Lydia and Raj: Fall Inspired Rustic Vermont Farm Wedding
Tractors. Reclaimed Wood. Maple Syrup. Binoculars. Horse-riding Bride. Oh you are in for a treat cause that’s what I captured during Lydia and Raj’s Vermont farm wedding. I met Lydia years ago when we were both studying in Australia. Even then, she was always a sporty and outdoors type of girl. Back in the states, we took turns hanging out at each other’s college. At Penn, we watched Harry Potter and ate cheesesteaks. At Cornell, she let me ride her horse Lily. Though time has passed, some things don’t change. I still enjoy a good Philly cheesesteak with proper cheese whiz and she still rides Lily, and I don’t think anything would be stopping her from doing that at her wedding.
After playing with giraffes and emus on an exotic games reserve in Texas, I flew to Boston and drove up to Vermont to Raj’s family maple syrup farm on a perfect fall day. The couple wanted to celebrate somewhere special and the farm property was the perfect venue, complete with a beautiful farm cottage that I would be staying in. I arrived with plenty of time to get in a trail run and scout out the property. During their Welcome BBQ, I even took the drone out to get a wide view of the maple farm. Here, friends and family gathered for good food and booze around the lake and then around a bonfire until the stars came out.
The next morning, I continued my destination wedding tradition and went for a run with the bride and groom. It’s a great way to get in a little sweat and shake off the nerves before the start of the day. For me and for the couple. And then we started.
I started with Lydia where her mother helped her put on a beautiful chiffron dress. The couples wrote cute notes to accompany the gifts they had for each other and I played messenger. Over at the farmhouse, Raj was getting ready with one of his best friends. Without moving anything, I used the setting for a farmhouse inspired portrait session with Raj before we got to the First Look.
For that, we found a spoke up the road in a field of wildflowers. It was a little wet, but Lydia being the outdoorsy girl she is, had her riding boots on underneath the dress. No need to be tippy-toeing around with this girl. I put on a longer lens and shot from just outside of view as the couple saw each other for the first time that day. I always love the emotions I see during a First Look and this was one for the books as they bought shed some major tears at the sight of each other.
We continued with our natured-inspired portrait session taking advantage of the perfect light overcast and the different flowers in bloom. I even took out the drone for one of my favorite shot of the session, with the couple laying down on a picnic blanket. The fun went up to 11 when the wedding party came along riding in the back of a pick-up truck. With this crew, we definitely weren’t going traditional, not that I would have wanted to anyway. Just take a look at what the guys were willing to do for their group portrait.
When we were done, I went up with Lydia to the horse stable where she started prepping Lily her big ride down the aisle. This would be one of the coolest entrance I’ve ever seen and perhaps one of my favorite candid portraits captured. Just before coming into viewing and galloping on Lily across the field to the ceremony, I capture Lily with her head down talking to Lily in a calm moment of reflection. I don’t think she realized I was there until I broke the moment to tell her she was ready to go. And off she flew.
Raj teared up again at the sight of his bride and her dress flowing in the wind atop a magnificent beast of nature. I’m pretty certain everyone was impressed and the ceremony went off without a hitch to open up to a wonderful evening of celebration under a white canopy tent complete with maple syrup for everyone and fireworks to cap it all off. Enjoy!
