Kim and Matt's Art Deco Wedding at the Gershon Fox Ballroom, Hartford

I love the history behind the location of Kimberly and Matthew's wedding. The history of Kim and Matt is fantastic, but I am talking about the building: the old G. Fox and Co. department store on Main Street in downtown Hartford. Did you know that G. Fox, in its early years, was famous for home delivery by wheelbarrow?

Today the art deco floors of that building are home to the Gershon Fox Ballroom, run by Marquee Events, and Kim and Matt's stylish wedding lived up to every bit of the old Hollywood elegance the room is known for.

The history of the G. Fox building and the Gershon Fox Ballroom

G. Fox and Co. began in 1847 as a small fancy goods store opened by Gerson Fox. After a fire destroyed the store complex in January 1917, the company hired the architect Cass Gilbert to design a new home. The 11 story G. Fox building opened on Main Street in 1918 and was the largest commercial building in the city.

Beatrice Fox Auerbach, who took over the store, brought in the art deco interiors and added the signature marquee over the Main Street entrances. G. Fox grew into one of the largest privately owned department stores in the country, and generations of Connecticut families remember shopping, and visiting Santa, there.

The store closed in 1993. The building found new life as the home of Capital Community College, and Marquee Events hosts weddings in the Gershon Fox Ballroom at 960 Main Street, with marble columns, crystal chandeliers and a refined old Hollywood feel.

A wedding morning designed around the city

Kim and Matt stayed at the Residence Inn, half a block from the venue. Most of their guests stayed there too, so everyone walked to the wedding and walked back to their rooms after the celebration. For a downtown Hartford wedding, that is about as easy as logistics get.

Kim's bouquet was created by Flowers by Danielle, with special attention brought to the charm on the stem holding a photo of Kim's grandfather. Hair and makeup were flawlessly designed by Dana Bartone and Co, with Rena working the brushes.

Since the two of them were getting ready in the same hotel on different floors, it was easy to manage photos between the two groups. Once they were dressed, I took the gentlemen outside to capture their portraits well ahead of the ceremony.

Splitting portraits before the ceremony: an alternative to a first look

Photographing the guys and the girls separately ahead of time takes extra planning in the hair and makeup timeline, plus travel and setup time. The payoff is that it frees up a big part of cocktail hour that would otherwise go to group photos. It is a great alternative for couples who want to save the first look for the aisle.

The ceremony: lighting a chuppah against a wall of windows

How stunning does Kim look in her Kenneth Winston gown? Once we finished her portraits, the girls headed to the Gershon Fox Ballroom to hide while the guys greeted the guests. Then came Matt's reaction to seeing his wife to be. That is the groom's expression we all love to see.

A little technical note for the photographers and planners reading this. The chuppah stood right in front of a huge window, which makes shooting toward it nearly impossible. Expose for the couple, and every detail behind them blows out to white. So I placed a remote triggered Profoto B1 off to the right with a 4 foot silver umbrella, lighting their faces to match the brightness of the windows and curtains. Because everyone was lit, you can see the detail in the drapes, the city outside and the whole wedding party in one frame. Pure joy.

The reception: art deco style and a band that never stopped

Four of these guys is better than one. Art deco styling: you cannot have enough of it.

I cannot stress enough the importance of a good band or DJ. Kim and Matt did their homework, and the Around Town Band is truly one of the best. The band literally never stopped playing. With so many members, they took breaks in shifts so the music never dropped, and it showed on the dance floor. After the father daughter dance, Kim's dad did his rendition of "Mack the Knife." It is something of a family tradition, and the crowd went wild.

Congratulations, you two!

Planning a Gershon Fox Ballroom wedding? Five tips from us

1. Book a hotel block within walking distance. Kim and Matt's guests walked half a block each way, with no shuttles needed.
2. Ask your photographer about window light. The ballroom's big windows are beautiful, but a ceremony in front of them needs off camera lighting to look right.
3. Split the portraits if you are skipping a first look. Separate wedding party portraits before the ceremony buy back your cocktail hour.
4. Hire a band that plays in shifts. Nonstop music keeps a ballroom full.
5. Lean into the art deco. Gold, black, geometric lines and old Hollywood glamour belong in this room.

Kim and Matt's Gershon Fox Ballroom wedding vendors

• Venue (ceremony and reception): Gershon Fox Ballroom by Marquee Events, Hartford, CT
• Hotel: Residence Inn, downtown Hartford
• Photography: Veils and Cufflinks (Jerome and Jen)
• Florist: Flowers by Danielle
• Hair and makeup: Dana Bartone and Co (makeup by Rena)
• Gown: Kenneth Winston
• Band: Around Town Band

Gershon Fox Ballroom wedding FAQ

Where is the Gershon Fox Ballroom?

The Gershon Fox Ballroom is inside the historic G. Fox building on Main Street in downtown Hartford, Connecticut. Weddings there are hosted by Marquee Events.

What is the history of the G. Fox building?

G. Fox and Co. was founded in 1847 by Gerson Fox. The current 11 story building, designed by Cass Gilbert, opened in 1918 after a fire destroyed the earlier store. Beatrice Fox Auerbach later added the art deco interiors and the marquee on Main Street. The store closed in 1993.

What style is the Gershon Fox Ballroom?

Art deco with an old Hollywood feel: marble columns and floors, crystal chandeliers and tall windows over downtown Hartford.

Can you hold your ceremony and reception at the Gershon Fox Ballroom?

Yes. Kim and Matt held both in the ballroom, with their chuppah set in front of the windows.

Where should guests stay for a Gershon Fox Ballroom wedding?

Kim and Matt used the Residence Inn half a block away, so guests could walk to and from the wedding.

More Hartford weddings

See Sonia and Eric's Indian wedding at Hartford Marriott Downtown with portraits at Hartford City Hall, or Anna and Nikolas' Society Room and CT River cruise wedding.

Planning your own Hartford wedding? Check our availability and tell us about your day.