A Whimsical Summer Wedding in Stowe Vermont Infused With North Carolina Charm
This classic wedding with a modern twist was a true collaboration of the stunning Green Mountain backdrops and vibrant Coastal embellishments. From the bride "My mom, Julie, gets so much of the credit for the creative vision for the wedding. After retiring her first career in biotechnology to raise our family, she started a second career working for a floral design shop and later went on to own and operate an interior design business until she retired a couple of years ago. Evan is a native Vermonter, and his home is such a strong part of his identity and our life together. But it was important to me that our wedding could evoke a strong sense of place for both of us. I grew up near the coast in North Carolina, so I wanted to bring a bright, summery Carolina feeling to speak to where I came from, too. My mom and I have a shared love for the seagrass, coastal aesthetic and we were excited to incorporate the rattan elements throughout the design concept. The coral, sunshine, and tangerine shades have been my favorites since I was a little girl, and I wanted the guests to feel the same warmth, joy, and light that Evan and I feel about starting the next part of our lives together."
From the bride "Evan proposed on a hike just outside Washington, DC on the Billy Goat Trail in Falls Church, Virginia. We love spending time outdoors together in DC as our schedules allow, and this felt like any other Sunday afternoon to me. It had been an extremely tense period at work, and Evan knew that some time unplugged would help me get out of my head and relax a bit. We were taking a water break on a cliff overlooking the Potomac River when Evan asked a passing stranger to take our photo (for the first time in our six years together up until that point), and it was then I realized that this just wasn't any normal Sunday hike. Teetering on the cliffside, he pulled the ring bare from his pocket (brave!) and dropped to one knee. It was as much a surprise to me as it was to the stranger taking our photo--I am quite sure it was a memorable hike for him, too! The surprises kept coming, with a celebratory trip to the Inn at Little Washington planned for after the proposal. Evan had managed to pack bags for both of us earlier that day without me noticing. We had spent the years prior aspiring to someday visit the Inn when we drove past it for frequent and much more rustic camping trips in the nearby Shenandoah National Park. It was such a special place to mark the occasion with the most incredible meal I've ever had. I think I posted an instagram announcing our engagement with, "Scenes from a perfect day, featuring the man and the cheese cart of my dreams." Still rings true!"
Anna's customized gown by designer Suzanne Neville was the perfect form-fitting silhouette. Ethereal floral sleeves were attached to add a playful summer time touch.
Topnotch Resort's Culinary team is well their use of fresh local ingredients and innovative dishes. Guests were greeted at cocktail hours with passed Hors d'oeuvres of Miniature Pork Tostadas, Spicy Scallop Ceviche, Berry Bruschetta with Chevre on a baguette and Fried Green Tomatoes. Dinner consisted of two courses, the first a fresh greens salad followed by a choice of Braised Beef Short Ribs, Pan Seared Salmon, or Cheese Ravioli with fresh Pesto. Three signature drinks kept guests in the dancing mood. They were created and named after the bride and groom's personalities and consisted of: Evan’s Tequila Old Fashion (classic with an adventurous streak), Anna’s French 75 (bubbly with a sense of humor), and The Parkers’ Spritz (a refreshing marriage of bitter and sweet).
Nancy and her team at a A School House Garden were ingenious in helping bring the couple's vision to life with the gorgeous arrangements, bouquets, and tablescapes. All of the colors chosen worked off from the citrus palette and incorporated unique blooms. They even went to local farmers' markets and grocery suppliers searching for fruits unique fruits that elevated the tablescape.
Who needs cake? In lieu of a traditional wedding cake, Anna and Evan brought in Palmer Lane Maple Creemee Truck to serve up Maple Creemees to their guests.
The couple's close friend Drake Greer, who also introduced the couple and was a key component in getting them down life's path to the alter, officiated their ceremony. Hariet Langley, another close friend, played violin in the ceremony.
From the Bride "When we were conceptualizing the event and seeking ways to add color and individuality, my mom had the wonderful idea to ask a family friend, George Snyder, for some inspiration. He is an extraordinarily talented painter, muralist, and floral designer, and he and his wife Jill have been close friends of our family ever since he and my mom worked together at the floral design shop in North Carolina. We shared some of our inspiration photos for the florals and fruit, and he so expertly and intricately crafted the painting that was a focal point of our wedding design. We were blown away by his creation. My mom worked to have the painting printed on linen napkins to carry the color across the tent and ensure every guest had an up-close view. Both the painting and the napkins will be fixtures in our home and the perfect reminder of our special day in the years to come."
The bride and groom hand-wrote meaningful handwritten notes to each guest. These notes created a colorful escort display and doubled as their place cards.
To cap off an amazing family-forward day, the reception erupted in applause to a guest musical performance by the bride's brother Adam Dietrich, groomsman John Dodds on the Harmonica, and close friend Hariet Langley on the fiddle.
