Garden at The Hops Company Wedding
Kaitlyn & David | October 2, 2025
Kaitlyn and David’s Garden at The Hops Company wedding in Derby, Connecticut was the very first wedding of the season that truly felt like fall. You know what I mean. Golden light. Crisp air sneaking in at night. Leaves starting to turn just enough to make you pause and go, okay yep summer is officially over.
With about 50 of their closest people, this day felt intimate, relaxed, and full of movement. Nothing dragged or felt overstuffed. It felt like a perfect Saturday afternoon hanging out with friends, except everyone was dressed in formal black and there was an ice cream truck. The best.
As their photographer, I was obsessed from start to finish.
Getting Ready at The Hops Company Bridal Cottage
One of the best new additions to The Hops Company is the on-site bridal cottage, and Kaitlyn and her crew made it their own immediately. Old Disney Channel classics were blasting. Think Hilary Duff, Hannah Montana, all the nostalgic hits. Drinks were mixed into red Solo cups. TikToks were filmed. Everyone looked incredible.
It felt playful, low-pressure, and very real. Exactly how a wedding morning should feel.
David and the guys got ready nearby at the Hyatt House in Shelton, keeping things simple and easy.
After the ceremony, Kaitlyn and David snuck back to the cottage together. We treated it like it was their own home for a bit. Shoes were kicked off. Champagne was popped. It became this little secret hideaway where they could breathe and enjoy each other before jumping back into the party.
A Fall Ceremony in the Garden at The Hops
The ceremony took place outdoors, tucked into the trees at The Garden at The Hops Company. Colorful leaves, pumpkins, and lanterns lined the space, and the early October sun filtered through the trees in a way that made everything glow. Especially Kaitlyn, who had the light shine on her face for the whole ceremony. Totally ethereal.
A close friend officiated, and it was one of those ceremonies that had everyone laughing hard one second and wiping tears the next. Their vows were personal, funny, packed with inside jokes, and full of meaning. You could feel how deeply supported they are by their people.
This ceremony truly marked the shift from summer to fall. Warm sun on your skin, with the promise of crisp air coming later.
Why The Hops Company Is Such a Dream Wedding Venue
I love photographing weddings at The Hops Company in Derby, Connecticut because it instantly puts everyone at ease.
It has a backyard-meets-brewery feel that makes guests comfortable the moment they arrive. There are huge grassy areas for wandering, a waterfall, and a bar with one side open so people can grab a drink and chat without feeling like they’ve left the party. The reception tent is easy to move in and out of, and nothing feels too far away.
Guests can dance, eat, lounge by the firepit in Adirondack chairs, or hang out at high-top tables scattered across the lawn. There’s space for lawn games, food trucks, and casual moments that feel organic instead of forced.
Kaitlyn and David brought in Walnut Beach Creamery, and the ice cream truck was an instant hit. When they hopped inside for a quick photo, they were immediately swarmed by family joking that they should start serving everyone themselves.
A Laid-Back Reception
The reception felt relaxed but full of life. The energy moved fast in the best way. Guests danced under the tent, grabbed drinks at the bar, wandered outside to talk, then circled right back to the dance floor.
The dress code was black, and it looked incredible against the colorful fall backdrop. At the end of the night, Kaitlyn and David changed into matching two-piece sweatsuits for their sparkler exit. Kaitlyn in white, David in black. Comfortable, confident, and very them.
One of my favorite moments of the night was the father-daughter dance, which ended with the Parent Trap handshake. The crowd lost it.
Why I Love Photographing Weddings at The Hops Company
The Hops Company just makes people relax. The trees, the open space, the flow of the property, it all works together to create an environment where couples can actually enjoy their wedding day instead of managing it.
Kaitlyn and David were so down to get creative and trust the process. Some of my favorite photos came from hanging out at the bridal cottage after the ceremony, laughing, celebrating, and letting the day breathe.
This wedding was easy, joyful, full of connection, and exactly what a fall wedding should feel like.
If you’re dreaming of a laid-back, intimate Garden at The Hops Company wedding in Connecticut, this venue delivers in every way that matters. And if you’re looking for a photographer who knows this venue, let’s talk!
Vendors
Photographer: Andrea Van Orsouw
Ceremony Music: Dongbin Shin (Violin + Cello)
Catering: Simply Catering
Dessert: Walnut Beach Creamery (Ice cream truck)
Makeup: Ashia Wheeler (Bridal Bestie)
Hair: Brittany Latrease Hatcher (Bridal Haven)
Wanna check out more Connecticut venues? Here’s a blog post featuring a bunch that I’ve worked at!
This wedding was one of many I’ve photographed across New England! Check out my complete list of New England wedding venues I’ve shot at for more ideas.
