This Bride Had Norah Jones Serenade Her First Dance With Her Childhood Sweetheart
Hannah Mullin and Sean McConnell are childhood sweethearts. Their relationship started when they were two kids growing up together in Delaware. “We became best friends, and it flourished into a meaningful love story that has been continuing for nine years,” says Hannah. On 3 June, 2024, Sean planned to bring their journey to the next stage with a proposal at Rock House in Turks and Caicos. “He had flowers imported and lights set up on the dock that went out onto the water… it truly looked so magical,” remembers Hannah. “Right after he proposed, a storm rolled in, and the staff set us up with a private dinner in this sheltered cove.” She adds, “It was one of the most memorable nights of our lives.”
The couple decided to say “I do” almost two years later at the Castle Hill Inn in Newport, Rhode Island. “From the very beginning, we dreamed beyond a traditional wedding,” the bride says of her vision. “Our relationship is full of love, laughter and colour. We wanted it to be a true reflection of us.” Partnering with wedding planner Sarah Heaney of Leila James Events proved to be the best decision of the entire process. “We both waver on the type B end, so our first task was finding a planner,” says Hannah. “Whenever people asked how it was going, they almost always expected the same answer. That we were overwhelmed, counting down the days, or simply ready for it to be over. But for us, it was exactly the opposite. Every meeting, every design decision, every moment spent dreaming about what this celebration could become was something we genuinely looked forward to.”
The celebration would span two days of events, beginning with a rehearsal dinner and welcome party at the Tennis Hall of Fame, complete with an entire custom merch suite and tennis-inspired details. “Me and Sarah always laugh with one another when we look back and realise this all came into place from only three to four inspiration pictures from me,” the bride says. Design was an important factor in planning the weekend, with blooming florals from Stoneblossom, custom illustrations by Champagne and Ink, and transformative décor crafted by Ryan Designs.
“What makes this experience so unforgettable isn’t just the extraordinary talent of every person involved, but their kindness,” reflects Hannah. “Every vendor became more than someone we hired. They became collaborators, cheerleaders and friends.” She adds, “Finally, none of this would have lived on the way it has without Stephanie Vegliante. Long after the flowers have faded and the music has ended, it is her photographs that allow us to return to these moments again and again.”
When it came to selecting her fashion, the bride says she wanted the styles to feel authentic to her. To walk down the aisle, she decided on a lace corset top and full skirt by Sept. “The dress I ended up choosing was actually the first one I tried on, and I knew then that it was going to be the dress I ended up with,” Hannah says. “I felt my truest self in it, and I knew that was the feeling I wanted when trying on gowns.” The two-piece style allowed her to swap the skirt for a mini later in the evening to easily hit the dance floor. “When my final look was coming together, we ended up adding the same shimmer beading on my bodice, to be added to my veil,” she shares. “It completely transformed the final look and had everything tied together perfectly.”
Hannah decided to go beyond traditional white for her rehearsal dinner dress, choosing a flowing printed style with soft greens and peach tones. “I ended up on a stunning Monique Lhuillier gown that felt perfect for summer, and replicated the colours of our venue and florals,” she says. “I felt one with the night.” The groom also decided to embrace the shades of their celebration for the first night, creating a bespoke baby blue suit with Brioni. “He picked out each individual detail, even down to his socks,” says the bride. “He looked perfectly Newport chic.” For the wedding day, he kept it classic in a Ralph Lauren Purple Label tuxedo. Hannah shares, “We always knew we wanted him in a cream tux jacket, and we are so happy with how it turned out!”
The weekend kicked off with the couple’s families all checking into The Royce in downtown Newport a few days early. “We spent many nights sitting by the fire with plenty of guitars being played, family dinners on the grill, and ending the night with a walk to Kilwins Ice Cream Shop! It was just what we needed to centre and ground us for the weekend we had ahead of us,” says the bride. Guests joined in that Friday at the Tennis Hall of Fame as festivities went into full swing. “The night ended with a dance party on the terrace, giving us a glimpse into what lay ahead of us,” says Hannah. “It was a magical night, and the perfect start to a perfect weekend.”
After a morning getting ready with their wedding parties, the bride and groom were ready to first see each other at their floral-adorned ceremony aisle. Nerves turned to excitement as the couple was finally hand-in-hand at the altar. “There were some tears and some laughs, and it ended with us walking back to ‘Home’ by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros,” reflects the bride. “It was a moment full of pure bliss.”
Music was paramount to setting the scene, with a special performance by singer Norah Jones to start the reception. The couple shared their first dance to “Come Away With Me” before listening to the artist perform four other hit songs in her repertoire. The night continued into dinner with speeches from their closest circle and cutting into a multi-tiered cake by Confectionery Designs. The bride changed into her shorter skirt for dancing, and the band had all the guests on the dance floor. The groom even took the mic for a special performance as the evening came to a close.
Looking back, the newlyweds say they miss each moment from the weekend: “Every day, we reminisce on the weekend and how truly special it was to us. From the moment we arrived in Newport, there was an indescribable feeling in the air that stuck with us all week. We feel so lucky and thankful for the experience and all the amazing people we met along the way.”
