Huanna & Shawn
Hartford City Hall Wedding & Elizabeth Park Rose Garden Wedding Portraits
35mm | June 13, 2026 | Portra 800
On June 13th, 2026, I had the pleasure of spending the evening with Huanna & Shawn to capture their wedding portraits on 35mm film at Hartford City Hall and Elizabeth Park Rose Garden. Huanna, being a creative herself, designed her own wedding dress, and it was absolutely stunning to photograph in such an elegant setting!
We started at Hartford City Hall, which is now easily one of my favorite locations for intimate weddings, elopements, and wedding portraits in Connecticut. Between the marble staircases, historic architecture, and beautiful natural light, it has a timeless, romantic feeling that photographs beautifully on film.
After exploring City Hall, we headed to Elizabeth Park Rose Garden in West Hartford for portraits among the roses and soft summer light. The gardens were in bloom, the evening was gorgeous, and it felt like the perfect Connecticut summer backdrop for documenting this chapter of their story.
I truly adore photographing Hartford City Hall weddings, Connecticut elopements, small weddings, and wedding portraits on 35mm film. There’s something incredibly special about preserving these moments in a way that feels nostalgic, and cinematic, yet true to life. Whether you're planning a simple city hall ceremony, a small wedding, an elopement, or wedding portraits after saying "I do," I would love to hear from you! If you're looking for a Hartford City Hall wedding photographer, Connecticut elopement photographer, or a film photographer for wedding portraits at Elizabeth Park Rose Garden, contact me below! I’d love to make your dreams come to life!
Photography: Briana Raucci | Instagram: @brianaraucci
Bouquet: @fleurdream_official
Headband: @linng1217
Make-up Artist: @sharon_02.studio
Dress: @ricelot
Film Highlights
35mm 3D film
35mm film
Digital
Testimonial
We hired Briana for a pre-wedding portrait session—something that isn’t especially common in the U.S.—and she handled the entire process seamlessly. From our very first introductory email to the day of the shoot, she immediately understood the mood and aesthetic we were looking for. She thoughtfully advised us on the best date and time to take advantage of the natural light, helped coordinate the locations, and made sure all the necessary paperwork was submitted on time.
Neither of us is used to being in front of the camera, so we were definitely a little nervous when we started. Briana made us feel comfortable almost immediately. She gave us just enough direction without making anything feel stiff or overly posed, allowing us to relax and simply be ourselves. She has a wonderful instinct for capturing the tiny, in-between moments—a glance, a laugh, or the way we naturally held each other—that made the photographs feel intimate and genuinely like us.
What we loved most was the way she balanced documentary style of shooting with editorial compositions. The photos feel romantic and cinematic without looking staged. The soft colors and grain of the 35mm film gave the entire gallery a timeless, almost movie-still quality. You can truly feel our chemistry and emotions through her photographs.
We’re incredibly happy with how everything turned out and would recommend Briana to anyone looking for a thoughtful, artistic photographer—especially if you love 35mm film, vintage aesthetics, and wedding photos that feel natural, emotional, and full of character.
— Huanna Yu (Bride)
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