Many of us have, at one time or another, dreamed of a summer backyard wedding, à la Father of the Bride, but the right setting isn’t always at our fingertips. After Interior Designer Stephanie Rapp completed a backyard renovation to her clients’ home in Westport, CT, it became the perfect venue for the family’s upcoming nuptials.
Rapp had just completed a top-to-bottom renovation of the couple’s interiors in a neutral palette of soft grays and taupes to create an elegant and inviting home where the family could entertain when the homeowners called on the Westport-based designer to continue her work outside. The hardscapes were already completed by the previous owners, so Rapp was able to focus her attention on the details. “We created a design concept that allowed the client to partake in the parklike setting during the day while evoking a sophisticated and alluring environment for evening entertaining,” says Rapp.
Landscaping surrounding the outdoor living spaces provide continuous and evolving blooms for three seasons of the year. “So, we were fortunate to have that backdrop,” says Rapp. The biggest challenge was designing with the sun in mind. “We placed the furniture on the sunny patio in such a way to have the house block the strong morning sun and we used an umbrella for sun control in the dining area,” she adds.
To carry the color palette outdoors, soft grays and neutral, textured fabrics were chosen for the cushions and pillows in order to echo the work artwork of the interiors. Each space was designed for different uses to incorporate all the experiences the clients wanted to partake in throughout the day, from a dining table with seating for eight from Sunset West, to pool-side loungers for sun worship from Telescope, to the gazebo with a fireplace. “I love the unique seating areas we designed,” says Rapp. Under the gazebo, guests stay shaded from the midday sun that surrounds the pool and, in the evening, the outdoor sofas from Bernhardt Outdoor feel more like a private outdoor bar separate from the dining and pool areas. “At the far end of the pool is a spa area in which we placed a private lounger built for two, a perfect spot for reading during the day or to cuddle in after a dip in the whirlpool in the evening,” says Rapp.
Once the work was done, the husband’s daughter from a previous marriage found the beautiful outdoor setting perfect for hosting her wedding, particularly since one of the guest rooms inside the home had already been designed with the intention of using it as a bridal preparation suite. “The bride walked down the lawn and they were married under a floral arch as guests watched from seats on the lawn,” describes Rapp. “Immediately following the ceremony, the guests moved to the patio area, which had additional high tops and café seating for a post-wedding reception. The homeowners felt so proud to host this beautiful and intimate garden-style wedding at their own home. The wife grew up in Westport, so it felt like a full-circle moment to host family and friends for an important milestone event.”
Photography by Neil Landino
