A Maritime Romance: Harry and Gabriella’s Wedding at Aldrich Mansion

Love Story

Their love story began with a pair of borrowed shoes and a daring rescue mission. When Harry arrived at a Boston bar wearing sandals, he was promptly denied entry by the bouncer. Gabriella, unwilling to let footwear foil their evening, orchestrated a clandestine shoe exchange. "It's my friend's purse and Crosby's shoes. Don't worry about it. Let's get you into the bar," she insisted with a mischievous smile, tucking Harry's sandals into a borrowed Louis Vuitton bag while security chased their accomplice through the crowd.

Though they had spent nearly two and a half years frequenting the same ROTC training and places around Boston, it wasn't until their time at Naval Station Newport in the summer of 2021 that their relationship truly blossomed. Since then, they've created memories across five countries and twelve states, building a love as adventurous as their military careers—she as a Naval Flight Officer in training, he as a Marine Corps logistics officer.

Harry's proposal was meant to happen in Gabriella's Michigan hometown, but plans changed when he learned she was flying to California to surprise him. "Her dad and sister tipped me off that she was coming to give me the opportunity to turn the element of surprise back onto her," Harry shared. When Gabriella thought she was surprising Harry downtown, he was waiting by the water's edge. "When she snuck up on me to “surprise me”, and at first, I played along with the whole surprise. I told her that I had a better surprise for her though and got down on one knee."

Originally envisioning a summer wedding on the California coast, Gabriella's plans evolved into something entirely different yet perfect in its own right. "The vision for my dream wedding was worlds apart from how my actual wedding unfolded," Gabriella reflected. "I had always pictured a summer or spring ceremony in a grand cathedral, followed by an outdoor reception near the beach,where the scent of salt hung in the air, and sand could be felt beneath my feet."

When their wedding was moved from the West Coast to the East Coast and from summer to fall, Gabriella embraced a vision of timeless elegance. The historic Aldrich Mansion provided a backdrop of old-world sophistication, requiring minimal decoration to shine. "I opted for minimal flowers and understated design elements to highlight the sacredness of the Catholic ceremony and to let the venue’s grandeur speak for itself," Gabriella explained. Her passion for fashion influenced her request that guests wear dark, formal colors to complement the elegant atmosphere.

The couple's 175 guests gathered to witness their union, planned in just 5-6 months with tremendous help from family. "The result was a celebration that felt both intimate and regal, perfectly embodying the refined vision we had for our special day," Gabriella acknowledged gratefully.

Morning details

The couple's attention to meaningful details began with their invitations, which they designed themselves using Canva. "Harry, Juliana (maid of honor and sister of the bride), and I put together an invitation based on something I saw on Instagram!" Gabriella shared.

Their wedding rings carried special significance, selected during a memorable trip to Tiffany's in California. "It was a moment I had always dreamed of—trying on rings with him," Gabriella reminisced. "True to my nature, I ended up choosing something completely different than what I had originally imagined, but it complemented the ring Harry had made for me perfectly." Rather than purchasing from the famous jeweler, they supported a family friend of Harry's who had crafted Gabriella's engagement ring. Harry selected a medium-thick gold band that exuded timeless masculinity.

For her wedding jewelry, Gabriella had long been drawn to statement pieces from Lelet NY. "From the moment I discovered the Eden collection, I was drawn to it. The floral hair combs and matching earrings were the perfect embodiment of my personal style, and I knew they would be the ultimate piece for my wedding look," she explained. "These timeless pieces are not only a reflection of my taste but are also ones I hope to pass down to my children."

Bride getting ready

Gabriella approached her bridal preparations with refreshing practicality, opting for a simplified "getting ready" experience. "I decided to skip a traditional "getting ready" photoshoot and instead opted to have the videographer capture a couple of meaningful moments in the hotel bridal suite for an hour or two," she explained. "Having prepared for so many events in the past, I knew I wanted the majority of my photos to showcase me fully ready and stepping into the most special moments of the day."

Her gown, purchased from Revolve, perfectly complemented her vision of letting her statement jewelry shine. "I knew I wanted my statement jewelry to be the focal point of my wedding look, so I opted for a dress from Revolve to keep the outfit simple yet chic," Gabriella shared. "After searching online for just about a month, I found the perfect dress that checked all the boxes."

At the last minute, she decided to add a veil to complete her elegant ensemble. Her footwear choice reflected her attention to detail and personal style. "For a while, I had been eyeing a pair of vintage Chanel sling-back heels, knowing they would be the perfect touch for the day," she revealed.

For her bouquet, Gabriella made a choice that unexpectedly connected to her family heritage. "Choosing flowers for my wedding was one of the most difficult decisions I faced, given my vision of timeless elegance," she admitted. "Then, I stumbled across Something Borrowed Blooms and discovered a vibrant fuchsia bougainvillea bouquet. The moment I saw it, I knew it was the perfect choice—it combined my love for bold, fun colors with a touch of elegance."

The selection became even more meaningful when she shared her decision with her mother. "That’s when I learned that her Abuelita had grown bougainvillea around Nicaragua, making it a flower that held special meaning for her. It was her favorite, and that deep connection to my mom’s heritage further solidified that these were the flowers I was meant to carry down the aisle."

Her bridesmaids showcased Gabriella's progressive approach to wedding fashion. "I’ve never been a fan of the idea of bridesmaids all wearing the same color or style of dress," she explained. "For me, fashion is about feeling beautiful and comfortable in what you wear. So, I chose a color palette and gave my bridesmaids the freedom to select any dress within that range that they felt confident and comfortable in."

Groom getting ready

Harry and his groomsmen prepared for the big day with convenience and style, having their tuxedos delivered from The Black Tux. "We were all very impressed with how well they fit. A few of us ended up keeping ours – including me," Harry noted with satisfaction.

The groom's preparation was captured in two stages by their photography and videography teams. "We had the videography team visit when we initially got dressed. Once we arrived at Aldrich Mansion, both the photography and videography teams pulled me aside for solo shots on the marble staircase in the mansion, and then we transitioned to content out in front of the mansion with my groomsmen," Harry explained.

Photoshoot before the ceremony

Ceremony

The ceremony took place in the chapel at Aldrich Mansion, providing a sacred space for their Catholic marriage vows. The musical selection for Gabriella's walk down the aisle held deep significance. "I discovered a violin rendition of 'Oceans' by StringsBespoke, and from the very first moment I heard it, I knew it was perfect," she shared. "The song, a Christian piece with profound meaning, resonated deeply with me. As I listened, I could vividly picture myself walking down the aisle, seeing Harry waiting for me at the end—a moment that symbolized the start of this beautiful new chapter in our life together. It felt like the song was meant for us, capturing the emotion and sacredness of the day."

When Harry finally saw Gabriella walking down the aisle, he was captivated. "My first thought was how beautiful she looked. I was a little surprised with how composed she looked," Harry recalled. "I think we were both totally swept up by the surreality and beauty of the moment to cry or do much else. It was a beautiful reunion once I grabbed her arm and made our way up to the altar. Everything I dreamed of was coming together. I could feel the warmth and happiness radiating off of her."

For Gabriella, walking down the aisle was an emotional pinnacle. “I’ll never forget the overwhelming emotions I felt as I walked down the aisle. Tears streamed down my face—half from the bittersweet moment of letting go of my dad’s arm and stepping into this new chapter of my life, and half from the excitement and joy of marrying the love of my life," she recalled vividly. "Part of me was sad to leave behind my past, but at the same time, I couldn’t help but feel a rush of excitement that made me want to sprint down the aisle and leap into Harry’s arms. I could hardly believe it was finally happening, and in that moment, I knew this was the beginning of something truly incredible."

The ceremony featured personal touches that honored their faith and family connections. Gabriella's brother, Austin, performed traditional chants and a moving rendition of "Ave Maria" during communion. The priest who celebrated their mass was one of Austin's closest mentors in the Marian Fathers and is also training to be a Navy Chaplain, creating a perfect connection to the couple's military service.

Photoshoot after the ceremony

The newlyweds took advantage of Aldrich Mansion's spectacular setting for their post-ceremony photographs. "Our photoshoot took place behind the mansion, starting on the grand back staircase and continuing onto the gently sloped lawn that led to the water’s edge," Gabriella described.
"It was breathtakingly beautiful, perfectly timed as the sun began to set. The sky transformed into a stunning collage of warm fall colors, creating a natural masterpiece as our backdrop. A few white sailboats drifted across the water, adding an idyllic touch to the scenic landscape."

Inside the mansion, the couple utilized the elegant staircases and richly detailed interiors, as well as the magnificent facade, creating a collection of timeless, romantic images that captured the essence of their day. “The setting couldn’t have been more perfect for capturing intimate moments of just the two of us,” they added.

Wedding Venue & Decor

Aldrich Mansion provided the perfect backdrop for their vision of timeless elegance with its meticulously crafted architecture and richly adorned interiors. The decor emphasized simplicity and warmth, focusing on candlelight with strategic floral accents.

"I initially envisioned a decor centered around candles, filling the rooms and dining areas with soft, glowing light," Gabriella explained. "I didn’t plan on incorporating flowers at first, but since I had never visited the venue beforehand, I wasn’t aware of certain hallways and spaces that would benefit from the addition of floral arrangements."

With just a month to execute their vision, Cherry Hill Flowers helped bring the concept to life. "The color palette of my wedding featured warm, elegant tones, with my bridesmaids in shades of brown and gold, while my mom and mother-in-law wore dark green, providing a unique yet refined pop of color," she detailed. "When it came to the flowers, I wanted colors reminiscent of a fall walk—deep, rich hues that would complement the season’s natural beauty. After hours of Pinterest inspiration, I compiled a vision, which my mother-in-law shared with the florist. They transformed the ideas into gorgeous floral arrangements that perfectly complemented the space."

The venue's waterfront location held special significance for Gabriella. "She always grew up on or around the water — whether lakes or oceans — so she wanted an environment that was reminiscent of some of her fondest memories growing up, and greatest passions with nature," Harry explained. The Aldrich Mansion's position on Narragansett Bay provided the perfect setting.

The location was also strategically chosen to accommodate their guests. "Harry wanted an accessible destination that would maximize turnout at the wedding," Gabriella noted. "New England was a logical choice."

Reception

The reception continued the celebration with personal touches and meaningful traditions. Harry honored his parents with a special musical selection. "The big “hit” at my parents' wedding was “Piano Man” by Billy Joel. Growing up, that was a song that always carried a lot of meaning and happy memories for me because of that," Harry explained. "We ended up making it the second to last song. My parents were really happy. It was a big hit at our wedding too. Everyone – regardless of whether they knew the person to the left and right of them – jointed in arms and sang the whole song together. It was an awesome moment to share with my parents and everyone else."

For their parent dances, both bride and groom chose songs with deep personal meaning. "My first dance was 'Mother' by Michael Bublé," Harry shared. "In the song, he talks about his mother as a “lover” and a “fighter”. I thought it encapsulated who my mom real well. She beat breast cancer, and has successfully battled a rare blood cancer called Multiple Myeloma since 2017."

Gabriella made a thoughtful last-minute change to her father-daughter dance selection. "For my father-daughter dance, I chose Joy of My Life by Chris Stapleton. Originally, I had planned to dance to First Man by Camila Cabello, but I made a last-minute change on the day of the wedding," she revealed. "Knowing how emotional I already was—and how much that song tends to bring me to tears—I decided I wanted something more upbeat to truly celebrate the occasion with my dad. Joy of My Life perfectly captured the happiness of the moment and allowed us to share a joyful, lighthearted dance together."

Their wedding cake, crafted by Wright's Bakery, provided a sweet ending to a perfect celebration. Throughout the planning and execution of their special day, the couple was supported by vendors who went above and beyond. "Vendors were flexible and accommodating to all of our needs. Experts who know their craft inside and out," the couple shared gratefully. "Their recommendations and guidance gave us reassurance, clarity, and direction to planning the perfect day. They helped give us the best day of our life."

As Naval Flight Officer Gabriella and Marine Corps logistics officer Harry sailed off into their new life together, they carried with them not just the memories of a perfect wedding day, but the foundation of a love story built on adventure, sacrifice, and deep commitment—a true reflection of the service they both provide to their country and now, to each other.