REAL WEDDING:: Hillary Connell + Zachary Richard {Second Lines and Sweet “I Do’s”}

November 17, 2025
Ashley Revels
Featured Couples

::FEATURED IN THE FALL 2025 PRINT ISSUE OF NOW WEDDINGS MAGAZINE ON NEWSSTANDS NOW::

Photography by Greer Gattuso Photography

hillary + richard’s story

Hillary Connell and Zachary Richard’s love story began in the halls of medical school, where friendship quickly turned into something more. Four years later, Zach proposed to Hillary during a trip to Portugal, choosing the fairytale-like town of Sintra as the perfect setting. The original plan was to pop the question during a scenic hike, using a custom playing card he had designed for one of their favorite games. But when Hillary wasn’t in the mood to play and an unexpected cold snap cut their evening stroll short, Zach quickly shifted gears. Back in the warmth of their hotel room, he knew he had to act fast. In a quiet, intimate moment, he proposed using her maternal grandmother’s engagement ring – a deeply meaningful heirloom.

Long-sleeve lace wedding dress hangs from an antique mirror inside a vintage room with ornate green woodwork and toile-patterned wallpaper. Soft natural light filters through the windows, illuminating the gown’s intricate lace details and layered tulle skirt, creating a romantic and timeless bridal detail shot.

Black-and-white close-up of a bride’s hand resting gracefully on a chair, showcasing her diamond engagement ring. The soft focus and film texture create an elegant, timeless bridal detail shot.

Close-up of a small bridal bouquet made of delicate white flowers and green leaves, wrapped with ivory ribbon. The bouquet rests on floral-patterned tissue paper with soft, warm light creating a romantic and intimate wedding detail shot.

Close-up of a bride’s hairstyle from behind, featuring a soft, romantic updo adorned with a delicate floral crown and long white ribbon ties. The bride’s hand gently touches her hair as she gets ready, with soft natural light creating an intimate and elegant bridal detail shot.

Bride stands gracefully as her mother helps fasten the straps of her lace wedding gown. The bride wears a delicate floral headpiece and looks down with a soft smile. Her mother is dressed in a navy and silver brocade gown. They are in an elegant, vintage-style room with green woodwork and soft pink flowers, capturing a tender getting-ready moment.

The couple chose their hometown, New Orleans, for their wedding. Their ceremony held at Holy Name of Jesus Church, featured a string quartet playing songs from Amelie, The Sound of Music, and a surprise instrumental of the Formula 1 theme – Hillary’s nod to Zach’s love of racing. “I was holding it together pretty well until I recognized the song,” Zach shares. Hillary’s late greyhound, Rudy, made a surprise appearance during the second line at the reception, joining guests in one of the most memorable moments of the day.

Black-and-white photo of a bride in a long-sleeve lace gown standing on a porch as a bridesmaid and two young children help arrange her dress and veil. The flower girl gently holds the lace hem while the ring bearer stands nearby. Large oak trees and historic homes create a soft, timeless backdrop for this candid pre-ceremony moment.

A bride in a long, lace wedding gown walks down a dimly lit, elegant hallway with dark red walls and a chandelier above, her voluminous train trailing behind her as she approaches a bright doorway where her groom waits in silhouette.

A groom in a classic black tuxedo walks down a garden-lined sidewalk, smiling and relaxed, with another man in a tuxedo following behind him in the background of the black-and-white photo.

A joyful bride in a high-neck lace wedding gown laughs with excitement as she holds hands with her groom during an emotional first-look moment. They stand framed by a tall dark wooden doorway with warm reddish walls behind them, the bride’s floral headpiece and expressive smile capturing the tenderness of the scene.

A bride in a long-sleeved lace gown and cathedral veil shares a kiss with her groom as they sit on a vintage red-striped sofa against a bold red wall. The bride’s full lace train cascades across the wooden floor while the groom, dressed in a classic black tuxedo, holds a cocktail glass. Ornate warrior-style statues frame the scene, adding dramatic character to the intimate moment.

A favorite moment for Hillary was walking down the aisle and seeing Zach at the altar. For Zach, it was trying not to cry during their First Look. The couple also created unique DIY favors – Christmas ornaments painted with their ceremony venue, using repurposed insulin pump components, a creative nod to Hillary’s Type 1 diabetes.

Bride and groom stand at the altar inside a grand Catholic church adorned with soaring vaulted ceilings, ornate gold detailing, and vibrant stained-glass windows. The long central aisle is lined with guests, and the altar is decorated with red poinsettias and Christmas greenery. The couple faces the priest beneath an intricate white marble reredos, creating a dramatic and reverent ceremony moment.

A groom dips and kisses his bride outside a grand church entrance as their wedding party lines the steps, cheering and holding bouquets. The bride’s long lace gown and flowing veil sweep across the ground, while bridesmaids and groomsmen celebrate around them in this joyful black-and-white moment.

A newly married bride and groom joyfully exit the church hand in hand as their wedding party cheers around them. The bride, wearing a lace gown and floral headpiece, lifts her bouquet toward bridesmaids in copper satin dresses, while groomsmen in black tuxedos applaud and celebrate on the opposite side. The couple beams with excitement beneath the ornate stone archway of the church entrance.

With friends and family from around the world, the day was filled with joy, gratitude, and celebration. After four years of long-distance during residency, Hillary and Zach now look forward to life together in Boulder, Colorado, more adventures in nature, and a honeymoon to Italy in 2025 to cheer on their favorite Formula 1 team.

A small evergreen Christmas tree decorated with hand-painted blue and brown ornaments, each hanging from a gold ribbon. The tree sits indoors with soft, warm lighting in the background, surrounded by white gift boxes at its base.

The bride and groom share their first dance in an elegant reception room, the bride’s lace gown sweeping across the wooden floor as guests smile and watch from the sidelines. Warm lighting, ornate mirrors, and tall windows create a refined, celebratory atmosphere.

The bride and groom smile as they prepare to cut their tiered white wedding cake, seen through a reflective window that overlays soft string lights and greenery. The bride holds a cake knife beside a bouquet of white flowers and a coupe glass, creating a romantic, glowing scene.

A bride and groom walk hand in hand down the aisle of a grand church, captured from behind in black and white. The bride’s long lace gown and veil flow across the marble floor as they look lovingly at each other, surrounded by tall columns and empty wooden pews.

A second-line grand marshal leads the celebration, dressed in a dark suit with a gold-trimmed sash and carrying a black parasol with gold fringe. He dances while blowing a whistle, followed by a live brass band and cheering guests in the background.

The bride and groom lead a joyful second-line parade at night, each holding decorative umbrellas—his black and hers white lace—while guests wave handkerchiefs around them. The couple smiles as they dance through the crowd outside The Columns, surrounded by sparkling string lights and lively celebration.

A joyful bride in a short white dress crouches beside the groom and their dog during a nighttime wedding celebration. The bride holds a drink and a white lace parasol, while the groom holds a black lace parasol and pets their dog, who is wearing a bandana. A lively group of guests in colorful attire cheer and laugh in the background on the street.

A bride in a sparkly short white dress and strappy heels shares a playful kiss with the groom during a nighttime wedding celebration. They each hold lace parasols—hers white and his black—raised above them as guests cheer in the background on the street.