wedding venue: The Grafton Inn, Grafton, VT

wedding coordinator: Olivia Johnson

catering: The Grafton Inn, Grafton, VT

flowers: Woodburry Florist, Springfield, VT 

horse and carriage: Longview Farm, Charleston, NH

main photographer: Sally Carpenter

second photographer: Gael Cantlin

assistant/third photographer: Barb Pelliccione

Kate and Fernando enjoyed a beautiful, fall wedding at the romantic  Grafton Inn, Grafton, VT complete with horse and carriage and a fun rehearsal dinner and bonfire the night before. The Grafton Inn is a wonderful wedding venue with a variety of ceremony and reception sites to choose from. It is actually one of the oldest operating inns in America, in business since 1801 and consistently voted one of the best wedding venues in Southern Vermont! The village of Grafton is also quite beautiful and offers even more enchanting locations for wedding and engagement photos.

I often attend rehearsal's and sometimes photograph the rehearsal dinner as well and when I arrived at White Gates (one of the many cottages included in The Grafton Inn accommodations) the patio overlooking the lawn and hills was already set for a lovely, informal buffet. 

Kate and Fernando laughed with guests and members of the wedding party and then the entire group headed over to The Ponds for a bonfire, s'mores and an impromptu toast and song by their friends.

The next morning we arrived to photograph the pre-wedding details and getting ready photos of the bride and groom. If my couples are going to do a First Look, I like to arrive at least 3 hours before the ceremony, but in this instance Fernando did not see Kate until she walked down the aisle. White Gates is a beautiful house and it was a perfect  setting for the wedding details.

After a little spot of perfume, Kate's mother and sister helped her with her veil and necklace as one of the flower girls looked on. 

When my couples request two wedding photographer's, my second shooter, in this case Gael Cantlin, is able to do detail and getting ready photographs in a different location.

Then Jay Fisher arrived with his handsome black percheron pulling a beautiful white carriage to take Kate and her parents to the wedding ceremony.

Kate and Fernando chose to have their ceremony under the trees near the stream with the sun behind them backlighting the entire wedding party. Kate's father made the arbor which was then decorated with flowers by Woodbury Florist, the entire scene was truly enchanting! The wedding procession started at the top of the hill and the wedding party walked down to the ceremony site, also backlit by the afternoon sun.

After the ceremony we did some quick formal and candid photos of the wedding party and family members, then Kate and Fernando had a post ceremony romantic photo shoot which included the horse and carriage. We had a lot of fun with these photos and even though the afternoon light was brutal and right in my face, I went ahead and shot some dreamy, backlit photos, letting the sun do it's thing.

Kate and Fernando arrived at The Grafton Inn in the carriage and we continued their romance session there while the rest of the guests enjoyed the cocktail hour.

The cocktail hour was on the patio/courtyard at The Grafton Inn and some very hilarious and emotional toasts were given while the guests enjoyed their drinks and canapés before gathering for their dinner inside the inn.

Woodburry Florist did an amazing job with the bridal party flowers and table arrangements inside the inn and the individual dining rooms made for an intimate and charming dinner which was followed by dancing and dessert in the rustic Phelps Barn.

After dinner the guests were invited into the barn for the dancing and cake cutting and everyone had a lovely time  and virtually danced the night away!

Before Gael and I left, Kate and Fernando did a quick sneak away wedding photo session outside and inside the Grafton Inn and we had some fun with "a little smoke from their friends",  mirrors and the rustic tavern.

This was a beautiful wedding with so many fun people and amazing locations. As well as large weddings, the Grafton Inn also does elopements and offers a fantastic elopement package. I will be concentrating on these smaller weddings and elopements in 2019 and 2020 and only be looking one large wedding a month. Please contact me for my very affordable elopement pricing and if you would like to book me for a large wedding be sure and book early, August and October 2019 are already booked.