Erin had no idea that she would meet her future husband when she embarked on her Appalachian Trail thru-hike (hiking the entire trail from Maine to Georgia), but when she met Paul on a section of the trail in Sunfish Pond, New Jersey they swapped emails after eating lunch together. Paul had hiked from Georgia to Maine the year before and was working as a Ridge Runner on the trail. He met up with Erin for one of her final weeks of her hike and they had their first date. The Sunfish Pond section of the trail would later have even more significance as it is the spot where Erin proposed to Paul! She convinced him to go on an impromptu hike on their way to Vermont for Thanksgiving and surprised him with handmade wooden engagement rings.

Erin and Paul decided on Vermont for the location of their wedding because it fit the bill for the outdoor, mountain wedding they wanted. It also helped that Erin’s parent’s home was the perfect location to hold it. Included in their invitations were prayer flags, which they asked their guests to do something creative with and mail them back. The couple then took the flags and hung them in the trees at the site of their ceremony.

featured professionals | PHOTOGRAPHER: ARTSINFOTOS | TENT & EVENT RENTALS: CELEBRATION RENTALS | CATERER: WOODBELLY PIZZA | FLORIST: AMANDA’S GREENHOUSE | ACCOMMODATIONS: FAIRBANKS INN, THE COMFORT INN | MUSICIANS: KATIE TRAUTZ AND THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS | HAIR & MAKEUP: WILLA’S BEAUTY SALON | FAVORS: CUSTOM ART (LINOLEUM BLOCK PRINTS CREATED BY THE GROOM), AND A BLUEBERRY MUFFIN | INVITATIONS: PETITE RUE | WEDDING OFFICIANT: JEREMY GABRIELSON, BROTHER OF THE BRIDE

Kristin and Ian grew up not too far from each other - she in Massachusettes, and he in nearby Vermont - but it was at a bar in Boston that fate arranged for them to meet. After Kristin's friend literally pushed her to strike up a conversation with Ian (she really did nudge them together!), the rest was history. They both love to travel and the couple even lived in Nicaragua for a few months and have been back to visit several times since. But it was back in Vermont, while snowshowing on Ian's mother's property in Woodstock, that he proposed.

Kristin and Ian decided to hold their wedding at Ian's family's farm for the woodsy, rustic vibe they were looking for. Kristin even held a yoga class for friends and family in the upstairs of a barn on the morning of the wedding. The ceremony was held on a small hill overlooking the pond with a reception under a tent nearby. Wild flowers and mason jars adorned the tables and the couple gave out seeds as favors. Kristin's father is Armenian and her whole family joined him on the dance floor for a traditional Armenian dance called a "Baurd", and set the tone for the party for the rest of the night!

featured professionals | PHOTOGRAPHER: KRISTIN CHALMERS PHOTOGRAPHY | CATERER: COVENTRY CATERING | DJ: DJ ARTISAN PRODUCTIONS | MAKEUP ARTIST: KRYSTAL B. | FLORAL DESIGNER: VALLEY FLOWER COMPANY

Kristina and Alain met on a balcony at a mutual friends party. When the crowd dissipated and they were the only two people left outside, Alain took the opportunity to kiss Kristina, and their love story began! One of their first getaways as a couple was to Burlington, Vermont - just a short drive from their hometown of Montreal. They immediately fell in love with the scenery, food, and amazing people in Burlington. When Kristina received an email from Hotel Vermont advertising their elopement package, she knew it was the perfect option for her and Alain.

Hotel Vermont took care of all the details for the elopement, so all Kristina and Alain had to do was hire a photographer. They chose a dark red and deep purple color palette- perfect for their Valentine’s Day wedding. Despite the chilly temperatures they opted for an outdoor ceremony, fireside, and took the opportunity to take photos on Church Street with all of the twinkling lights. They even braved the wind for photos on the lake at sunset. It might have been the coldest weekend of the year, but seeing the sunset on the lake ended up being one of their favorite moments of the day.

Krstina and Alain’s advice for other couples planning their big day: “Make sure you hire reputable vendors and do all of your planning ahead of time so you can relax and take in the day because even though we eloped it went so fast.  Remember nothing is ever ‘perfect’ and it’s the things that don’t go as planned that make it the most memorable.”

featured professionals | VENUE & ACCOMMODATIONS: HOTEL VERMONT | PHOTOGRAPHER: COLETTE KULIG PHOTOGRAPHY | CATERER: PIZZA VERITAS | FLORIST: CLAYTON FLORAL | CAKE: MIRABELLES CAFE | WEDDING GOWN: DAVID’S BRIDAL | FORMAL WEAR: KENNETH COLE | MAKEUP: SEPHORA WEDDING | OFFICIANT: CAMERON KEITEL FROM THE HOTEL VERMONT | JEWELRY: SWAROVSKI

Monica and Patrick met as young children-their parents remember him chasing her around and saying he would marry her one day! But Patrick and his parents moved away and they lost touch for twenty-something years. A serendipitous reunion on Christmas found them bonding over their mutual love of skiing and Patrick eventually brought Monica to his family vacation home near Stratton Mountain.

Monica and Patrick's love of Vermont drew them to the state to search for a wedding venue. On their very first day of searching, they fell in love with Hildene. There was also a St. Paul’s church nearby, which was perfect since they had met as children at their local St. Paul’s in New York. Their one goal when planning their wedding was to share a memorable celebration with the people who mean the world to them, and to be romantic and playful. It was full of handmade touches they put together with their friends and family; golden animal drink stirrers and magnets to hold the escort cards, floral bases for the centerpieces, and watercolored menus and table names.

To read more of Monica and Patrick's love story and to see more photos from their wedding, pick up a copy of the Winter/Spring 2017 issue of Vermont Bride Magazine! They are available for purchase on newsstands throughout New England as well as right here on our website.

featured professionals | ICE CREAM STAND: BEN & JERRY'S | EVENT LIGHTING: RAIN OR SHINE TENT AND EVENTS CO | PHOTOGRAPHER: JONATHAN YOUNG & ELISABETH MILLAY | VIDEOGRAPHER: VALERIE BARNES | VENUE: HILDENE | FLORAL DESIGN: LILY OF THE VALLEY | DJ, PHOTO BOOTH, & EVENT LIGHTING: SUPERSOUNDS DJ INC. | CATERING, BAR SERVICE, & CAKES: PANGEA | GOWN: CASABLANCA & MODECA | SHOES: CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN | TUX: THEORY | GROOM'S SHOES: SALVATORE FERRAGAMO | HAIR STYLIST: PATTY BASSET | MAKEUP ARTIST: FLAWLESS COSMETIC DESIGN | INVITATIONS: DESIGNS BY ROBYN LOVE | TRANSPORTATION: DUFOUR TOURS | CEREMONY: ST. PAUL'S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH | OFFICIANT: REV. THOMAS MATTISON | REHEARSAL DINNER: INN AT WEST VIEW FARM | ACCOMMODATIONS: INN AT WILLOW POND | WEDDING COORDINATOR: NICOLE BROCK, HILDENE | REGISTRY: ZOLA

Feeling a connection to the Vermont landscape and people from their very first visit, Lisa and David chose it for their dream destination wedding. They knew they wanted a barn venue and after viewing a video on the Alerin Barn website, they decided to go check it out. It was love at first sight with the perfect outdoor space for the ceremony and a rustic, chic feel that Lisa was looking for. They went with a soft, romantic color palette of dusty shale, soft mint, blush, ivory, and gold—all colors that their wedding photographer knew would look wonderful in the photos as well. Lisa and David DIY’d a lot of the decor, such as the “LUEA” letters hanging in a door frame, centerpieces made of family photos, a suitcase that belonged to Lisa’s aunt became their card holder, and they had little colorful books from Black Ink for guests to write stories or well wishes in.

To read more about Lisa and David's love story and to see more photos from their wedding, be sure to pick up a copy of the Winter/Spring 2017 Vermont Bride Magazine at select retailers throughout New England, New York, and New Jersey, or purchase a copy on our website here!

featured professionals | VENUE: THE ALERIN BARN | PHOTOGRAPHER: J. HARPER PHOTOGRAPHY | CATERER: SWEET BASIL CAFE & CATERING | FLORAL DESIGN: ALL ABOUT FLOWERS | CAKE: BENTLEY'S BAKERY & CAFE | DJ: AVID ENTERTAINMENT | GOWN: SIMPLY VERA BY VERA WANG | ALTERATIONS: QUEEN DRESSMAKERS | FORMAL WEAR: INDOCHINO, H & M | HAIR AND MAKEUP: SHEAR SENSATIONS | JEWELRY: BLUE NILE, TIFFANY & CO., DESIGNED BY SERGIO | VIDEOGRAPHER: BRIAN DELABRUERE | FAVORS: CABOT MAPLE SYRUP | INVITATIONS: SALOMOM E. FRAUSTO, BROTHER OF BRIDE | REHEARSAL DINNER: SCREAMING BOAR SMOKEHOUSE | ACCOMMODATIONS: FAIRBANKS INN, COMFORT INN AND SUITES | TRANSPORTATION: BUTLER'S BUS SERVICE | OFFICIENT: GLENN COLLINS | SPA SERVICES: BLISS SPA, SHEAR SENSATIONS | REGISTRY: CRATE & BARREL, TARGET, MACY'S | VEIL: GILDED SHADOWS | GARTER, ROBES: ETSY