Vermont Weddings

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[field title=”Wedding Colors”]The palette for the wedding will encompass shades of white, an array of neutrals, and a spectrum of greens. This interplay of subdued hues, punctuated by moments of gleaming gold, will deftly weave together the contrasting energies of urban sophistication and rustic charm. Simultaneously, this color scheme will artfully blend elements of timeless tradition with fresh, contemporary lines.[/field]
[field title=”Design / Vibe / Vision”]Birds of a Flower envisions crafting a design that encapsulates the captivating transition from the sun- drenched days of late summer to the cool, gentle whispers of early fall. The use of neutral tones will infuse the space with an understated elegance and a sense of renewal, mimicking the soothing embrace of autumn’s first breezes at your sophisticated end-of-summer event.

An evening that harmoniously married the laid-back charm of rustic country settings with the opulence and grandeur of your extraordinary wedding. This perfect equilibrium will provide an ambiance that is as comfortable as it is lavish, setting the stage for an unforgettable celebration.[/field]
[field title=”Proposal Story”]This is their meet cute & proposal story.

Arianna’s family runs the renowned pizza restaurant Modern Apizza in New Haven, CT. They recently were awarded Pizzeria of the Year by Food & Wine Magazine. All of their favors for guests were custom pizza cutters!

https://www.foodandwine.com/the-best-pizza-spot-in-america-modern-apizza-7643197

How they met,

“Meeting Giovann was something that was meant to happen considering the multitude of coincidences that happened that had led to us meeting on the night of May 4th 2019. I’ve grown up with food allergies my whole life, I gained up to 72 things I’m allergic to by 2019 and yet it wasn’t food that gave me my allergic reaction in April of 2019. I had simply been outside too long that day, and by the end of the night on April 15th I ended up going into an anaphylactic reaction from breathing in too much pollen. I was left so confused on why and how that happened, but this one thing had started a snowball effect until I was at the right moment in the right time meeting Giovann.

I had a research trip planned for the first week of May, and because of that reaction I ended up not being able to go. Since I was home, one of my coworkers at my parents restaurant, Modern Apizza, asked me to cover her shift on a Saturday night. I obliged. That night came around, and another server realized she was on a busier section than the other 3 and asked me to switch my section with her, and of course I obliged again. It wasn’t until 10pm came around on May 4th that I ended up meeting my now husband, who sat at Modern for the first time in his life. Giovann ended up proposing to me on April 15th 2022, exactly 3 years after my reaction, giving me one of my happiest memories in replace of one of my scarier ones. Our first Christmas together I gave him a drawing of the receipt he left me, leaving his number on it. I attached it below! 

Our whole story always reminds me that everything really does happen for a reason, your lowest moment can bring you your highest moment at precisely the exact time you need. And that’s what giovann was to me. My highest moment. I didn’t know it could get any better until our wedding weekend was over. It truly was the best weekend of our life. I was fortunate enough to have grown up going to Vermont almost every weekend. When my parents finally bought a house there, it ended up being on the same street where you’ll find our wedding venue, Riverside Farm. I grew up driving past this venue, never gaining too much hope haha but secretly envisioned my own wedding there. When giovann and I got engaged, this was the only venue we visited and within a month of being engaged, booked it as our own. There were so many parts to that weekend that truly can’t be described as anything but a dream. If you’ve ever seen Riverside Farm, it is so breathtakingly beautiful. Standing on the property with green all around you, the picturesque barns that all sit there at the bottom of the mountain, each their own unique style.. I’ve never wanted everyone in my life, family and friends, to see something and experience this more than I did in that moment of touring the venue. One of our favorite parts about the weekend was how Riverside Farm turned into our own little compound for the weekend. Sleeping with our wedding party on the property with us, felt like it was the most grand, exciting sleepover we ever had. I’ll never forget the feelings I felt, whether it was the excitement and anticipation during the welcome party on Friday… true, raw, happiness on Saturday…or  nothing but gratefulness on Sunday. A weekend better than I could’ve ever dreamed. ” – Arianna[/field]
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[section title=”The Fashion”]
[field title=”Wedding Gown”]Monqiue Lhuillier, with three versions of the sleeve lengths so that Arianna could adjust throughout the day. [/field]
[field title=”Bridesmaid Dresses”]by We Wore What with boots be Tevova[/field]
[field title=”Groomsman Attire”]Suit Supply[/field]
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[section title=”The Details”]
[field title=”Food & Drink”]Open bar, featuring martinis, dinner with catering by Vermont Farms Catering, featuring pasta, chicken and italian dishes.[/field]
[field title=”Florals & Decor”]Birds of a Flower constructed an enchanting grounded arch beneath the tree, a feature that is a highlight at the Riverside. This installation will be incredible and imbued with an air of romance and elegance, will undoubtedly serve as an extraordinary backdrop, contributing to the overall splendor of the event.

We will design a breathtaking ‘living aisle’ to guide Arianna on her journey towards Giovann. This verdant pathway, brimming with life and beauty, will not only serve as a memorable element of the ceremony, but will also be repurposed as a gift to grace the entrance of the reception, continuing its role in enhancing the event’s overall aesthetics.

For the Head table we will order velvet linens and design a living arrangement down the entire center of the table with brass candlesticks. The design we propose for the Farmtable table will be a collection of modern white, varied white ceramic vases, votives, glass ribbed votives and marble, mixed with pops of golden brass candlesticks—all with clean lines and geometry. Further,weenvision varying neutral-colored tapers. In addition, we use our optic glass votives and cermainc votives. We love the idea of the using farmtables here with a linen runner.

Suspended crystal chandeliers above the center of the head table, adorned with delicate florals. This arrangement will create a striking aerial installation that glitters and sparkles, casting a captivating glow over the event. This display is bound to infuse the space with an air of sophistication and romance, enhancing the enchanting atmosphere of your celebration.[/field]
[field title=”Wedding Cake”]White cake adorned with flowers.[/field]
[field title=”Readings, Ceremony Music, Reception Songs”][/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #1″]
“I felt so calm and excited for most of the day, the rush happened right before walking down the aisle. It was a moment of after being together for 4 1/2 years realizing that this is the moment where we are finally bound together as one. I knew I would feel calm again once I was holding hands with Giovann, and even though we did a first look this moment still felt as if we didn’t; it was the separation in those few minutes while he stood there before me that made the day feel so real.” – Arianna [/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #2″]I mention these in a section above – but fun nods to Arianna’a family business – their hastags are #loveatfirstslice #amodern(apizza)lovestory and custom pizza slicers for each guest.

“Another favorite part of our wedding was our ode to our restaurant, for our seating chart a sign stating “find your seat with a piece of our Modern love story” with pizza cutters for each guest with their table number attached.” – Arianna [/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #3″]Vendor IG list:

Venue: @RiversideFarm 
Photographer: @JuliaLuckett
Event Designer: @BirdsofaFlower
Florals: @BirdsofaFlower
Caterer: @VermontFarmsCatering 
Rentals: 1888 Rentals
Transportation: @TriStateTransportation 
Band: @WilsonStevensBand
Wedding Invitations: @pushingtheenvelopect
Pizza Cutter Wedding Favors: @donebetter
Officiant: William Pustari
Hair Stylist: @Upstyle.co
Make-Up Artist: @jenniferperelliemakeup
Rings:  @LiberoJewelers @rumanoffsjewelers
Dress: @moniquelhuillier @moniquelhuillierbride 
Boutique: @plumedserpentct
Shoes: @maisonvalentino
Suit & Shoes: @SuitSupply
Wedding Party Outfits: @WeWoreWhat 
Boots: Tecova
Couple: @Ggiarratana8  @ariannapustari 
#loveatfirstslice #amodern(apizza)lovestory
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Photography: Julia Luckett Photography | Floral Design: Birds of a Flower | Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier | Invitations: Pushing the Envelope | Shoes: Valentino | Catering: Vermont Farms Catering | Hair: Upstyle | Band: Wilson Stevens | Tux: Suit Supply | Transportation: TriState Transportation | Wedding Venue: Riverside Farm | Beauty: Jennifer Perellie Make Up | Boutique: Plumed Serpent | Custom Pizza Cutters: Done Better | Earrings: Chanel | Engagement Ring Designer: Rumanoff's Fine Jewelry | Wedding Party Dress: We Wore What

When the Bride is an editor at Real Simple, looking at pretty things all day, it’s no surprise her Vermont Riverside Farms day is a rustic wedding dream come true. From the Plum Pretty Sugar robes to the s’mores bar to the Photobooth Planet Vermont fun, this day has all the makings of a perfect wedding. See it all from Stacey Hedman, assisted by Alanna Scully, and Paperweight Films in The Vault!

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From The Bride…Stephen was the second person I met after joining a dating site for the first time—and, unbeknownst to either of us, we happened to grow up in the same town. Though somehow we’d never crossed paths, it turned out that not only were we from the same town, but Stephen also grew up across the street from my aunt, was very good friends with one of my neighbors, and grew up skiing in the same town my family frequented, too. It all felt very serendipitous to both of us and opened the doors for an instant trust and connection between us. Six months later, I was moving out of Manhattan and back to New Jersey to live with him. A year after that, we were engaged. And we were married almost a year to the date after that!

We knew Riverside Farm was the place for us, when we felt that same instant connection with the place. We were looking for a place where our guests could join us for a weekend of fun by staying on the property. Riverside had that—and so much more. The property, which includes three barns, a bridal cabin, a groom’s cabin, two additional lodging cabins, and a nearby bed and breakfast, is nestled between two gorgeous rolling green mountains and all the buildings are filled with the most unique antiques. It’s stunningly rustic chic—the kind of place where you just look around and think: “wow!” We knew our family and friends would love it as much as we did.

Since the setting itself was so beautiful (and one of our favorite things about the place), we kept the color palette simple with dove gray, white, and green in order to let the scenery speak for itself. From the moment the save-the-dates went out, I wanted people to get that soft and elegant, but also fun vibe we were going for.

To set the tone of the event, Swiss Cottage Designs drew a custom picture for us of a couple under the covered bridge at Riverside (the guests didn’t know it yet, but the female figure in the drawing wore the same silhouette my dress would have!) for our save-the-date. She continued that color palette in the rest of our suite with invitations that were white with green lettering, silver foil, and botanical details. Other items in the stationery suite, like the response cards were the reverse: green with white lettering and botanical details.

All of our flowers (locally grown and picked by the owner of the town’s garden center) were white and green, with occasional pops of dusty pink or lavender. In keeping with the natural feel, we kept them all asymmetrical rather than polished and tight. Some of the biggest wow moments with the flowers were at the reception. Instead of traditional place cards, we filled apothecary jars with wildflowers and used silver flecked twine to attach each person’s name and seat to their very own vase of flowers. There was also a pair of beautiful dove gray curtains draped in a floral garland that was kept closed to “hide” the reception until we were ready to welcome guests in. Once the curtains opened, the first thing guests saw was a gorgeous head table set for nearly 40 (to accommodate that huge bridal party of ours!) with the most ethereal garland decked out in flowers, different tiers of candles, and Hauck wine (my maiden name).

Peppered throughout the day were both purchased (personalized cocktail hour signs, wooden table numbers, a handcrafted wooden bench to serve as our guestbook) and homemade details (200 jars of jam made by me for the welcome bags, handmade cornhole and giant Jenga sets made by the groom and painted by me) to match the vibe of Riverside. It took months for the whole vision to come together, but we had some tireless, extremely talented, and, perhaps most importantly, kind vendors who helped us bring our vision to life in a way that was even more perfect than we could have imagined.

The wedding day was supposed to downpour, but something about that mountain air: The beautiful blue sky held out and we got the outdoor wedding of our dreams. Moods all around—bridal party, guests, vendors—were as sunny as the sky was. Perhaps thanks to the utterly phenomenal locally sourced food that seemingly never ended (really, people are still talking about it) and the amazing band that drove up from New York who had the dance floor going all night. Or, maybe it was the old school VW bus that had our photo booth inside. Guests not only loved taking pictures inside of it, but also outside of it. And, of course, Stephen and I made it our last stop of the night before our romantic sparkler exit.

But, for Stephen and I, one of the most magical moments of the whole event was when one of the groomsmen sung “Over the Rainbow” on the ukulele for my father and my first dance. My husband and, of course, my dad say it was their favorite part of the whole night. Pure happiness all around.

From start to finish, we both say we would do it all over again…not to change anything, but simply to relive the complete wonder and beauty of it all.

Photography: Stacey Hedman | Cinematography: Paperweight Films | Floral Design: Bloom for Life | Wedding Dress: Reem Acra | Cake: Irene's Cakes By Design | Invitations: Swiss Cottage Designs | Bride's Shoes: Badgley Mischka | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Amsale | Catering: Vermont Farms Catering | Makeup: Flawless Cosmetic Design | Hair: Formal Hair Design By Kerry | Band: Kazz Music Orchestra | Groom's Attire: My Suit | Venue: Riverside Farm | Bride's Pajamas: Daughters Of Simone | Groomsmen Bags: Hudson Sutler | Linen Rentals: The Linen Shop | Photo Booth: Photobooth Planet | Photography - Assistance: Alanna Scully | Robes: Plum Pretty Sugar

Having a top-notch photographer and videographer for your special day is a no-brainer, but making sure they work well together? It’s the difference between regular results and those you’ll treasure forever. Jenny Moloney and Paperweight Films often work as a team, capturing special moments, including these “I do’s” at this rustic summer celebration. See their special day as Jenny Moloney and Paperweight Films share insight on choosing vendors who work and create together successfully.

From Jenny Moloney Photography and Paperweight Films… At Jenny Moloney Photography and Paperweight Films, we believe that documenting a wedding involves a lot of time and thought, not only with the bride and groom, but with each other. As individual businesses (both husband and wife teams), we both create images and films that are timeless, honest, candid, and romantic, yet we’ve worked hard to hone our skills and learn how to function efficiently as a team. It takes flexibility, awareness and lots of communication.

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WHAT SHOULD A BRIDE LOOK FOR WHEN PUTTING A PHOTO AND VIDEO TEAM TOGETHER?

A great team has a videographer and photographer that share a similar philosophy in documenting a wedding, including their approach to working with the couple in preparation for the big day. Finding a photographer and videographer who share similar philosophies and styles can make a wedding day seamless, and also results in photos and films that compliment each other. Things to look for include:

Timeline: Knowing what their needs are from you during your wedding day can really help to ensure a smooth flow.

Shooting Style: Both Jenny Moloney and Paperweight Films take a candid, documentary approach to shooting weddings, making it an easy fit. Be sure to understand both the photographer and videographer approach to shooting a wedding day.

Lighting Style: Ask if they prefer more natural light, or if they bring additional lighting. For moments like a reception, this can have a real effect on the other.

Cost: A lot of couples tend to focus more budget on either photo or video. It can be very beneficial to do a lot of researching in finding a photographer and videographer with similar experience.

WHAT DO JENNY MOLONEY PHOTOGRAPHY AND PAPERWEIGHT FILMS DO TO MAKE IT SEAMLESS FOR EACH OTHER?

Communication: There are three main times we communicate about a wedding; before, during and after. Reaching out before the wedding day to chat about the couple’s special requests and each other’s plan of action helps for no surprises and no frustration on the wedding day. On the wedding day, we make sure to communicate all day with each other about where we plan to be to get a shot or special moment. Chatting after the wedding is a great way to debrief the experience, and make plans for submissions.

Awareness: By staying aware of each other’s position, we can stay out of each other’s shots, or communicate about how we can both make it work.

Flexibility: Keeping in mind that while we have a lot of the same needs, they are often executed in different ways. Setting up expectations and always being respectful of each others needs, makes all the difference.

Collaboration: One of the best parts about working together as a team is collaborating to create a beautiful creative product for our clients. When you are lucky and cultivate a trust between each other, the results can be magical! 

Respect: We’re there for the same thing – to document all the moments a couple will want to remember. However, we have two very different needs for a lot of those moments. For example, during toasts, a videographer needs to be rolling the whole time, to capture the toast in it’s entirety. A photographer needs a collection of still images. On the other side, during formal portraits, it is important to remember that the photographer needs to get their shots done without a lot of interruption from the videographer. 

MOMENTS WHERE WORKING AS A TEAM IS ESSENTIAL TO BE SUCCESSFUL INCLUDE:

Getting Ready with the Bride and Groom: We work together to make sure we all get the shots we need. If Jenny is shooting the bridal gown outside, she always lets Paperweight Films know. If bridal details are being shot, we take turns, or find different angles and shoot at the same time. Often in the groom’s suite, during moments like tying ties, we find the best light together and either shoot over each other’s shoulders or at complementary angles. We’re constantly communicating about moving, switching with each other, and making sure we’re not in each other’s shots. 

Ceremony: The ceremony is always approached with a “game plan.” We look at the set up, let each other know where we will be standing, what our framing looks like, and get rolling. Special moments are discussed, such as the bride coming down the aisle, rings being exchanged, and first kiss so we’re aware of what the other is doing.

Sparkler Exits: We always discuss what lenses we are each using and come up with a game plan. Often Jenny and Dave from Paperweight Films shoot side by side following the bride and groom as they come through.

WHAT DO JENNY MOLONEY PHOTOGRAPHY AND PAPERWEIGHT FILMS DO TO MAKE IT THE BEST EXPERIENCE FOR THE COUPLE?

Both Jenny and Paperweight Films have styles that result in romantic, warm, and timeless images that work beautifully together. Because we take the easy but important steps of communicating with each other throughout the wedding process, we show up to the wedding ready to work well together. This adds an extra positive, relaxed vibe to the wedding day! By being good to each other, we create the best experience and products for our couples, which is the of course the most important thing!

From the beautiful Bride… I met Max about five years ago. The minute I met Max, I had butterflies… and I still have them today! Lucky for him, when Max proposed, I said YES, and our wedding plans soon began. Starting the wedding planning process was scary; I realized I had no idea where, when or what I wanted. But I did know a few things: I wanted a full weekend with our closest friends and family, I wanted a smaller wedding, and I definitely wanted nature. I saw a bunch of gorgeous farm weddings on SMP and accordingly Googled “farm wedding,” reaching out to all of the venues that came up.  Riverside Farm was one of them, and our very first (and only) site visit. We visited in July, and I must say the visit was pretty magical. From the inn we were set up in, to the grounds viewing, we knew Riverside just felt right. We secured our date and never looked back.

With our venue locked, we started getting into the details. I wanted our wedding to be reflective of us, filled with personal touches, and tightly knit with friends and family. I loved that we picked our menu, our band, and our flowers together; wrote every place card; and even designed our wedding invitations. The whole weekend was us personified!

For our accents and colors, we were as neutral as possible. When you have a backdrop as beautiful as the rolling mountains of Vermont, you don’t want to distract anyone with anything grandiose. Pale pinks, ivories, greys, and pops of some bright colors were trickled into all of our details. My bridesmaids wore any shade of grey and ivory that they preferred. They all looked beautiful, and paired so nicely! The groomsmen wore navy and Max work a lighter blue hue. Our flowers for the reception and ceremony were a mix of soft pinks, ivory, silvery greys, and were accented with either birch branches, or vases. The birch was elegant, yet matched the campy nature of the venue.

We put a lot of work into making our wedding day special, but it was really our family, friends and vendors that made the weekend as incredible as it was.  Our best and closest friends and family stayed on the grounds with us (and at Amee Farm down the road), so they were embedded throughout every aspect of the event. Our caterers crafted the most delicious menus for the rehearsal, wedding and brunch, using flavors indigent to Vermont. Our florist went above and beyond from just a few pictures I pinned on Pinterest. Our band kept the dance floor filled all night. And our photographers and videographers, well, they captured our whole weekend beautifully without even being noticed by our guests! The Riverside team kept all of the vendors connected and made the entire planning process seamless. We really lucked out; we ended up spending lots of time on the phone with these guys, and even making some great friends!

My advice for couples planning their big day: Keep it personal, personal touches will make your day a piece of you, and not a generic event. Choose the vendors you instantly like upon first meeting, you’ll be spending a lot of time with them on the phone and in person. And finally, make it fun! We had the best time planning our wedding, and couldn’t have been happier with the results!

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See a few more of our favorite Jenny Moloney and Paperweight Films weddings here: Elegant Newport Estate Wedding, a Popponessett Inn Wedding, and another Riverside Farm Wedding!

Photography: Jenny Moloney Photography | Cinematography: Paperweight Films | Floral Design: Bloom for Life | Wedding Dress: Kleinfeld Bridal | Stationery: Whoa Nellie Press | Ceremony Venue: Riverside Farm | Reception Venue: Riverside Farm | Bride's Shoes: Jimmy Choo | Makeup Artist: Alexandra Dale Makeup Artistry | Band: Red Hook Orchestra | Groom's Attire: J.Crew | Hair Stylists: Finishing Touch Vermont | Wedding Catering: The Linen Shop by Occasions Catering

We’re all about light, blush infused festivities but sometimes moody, dark details are wildly gorgeous. Take a cue from Christina Bernales Photography + Erin Ostreicher Designs who were inspired by gothic and baroque art and how those dark details could be infused into a modern day wedding. With a simple color palette, touches of gold and historic details, this inspiration is all at once elegant and modern but with a gorgeous old world feel. 

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From Christina Bernales Photography…We incorporated shed antlers, magnolias and very subtle shades of black, ivory and grey with hints of gold. Our goal was to use texture to add depth and keep our color palette clean and simple. A color palette reminiscent of Gothic or Baroque art. We also incorporated plum into the decor to add a little pop of color to the shoot. We were super excited to collaborate with the amazingly talented Rebecca Schoneveld who was kind enough to lend us a couple of dresses for the shoot from Brooklyn and worked with so many wonderful vendors in Vermont. While we used these historic elements to make the shoot unique, we still tried to maintain a clean, elegant aesthetic. 

Photography: Christina Bernales | Stationery: Christa Alexandra Designs | Shoes: Valentino | Bridesmaids Dresses: Fiori Bridal | Groom's Attire: Miller Bros-Newton | Wedding Venue: Riverside Farm | Bride's Gowns: Rebecca Schoneveld | Cake Artist: Caketopia Cakes | Calligraphy & Lettering: Inky Quills Calligraphy | Cutlery, Glasses, Plates: Vintage Inspired Marketplace | Florals & Styling: Erin Ostreicher Designs | Hors D'oeuvres: The Wooden Spoon | Linens: The Linen Shop | Make-Up Artist: Flawless Cosmetic Design

Brides of the world, you are amazing. You guys stun me day after day with your talent. Take this beautiful bride. She handcrafted a storybook wedding, starting with the letterpress paper products, and following through with an entire library theme (done so, so right) to create a day that has all of us blown away. If Wayne and Angela‘s photos of the day are any indication of just how gorgeous this affair really was, you bet I’ll be reading along with their story in the full gallery!

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From the photographers… A classic boy-meets-girl college romance blossomed into love as Liz and Donny began to write their love story together through this journey down the aisle. Like many brides-to-be, Liz had been anticipating this day for a long time, and couldn’t wait to get busy planning the details of her wedding day! After selecting a beautiful retreat in the rolling hillsides of Vermont and inviting us to be a part of her adventure, Liz prepared herself for a busy year of wedding crafts and design, starting with a homemade letterpress station where she created her own storybook invitations!

It’s an understatement to say that this bride had gifted hands, as we soon realized she had made just about everything for the wedding! Most impressively, Liz had handcrafted an “antique” wooden library catalog chest to house her guests escorts cards, which were all custom-designed to look like library catalog cards—from the library’s romance section! They then had to find their seats as if looking for a book in a library, matching their catalog number to the row where their table was set. To carry over the theme, each long table was decorated with old library books cut out to hold fresh flowers, and each guest section had its own notebook (handmade by the bride, of course!) where they could share thoughts, well wishes, and wedding advice for the newly weds. The storybook theme continued as each menu was letterpress printed onto handmade bookmarks, and the cake itself was a masterpiece of stacked “books,” made to match the beginning of this whole inspiration, her storybook invitations. It was all so picture perfect, and the fact that the theme came full-circle was more than impressive!

Riverside Farm is a friendly, family-owned property that makes getting married a smooth and enjoyable journey. With a Groom’s Cabin and detached Bride’s Suite on site, it made getting ready a breeze; and with everybody on site, there were no logistical nightmares. The bride and groom met at a nearby church for their ceremony, and rode back to the farm as newlyweds in one of the Riverside families’ antique car, escorted by one of the family members himself! The property of the farm itself was quite breathtaking and held so many little treasures for picture-taking, that we spent a good portion of the afternoon exploring the grounds with the couple, while Liz strolled around in her yellow Hunter boots. While the weather in Vermont is not the most predictable, there’s nothing that a little (or a lot of) yellow can’t do to cheer you up!

Liz and Donny really put together a great experience for their guests. From the comfort foods served at cocktail hour (like mini grilled cheese bites and tomato soup) to the full Milk and Cookies Bar for dessert, every little detail was designed specifically by the bride and groom so that everybody there would have a memorable and pleasant evening. The live band started the party before dinner even began, and the dance floor was rarely empty after that! There was so much love and energy in the room that night—it was truly the perfect ending to a great story, and the start of a new one to come.

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Photography: Wayne and Angela | Flowers: Trish Hegewald at Pittsfield Garden Center | Event Design: The Bride | Catering: Occasions Catering | Ceremony Location: Christ the King Church (Darien, VT) | Reception Location: Riverside Farm | Invitations: Handmade by the Bride’s own Letterpress | Shoes: Jimmy Choo + Hunter Boots | Dress: Tara Keely | Hair: Alexandre Chouery | Make up: Vivian Infantino | Cake: Irene’s Cake by Design | Live Band: Hal Prince Band

Now it wouldn’t be a Jose Villa day without showing off work of his wildly talented other half, mister Joel Serrato. He’s one of those guys who picks up a camera and turns anything he captures into film world gold. No joke. And since Joel was there to document Dani and Ryan’s perfect day, we thought we’d set aside some time to swoon the footage inside and out.

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And just when I was totally certain today could not get any better, I stopped to watch their fabulous honeymoon film. That’s right, a perfectly packaged video of Dani and Ryan’s post-wedding trip to Africa. With a portable super 8 on hand, they shot the special moments for Joel to craft into a lifelong treasure. It’s an absolute keepsake every couple deserves and is a service now offered by Joel to his lovely clients. Seriously, best idea EVER.

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Cinematography: Joel Serrato Films

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Jose Villa Photography

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Shut the front door Jose Villa. This, this very wedding is one of the reasons I love Jose so much. It’s woven with breathtaking details shot in a way you can’t put words to, a way that Jose Villa knows all too well. It’s his trademark and when a wedding falls in our laps with details like these crafted by Moon Canyon Design + Foret Bespoke Floral + Sierra Knot and a couple so joyous you can’t help but smile, well it makes me love my dream job all the more fiercely. And if I’m being really honest, I want to steal that VW Bus and drive it around for the rest of my days. It’s a love bus in its cutest form. Have a look at the full gallery for so much more (plus the engagement and rehearsal dinner) and stay tuned because we have the wildly beautiful film behind the day coming up next!

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From Moon Canyon Design… The ceremony took place in a remote area of the farm.  We wanted the decor to enhance the guests journey down the overgrown walkways to this site.  Vintage photos lined pathways to the ceremony which opened up to a dramatic branch arbor covered with wild hydrangea local to New England.  

For the reception we took a more elegant approach to our farm focused design.  A mix of Dramatic 3 foot tall arrangements and lower wide arrangements were overflowing with fall flowers.  Including Passion Vine, Sunflowers and Dahlias these arrangements carried a softer more romantic color palette.  Iron chandeliers holding hundreds of candles lit the airy barn creating an intimate ambiance that encompassed the warmth of the day.

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Photography: Jose Villa | Venue: Riverside Farm | Rentals: 1888 | Catering: Cloud Nine | Event Design: Moon Canyon Design with special help from Rose Mattos of Foret Bespoke Floral + Sierra Knot | Graphic Design (events): Elise Crevier | Invitations: Momental Designs | Filmmaker: joel serrato films | Custom Signage + Caligraphy: Sierra Knot | Cake: Irene’s cakes by designs | Dress: Elie Saab | Groom’s Suit: Rag & Bone | Makeup: Jeannie Vincent | Groom’s Ring: Carrie Bilbo | Bride’s Ring: M.Flynn | Bridesmaid Dresses: Custom Made by Bride’s Aunt

I honestly want to be best friends with this couple. Not only is their engagement session through the roof adorable but their rehearsal that followed is far more gorgeous than most weddings we’ve come across. Plus they own a fab boutique in Boston called Flock; a must for all you Beantown dwellers. Told you they were awesome. And we get to journey full circle with them from engagement to rehearsal and right on through to their wedding today. If you think this is amazing, just wait until you see the BIG day. Utterly and completely beyond and captured in a way that only Jose Villa can capture. But first, we’re getting cozy with this easy, approachable Vermont dinner layered with jazzed up hay-bales, gourmet comfort food and fireside chats crafted by Moon Canyon Design + Foret Bespoke Floral + Sierra Knot. Oh and be sure to check out the full gallery. It’s a happy, happy place to be.

And now for the film from the ever lovely Joel Serrato. A match made in post heaven…

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From Moon Canyon Design… Initial inspiration for both the wedding and the welcome dinner came from New England fall and Riverside farm.  At the welcome dinner we wanted the decor to embody the look of a fun farm wedding.  Rustic farm tables, embellished craft paper place-mats and festive lighting helped us achieve this feel.  Dani and Ryan wanted the welcome dinner to set a tone for conversation and camaraderie so we designed a space to foster this energy with family style dining tables filled with loosely arranged fall flowers and hay bail sectional seating throughout the grounds adorned with fun ditsy floral fabrics and bright, bold Zinnias.

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Photography: Jose Villa | Venue: Riverside Farm | Rentals: 1888 | Catering: Cloud Nine | Event Design: Moon Canyon Design with help special help from Rose Mattos of Foret Bespoke Floral + Sierra Knot | Graphic Design (events): Elise Crevier | Invitations: Momental Designs | Filmmaker: joel serrato films | Custom Signage + Caligraphy: Sierra Knot | Cake: Irene’s cakes by design | Dress: Elie Saab | Groom’s Suit: Rag & Bone | Makeup: Jeannie Vincent | Groom’s Ring: Carrie Bilbo | Bride’s Ring: M.Flynn | Bridesmaid Dresses: Custom Made by Bride’s Aunt

Vermont is yummy. It’s all pretty landscape, fresh air, and an ambiance that just breathes. And through the lens of Dave Robbins Photography’s camera, it’s perfect. Especially when said lens is pointed at a wedding so elegant. TRUE Event was behind the soiree, so it’s no surprise that it’s amazing, but somehow I was still shocked at the utter hugeness of my smiles after spending time in the gallery. And as an extra treat, make sure to tune in tomorrow morning for the highlight film from this beautiful day thanks to Hello Super Studios!

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From the lovely bride … We had a vision of a venue where our guests could spend the greater part of the weekend together. A place naturally beautiful, but yet unexpected. Somewhere rustic, yet elegant. When we stepped foot on Riverside Farm in Pittsfield we knew it was the place – the ONLY place – to host the wedding we envisioned. Being the creative spirit that I am (code for detail obsessed), I loved (and at times was terrified) that the farm was a blank canvas. The barns provided “the rustic” backbone, but “the elegant” was up to our imaginations. Insert the most AMAZING and talented group of wedding vendors who helped bring every detail you see onto the farm, staged to perfection. Sarah True and Caitlin Campbell from TRUE Event took all the creative cues I threw their way and executed to perfection in partnership with Liz Cotter of Riverside, Nancy Murray from a Schoolhouse Garden, the team from Cloud 9 Catering … the list goes on and on…

The weekend kicked off with a Welcome Party complete with local food, local brews, a blue grass band, custom-made cornhole set and a s’more bar by the outdoor fire pit. We wanted night one to be casual so that our guests were wowed by how the farm could transform into an upscale, elegant and romatic venue for our wedding day with the appropriate vintage décor.

So onto the BIG day! What was most important to us was the way our guests felt. It breaks my heart to think that not every person will remember all the design touches, but our minister reminded us that the way a wedding makes you feel is what is remembered long after the last crumbs of wedding cake are swept off of the floor. We knew two things when we got started. 1. We wanted to embrace and blend with the natural surroundings 2. We wanted every last detail from the personal vows and carefully selected readings we shared during our ceremony to the ski-themed details peppered throughout the day to reflect who we are as a couple. Thanks to Emily Hostetler at Paper Moss and my friend Lauren Wiernasz for executing all the paper details that set the tone to perfection.

We wanted our guests to leave with warm hearts from sharing in the celebration of a couple so deeply in love. I wrote a poem for Don that I surprised him with during our ceremony and a quote from this was repeated on our cocktail napkins and was also made into a custom letterpress print I gave Don as a wedding gift. Guests signed an assortment of VT post cards that my mom has been sending us over the past few months – an amazing reminder of the continued love and support from our family and friends.

And the Anthropologie-inspired cocktail hour! From the murano glass chandeliers that hung over the custom-made bar to the vintage seating areas provided by Sassafras Vintage Rentals, guests could enjoy the foliage and sunset through the clear top tent. And the food, to die for! Cloud 9 Catering exceeded our expectations with local fall-inspired flavors. As guests transitioned into the Stonewall Barn for the reception, they found ski passes with vintage mountain prints strung between old wooden skis . The barn was breathtaking with a long kings table down the middle lit by an assortment of vintage crystal chandeliers above a stream of flowers and candles shimmering in mercury glass. The barn, thanks to Suzanne B. Lighting, had a warm, romantic amber glow.

Don and I danced to “Wagon Wheel,” a song we heard and fell in love with in the ski lodge one day during our beloved après ? Our band, Red Hook Orchestra was PHENOMINAL and guests ate, drank and danced the night away. Looking back, it all goes by so fast, which is why having an amazing photographer (Dave Robbins) and videographer (Megan from Hello Super Studios) are the best gift you can give to yourself. We keep our love for one another alive every day, but these mementos will remind us of the magic of the day we said “I Do” for the rest of our lives.

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Photography: Dave Robbins Photography | Venue: Riverside Farm, Site Coordinator: Liz Cotter | Event Planning & Design: TRUE Event | Cinematography: Hello Super Studios | Floral Design and Vintage Chandeliers: A Schoolhouse Garden | Catering: Cloud 9 Catering | Invitations and Paper Accessories: Paper Moss | Paper Details: Lauren Weirnasz | Lighting: Suzanne B. Lowell Lighting Design | Vintage Furniture Rentals: Sassafras Vintage Rentals | Burlap Singage: victorianstation | Welcome Party Band: Bondville Boys | Ceremony Music: Mark Harding Trio | Bride’s Dress: Anne Barge from Cristina’s | Bride’s Shoes: Stuart Weitzman | Bride’s Earing: Kate Spade | Bride’s Hair Fascinator: LoBoheme | Bridesmaid Dresses: Lula Kate | Groom and Groomsman Suits: J.Crew | Groom’s Tie: Armani | Groom’s Custom Cufflinks: tomatomade | Hair: Rachel Cushing from Salon Acote | Makeup Artist: Vivian Infantino | Calligraphy: Kristen Henderson | Officiant: Reverend Doctor Dennis B. Calhoun

When this bride’s high school sweetheart popped the question, her secret girlhood fantasies of getting married at Riverside Farm were all systems go. The two put their heart’s and soul’s into a beautiful wedding that was rustic, yet oh so beautifully chic, casual, yet fabulously classic, and warm, welcoming, and absolutely heartwarming. Second only to the love they share, Jenny Moloney Photography and her camera created a gallery that is filled with one of the best things of the day – the amazing images.

Seriously, we would be rude not to share this adorbs film from Paperweight Films. WAY cute.

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Click here to see the whole pretty soiree!

Mike and I first fell in love at the age of 17. We were seniors in high school which meant that our time living in the same place was limited. Mike followed his dreams to Colorado and I followed mine to New York City. When the reality came that the distance would be too much for us to sustain a relationship for four years, we were heartbroken. During those college years, though, we stayed in touch, checking in on each other and occasionally visiting each other. It wasn’t until after college, though, when Mike had moved to Portland, Oregon (even further away!) to pursue his career and I began my teaching career in Brooklyn, that we decided that no matter how far apart we were from each other, we had to give our relationship another try. We traveled across the country to see each other whenever we had the chance. When Mike had a career opportunity that required him to move to Las Vegas, we continued the practice of blissful visits followed by devastating goodbyes. Finally, in December of 2008, Mike gave me the best Christmas present I’ve ever received: he told me he was moving to New York. He quit his job and moved to New York so that we could be together. We moved in together a year later and adopted our precious puppy, Digby a few months after that. Almost exactly a year later, Mike took me to a cliff that looks over our hometown, the place where it all began, and asked me to marry him.

About an hour after Mike and I got engaged we were celebrating with our parents and my dad said, “So, should I call Riverside Farm?” We had spent many ski seasons up in the mountains around Riverside Farm and when we’d drive by the venue to get to the ski slopes I would admire the barns and covered bridge from the road. It was a known fact that I had fantasies of getting married there. Once we took a tour of the property and met the folks who ran it, we knew that this was where we had to get married. Family and friends are the most important to us and Riverside Farm was a place where we could spend time together throughout the entire weekend.

When we got down to planning the details we knew we wanted our wedding to feel like us. That meant calling upon the talents of our family and friends to help with the DIY projects. My maid of honor illustrated and designed our invitation and our friend helped us design and print all of our paper products. As a first grade teacher, I really wanted to bring all 26 of my students to our wedding… but sadly I could not. So, I incorporated their illustrations in our ceremony program. We asked many of our family members and friends to decorate a wedding flag which I then sewed (again with the help of friends) into a banner which was hung at the entrance to the barn. There were many, many hours spent with friends in our Brooklyn apartment folding cootie catchers, hand writing escort cards, sewing together the wedding flags, tying string around our invitations. These crafting sessions were some of the best moments leading up to our wedding. We are eternally grateful for the talents of our friends.

Our ceremony was a true collaborative effort. It was officiated by our close friend who is also a rabbi and included a performance of Crazy Love by Van Morrison sung by one of my bridesmaids and accompanied by our rabbi. Our parents read us a blessing and Mike’s sister read a poem. Our dog, Digby, served as the ring bearer and miraculously performed his duties flawlessly. Because it was a non-denominational wedding, we did not have a specific structure or format to go off of. Matt, our officiant, helped us compile the elements that made the ceremony truly about us and our commitment to each other. We chose to each write a letter to each other that we read during our ceremony and we selected three shared vows that we each said aloud at the end of the letter. Hearing Mike spill his heart to me in front of our family and friends was the most incredible feeling I’ve ever had.

For the reception, our florist and the folks at Riverside Farm did an incredible job of pulling all of our DIY creations together in a way that was well beyond my expectations. As I walked into the barn to dance our first dance (performed by a friend), I remember looking at the hanging chandeliers, the wildflowers on the tables, and being completely blown away. The vision I had described to all of the vendors had been executed to perfection. When we made our food selections, we really wanted to focus on cocktail hour and hors d’oeuvres. We were thrilled with the food and even did the unthinkable: we both ate our entire entrees. We had also chosen to forgo the traditional wedding cake for a dessert stand featuring mini tartlets, cupcakes and most importantly: donuts!

Our band also blew it out of the water. I haven’t been to many wedding where the dance floor is completely packed before we even sit down to dinner, but ours was. In fact, had the band not asked us to sit, I think we might have forgotten about dinner. Mike and I danced every single song as did most of our guests! It was just impossible not to. The night ended with our guests lining up on the bridge outside of the barn with sparklers in hand. As we ran through the crowd of our cheering wedding guests we could not have been happier.

A bit of advice from one bride (and groom) to another: We selected our vendors based on both their talents and their character. We are convinced that everyone we worked with are both the best at what they do and the kindest, coolest folks around! When you are planning a wedding, there are a lot of phone calls with the people you work with. Whether it was our photographer trekking through tall grass in her skirt to get that perfect shot or the caterer making our coveted donuts, we really felt like the people who we hired went above and beyond their standard job description. By the end of the wedding we felt like we had become friends with many of our vendors!

Photography: Jenny Moloney Photography / Cinematography: Paperweight Films / Venue: Riverside Farm / Catering and Linens: Occasions Catering / Flowers: Trish Hegewald at Pittsfield Garden Center / Hair: Sarah Crowley of Finish Touch / Makeup: Cynthea Hausman of Cynthea’s Spa / Officiant: Rabbi Matthew Soffer / Invitations and paper: Phoebe Woerner and Darlina Goldak / Dress: Modern Trousseau / Bride’s Shoes: Kate Spade / Groom’s Suit: Michael Andrews Bespoke / Jewelry: Avroc International, Charm & Chain / Groomsmen Suits: J.Crew / Shuttle Service: Gramps Shuttle

Anytime Joel Serrato sends me something, I know it’s going to be good. Shed-a-few-tears kind of good. And this clip, featuring the most gorgeous wedding at  the wonderful Riverside Farms in Pittsfield Vermont, is definitely one of his best. Aside from being one of the most stunning locations I’ve ever seen, Joel’s approach to the film is touching, it’s sweet, it’s utterly beautiful. Something that I know the bride and groom feel incredibly lucky to have…

Thank you so much to Joel Serrato for sending this incredible film our way! We love, love, love you and your gorgeous work and are always so thrilled to show it off! Make sure to check out Joel’s blog for even more eye candy.

This is one of those weddings that will completely inspire you. It’s one of those weddings that I’ll refer to over and over on SMP, that brides will use to build their own inspiration boards, that vendors will pull up to show their clients. It’s just one of those picture perfect weddings and I feel so lucky that I am the one to share it with you. Jen Curtis, the photographer behind the day, is quickly becoming one of my favorite artists…and her photographs tell the story of the day flawlessly.

From the lovely, lovely bride…

We say we moved to Vermont for the food, and we did our best to show our guests some of our favorite treats during the course of our wedding weekend. Overnight guests received brownies from the Vermont Brownie Company, (the Maple Toffee Brownie was the best!) and all guests left the reception with a nip of maple syrup from our favorite sugary, Morse Farm. Our caterer, Occasions, did a great job showcasing Vermont food. We had s’mores at a bonfire friday night, fresh Vermont apple cider before the ceremony, tons of local cheese and produce, among a huge assortment of other delicious goodies. In lieu of wedding cake, we served a variety of home-made pies, and our groomsmen used this as an excuse to have a hilarious pie-eating contest at the end of the night. Guests were also entertained by the Dave Keller Band, a Montpelier-based blues/rock group, and a very-popular photobooth by Vermont Photobooth. We had the best time at our wedding, and we’re pretty sure our guests had a pretty great time as well!

Our favorite wedding details were our stationery/paper goods. Gered’s sister, Kara Dunne is an artist, and among her many talents, has studied printmaking at Rhode Island School of Design. She designed our amazing fancy barnyard letterpress invitation suite which was printed by Rob Charlton at the Goosefish Press. Kara also designed our barnyard animal placecards, which were printed by Lasso’d Moon Designs.

All was captured by the fabulous Jen Curtis, and we are so excited to see the art that she created from our day! Some other fun details: My dress: Vineyard by Priscilla’s of Boston Bridesmaids Dresses:  Jcrew / Hair + Makeup: Leslie Rogers / Flowers: A Schoolhouse Garden / Guestbook Box: Just Wright Boutique (instead of a guest-book, we had a recipe box with one card per guest – cards had a space for the guest to draw their picture and write us a message) / Labels for Favors: MAU Promos / Bridesmaid Gifts: handmade crystal necklaces by Roxane Weiss (Miami, FL), handbags by Studio Cherie

I think that it’s pretty obvious that I am OBSESSED with this wedding. It’s the perfect combination of charm, of style, of unabashed gorgeousness. I love,love, love it and am so happy that the perfect bride and groom allowed us to feature it here on SMP. Here is to many years that are as beautiful as this very day. And to Jen Curtis for sharing the stunning photographs…I am in love!

I hope everyone had a great weekend! It’s Columbus Day so I’m not even sure if there are any of you out there reading SMP today, but I am throwing caution to the wind and am featuring a blissfully gorgeous wedding for those of you that just might be stuck at work. You might remember this absolutely jaw droppingly gorgeous wedding that Jen Curtis sent our way a couple of weeks ago. Well, apparently, right down the road on another perfect Vermont Farm…Jen photographed this stunning affair.

From the ridiculously lovely bride…

Gered and I finally met during our Junior year at Colgate University when we were introduced by mutual friends. We should have met 2 years prior, when, unbeknownst to us, we were in the same 8:00 AM Freshman Chemistry class. Unfortunately, Gered rarely made it to class, and when he did, slept through most of it in the back of the room. (I sat wide-awake, up front)We dated for a looong time after college while in grad school in Boston, and planned our wedding for soon after my graduation from residency this past June. We both love farms and barns, and Vermont seemed like the perfect place for our fun and relaxed, outdoor wedding. Conveniently, we both ended up finding jobs in Vermont shortly before the wedding, so we were very excited that our wedding would be our chance to show off our new home to our family and friends!

Riverside Farm offered us the perfect mix of beautiful scenery, rustic but refined barns, and great food. We loved that Riverside offered several different venues so that (even in the case of rain), we could have each event (Rehearsal Dinner, Ceremony, Cocktails, Reception) in a unique space. Our outdoor ceremony couldn’t have been better. The weather was perfect, and we were married in the meadow centered between 3 barns on Riverside Farm. Dave Keller and Ira Friedman played the guitar and organ respectively which gave a unique sound to our Beatles instrumentals for the processional and recessional. We were married under a Chuppah, hand-quilted of family photos by my mother and sister, and we had several friends participate in readings, and read our own hand-written vows, during the ceremony that we designed. My 1 year-old nephew Gavin was the cutest ring-bearer in the whole world, and was brought down the aisle in a red wagon.