Audrey and Marion's Elopement at the Inn at Weathersfield in Weathersfield, Vt.

I love photographing elopements- they're sweet, quiet, and completely focused on the connection of the two people getting married. Audrey and Marion's was no exception. They've known each other since they were children, and after dating a few years, decided to get married somewhere totally different from where they live in Southern Indiana and found the quiet beauty of the Inn at Weathersfield. After a wild goose chase to get their marriage license before the offices closed, they spent a leisurely few days enjoying Vermont before their ceremony on a sun-dappled Sunday afternoon. 

Jenn and Bryan's Happy, Dance-Centered Wedding at Wedgewood Pines in Stow, MA

Our favorite part of Jenn and Bryan's wedding was when Bryan spotted Jenn for the first time, waiting to walk down the aisle. With excitement in his voice, he whispered "holy shit!" The second best part was the make-your-own cannoli bar, which also was a big favorite for everyone else at the wedding. Oh! And the dancing was pretty awesome too- everybody danced, and there was lots of swing dancing, salsa dancing, and the kind of dancing that is just jumping up and down, yelling the song lyrics at the top of your lungs dancing. We also loved hanging out with Jenn and Bryan during the cocktail hour, racing each other in golf carts in between posing for portraits. 

Angela and Mark's Timeless, Intimate Wedding at the Inn at Shelburne Farms in Shelburne, Vermont

It's always such a delight to get to photograph intimate weddings- certain parts of them feel extra special, and I love getting to know each one of the guests present at the wedding. Host that wedding at the Inn at Shelburne Farms, add a super-sweet couple, a vintage Thunderbird, and an incredible sunset, and you get the most photogenic night anyone could ask for.

Angela and Mark wanted a stress-free sunset wedding with a couple dozen of their closest friends and family up in Vermont, a place they had fallen in love with a couple of years ago when they were driving around New England after Mark's college reunion. They made a big road trip out of the wedding, towing Mark's Thunderbird behind their RV as they drove up from Texas. Their closest people from around the country gathered Saturday, enjoying a laid-back evening with cocktails and a dinner where nobody could stop laughing. 

Emily and Evan's Mini Engagement Session in Tunbridge, Vermon

Yesterday morning, I rode my horse up to the top of the mountain on Evan's farm to see how the fall colors were shaping up. They were at their peak, so I was really glad when Evan and Emily said that evening would work for their engagement session. Evan lives just down the road from us, and worked on building our house alongside us when he fell in love with Emily, so we were thrilled when they hired us to photograph their wedding next September (also up on the mountain!). I've never laughed so hard during an engagement session, I actually had to tell them to stop laughing for a few photos so they had some semi-serious ones in the mix. It's always such a delight to work alongside wonderful friends! 

Emily and Maks' Engagement Session Around Vermont

One of my first Facebook profile photos, back in 2007, features Emily and I making brownies, the batter all over our faces, as we hung out in a friend's crappy college apartment kitchen. I love this photograph, as it shows some of the many connections we have- our love of brownies, our time together in college, and how I feel I can be super silly around her.

We lost touch after college for a while- she moved to California and started working for Google and met a sweet, funny guy named Maks, who shared her love of travel, and adopted an adorable dog, while I moved to Vermont with Jeff, started working for a newspaper, and started building my community and house. When I traveled to California this spring to photograph Jordy and Eric's engagement session, we reconnected. I stayed over at the condo she shares with Maks, and I fell in love with their little family. We realized now, years after college, that we share more in common than we ever did in college. This time, we kept in touch. 

Of course I was thrilled when Emily let me know early this summer that she and Maks were planning a trip to visit us in Vermont. When they announced their engagement a month later, I was even more excited, and we planned an engagement session in all my favorite places in our neck of the woods. We've spent the past day and a half galavanting around, catching up, eating awesome food, and taking photos. It's been such a treat to get to play tourist with my old buddy, and my new friend, Maks. 

And finally.... had to include this one because Arlo can't help wedging himself in other people's engagement photos :) 

Theresa and Tiffani's Laid-Back Dance Party Wedding at Ohana Camp in Fairlee, Vermont

Honesty hour: on Friday night, I had trouble sleeping, as I was too excited for Theresa and Tiffani's wedding the next day. Why? First, after a wonderful first time at Ohana photographing Morgan and Nick's wedding, we couldn't wait to be back. Second, the weather was calling for all-day gorgeousness. Finally, over the past year, we've gotten to know Theresa and Tiffani and many of their friends, and absolutely love the way they've instantly made us part of the gang. 

The day did not disappoint- as both sunshine and a relaxed atmosphere presided on the entire event. We loved watching all nervousness turn into awe as Theresa saw Tiffani walk with her father and stepdad down the aisle, or the perfectly executed moves of their friends, who somehow choreographed a flash mob earlier that day and performed it during the reception. At the end of the night, the bridal party found out how much we loved dancing to Michael Jackson and requested PYT so that we would dance with everyone. Thanks for being so awesome, Theresa and Tiffani! 

Emma and Johnny's Barefoot Farm Wedding in Waitsfield, Vermont

To best describe Emma and Johnny's wedding day, I'll mention some of our favorite little memories: Emma went barefoot the entire day, including our muddy tromp through the woods (where she managed to keep her dress perfectly clean). Johnny proudly kept looking at his new watch (which Emma gave him that morning as a wedding gift) whenever someone asked him the time. The pieces of advice for Johnny and Emma, collected and read by Emma's father, who officiated the wedding. The video game soundtrack that played while Johnny and his groomsmen got ready. Emma's absolute glee when someone handed her a plate of pickles from the pickle bar after the wedding. The squeals of laughter from the many children invited to the wedding as they ran around the big field behind the farmhouse at Lareau Farm. The hand-painted silk scarf that adorned the Chuppah, painted with the stars from that night's sky by Emma's Aunt. 

I met Emma through my absolute favorite website, A Practical Wedding, and when the four of us met up last spring to talk about Emma and Johnny's wedding, we realized they are some of the most comfortable people to spend time around and have been looking forward to their wedding. It didn't disappoint, and it was such a delight collaborating with them! 

Morgan and Nick's Cozy Camp Wedding at Ohana Family Camp in Fairlee, Vermont

On her way down the aisle, Morgan didn't walk, she danced. And so did her parents, on either side of her. This moment is a perfect summary of the day, and this is the wedding we'll show people when they ask, "so what happens if it rains?" We'll say- this wedding made us fall in love with the rain, with the smell of woodsmoke and sight of fog rising over the mountains as Morgan and Nick said their beautiful vows to each other on the porch of the main lodge at Ohana Camp. The coziness of the lodge as hundreds of candles burned on tables covered with colorful flowers and everyone, yes, everyone, got up and danced alongside Morgan and Nick. Nobody mentioned the rain, everyone was too busy having fun to notice the remains of Hurricane Harvey. This is what happens when love and joy reigns supreme throughout the day. 

Jennifer and Greg's Sunny, Family-Centered Wedding at Sugarbush in Waitsfield, Vermont

The first thing we noticed when we arrived to photograph Jennifer and Greg's wedding was how kind everyone was. No, not just nice, but treating us like  long-time friends and making sure we were comfortable and happy. It made everything easy to photograph and kept us smiling the whole day. Jennifer and Greg also took lots of time to include everyone in the festivities- especially those who weren't able to make it. We often see a table at weddings with photographs of friends and family who have passed away, but never saw so many people gather around it, picking up photographs and laughing and crying with one another. For his mother/son dance, Greg called up each women who had been an important motherly influence in his life since his mother died twenty years ago and honored each one of them. It was the perfect celebration honoring not only Jennifer and Greg, but all the people that made them who they are. 

Megan and Chris' Classy, Vibrant Wedding at the Essex Resort and Spa in Essex, Vermont

A few weeks before her wedding, Megan won a Vespa- yes, one of those awesome motor bikes. Her luck didn't run out there- the day of her wedding to her best friend, Chris, the weather was better than it had been all summer, and every detail of their wedding day went off without a hitch. But luck is 90% preparation, and 10% opportunity, so Megan and Chris' luck was a deserved reward for the hard work they'd put into planning their wedding, making sure every person at their wedding was comfortable and had a great time. "Our priority is making everyone happy," said Megan when I talked to her a few weeks before their wedding, and we loved watching how much they both cared for each person at their wedding, and how all their families and friends exuberantly celebrated around them until the end of the night. The little surprises that happened throughout the day were our favorite part- from the exhuberant flower girl to neck-tie limbo.