Sarah & Max's Early Fall Wedding at the Dartmouth Skiway

On our way up to Sarah and Max’s wedding in New Hampshire last weekend, we saw the first signs of autumn in the trees - sooner than expected for sure - and realized that this may indeed be our first fall wedding (or our last summer wedding?). Days that peak in the high 70’s and end in the low 50’s are just starting to be a reality again, and after a hotter than normal summer we fully welcome the (slow) change in the season. Its got us feeling that certain nostalgic way that gets us every year around this time, and with the comfortably cooler weather comes new sources of creative inspiration. Sarah and Max are wonderfully creative people themselves, the sort that instead of wondering “if,” they seek out “how” and execute, without a shred of self doubt. Part of that is their schooling in industrial design, part of that is just the go-getter spirit that they both share. Designing and crafting a wedding band, for example, was something Max set out to do simply because he could, so he did. They started their wedding day at the Shaker Museum in Enfield, a place that itself is a tribute to the ideology of make something for a single purpose, and make it functionally beautiful. The surrounding landscape is equally astonishing with its rolling hills and creaky old trees lining a babbling brook that ran down through the farm field and underneath the road the museum sits on. As we left for the Dartmouth Skiway, patches of ominously dark clouds roamed through the otherwise sunny sky that kept the light throughout the day unpredictable but dramatic, and the rain that did fall both started and ended during travel between the two locations. Their ceremony in front of an absurdly beautiful floral ‘portal,’ courtesy of Birds of a Flower, was as heartfelt as it was hilarious and the atmosphere remained cheery but earnest thanks in part to Sarah’s aunt’s rhyming recollection of their journey together over the past seven years. Little touches during the reception like bringing their own vinyl from home for the DJ to spin into the evening air for their first dance kept the party going and the Norwegian wedding cake courtesy of Max’s mom honored their family roots. The laughter continued through the night, where Sarah’s family presented a grotesque ‘family heirloom’ that Sarah and Max will be responsible for until the next family member gets married, and the hilarious dance moves from friends and family had us cracking up. It was a light-hearted affair through and through, and on our drive back to Providence that night we felt grateful for our new-found friends in Sarah and Max who welcomed us into their wedding day with open arms.

Venue: Shaker Museum/Dartmouth Skiway
Day-of Coordination: Woodstock Productions
Catering: Christophe Catering
Florals: Birds of a Flower
Bridal Boutique: Alexandra’s Boutique
Dress: Essense of Australia
DJ: Chris Costello
Rentals & Linens: Vermont Tent Company
Cake/Cookies: My Brigadeiro/Cookie Love VT
Hair: Amanda Ralph