Vermont Micro Wedding at The Jackson Gore Inn
With Covid-19 and the restrictions on large weddings and events, I wanted to re-post this Vermont micro wedding/elopemet to promote our "Elope to Vermont" packages and collections. This wedding was actually photographed in October 2019, so before Covid, but the style and photographs are what a couple might expect for their Vermont micro wedding or elopement photography collection.
Kaci + Bobby
The Jackson Gore Inn at Okemo in Ludlow, Vermont is usually a venue for much larger weddings and events but it was perfect for Kaci and Bobby's small family wedding and the restaurant had the perfect rooms for cocktails and a private family dinner. Kaci decided she wanted some getting ready photos before the wedding ceremony, so I arrived in the late morning with an assistant/second wedding photographer Barb Pelliccione. Usually I would photograph these smaller elopements and weddings alone, but Barb lived nearby and she was eager to come along and help out. The beautiful floral arrangements were by Michelle Boleski of Petals.
Please note: This family wedding was before Covid-19 so social distancing was not an issue.
Wedding details are always fun to photograph and with the relaxed and easy time frame in smaller weddings and elopements, there is plenty of time to get creative with them.
Kaci and her mother asked for the "heart shadow wedding ring" photo on the spot and luckily I had done it many times before and had the tiny led flash light required to make the shadow in my camera bag. This ring shadow image is quite lovely and it can be done with various books. I've even done it with Lord Of The Rings and it always looks great as a detail shot in the wedding album.
The Jackson Gore Inn actually supplied a full length mirror so Kaci could get a full length glimpse of what a beautiful bride she was! As she was getting ready before the ceremony we had some fun with the mirror and her sisters who were also her bridesmaids.
Then her mother helped her with the finishing touches.
Kaci wanted to have a "First Look" with her father and Bobby as well and since Barb was along we were able to photograph Kaci's "First Looks" from different angles. The Vermont scenery could not have been more beautiful and the hillside location was perfect for her father's first glimpse of his daughter as a beautiful bride.
After an emotional few minutes with her father, Kaci then went to a different location to have her "First Look" with Bobby. Once again having Barb also shooting allowed us to photograph this first reveal from different locations.
After their first look, Kaci and Bobby went for a quick stroll and enjoyed the foliage in the Vermont woods, then we did a quick pre-ceremony romance session where they exchanged notes they had written to each other to be read on their wedding day. This was another beautiful emotional moment and with our long telephoto lenses we were able to capture it from a distance and not intrude on their private moment.
Before the wedding ceremony, Kaci's mother gave Bobby and Kaci some "motherly" love, then it started to rain......just a little and since it was a small family wedding and everyone was there, the wedding ceremony was pushed forward while Bobby and the officiant eagerly watched the procession begin.
Bailey is Kaci's cousin and she was one of her bridesmaids, she is the sweetest and most loving soul and it was such fun to photograph her laughter and tears throughout the wedding day. She was followed by Kaci's sisters and then Kaci and her father.
The wedding ceremony location was wonderful, a stone walled courtyard overlooking the stunning Vermont countryside.
During the wedding ceremony, the family and friends were invited to come up to the couple and pray over them together. This was a truly emotional moment and once again the telephoto lenses let us photograph it from a distance and not interfere with the wedding prayers.
After the ceremony there was time for some wedding party photos and also another quick wedding romance session with Kaci and Bobby before heading to the restaurant for a private cocktail party and dinner.
Then everyone went to the restaurant at The Jackson Gore Inn for the cocktail hour and dinner. The long dining table was set up beautifully with the most gorgeous flower arrangements by Michelle Boleski of Petals.
First there was dancing in the wine cellar room, accompanied by live chamber music.
Then the family were invited into the private dining room for dinner while Bailey gave one of the most beautiful and emotional wedding toasts I have ever heard. She not only brought Kaci to tears, but myself as well.
After dinner there was more dancing and a bouquet toss in the wine room and guess who caught the bouquet!
Then Kaci and Bobby had an early departure accompanied by a sparkler send off. It truly was a beautiful day and perfect family wedding in a stunning Vermont wedding location. I was so lucky to be able to photograph it for them.
As well as my destination wedding photography, Vermont and New Hampshire elopements and small weddings are something I am looking forward to photographing more of in 2020 and 2021 and I have recently teamed up with one of the most professional, warm and friendly officiants: Annie Alexander-Kramer, along with local florists and several local wedding venues to offer a complete, stress free elopement package. Kaci and Bobby's wedding is an example of one of these small events and it was such a pleasure to capture their beautiful family wedding in a gorgeous Vermont wedding location.
I offen have couples ask me how many photographs they can expect in a micro wedding or elopement situation and roughly it is about 75 to 100 per hour, however, a lot depends on the details and time line. When planning your Vermont micro wedding or elopement, always try and allow at least 45 minutes for your romance photo session and if there are a lot of details, which always adds so much to a wedding album, be sure and let me know and I will arrive early to photograph them.
For more information on our complete Vermont micro wedding and elopement packages, including officiant, professional photography and flowers, please head on over to our Vermont elopement page:
I do have dates available in 2021 for your Covid friendly Vermont, New Hampshire or Upstate New York micro weddings or elopement and also booking for 2022 and 2023. Please contact me, as I would love to hear all about your plans and dreams and arrange a wonderful bespoke elopement package that is everything and more you would hope it to be.