the water is spectacular. On a rainy day it is moody and dramatic and just as good, honestly… better in a lot of cases.

There’s a few things worth knowing before you book.

Lighthouse Point Park is a public park, which means there will sometimes be people in the background of outdoor shots. A photographer who knows the location will know how to work around this, but it is worth being aware of going in.

The Ranger Station is not the most polished getting ready space. It is functional and it works, and if you are the kind of couple who cares more about the day than the getting ready photos, it is completely fine. But if a beautiful bridal suite is important to you, plan to get ready somewhere else and arrive ready. I started with the groom at the Hampton Inn and Suites New Haven, which is a great option nearby.

Parking and access are easy. The park is well known in New Haven and simple to find, and having ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception all in one location means guests are never scrambling between venues.

Also, by the way, I’m Andrea! I’m a documentary and personality-inspired wedding photographer based in Connecticut, and Lighthouse Point Park is one of my favorite venues in the state to work at. If you are planning a wedding here, let’s talk!

And if you are in the early stages of planning a Connecticut wedding, my Connecticut Wedding Venues roundup is a good starting point. And if the New Haven area is on your radar, the New Haven Engagement Session with Madeline and Anna gives you a sense of what the city looks on a whole other level. If Nicole and Sabin’s story resonated with you, two people who have been through hard things and built something beautiful together, you might like this post

Nicole and Sabin kissing under a clear bubble umbrella at the base of the Lighthouse Point Park lighthouse, overcast sky

FAQ: Lighthouse Point Park Weddings in New Haven, CT

Is Lighthouse Point Park a good wedding venue? For the right couple, it is one of the best in Connecticut. The combination of the historic carousel, the lighthouse, the rocky shoreline, and the water views makes it a genuinely distinctive setting. It works especially well for couples who want something that feels personal and outdoorsy and a little unconventional rather than a traditional ballroom wedding.

What is the indoor space like at Lighthouse Point Park? The Pavilion is the indoor event space. It has large windows with water views, which brings in great natural light and makes it feel more open than a typical indoor venue. The ceremony and reception happen in the same space, so there is a flip during cocktail hour, but it is manageable and gives the day a cozy, all-in-one-place flow.

What happens if it rains at a Lighthouse Point Park wedding? The indoor space handles rain days really well, especially with those water-view windows. And if the couple is up for it, even a rainy day at Lighthouse Point Park produces some stunning outdoor portrait opportunities. The lighthouse and the rocky shoreline in the rain are something else entirely. I have shot three weddings here and some of my favorite photos have come from the rainy ones.

Can you do portraits at the lighthouse during a Lighthouse Point Park wedding? Yes, and I would strongly recommend it! The lighthouse and the rocks by the water are some of the most photogenic spots on the property. Even ten to fifteen minutes outside between the rain will give you images that feel completely different from anything shot inside.

Is Lighthouse Point Park good for non-traditional weddings? It is practically made for them. The venue has a built-in personality that lends itself to couples who want to do things their own way. Baby goats at cocktail hour, tattoo stations, bubble guns, money guns during the first dance. Lighthouse Point Park can hold all of it.

What should couples know about getting ready at Lighthouse Point Park? The Ranger Station is functional but not a polished bridal suite. If beautiful getting ready photos matter to you, plan to arrive ready. A nearby hotel like the Hampton Inn and Suites New Haven is a great option for getting ready before heading to the park.