Julie and Scott wanted a wedding that met both their parents’ and their own expectations. Julie and Scott are an extroverted couple with a flair for fun and puns, with a let-the-good-times-roll attitude. Their parents are more traditional, the bride’s side a large family with Italian roots, and the groom’s side boasted a long history with the very land the couple was set to be married on. The result was an eco-friendly design dreamed up by sustainable planner Kayce Mae of Kay Mae Design that incorporated elements of sophisticated elegance and extraordinary surprise.
This Vermont wedding took place on the groom’s parents’ property in Jericho, Vermont with picturesque apple orchards, wooded trails, and rolling fields flanked by the largest mountains in Vermont – Mount Mansfield and Camel’s Hump. The home was just a stone’s throw away from the groom’s father’s childhood home. The house even boasted a historic school bell that once belonged to the village’s original schoolhouse.
The ceremony took place in the apple orchard. The groom’s late grandfather once built his own sailboat and toured the world, so in honor of him, the very sails from his boat were suspended above the ceremony space. Haybales from a farm down the road were placed as seating, touching on the neighborly pulse that Vermont carries so well. In honor of the brides’ love for yoga, colorful traditional yoga blankets were placed on each haybale. The arbor was hand-built by the groom. from fallen birch logs on the property. This intimate ceremony was held by the bride’s best friend, who even surprised the couple and the guests by feigned a cell phone call just so he could remind guests to first, turn off their phones, and second, while he had his phone out took a panoramic shot of the couple’s ceremony. It was a touching shot that truly could only be achieved from the perspective of the officiant! The bride had once asked her nephew if he planned to dress up as her ring bearer, and the sweet little three old said, “Yes, I’ll be a dinosaur.” Leo entered the ceremony dressed in his most favorite dinosaur costume.
Guests were led through the wooded trails adorned by fairy lights the bride, groom, and their parents worked on all summer prior to the wedding. Guests emerged into the scrolling hayfield where a carnival-style cocktail hour awaited them. Outside the clear top tent stood a giant inflatable obstacle course, a giant inflatable jousting ring, a popcorn machine, a cotton candy machine, and a photobooth. Inside the tent, an interactive charcuterie and anti-pasta table awaited the guests alongside the full-service bar. The father of the bride, a long time caterer, set up this anti-pasta delight spanning four tables, and three attendants, one of which hand-rolled fresh mozzarella for guests, as a gift for his daughter. A notable cocktail hour moment was the groom battling it out in the inflatable jousting ring with one of his long-time childhood friends.
Inside this clear top tent stood long banquet tables set with long runners of real Spanish moss to reflect the couple’s love for the outdoors, they’re both avid mountain bikers. Floating candles of various height added depth to the look, and just beside those votives stood the bride’s family’s very own wine bottles with a custom label congratulating the couple. White lisianthus stems were added for a feminine touch, a complement to the white marble plates reflecting the Italian family roots. Gold flatware and a knotted ashen linen napkin were the final touches to this elevated tablescape.
As the passionate outdoor sportsman couple they were, this couple aimed to have an eco-friendly wedding as possible. Solar-powered madison light bulbs hung from the tent’s perimeter, composting and recycling was set up, and nearly every decor item was reusable.
As entrances were announced, the couple’s sole bridesmaid and groomsman surprised guests by entering the tent while battling it out with the inflatable jousting sticks.
After dinner was served and speeches ended, guests were further surprised by the jingling of the classic ice cream truck song – only to see a real Vermont creamery truck arrive at the entrance doors of the wedding tent. This ice cream truck also just so happened to be their neighbor and a local teacher to the elementary school. Dessert was served in style and the term ‘hire locally’ has never rung more true than at that moment.
As the party began and dancing ensued, the bride and her close friends changed costumes. A thrall of inflatable dinosaur costumes entered the dancefloor creating a night no one would soon forget.
Some late-night pizza was served by the local tavern as dancing came to a close, just moments before guests were ushered to the giant bonfire for smores, late-night cocktails, and merriment beneath the lit maple trees.
In the end, the parents, the couple, and the guests were incredibly thrilled with this one of a kind Vermont wedding experience.
Photography by Abby Shepard Photography
Copyright 2020 Kay mae design
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