Addison County Weddings, Fall 2014

ADDISON COUNTY

Weddings A look at 12 local weddings in 2014

Contents What to do with 20/20 hindsight ...................2-3 The build-up .............................................................4 12 Newlywed Snapshots...................................6-7 Something special, something you ...8, 9 & 10

Erin McCormick and Randy Hill are Middlebury residents who said they “wanted to make sure (their) wedding was quintessential Vermont.” The couple had their welcome reception at American Flatbread in Middlebury, a brunch catered by Costello’s Market, and their wedding celebration and reception at Tourterelle in New Haven.

Photo/Orchard Cove Photography

ADDISONINDEPENDENT OCTOBER 16, 2014

PAGE 2 — Addison Independent Special Wedding Section, Thursday, October 16, 2014

Addison County Weddings “Understand your limitations and don’t take on too much yourself.

Try to stop and enjoy yourself and your surroundings on your wedding day.”

— Rachel and Neil Solis Photo/Cindy Messenger

What to do with 20/20 hindsight Despite all of the planning and preparation and fretting about the details and whether or not they will come together in real time as they did in your mind, for most couples not everything goes perfectly. There are slip-ups, oops-es, clouds, rain and snow. But in the end, those hiccups are either for-

“Relax! Enjoy the planning. It’s about you, as a couple, not about anyone else. Don’t worry too much about the little details.

If you forget something, you’ll probably be the only one to notice (I forgot the cake topper!).”

gotten or work to make the event even more memorable. Those bumps in the road turn into laughable stories over time.

So, with 20/20 hindsight, we asked each profiled couple to offer some advice to other couples planning a local wedding. Here’s what they said.

“Remind yourselves that you are the ones getting married. Make it what you want and forget the rest of the world.”

— Amanda and David Carpenter

— Margo Cousino and John Roleau

“At the end of the day all that matters is that you’re married! Not everything is going to be perfect, so go with the flow and make sure to soak up every detail. Also, delegate! Don’t be afraid to ask for help.”

Photo/Maegan Laurie/Mae Memories Photography

— Erin McCormick and Randy Hill

Complete your wedding with Cole’s www.colesmiddleburyflowers.com

388.4003

21 MacIntyre Lane • Middlebury, VT Next to Greg’s & Middlebury Discount Beverage Photo/Orchard Cove Photography

Addison Independent Special Wedding Section, Thursday, October 16, 2014 — PAGE 3

“Don’t worry too much. Let go of superficial needs and focus on the love in your heart for your guests, family and partner.”

— Hannah and Earl Hurlburt

“Try to enjoy the planning, but understand that it’s stressful and a lot of decisions have to be made — and, you aren’t going to agree on all of them. Make sure that both of you are represented in the day and try not to worry about what people expect of you or think you should do. You’re going to have bumps in the road, but it will all be worth it in the end!”

— Jacqueline and Shem Bloom

“Pick a venue that speaks to you, that best symbolizes the two of you as a whole.”

— Krissy and Alex Wimett

“While all the small things are nice, all that really matters is the person you are standing next to.”

— Kelly and Logan Bessette

“Before we started really planning we each wrote down what we wanted our wedding day to feel like. Through the planning process we kept to our themes and it helped with all the decision-making.”

Photo/Emily McManamy Photography

— Elsie and Oliver Parini

“The best piece of advice we were given and would pass along was to put all problems in a ‘messy room.’

The messy room holds all of the things that you planned but don’t quite happen the way they were supposed to — the guests who didn’t arrive, the flowers that wilted, the sun that didn’t quite shine, or the tie that didn’t quite match — these were all problems that once seemed catastrophic, but didn’t matter once the day commenced. Close the door to the messy room and let go of things you cannot control!”

— Mandy Scott and Marcus Cooper

Photo/Amanda Vincent

Let us create the perfect piece for your perfect day.

Wedding • Carriage Rides Photo by Kym Ketcham

383 Exchange St. Middlebury • 388-2221

Custom Bridal Jewelry for the Bride, Mother-of-the -Bride, Bridesmaids & more

Experience the charm and serenity of a horsedrawn carriage for your wedding.

Wagon Rides • Sleigh Rides

388-6232 1772 HUNT RD., NEW HAVEN

vthorsedrawnservices.com

PAGE 4 — Addison Independent Special Wedding Section, Thursday, October 16, 2014

Jacqueline and her mother, Cindy Atkins, worked countless hours planning the details of Jacqueline and Shem’s wedding. The colors, styles and themes of their wedding all came together to create the perfect affair.

Photo/Amanda Perkins Photography

Chad and Angela were married on January 18, 2014, and had their reception at the Old Lantern in Charlotte. The couple got engaged while picking out a Christmas tree the previous year and believed their story would be best told at a winter wedding.

Photo/ Mark Bouvier Photography

The build-up A wedding day is just that — a single day along the road of life.

True, some couples stretch it out to two or three days, sometimes longer with activities and events to entertain guests who travel from far distances, but in the end the planning and preparation consumes far more time than is spent at the events themselves.

Many couples spend a year or more planning their wedding, working on the details and determining what is and is not important to them.

What makes that time worthwhile depends specifically on the couple, but after hearing 12 stories about what was gained from those long hours, we can see that in the end it came down to the fun and exhilaration surrounding planning an event that is meant to completely express one couple.

Curated glimpses into the couple’s lives seem to let the guests in on not only the obvious intimacy of the lifelong commitment they witness in the marriage, but also expressions of their lives and personalities exposed in decorations, venue, food, music and other choices the couple made.

For Elsie and Oliver, identifying their goals early helped keep them on track throughout the whole process.

“Before we started really planning we each wrote down what we wanted our wedding day to feel like,” Elsie says. “Through the planning process we kept to our themes and it helped

with all the decision-making.”

THEMES Themes can help couples organize ideas and rein in all the options and ideas that come together (especially in the era of Pinterest and all the other digital sharing tools that so many couples explore while planning).

“A big theme for our wedding was homemade and handmade goods,” said Rachel and Neil. “Our garden, supplemented by local foods, played a huge role. We made canned goods (pickled beets, carrots, cucumbers, etc) for our guests as well as our cocktail hour and made maple soda.

We grew a lot of our own flowers, which were used for the centerpieces at the reception. Neil ordered all of the food for our rehearsal dinner and reception through local farms and purveyors, and with his groomsmen he even prepared the food for the rehearsal dinner. Finally, we made the majority of our decorations, including ball jars wrapped in burlap and lace that functioned as tea lights, chalkboard signs, wooden tree rounds for centerpieces, and beautiful hanging lanterns out of tissue paper.”

For many couples, like Jacqueline and Shem, intentionally choosing things that were different and unique felt like the best expression of themselves on their big day.

“We really enjoyed tying in pieces of ourselves as much as pos-

Neil and Rachel canned goods from their garden, like these “dill-icious” pickles, to give to their guests as mementos to take home of their cheerful event.

Photo/Cindy Messenger

sible, even if that flew in the face of wedding normalcy or things expected of us,” Jacqueline said. “Our guest book was an adapted take on a Ketubah, but instead of an official marriage contract we wrote out our vows for each other and signed them, with everyone in attendance signing below that.”

STRESS As precious and pure as the wedding day can be, the path to getting

there isn’t always smooth. Stress is an exceedingly common feeling for couples planning a wedding. Many couples have to manage expectations from family or friends who pressure them to make choices that may differ from their interests or financial capacity. Couples are often frustrated by how expensive each piece is and run into budget challenges which often can end up with emotional choices and difficult discussions about the

value of each component.

“I always thought that my wedding would be such a great time planning and coordinating,” said Angela Rheaume, “but in the end there were a lot more pieces that were involved that it made it a bit more stressful than I had expected. That said, the only thing that mattered at the end of the day was that we both married our best friend and our life-long soul mate.”

Mandy Scott’s wedding bouquet.

Photo/Paula Higbee

Addison Independent Special Wedding Section, Thursday, October 16, 2014 — PAGE 5

Imagine the possibilities together!

• Registry • Kitchenware • Tableware • Gift Items

Hours: Mon- Fri, 10a.m. - 6p.m., Sat. 9a.m. - 5p.m. • 349-8803 Marbleworks, Middlebury • ottercreekkitchenware.com

PAGE 6 — Addison Independent Special Wedding Section, Thursday, October 16, 2014

Addison Independent Special Wedding Section, Thursday, October 16, 2014 — PAGE 7

12

Newlywed Snapshots Angela & Chad

“The engagement totally caught me off guard, as we had been together for 4 years at that point, and he did not seem like he was pushing for anything,” Angela recalled. “Going back a couple years, he had given me a piece of coal in a ring box for Christmas, with a note, that said ‘One day this will turn into a diamond.’ While we were picking out our Christmas tree, he knelt down beside our tree with a piece of coal in his hand and asked me to marry him. The piece of coal was hand cut and hollowed out with a piece of red velvet lining the bottom, holding my ring of his forever promise.

My piece of coal finally turned into a diamond.”

Hannah & Earl

Hannah and Earl choreographed their first dance to a fast-paced song full of energy and quick moves.

“There was a move where we both jumped as high as possible while extending our arms and legs out to make our bodies into an X shape,” Hannah said. “When I did this move, I could feel love and energy shooting from my heart all the way out through my fingers and toes.”

Photo/ Mark Bouvier Photography

Photo/Erin Hurlburt

Krissy & Alex

Krissy and Alex got engaged on Krissy’s birthday. All day Krissy was waiting for a card or even a delivery of flowers to her work, but she didn’t receive anything.

“Krissy was doing the dishes that night and I asked her to come into the living room as our one-year-old son, Connor, and I wanted to show her something,” Alex recalls. “When I went into the living room Alex had Connor in his arms and down on one knee and asked me to marry him. I was in complete shock and of course said yes!” Krissy says.

Photo/Ever After Photography

Elsie & Oliver

Oliver proposed on the couple’s 10th anniversary by the Winooski River in Richmond with a surprise ball.

Surprise balls are a tradition in Elsie’s family. They are made out of thin strips of colored crepe paper, wrapped many times around a small gift to form a colorful ball.

“On a chilly March weekend, we decided to go for a walk by the river. We stopped, like always, at the pebble beach. Oliver reached into our backpack and pulled out a surprise ball. ‘Happy 10th anniversary!’ After a moment of muttering about how we weren’t supposed to do gifts this year, I began unwinding. Slowly the ball became a square, and the square became a box.

Oliver dropped to one knee, and … well, you know the rest.”

Photo/ Emily McManamy photography

Jacqueline & Shem

Rachel & Neil

Rachel and Neil met during the summer of 2007 when both were working at Basin Harbor Club. “Neil was a chef at the Red Mill Restaurant and I was a busser there,” Rachel says. “ We had instant chemistry!”

On September 6 the couple tied the knot at the same location where they met. “It seemed so fitting to get married where we fell in love.”

Jacqueline and her mother kept lists and binders of all the details for her wedding so she could stay as organized as possible. “I even had schedules mapped out for all participating members of the wedding, listing time of all ‘day-of’ events.” In the end, Jacqueline’s work paid off. “Everyone says that things will go wrong and you should just take it in stride,” she said. “I don’t think anything went all that wrong. I’d say I was surprised the most by how smoothly everything went — it was really as perfect as I could have asked for.”

Photo/Amanda Perkins Photography

Photo/Cindy Messenger

Kelly & Logan

Logan and Kelly both attended Mount Abraham Union High School and were in the same grade throughout middle and high school. They officially met the night of their senior prom and started dating in May of 2008. The couple now lives in Denver, Colorado, but decided to come home to Vermont to exchange their vows.

Margo & John

“We wanted to get married on the lake. We spend every minute we can on our boat in the summer and couldn’t imagine getting married anywhere else,” Margo said.

Photo/Amanda Vincent

Photo/Maegan Laurie/Mae Memories Photography

Amanda & David

“The moment that sticks in my head the most is the look in his face when he watched me walk down the aisle and how he never took his eyes off me,” Amanda said. “Those eyes were filled with so much love that it made me feel so very safe and happy.”

Photo/Allyson Kilbride

Mandy & Marcus

Marcus and Mandy view themselves as Vermonters, even though Mandy is the only true Vermonter. “One detail that we were adamant about from the beginning was that everything at the wedding should represent Vermont. Vermont is where we first met and so we felt the desire to show the guests all of Vermont’s beauty.

Having the wedding in Vermont was part of it, but we wanted local touches as well; a true local venue, local food, local beer. Vermont may not be where we live, but it is always a part of who we are.”

Photo/Paula Higbee

Erin & Randy

“We met for the first time at the Middlebury Farmers’ Market,” Erin recalled. “Randy owned a flower and veggie farm at the time and I bought flowers from him.

I remember walking away thinking, ‘I will see him again.’

A few months later we reconnected at the Bobcat Café in Bristol. He looked familiar to me, so I gulped down my beer for some confidence, went over to him and said, ‘I know you from somewhere…’ He immediately recognized me. And the rest, as they say, is history!”

Photo/Orchard Cove Photography

Ashley & Matt

“Right before the wedding ceremony Matt and I were sitting together on the steps to the Vergennes Opera House balcony out of sight from our guests, Ashley said. “We could hear the swell of conversation as our guests were talking and laughing together. In that moment we both felt incredible support from our community as we made this big step together.”

Photo/L.T. Smith

PAGE 8 — Addison Independent Special Wedding Section, Thursday, October 16, 2014

Something special, something unique, something you For several of the couples we profiled, blending classic wedding motifs with unique and special details helped put a personalized stamp on their big day.

Choosing a venue that took care of their needs and their guests’ needs as well as felt

“right” was a major component for many of these couples. Many of them told stories about how the venue they chose to get married at was important or deeply relevant to their lives in some way, thereby making it an even more special place to be married.

© 2014 Spencer Leonard Photography

B e au ti fu l . H i s to ri c . Perfe c t .

A stunning hall in a historic building, facing a beautiful small-town green. Perfectly located near hotels, inns and churches. Memories of a reception at Town Hall Theater will last a lifetime.

M I D D L E B U RY, V E R M O N T 802.388.1436 • office@townhalltheater.org

“Choosing to have the wedding in Vermont was easy; it’s where we spent the most time together. The venue we chose was a family home in Charlotte right on Lake Champlain. The Scott family has spent many vacations, weekends, dinners, parties, etc. at this home. The view of Lake Champlain is spectacular and knowing that Mandy had grown up there made it all the more personal.”

Photo/Paula Higbee

— Mandy Scott and Marcus Cooper

“We looked all over the state for the perfect location, something that offered a barntype setting for the reception and an outdoor wedding with incredible vistas. We opted for Tourterelle in New Haven, which has great views of the Adirondacks and Green Mountains as well as a beautiful barn. I bartended at Tourterelle years ago, so Christine and Bill [owners] are good friends of ours. I knew they would make sure the food was terrific and every detail was looked after; I was right! Also, the proximity to Middlebury made lodging easy for our guests.”

— Erin McCormick and Randy Hill

Photo/Christy Lynn

“Pockets! My wedding dress had pockets! Need I say more?”

— Elsie Parini

Addison Independent Special Wedding Section, Thursday, October 16, 2014 — PAGE 9

TONY’S MOBILE SOUND SHOW Tony Lamoureux Toll Free: 888-821-3511

Tony has entertained over 200 hundred wedding receptions since 1989. If you are looking for the best music entertainment for your wedding, you have found it with Tony. His energy, state of the art equipment, and full selection of music will inspire your guests to tap their feet and get up to dance!

Consultation

“A little over a year ago my grandfather was diagnosed with cancer. My grandfather is my best friend and is truly more like a father to me. We have always shared this indescribable bond together. He always wanted me to get married and share the love with someone that he and my grandmother shared.

I wanted to make sure that we were able to share a special dance together as that is something that we always said we would do. I requested our favorite song, ‘The Prayer’ by Andrea Bocelli and Celine Dion, and we held each other close. The entire time my grandfather whispered in my ear saying how proud he was of me, and how much he loved me and would always be there. Very recently my grandfather’s cancer came back with a vengeance and he lost his fight. This is a moment that I will truly cherish forever and will never forget.”

Tony offers free consultations to plan you big day. He has seen what works well and can give very helpful advice. Excellent references available.

“Thank you so much for “Just wanted to say thanks again everything. You really pulled for the awesome job you did our wedding together and DJing our wedding! We knew made everything happen so you’d do a great job with the wonderfully.” music, and we were so impressed - Ryan and Krystal with how you keep things flowing.”

- Erin & Chris

Service

As Master of Ceremonies, Tony will coordinate with all of your wedding professionals (photographer, caterers, etc.) to ensure the timely progression of your special moments.

He has the experience to observe your guests to play the music they love. Tony is not just a DJ, he is your entertaiment!

Costs & Terms

Tony will give you the finest entertainment around at a Vermont price you can afford.

Call now for reservations! www.tonysmobilesoundshow.com

Specializing in Trends and Traditions

— Krissy Wimett

“The only superficial detail that I was concerned about was my hair. I dyed it blue 10 days before the wedding so that it would fade to a multi-faceted indigo/purple for the wedding. I woke up at 5 a.m. to set and style it.”

— Hannah Hurlburt Carolee Ploof, Proprietor

Weddings • Receptions • Parties

Located in The Little Red School House on Route 7 South, Middlebury www.middleburyfloralandgifts.com

“My dad and I decided against a traditional fatherdaughter dance, so we had the Grift — the best wedding band in Vermont — learn a medley of songs that surprised all of our guests. We started with ‘Brown-Eyed Girl’, and made our way to ‘Old Time Rock & Roll’, ‘Everybody Dance Now’, ‘September’ and ‘Signed, Sealed, Delivered’.

It was pretty epic and very cool set to live music by the band. Definitely a memorable moment for us both!”

— Erin McCormack

GET UNITED STAY UNITED LIVE UNITED Consider a gift to United Way in the name of the wedding couple.

388-7189 www.UnitedWayAddisonCounty.org

PAGE 10 — Addison Independent Special Wedding Section, Thursday, October 16, 2014

Something special, something unique, something you Looking back, many couples highlighted a small detail that stuck out and felt like it reflected them as individuals or as a couple.

It’s in these details that we catch true glimpses of each couple and the quirks and personalities that make them who they are.

“The hours I spent with our daughter before the ceremony are some I will never forget. Our son stood with us during the entire ceremony, holding our hands. His best friend, a stuffed dog named Moo, was the ring bearer and had the rings on a ribbon around his neck.”

— Margo and John

Photo/Maegan Laurie/Mae Memories Photography

Wedding Directory 2014

An Affair by the Lake Country elegance on Lake Champlain.

Gorgeous Victorian home, ceremony gazebo, lake and mountain views, spacious lawns for receptions up to 150 people.

fine catering

Addison County’s Favorite Caterer!

We’ll assisit with barn and tent weddings or intimate affairs at home! But most of all we’ll provide beautifully presented and devilishly delicious food!

Congratulations & Thanks to Jackie & Shem!

www.anaffairbythelake.com • West Addison, VT • 802-759-2511

Hollyhocks

Call Beth at 802-453-5775 www.almosthomemarket.net

MAKE YOUR PARTY SPECIAL

Flowers

• Fresh • Fragrant • Fabulous!

5 Green Street Vergennes, VT (802) 877-6663 hollyhocksflowersvt.com

A party tent makes it special!

★ Weddings ★ Graduation ★ Birthday Parties ★ Barbecues TOM BROUGHTON RENTALS Jct. 22A & 125 Bridport, VT 05734 (802) 758-2494 www.tombroughtonauctions.com/tent_rentals tombroughtonauctions.com

Allow us to arrange the perfect wedding for you With over 36 years of floral service, we can add the personal touch that makes the difference.

CARR’S FLORIST & GIFTS

Beth & Bernie Carr • 21 Center St. • Brandon, VT • 247-5727

Addison Independent Special Wedding Section, Thursday, October 16, 2014 — PAGE 11

You handle where Your guests will sit– we’ll handle where theY sleep.

We’ll make your guests feel as special as you do!

88 spacious guest rooms and suites • Some suites with jetted tubs and fireplaces • Courtyard Refreshing Business Bistro • Indoor pool, whirlpool and fitness center • Cable TV with HBO • Complimentary high-speed internet access •

Courtyard by Marriott-Middlebury 309 Court Street Middlbury, VT 05753 To reserve your wedding block, contact the Sales Department at (802) 398.6604 or toll free at (800) 388.7775 Wedding blocks are based upon availability. Please contact the Sales Department for more information.

PAGE 12 — Addison Independent Special Wedding Section, Thursday, October 16, 2014

For All Your Bridal Needs We’ve got you covered... h h h h h h h h h h

Wedding Gowns Bridesmaid Gowns Tuxedo Rentals Mother of the Bride/ Groom Dresses Prom Gowns Flower Girl Dresses Bridal Gifts Jewelry Veils Shoes

The Fashion Corner BRIDAL & FORMAL WEAR

4325 Main St., Port Henry, NY • 518-546-7499 M, T, T, F 10-5, Sat 10-3 • Closed Wed & Sun

CATERING

ion Satisfact

ed!

Guarante

From Rehearsal Dinner through the Wedding Reception, Greg’s can CATER your day.

Appetizers to Full Sit Down Meals...

From BBQs to more formal menus, Greg’s has been exceeding the expectations of Brides and Grooms for over 30 years.

Our Catering team is here to help you with high quality, freshly prepared foods at the value Greg’s is known for.

We’re proud to support local suppliers

We’ll work with you to create your menu. Our catering staff has many years of experience serving our amazing selection of catered food from small intimate gatherings to large weddings.

Contact a member of our catering staff for help planning your special day.

388-2162

info@gregsmeatmarket.com We offer everything from delivery and set up service to clean up.

Please let us know what we can do to best serve your needs and we’d be happy to help!

Chef Talmage Jestice from Greg’s Catering Qua Where

lity & Service Come F irst

GREG’S Middlebury, Vermont Established 1981

3 Elm Street, Middlebury • 388-2162 • www.gregsmarket.com

INN & BARN The Old Lantern is an 1800’s barn with the largest maple floor space in Vermont for dancing! Our Inn has 8 guest rooms with private baths and a dining area for smaller parties.

Only 25 minutes from Middlebury with beautiful views of Lake Champlain, we are available all year.

•

Inn • Weddings • Special Events Bar Service & Catering Capacity up to 350 people PHOTOS BY STINA BOOTH

Charlotte, Vermont • 802.425.2120 www.oldlantern.com