As a future Vermont bride, I’m instantly drawn to any wedding in the Green State. But this one, captured by the talented Cambria Grace stands out all on its own. From blooms by Pollen Floral Design to the most fabulous bridesmaids’ dresses I’ve ever seen, the photos in the gallery are guaranteed to make any rustic wedding lover’s heart skip a beat.
As it all came together, the theme I had my heart set on was “enchanted forest” and Greg reluctantly agreed. We tried to plan out every detail and, unbelievably, our wedding was everything and more than we had hoped for.
The wedding day started a little hectically for us, the wedding party, and friends who had the task of hanging stars in the barn and placing signs. Shortly after blowing up balloons, the boys were allowed to retreat to a pre-planned game of frisbee golf while the ladies finished the decorating and started getting ready. Erin McKenna and Vivan Infantino were onsite for hair and makeup transformations and made us look more beautiful than I thought possible.
We ended up running a little behind on the hair and makeup and were barely able to get the first look in – I’m so glad we did! On the car ride down into the woods I was nervous. Once I saw Greg that all melted and we were able to enjoy the moment together. Next we separated once again to take our places on top of the hill with our friends and family. At this point I grabbed my bouquet that had the hand-dyed silk ribbons, that my Grandma Pat and I made my Prom dress out of, tied around the stems and joined my dad and our horse (that I would be hiding behind). The ceremony was beautiful. I was a little worried about the handwritten vows but it ended up being one of the highlights of the entire wedding. My vows were good, but I had no idea that Greg was a poetic mastermind! Everyone was laughing and crying and talking about his vows for the rest of the night.
The cocktail hour felt like a blur. We got to try our signature cocktail, the McBrady Margarita, and the delicious passed appetizers, and we took pictures with our families. Next was the dress change and our grand entrance into the barn. Is it always that loud?! Our reception was so fun! The food was delicious, the bartenders were handing out shots, and there were multiple surprises (for Greg) throughout the night that made our wedding a truly memorable experience for us and for our guests. The first surprise came from Greg’s mom, Linda. She spent countless hours creating a slideshow of Greg growing up that matched the song that she chose for their dance. It was touching and hilarious at the same time.
The planning for Greg’s second surprise started years ago when I decided that I wanted to sing to him at our wedding. After dinner, and unfortunately right after Bel Biv Devoe’s “Poison” was played (how could I be expected to follow that?!), Greg and I got up to thank our guests for traveling great distances to share in our special day. Once I got the microphone, I invited my brother and friend up to the front at which point they dragged their guitars and amps out from under the DJ table. The look on Greg’s face was priceless when he realized what was going on (victory!). I sang “At Last”, by Etta James, for my surprised husband because he had mentioned that as being his favorite song that I had ever sang to him – also the lyrics are beautiful. Afterwards there was a lot of hugging, and dancing, and CAKE. We finished the night with a bonfire overlooking the moon’s reflection on the reservoir – a perfect ending to a perfect day.
Photography: Cambria Grace Photography | Floral Design: Pollen Floral Design | Wedding Dress: Vera Wang | Cake: Irene's Cakes By Design | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Anthropologie | Makeup: Vivian Infantino | Suit: Alabaster & Chess | DJ/Band: Peak DJ | Inn: The Mountain Top Inn & Resort | Reception Dress: Pronovias