Jen and Tim’s outdoorsy Vermont wedding is a beautiful reflection of who they are. Tim is an arborist and a rugged outdoorsman, and Jen is literally his dream girl. She’s not only gorgeous but has no problem picking up a fishing pole or hunting rifle and heading into the woods by Tim’s side. The rustic location at Wallingford Lodge was the perfect place for these two to exchange vows with lovely views and the many charming signs that were handmade by Jen. She also prepared the wildflower centerpieces, collected details such as horseshoes and deer antlers, and made the adorable “bride” and “groom” deer sculptures on the porch. At the reception, the thoughtful wall of photographs told the story of Jen and Tim’s lives and their relationship, from childhood through their engagement. Read more below about this sweet couple.
From the Bride:
Before the Ring:
Tim and I met each other in Paul Smiths, NY (near lake placid, upstate) during our senior year of college at Paul Smith’s College. My roommate had a class with him, thought he was my type and wanted us to meet but I was too shy to ask him myself. She emailed him and he eventually confronted me himself. From the first time we met we were inseparable. Next thing I knew I was skipping classes just to go have a picnic together by the side of a river… and the rest is history!
The Proposal:
A little over a year later we went on our first real vacation together to Martha’s Vineyard. We took the week of my Birthday off from work and packed our bikes and camping equipment up in my Jeep and headed to island. The first night we arrived we went for a drive and found a beach at Gay Head Cliffs. They are gorgeous red and orange cliffs overlooking the ocean and secluded beach. We decided to go for a walk and (as Tim told me later) he wanted to wait until my Birthday which was two days later to propose but the moment seemed perfect so he pretended to pick up a shell and he held out the ring. He tried to tell me what he had been planning to say but I was so shocked and excited that I was too busy yelling OMG over and over and hugging and kissing him to hear what he had to say lol. Everything about the proposal was perfect and we got to spend an amazing week together exploring the island and enjoying each other’s company.
Wedding Day Inspiration:
Our wedding day inspiration was definitely based on our personalities and interests. We are both very outdoorsy people we love wildlife and the great outdoors so of course we wanted to get married outside and not in a church. Tim is an arborist so a large amount of our decorations were made of wood that he cut with his chainsaw. We also both love to hunt all kinds of animals so we had deer antlers, duck decoys and turkey fans throughout the reception area. I grew up in Vermont so I of course wanted to get married in Vermont somewhere with a mountain view and a rustic building. I think it all came together very well!
Most Memorable Moment:
My most memorable moment was saying my personal vows. I was so nervous and my vows were very heart felt so I ended up crying before I finished. I wanted Tim to know how important he is to me, but it was not easy saying it in front of 100 people. It was a little nerve racking but I wouldn’t want to do it any other way.
Advice to Future Brides:
My advice for future brides is to make sure you stay true to yourself. Weddings nowadays seem have so many high standards for the couple to live up to and with websites like Pinterest you will always feel like you could do more. We know that our wedding was very non-traditional and most people would probably find our decor a little different, but what was important is that our wedding reflected us and that is all that matters. You can only do so much, don’t go crazy trying to please everyone. Remember it is your day!
Photographer: Kristen Jane Photography / Venue: Wallingford Lodge / Bride’s dress and bridesmaids: David’s Bridal / Hair Stylist: Five Elements Salon and Day Spa / Caterer: Feastivities Catering / Cake: Ben & Jerry’s / DJ: Upper Valley DJ