Late Summer Wedding in the Foothills

Emily and Brenton tied the knot on a warm summer day.  Labor Day weekend marks the end of summer for many, but for this sweet couple it was the beginning of their journey together as husband and wife.  I met with Emily and Brent on a chilly winter day over a cup of (the best) coffee at Catalyst Coffee Bar.  {Seriously, if you're in St. Albans, stop in!} Their vision was a natural, romantic vibe to capture their love of the outdoors and capitalize on the amazing setting at The Barn at Smuggler's Notch - the venue is nestled at the base of Mount Mansfield, just down the road from Smuggler's Notch Resort.

The lush foothills of the Green Mountains were the perfect backdrop for their alfresco ceremony.  We adorned the arbor with assorted foliage and floral accents. The freeform design and natural movement captured the effortless romance that was a focal theme of the day. 

Inside, the farmhouse style tables featured simple, organic centerpieces and filled the room with the fragrance of locally sourced herbs, sweet roses, and eucalyptus.  Locally grown botanicals were featured prominently in each design.  The simplicity of the arrangements accented the family-style meal, enjoyed over stories and laughter after their late afternoon ceremony.

As a special nod to her late father, Emily included a charm with his picture that we attached to the flowers she, her sister, and mother carried that day.  Her father's prized vintage pickup trucks made for a perfect photo backdrop for guests.

"Sarah Jo is the perfect blend of an artist, designer, florist and trusted adviser! Our wedding vision quickly evolved which was a result of Sarah Jo’s expert guidance and vision for our wedding. She understood our goals and desired guest experience and designed a floral vision that completed this beautifully. She provided clear direction, guidance and expectations up front. We immediately were comfortable and confident in her abilities and gave her the independence and flexibility to do what she needed.  We trusted her fully and she blew us away!  Our meal service was family style so we knew our arrangements needed to be smaller in size to allow for the passing of plates but we still wanted a big impact or pop as the venue colors are very neutral. Sarah Jo suggested flowers in a variety of colors and textures that complemented our wedding colors beautifully. That said, finally seeing the floral arrangements on our wedding day gave me goosebumps! It far exceeded our expectations! Seeing her vision come to life was an incredible experience. Every detail in every arrangement was absolutely stunning. She surprised us by including fresh herbs in our arrangements! The smell of the herbs (mint, lavender, sage) added another layer to our stunning visual arrangements. She sourced most of our flowers locally which paired nicely with our meal theme – VT flavors presented with color and fineness."  -Emily

Enjoy these photos, courtesy of the bride and groom...by the talented Todd Stoilov. 

More on Todd's Blog.

Be Inspired,

SJ