When you take the time to really peel back the layers of this gorgeous garden wedding, you’ll find a timeless love story and a handcrafted celebration. Set in the very same garden these two played in as children, it’s an “I do” that’s rich in natural beauty with a focus on family-driven details. Paper Antler was there to tell the story behind the camera and it’s all waiting right here.
From the Bride…I had always hoped to be married in our family friends’ garden, which happens to be in between my parents’ house and Jesse’s parents. Jesse and I grew up a few miles apart and played in the garden as kids but didn’t know each other until much later (I met him when I was 16, fell in insta-love without him knowing, and we didn’t meet again until 5 years later).
We wanted our wedding day to be fun and enjoyable for our guests, but also for us and our family. Delicious food was important; pulled pork, black bean burgers, corn bread, and raspberry salad were served with cupcakes for dessert. A local farm provided beautiful bouquets for me and my sister, boutonnieres for Jesse, his brother, my grampa and our dads, and wrist corsages for our moms. My dress, as well as my mom’s and my sister’s, were made by a lady in our town and my talented sister made my hair look beautiful!
My mom married us, and it felt like our families were part of our ceremony which meant so much. Our rehearsal dinner was made by Jesse’s mom who cooks the most delicious food, and Jesse’s dad expertly selected wine for us to serve. He also found the perfect shoes and tie for Jesse to wear. My dad found a wonderful old door in his workshop and turned it into a seating chart for our guests. He also constructed signs for us to post along the road, marked with “Sus & Jesse” by my mom. My mom also beautifully wrote out seating ‘tags’ for our guests, and addressed our invitations.
Having Michelle and Jonny, our photographers, there to be part of our day, was the other best decision! Even though we met the day before our wedding, it seemed like they were part of the celebration as our guests, as friends who happen to take the most beautiful pictures. When I look at our pictures from that amazing day, I am still in awe of how perfectly they captured it all. It turned out to be the most beautiful, amazing day and Jesse and I agree that it was just perfect.
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Wedding Photography: Paper Antler | Wedding Venue: Hayward’s Garden | Floral Design: Deer Ridge Farm | Catering + Cupcakes: A Vermont Table | Cupcake Mouse Toppers: Burdick Chocolate | Tents: Green Mountain Tent Rentals | Wedding Dress Made By: Eliza Greenhoe-Berg | Groom’s Suit: J.Crew | Groom’s Shoes: Florsheim