In the midst of a quiet evening, a phone call from Alyssa changed everything. She asked, “What are you doing in four days, Jeff and I are flying in from New Mexico.” My immediate response was, “I’m free Sunday, where are we going?” The answer took me by surprise—City Hall, City Hall in Hartford, Connecticut, to be exact.

Opening City Hall on a Sunday? It sounded like a mission impossible. Alyssa and Jeff were still in New Mexico, and I was in New Hampshire. But where there is a will, there is a way, and the stars aligned to make this day work. In the end, we successfully secured Hartford City Hall to open its doors on a random Sunday morning in July. It was Jeff’s first time in Connecticut, and they both agreed that the classic and beautiful architecture of City Hall perfectly matched their vision.

Much like Alyssa and Jeff’s wedding theme, which embraced sunset shades of fuchsia, yellow, and orange, their engagement session fell into perfect harmony. Alyssa donned a stunning fuchsia mini-tiered dress from Peacocks and Pearls, paired elegantly with nude heels. Jeff complemented her look with navy blue dress slacks and a crisp button-down shirt.

After all, City Hall opened exclusively for us! Together, we roamed all four floors of the building, gracefully traversed the stairs, enjoyed romantic elevator rides, and by the end, it felt as if no one else existed in the world.

Their love story never fails to bring a smile to my face. Alyssa and Jeff’s paths crossed at a local grocery store, just 0.3 miles from where they both lived. Jeff first spotted Alyssa while she was getting gas, and for a moment, he thought it might be a missed connection. That was until Alyssa pulled into the grocery store parking lot. In that instant, Jeff knew he had to make his move. Yet, when the moment came, nerves took over, and nothing was said. When Alyssa returned to her car, she found his business card tucked under her windshield wiper. She texted him, “What’s for breakfast?” and the rest is history.

I can hardly contain my excitement to join you in May in New Mexico and witness the beginning of your new forever. This love story, woven through the corridors of Hartford City Hall, reminds us all that when love finds its way, even the most improbable circumstances become magical moments.

Jeff & Alyssa Love Note:

You did a phenomenal job! You know exactly what to do behind a camera and how to coach us to get exactly the shot you are envisioning. I love that you like to shoot as you see things. True to life as they happen with connection in every shot. We give you 500 stars and want you to be our personal photographers for every step in life.

View more engagement sessions by Felisha Lees Photography here.
View more on Instagram here

Want to learn more about unique things to do in Hartford, CT? Check out a recent article titled “A City of Literary Treasures and More” where I was featured on the ApartmentGuide blog!

To secure your permit at Hartford City Hall click here.