Cate and WJ: An Autumn Wedding in Vermont

One of the many blessings of living in Vermont is the month of October: cool, crisp air, flavors of fall, and colorful foliage that begs to be photographed. Add in a country wedding and you pretty much have a recipe for beauty. What made this wedding all the sweeter for me is that I have known the bride for over ten years, since we graduated college together and became friends. I love that kind of event, where you get to cross paths with people you haven't seen in years.

Now planning an outdoor wedding in Vermont can be a little tricky at any time of year, but in the fall that is especially true. You could have a downpour, you could have clouds and biting wind, heck, you could even have snow. But the day was bright and balmy, the sun was shining on the hills, and it was unseasonably warm. The ceremony and reception was held at the Millstone Lodge in East Barre, a beautiful spot high on a hill with so much character and charm it should be booked year-round for Vermont country weddings.

The wedding itself was small and intimate, with Cate and WJ choosing to have just one attendant each, and a small gathering of guests seated on the white wooden chairs perched on the hill overlooking Vermont's autumn splendor. The bride's uncle built them their wedding arch, a keepsake they can put in their garden and enjoy forever. On each chair was a box adorned with a maple leaf cutout and filled with Lake Champlain chocolates. The bride special-ordered a unique guest tree drawing for everyone to leave their fingerprint and signature, a sweet touch that will be a daily reminder in their home of their wedding day. After a cocktail hour filled with apple cider and delicious Vermont cheese, the guests enjoyed a good old-fashioned pig roast, with maple glazed pulled pork and trays of homey macaroni and cheese. Everyone mingled, toasted to the newlyweds, and prepared for a night of dancing and cutting loose. Not before the happy couple sliced into their wedding cake of course, homemade by the bride and frosted and assembled by yours truly.

Cate and WJ, you had such a perfect and lovely wedding day, and I am sure that your marriage will bring you both so much happiness. I am so happy to have been a part of these memories, and I hope you will enjoy looking back on your wedding images as much as I enjoyed capturing them.

A Happy Monday

Most people hate Mondays. And I get it. It is hard to get rolling again after the relaxed groove of your weekend. No one likes being told they have to do something, and if any day is a "have to" day, it is Monday. But I am an oddball, and I enjoy Mondays, probably for the same reason I always loved going back to school in the fall. It feels like a fresh start, there is nothing but possibilities ahead. On Mondays I am motivated to get organized, to try new things, to get stuff crossed of my to-do list.

And now that you all hate me, on to the really fun part of this post: engagement photos! I had the pleasure of meeting Krissy and Alex (along with their little cutie Connor) this past weekend in Middlebury at the Waybury Inn. Besides getting to enjoy a beautiful drive through the foliage-covered mountains (by myself!), I feel like I instantly made new friends. Alex's mom was there too, to help corral the little guy while I got some engagement shots of this sweet couple. We took great advantage of the beautiful scenery at the inn, goofed off in the leaves, and now I am more than excited for next August to arrive.

I can already tell that this couple's wedding images are going to be fabulous. Just check out the love between these two:

And Krissy has a fabulous ring:

Plus their little one is going to be a pretty stinking cute ringbearer:

Krissy and Alex, I am so happy to have met you and am so looking forward to your wedding. Now I'm off to go organize something. Happy Monday everyone!

An Ogunquit, Maine Wedding

With weddings, it's always about the love. The love between the bride and groom, of course, but also the sense of love and community that happens when two sets of families and friends come together to celebrate a marriage. The whole weekend that I was photographing (and celebrating with) this gorgeous couple, I could feel that love from everyone involved. And what makes it even better is that it comes across in the images - you didn't even have to be there to feel the love in the celebration of Melissa and Matt.

I have known Melissa for a while now, as she is a college friend of my husband's and now a good friend of mine. I had met one of her sisters before, and after meeting the other on the day of the rehearsal, I was struck by the connection between these three beautiful ladies. In fact, the entire wedding party was absolutely stunning, so much so that many of the wedding photos look like I hand-picked models for a magazine spread. Which brings me to Matt, the groom. As we were taking bridal party portraits on the beach, Matt's friends were razzing him about how "GQ" he looked. Quite right, my friends. :) You'll see what I mean when you scroll down and see the shot.

After a lovely Catholic service at All Saints Church in Ogunquit, a chartered trolley picked up the bridal party and myself for the beach portraits, then returned to take us all to the reception at the groom's uncle's home. The wedding tent was set up in a woodsy haven in the front yard, guests mingled on the deck and out back, and the live band kept everyone on the dance floor throughout the afternoon. It was so much fun I hated for it to end - but what a beautiful, magical beginning for a couple with nothing but love ahead of them.

The bride at the rehearsal.

A special recreation of a photo from the groom's childhood.

See? A gorgeous trio of sisters.

The GQ groom.

The elusive photo of the photographer.