After both moving to New York City in 2022 and connecting on Hinge, Emma Quigley and Jeffrey Smolens assumed they were complete strangers. But when they went on their first date at Jajaja Mexicano in the West Village, they began to realize they had what they describe as “invisible strings” that connected them throughout their lives. “Jeff had been down my childhood street numerous times as his close cousins—including Jeff’s future best man—were my neighbors and went to the same small private school [as me],” says Emma, who works in private credit. “We also learned at our first shared Christmas that my aunt had known Jeff’s mother for over 30 years via their professional lives.”
A year after Emma and Jeff became a couple, they moved out of the city and into a new home together in Jeff’s hometown of Darien, Connecticut. The following June, the two made a visit to the newly opened Great Island, a historic estate turned public waterfront in their town. “Jeff proposed privately on a bluff overlooking the water during a break in a rainy weekend,” recalls Emma. “I had an idea a proposal was coming within the year, but zero idea it was going to be that day!” Following the proposal, the technology consultant whisked Emma away to a staycation celebration at The Inn at GrayBarns, complete with flowers, a private dinner, and a couple’s massage.
When planning their wedding, Emma and Jeff decided to lean into their affinity for the Eastern coastline with an October 4, 2025, buyout of the Weekapaug Inn, a Relais & Chateaux property in Westerly, Rhode Island. “Southern Rhode Island has always carried a sense of calm for us, and the Weekapaug Inn was the ideal location to share that sense of serenity and tranquility for our guests for the weekend,” says Emma. “The buyout ensured the intimacy we sought and gave us the ability to build our own world through custom design, ambiance, and hospitality.”
Emma not only took on the role of bride for the wedding, but also that of planner. “It was humbling and intense, but also deeply rewarding. I had a very strong vision from the start and loved immersing myself in the process—hiring each vendor individually and shaping the atmosphere piece by piece,” she says. After six months, the couple also tasked Sarah Heaney of Leila James Events as coordinator to bring the rest of the logistics to life and manage the day-of flow. The bride also credits her floral designer, Florals by Semia, as a strong creative force in crafting the look of the celebrations.
The aesthetic of the weekend leaned into their coastal surroundings, complete with shell motifs and organic wave-like design elements. However, the theme was far from kitschy. “Our wedding embodied a modern heirloom approach to celebration: bespoke, artisan-driven, and deeply intentional,” says Emma of their vision. “Every element was created in collaboration with independent makers, from hand-block-printed linens and custom jewelry to couture gowns reimagined as works of art.”