Vermont Weddings

I think we can all agree that autumn in Vermont is unequivocally beautiful, right? Basically, the perfect backdrop for perfectly rustic, laid-back New England nuptials. Think warm hued flowers from Ellen Synder Design, maple cupcakes from Mix Cupcakerie, family farms, and a bottle of Harpoon or Long Trail in hand. Christian Arthur Photography was there to capture the day. See it all here!

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From the Bride… Our wedding was set on the property of Tyson’s great aunt’s home adjacent to Billings Farm and Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Park in Woodstock, VT, four generations of his family have called this town home (and the his parents were married on the property affectionately called “The Yellow House” in 1983). Fiddleheads, button stems, browns and tans highlighted by the beautiful golden and orange hues of Vermont foliage all came together for our wedding day in September. It was Vermont in every way from the mason jars to the fall colors and Harpoon and Long Trail ales — even one of the cupcakes was maple flavored.

The ceremony was outside in the gardens surrounded by a white picket fence under a lovely archway. Everyone stood around with a drink in hand to watch (to keep it fun and casual). We also danced/walked in together to Mmmm Bop, a favorite song of ours. The cocktail hour with lawn games (and Colgate baggo boards representing our alma mater!) was also outside on the banks of the Ottauquechee River and the stations-style dinner was served under a tent. We also wanted to represent our casual style and therefore, had a cocktail-style stations dinner (no assigned seating, various tables of different sizes and configurations spread amongst the tent) so we could maximize the socializing, noshing, drinking and dancing, and spend more time hanging out with the people we care about! It was great fun and was definitely an inspiration for us!

The location was an easy choice with the Seely family history surrounding us and beautiful customizable location. We loved the walkable community (especially as a PhD candidate in planning and public policy) and really wanted everyone to walk as many places as possible throughout the weekend, so it made Woodstock a great fit (people walked to the rehearsal, wedding, after party, golf, hotels). We also love the charming town near where we lived together after college at Colgate and near our graduate school of Dartmouth. In addition to Tyson’s parents, several of Tyson’s aunts and uncles have also been married there along with cousins, so the property has many memories. We also wanted to be married in a state where we, our friends, and our family, are all afforded the same rights to marry whomever we choose.

The bridesmaids wore brown dresses of their own choosing and the groomsmen wore different brown ties, navy blazers and khakis (also of their own choosing) to give the look a cohesive but not cookie-cutter feel. The florals had button stems and faux fiddleheads my sister made which were unique, funky, and fun and the florist did an incredible job working them into her design. The buttons and fiddleheads are now in a vase in our home. They complimented the hand-made card box my mother made with burlap and lace. The centerpieces, also made by sister, were sticks tied with gems in vases of water with floating candles on top and gave a rustic Vermont feel in addition to beautiful additional light in and around the tent. We served drinks from mason jars to give the event a rustic vibe and the linens were beige to allow the beautiful foliage to stand out. The cupcakes and stations were set on rustic pieces of wood and birch logs to add to the feel. Wooden handmade signs (by Tyson) were placed around the property to direct people. The platform we got married on was made from Advantech Wood (a JM Huber product, of which Tyson is a 5th generation family member of the private owned-family company) and was handmade by Tyson’s dad with the words “Lifetime Guarantee” from the wood left unpainted for us to stand on. We used “I do” and “me too” forks and wore “just married” sunglasses after the ceremony and in Colgate University tradition, the last song of the night was “New York, New York” by Frank Sinatra.

Photography: Christian Arthur | Coordination: LoV Weddings | Floral Design: Ellen Snyder Design | Flowers: Ellen Snyder Design | Cupcakes: Mix Cupcakerie | Brides Shoes: Steve Madden | Rings: A Jaffe Designs | Catering: Spice Of Life | Makeup: First Impressions | Hair: Zuris | Band: UpTown Celebration | Band: UpTown Celebration | Accomodations & Golf: The Woodstock Inn | After Party: Bentley's | Brides Apparel: Ann Taylor | Brunch Catering: Woodstock Farmer's Market | Groom's Apparel: Bonobos | Groom's Aunt's Home: The Yellow House | Grooms Shoes: Cole Haan | Hair Piece: Danforth Pewter | Jewlery: J.Crew | Makeup And Nails: First Impressions | Rehearsal Dinner: Pi Brick Oven Trattoria | Tent And Rentals: Rain Or Shine | Wedding Platform: Advantech

I was skeptical when I heard this was a tented fall wedding in Vermont, but this couple quickly reminded me that two gorgeous things (fall foliage and Sperry Tents) work together beautifully. It’s as simple as that. Consider me embarrassed for my close-mindedness. AMW Studios captured a day that has won me over from the first look at that amazing bouquet, and I haven’t left the gallery yet!

From the stunning bride… It was a rainy Halloween night when Michael and I first met. After a few months of dating, we went on our first weekend getaway. We decided to head up to Woodstock, Vermont to the Woodstock Inn & Resort. Michael and I not only instantly fell in love with this quaint New England town, but it was here that we expressed our love for one another. Over a year later, Michael proposed. We knew right away that our wedding had to be in Woodstock. Although it would be a destination for all of our guests, we wanted to share this special place with all of our friends and family.

With our large families and lots of friends, we knew our wedding was bound to be large. Despite that, we wanted our wedding to have an intimate and organic feel of both country and elegance. We wanted to take advantage of the bold beauty fall has to offer in Vermont, but wanted to keep our wedding colors more soft, with off-whites, pale pinks, natural greens and elements of lace and burlap. Given only a color palette to follow, bridesmaids were sent off to find their own dresses and groomsmen were asked to wear their own grey suits. Guests were greeted at our outdoor ceremony with a glass of prosecco. Framed photos of our grandparents were sitting on the first chair and an arbor was wrapped with branches, burlap, and the same flowers that were in my cascading bouquet. Cocktail hour, filled with passed hors d’oeuvres and raw bar was followed by a tented reception. Our DIY table and escort cards were paper luggage tags with lace and then hand calligraphed. We wanted our guests to feel like they were inside, even though actually in a tent. The entrance of the tent felt like a sitting room, with table and chairs. We bought a vintage suitcase to hold our cards and gifts. The tent was draped with fabric and adorned with chandeliers. Round tables of high and low flower arrangements were surrounded by moss, mercury glass votives and succulents. Slate “Bride” and “Groom” signs hung from our chairs at our dais table. As the sun went down, the lanterns hanging from trees began to glow. Guests danced the night away and huddled around the outdoor fire pit.

We couldn’t have imagined a more beautiful wedding. It was full of love and whimsy. We started our love story in Woodstock and felt so lucky to have our closest friends and family a part of this special place to celebrate our love.

Photography: AMW Studios | Videographer: Tweed River Video | Floral Design: Crystal And Bark Designs | Wedding Dress: Mark Ingram Bridal Atelier | Shoes: Jimmy Choo | Makeup: Parisa Sadjady | Hair Stylist: Nathan Prescott W/Trephin Salon | Tent: Sperry Tents | Ceremony + Reception: The Woodstock Inn | Invitations + Save The Dates: Lion in the Sun | Uplighting + Chandeliers: Revelation Productions

So by now you’ve probably fallen in love with these Woodstock sweeties, but let me assure you, the best is yet to come. Set at the coziest inn tucked away in Vermont,  this wedding is everything I dream about when it comes to autumn in New England. And from their welcome bags filled with local faves, to the ceremony recessional to “Call Me Maybe,” this bride and groom made sure their day was filled with extra fun touches all along the way. Our Labor of Love, Lauren Wells Events, and The Painted Tulip pulled together to make it all possible, and I’m sure you’ll agree this wedding deserves a nice, long looksy in the full gallery right here.

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From the Bride…Nantucket and Vermont are our two favorite places, so when Matt proposed in Nantucket, we knew we would get married in Vermont! Fall being our favorite season, we planned an October celebration at the Woodstock Inn. All of our guests either stayed at the Inn or at other local B&Bs down Main Street, and it was amazing to take over the little town for a weekend and have everything in walking distance. Even the after party was right across the street!

Matt and I met in college, and we had been together for almost 6 years when we married. We wanted our day to represent us as a couple, and to be all about the love we share for one another, our friends, and our family. (And an epic dance party, of course!) We incorporated personal touches throughout the weekend: welcome bags were filled with our favorite (and meaningful) local treats; we served popovers with apple butter from Judie’s in Amherst (where we shared our first date); our first dance was to Songbird, sung by our family member, Ashley; during the ceremony, we had our parents stand and join us so we could say a “thank you” to the four people who taught us what marriage really means; Scrabble tiles spelled out certain words, reminiscent of the night we got engaged; books and maps scattered throughout showed our shared love of reading and travel… we even had our recessional to a string version of “Call Me Maybe,” an ode to when I never called Matt back in college, too scared to pick up the phone and talk to the boy I had a crush on!

We also share a love of crafting, and most of what you see was handmade by us (and our wonderful families) in our “wedding workshop.” We spent the year poking through antique shops, hunting for fallen birch trees, hand cutting confetti and creating everything we could dream of. We knew we wanted the decor to complement the Inn, not compete with it, so we tried to stick with a rustic, elegant vibe. My mom drew and designed our two logos, and those showed up throughout the day as well. All of the memories we made getting ready for the big day made the actual day all the more special. In the end, it truly was the best day ever. We would not have changed one thing!

[dotted]Wedding Photography: Jesse and Whitney of Our Labor of Love | Wedding Venue: Woodstock Inn | Weding Planning + Design: Lauren Wells Events | Floral Design: The Painted Tulip | Officiant: Annie Alexander-Kramer | Photobooth: Smilebooth | Invitations: Love vs. Design | Ceremony Music: Amherst String Ensemble | Reception Music: The Marsels | Reclaimed Wood Frames: Frames with a History | Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier via Madeleine’s Daughter | Bride’s Shoes: Christian Louboutin | Bride’s Earrings: Ippolita | Bridesmaids’ Dresses: J.Crew | Bridesmaids’ Earrings: Nest Pretty Things | Groom’s Suit: Brooks Brothers | Ties: Custom made via General Knot & Co.

The night before my wedding, I was a crazy ball of nerves. So swept up in the excitement of day to come, the only thing that eased those bride-to-be jitters was being surrounded by all my nearest and dearest. Sharing stories and laughs across the table at a rehearsal dinner just like this one. And in the realm of pre-wedding parties, this Vermont affair planned by Lauren Wells Events pretty much rocks. With the look and feel of a casual BBQ, it seems like the best way to spend an evening before the big “I do.” Feel free to browse the full gallery of goodness from Our Labor of Love, and stay tuned for the gorgeous wedding day coming up next!

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From the Bride…We had an intimate rehearsal dinner the night before the wedding with our family and wedding parties. Wanting it to be laid back and casual, we went for a BBQ theme. Following dinner. we had planned on having all of our guests join us for s’mores and cider at a welcome campfire. When the weather didn’t agree and we had to move the party inside, our amazing photographers set up the Smilebooth one night early. Having the opportunity to welcome everyone to Woodstock and having the time to truly talk to everyone that night allowed us to let loose and hit the dance floor during the reception. If possible, we highly recommend it! Knowing our flowers for the wedding were soft and romantic, all whites and creams, we wanted the rehearsal dinner to be as bright and fun as possible. We scrounged through antique stores in 5 different states looking for unique food-related tins, and whenever we found a Vermont syrup vintage can I would literally shout with glee. The beautiful floral hair garland was created by the Little Flower Shoppe, and the “survival kit” groomsmen kits were crafted by Matt, who handmade the boxes with white cedar.

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Photography: Jesse + Whitney of Our Labor of Love  | Event Planning + Design: Lauren Wells Events | Photobooth: Smilebooth  | Venue: Woodstock Inn | Floral Design: Little Flower Shoppe  | Music: Peter Miles | Bride’s Dress: For Love and Lemons via Cusp

If you’ve ever had the chance to take the drive up to Woodstock, Vermont, you know it’s just about one of the cutest places you ever did see. So when weddings from that quaint little place land in my lap, I take note. And when that wedding is from Kate Dawson of Storied Events? I stop everything I am doing to see what piece of perfection she whipped together for me to drool over today. And she definitely did not disappoint with this beauty, where every nook and cranny is filled to the brim with details, but most importantly, love. Lauren Methia Photography captured every moment so we don’t have to miss a single sweet touch, and you can see it all here.

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From the Bride… I am orginally from Chicago and my husband is from New York. We met in a bar in New York City on Halloween four years ago and have been together ever since. On our first weekends away together, he took me to his most favorite place, Vermont. During our stay, we visited Woodstock and had such a great time walking through the beautiful, quaint town, and enjoying the gorgeous landscape. We loved it so much that we returned each year for our anniversary on Halloween.

After we got engaged, there was some back and forth about where to get married with his family in New York and mine in Chicago but it didn’t take long for us to choose Woodstock, Vermont because that was “our” place. Since Woodstock is so small, it was the perfect location to be able to spend time with everyone as all of the weekend festivities were within steps of each other.

Our vision for the weekend was to make it fun! We created a madlib for our invitation response card, we brought lawn games for the cocktail hour, we served mac and cheese with dinner, we booked a fun band to pack the dancefloor, and we didn’t take anything too seriously. That’s why when the power went out two hours before the ceremony until the priest pronounced us husband and wife, we didn’t worry. It was the greatest day to be surrounded by everyone we loved and marrying our best friend! Not to mention, the candlelight ceremony was really romantic.

I spent a lot of time on SMP while engaged looking for wedding inspiration and I was very happy with how all of our little details turned out. I couldn’t have done it without the BEST wedding coordinator in the world, Kate Dawson, and I can’t say enough about our photographer, Lauren Methia, she captured the most incredible photos!

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Wedding Photography: Lauren Methia Photography | Wedding Venue + Catering: Woodstock Inn and Spa in Woodstock, Vermont | Wedding Coordination: Kate Dawson from Storied Events | Floral Design: Nancy Murray from A Schoolhouse Garden | Music: Sultans of Swing | Wedding Stationery: Regas Studio | Wedding Dress: Priscilla of Boston | Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo | Bridesmaids’ Attire: Thread | Groom’s Attire: Ralph Lauren | Ties: Vineyard Vines

I would have never guessed from looking at these photos by Paige Hiller Photography that this gorgeous Vermont wedding was created in two short weeks after Hurricane Irene put a wrench in the planning process.  You often hear about wedding vendors going above and beyond but this remarkable team seriously outdid themselves!  The result is nothing short of amazing!  See it all in the full gallery!

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From Paige of Paige Hiller Photography… The plan was to have a destination wedding in Woodstock, Vermont, rehearsal dinner at Simon Pearce, wedding ceremony outdoors in the courtyard of The Woodstock Inn and Resort, immediately followed by cocktails and dinner under a tent. Two weeks until the big day, hurricane Irene hit Vermont. Woodstock and the surroundings areas were severely damaged — no power, no water, no way in and out, bridges were washed away. Simon Pearce lost power, water and the kitchen. The Woodstock Inn and Resort was forced to close indefinitely. After we all caught our breath and reassessed the damage, the wedding team put their heads together and came up with “Plan B,” and within two short weeks, we were ready to have a wedding for Leigh and Jeff, their family and friends. The rehearsal dinner was moved to the Woodstock Country Club, and the dinner was prepared by the chef and his staff from Simon Pearce. The following day the ceremony took place on the front lawn of The Woodstock Inn and Resort as planned followed by a tented reception at Billings Farm.

From the Bride… It was horrifying seeing the damage Hurricane Irene had caused to this beautiful historic area. When we learned the fate of Simon Pearce and The Woodstock Inn, our wedding was the last thing on our minds. We were concerned more with the local residents and the damage they had suffered to their homes and businesses. And yet in the midst of this natural disaster, these Vermont residents were putting us first! It was remarkable how in two short weeks, our vendors created a whole new wedding for us that exceeded all our original expectations. The biggest challenge was the venue. Although Billings Farm was not our original venue, it was perfect, We were in the most beautiful setting in Vermont, surrounded by our closest friends and family.

Wedding Photography: Paige Hiller Photography / Ceremony: The Woodstock Inn & Resort in Woodstock, Vermont / Reception: Billings Farm in Woodstock, Vermont / Event Coordination: Tedd Kapinost of Jasper & Prudence Floral / Floral Design: Jasper & Prudence Floral / Catering + Wedding Cake: The Woodstock Inn & Resort / Officiant: Steven Hyder / Ceremony String Trio: Members of Brattleboro Music Center / Specialty Linens: The Linen Shop at Occasions / Ceremony Programs: Lasso’d Moon Designs / Tent + Lighting: Rain or Shine Tents and Events / Wedding Favors: Lake Champlain Chocolates / Wedding Gown: Priscilla of Boston (Now Closed) / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: J.Crew / Hair + Makeup: The Spa at The Woodstock Inn & Resort / Bridesmaids’ Gifts: Simon Pearce / Men’s Ties: J. McLaughlin / Rehearsal Dinner: Woodstock Inn Country Club / Rehearsal Dinner Catering: Simon Pearce / Rehearsal Dinner Guitarist: Steve Procter of Brattleboro Music Center

Gorgeous. Simply, perfectly gorgeous. And really, that doesn’t even begin to describe my feelings on this fall fête captured by Dreamlove Wedding Photography in the picture perfect town of Woodstock, Vermont. There aren’t words for how much I love every bit of this wedding. It embraces all that is lovely about a Vermont wedding done so with loads of that understated style I just can’t get enough of. From the covered bridges to the vintage stoles to the bride’s mittens (so adorable), it’s the definition of vintage chic perfection. Click here for even more to swoon over!

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From Dreamlove Wedding Photography…Thanks for taking the time to look over this vintage-travel-inspired Vermont winter wedding. Shay incorporated all sorts of unique DIY details into her day, but she also incorporated some very old family traditions. She wore her great great grandmother’s gold bracelet, from 1847, and wrapped her gorgeous bouquet up with a vintage brooch from her grandmother. Shay also treated her bridesmaids like royalty! She gave them gorgeous silk robes and gave them each a vintage fur stole to keep warm during her brisk November wedding! Shay herself wore a vintage fur shoulder wrap and an adorable set of mittens! Seth proposed to Shay at the Eiffel Tower in Paris, so she also incorporated lots of French details into the decor. She decorated the chapel with live moss and twigs, and used vintage postcards for at the table names. Shay herself designed the seating cards as vintage-style luggage tags. To top off the evening, guests set wish lanterns into the night sky… it was so beautiful!

From The Bride…Seth proposed in Paris, at the Eiffel Tower, on my birthday. With such an amazing proposal, you’d think he’d planned it for months, but he decided to propose the week before while we were vacationing in Ireland with his family! He bought a simple band with a gold Celtic knot from a local goldsmith in Dingle, Ireland and of course, I said yes!

We decided on a fall wedding, my favorite season. November always brings warm feelings of family and friends, long walks in the crisp air and cozy afternoons warming by the fire. It seemed like the perfect time for a romantic, vintage wedding!  Even though we live in Colorado, both of our families are on the east coast so we decided on a “destination wedding” in Woodstock, Vermont – the quintessential quaint New England town, picture perfect, down to its covered bridges. Everything was within walking distance of the incredible Woodstock Inn, and their grand fireplace quickly became the spot to stop and chat with family and friends. 

We wanted our wedding to be elegant but rustic, vintage and romantic. It was so important to us to have the wedding truly be about our union and creating an evening for our closest family members and friends to celebrate. So, we created our own ceremony, wrote our own vows and had Seth’s brother officiate it for us. We had our guests bless our rings and after our unity candle, offer each other a sign of peace to bring the families together. The reception was held afterwards at The Woodstock Inn, decorated with old family photos, vintage elements and everything was accented with moss and candles. We ended the night sending up wish lanterns and watching them disappear into the starry night. 

Everything came together so fabulously with so much help from our fabulous family members and vendors. Anthologie Press did an unbelievable job creating our print materials and I can’t thank my parents enough for the endless crafting they did to bring this together. Dreamlove Photography documented our day more amazingly than I could have ever imagined and were such a breeze to work with.  It was a day we will never forget!

My advice to brides planning now… squeeze your fiancé and breathe. The day really will be worth it!

Rehearsal Dinner Venue: Simon Pearce / Ceremony Venue: The North Universalist Chapel / Reception Venue: The Woodstock Inn / Wedding Photography: Dreamlove Wedding Photography / Band: Sam Reid and the Riot Act / Floral Design: Valley Flower Company / Catering + Cake: The Woodstock Inn / Hair + Make-up: The Spa at The Woodstock Inn / All Paper Goods (Invitations, programs, escort cards, signage + stamps): Anthologie Press / Wedding Dress: J.Crew / Groom’s Suit: Brooks Brothers / Bridesmaid Dresses: J.Crew / Bridesmaid Robes: Plum Pretty Sugar Loungerie / Fur Stoles: Vintage / Bride’s Fur Shoulder Wrap: Vintage / Bride’s Earrings + Bracelet: Vintage, borrowed / Bride’s Ring: Cartier / Groom’s Ring: havalazar / Calligraphy Stamp: Angelique Ink / Hankies: Sheri Angell Creations / Seating Cards: Anthologie Press