Weddings are an exercise in faith, the day is planned with the hope that everything will unfold exactly as it should, however sometimes it will absolutely pour on your outdoor ceremony.
Audrey and Seth’s plans for their wedding day was to bring their friends and family to Reading Farms Estate to have a relaxing fun filled weekend while also taking their vows. Surrounded by rolling hills, the estate was a gorgeous site to experience Vermont as well as have a wedding.
We were incredibly excited to photograph this day not only because of the location, but it was shaping up to be a truly unique event. The estate included a row of giant oak trees where the ceremony was to be held and a serene pond behind the house that caught the light perfectly during the golden hour.
We arranged to arrive the evening before to be at the rehearsal, scouting out areas for portraits and the first look. The light was incredible, with a forecast the next day of intermittent rain we decided to take Audrey and Seth around the grounds for some portraits,. These two are adorable together. They have great sense of humors, and it was easy to feed off their energy. Our time together was natural, fun, even thrilling, as if we were photographing friends we had known for years. This quick session proved to be immeasurably important as the next day’s weather forecast was a bit optimistic.
The day of the wedding started off with moderate rain but as the hours went by the rain started getting much heavier. Upon arriving to the estate, the wedding was already in the transition to move all of the festivities into the beautiful canvas tent they had rented for the occasion. Canvas tents happen to be a photographers best friend when the rain doesn’t let up; it becomes a giant light diffuser and can turn a dreary day into arguably perfect light (plastic tents tend to be darker).
With family and the groomsmen helping to move the ceremony setup from outdoors to under the tent at the direction of the groom, we focused our attention to photographing Audrey as she got ready. Her room featured a full length mirror that was positioned next to a large window that let in a cool soft light.
Seth hurried up to the study to get his suit on with his groomsmen, chatting and laughing, though a bit nervous. We decided the best place for the first look would be by the pond under the trellis covered walking path; a beautiful, outdoor setting, but still covered from the majority of the rain.
The first look was emotional, beautiful, and Seth beamed when he turned and saw Audrey in her dress. At this point it was time to take a few family portraits then head to the tent for the ceremony.
We ran from the house through the downpour to the barn and Audrey with her parents under an umbrella. Seth’s father was the officiant, setting the tone for a touching ceremony full of laughter and tears. The ceremony was not surround by towering oaks as expected, however Seth and Audrey were surrounded by friends and family huddling up next to the dance floor under the grand tent. The evening continued with Seth serenading Audrey, emotionally packed toasts, and joyful dancing.
Thank you for inviting us into your day Audrey and Seth. We wish you many more years of joy together, on this, your first anniversary.
