Laura + Stephen

Ahhh, summer....I have to admit, I've never been a big fan. That's because I grew up in Sarasota, Florida, where I am still based out of. Summer in FL is hotter than hot, and not the most popular time for weddings. I honestly don't think I ever imagined myself truly loving summer. That is, until I photographed Laura and Stephen's wedding in June in New Hamphire. I love to travel, and I get crazy excited when I have the chance to work with couples out of state. Some of my favorites were a magical wedding at the historic mansion, Hempstead House in NY and a breezy and fun elopement in the Napa Valley area of CA (yay for a side trip to San Francisco!), but I was unprepared for the fairytale experience of a New England summer wedding and just how much I would fall in love with both the mountains and the Lakes Region. I think I was literally screaming with delight during my first drive through the towns of Wolfeboro and Holderness - quaint, charming, quintessential New England. It was like a living post card or scene from a calendar. Even the libraries and fire stations were over the top adorable. I live for this kind of thing - I was in absolute heaven. But the ultimate gift was the weather: in the low 70's with low humidity, this is something a Floridian can only dream about!

The wedding took place in three parts, and was lovingly planned by the couple and their family in homage to how the couple met. Both the bride and groom grew up vacationing in the summer with their respective families on Squam Lake, NH. They met when they were just kids, and later, their friendship blossomed into romance. For the rehearsal dinner and the getting ready part of the wedding day, everyone had their own cabins in the woods at Rockywold Deephaven Camp, which is a historic summer camp situated on Squam Lake in Holderness, NH. The camp was founded in 1897 and still boasts many original and vintage features, such as old ice boxes with huge blocks of ice, stair rails and book shelves made of tree branches, and sleeping porches overlooking the lake with mountain views. One can easily imagine returning year after year, reuniting with friends you see only in the summer, and spending days swimming, boating, and lying on the dock soaking up the sun. It was truly the perfect spot for wedding guests from all over the world to gather and experience an authentic piece of New England for a destination wedding. When it was time to leave for the ceremony, the bride's father and groom's brother pulled up in motor boats and took the bride and myself across the lake to a tiny island called Church Island, or Chocorua Island. The rest of the guests were ferried over in groups. Once again, a magical experience ensued. We walked through tall, thick woods and arrived at a spot set up with benches which overlooked the lake and mountains. Dragon flies, which had only just hatched that very morning, flew around us eating the mosquitos - it's like it was meant to be. After the ceremony, everyone headed over to The Inn at Newfound Lake in Bridgewater, NH - a picture perfect New England wedding venue situated on lush, beautifully manicured grounds across from a private beach. The reception itself was held inside the rustic yet classy red barn adjacent to the main building. The interior was all warm wood, a giant antler chandelier, and lots of fairy lights. The classic, simple florals in shades of white and green set it off perfectly. The couple took bit of a non-traditional approach to their reception, with a laid back vibe and a table of mouth watering pies instead of a cake - which I sadly did not get to taste (darn you, gluten!), but the murmers of delight from the guests confirmed that I was definitely missing out! :)

If you are a couple getting married in New England and you have stumbled across this blog in your search for a wedding photographer, please reach out, I would love to work with you!