A Family Farm Wedding at Lilac Ridge Farm in Brattleboro, Vermont
Bella and Grant were married at Lilac Ridge Farm in Brattleboro, Vermont, a generational family farm that has been part of Bella’s family for years. They had already taken on the care of the farm and the land together before they married, making it a particularly meaningful place to celebrate. We took the family portraits at Bella’s grandmother’s house, just up the hill, before everyone gathered for the ceremony which filled me with a sense of warmth and nostalgia
Afterward, everyone walked a mile through the woods to the rolling hills of the reception at Bella’s mother’s house. It’s a walk Bella and Grant take every day with their dog, and they wanted their family and friends to experience it with them. The path wound through the trees before opening up to the backyard, and for a little while, the whole wedding party was simply walking through the woods together. It was one of those small decisions that made the day feel unmistakably theirs.
The weather couldn't have been better. The afternoon was beautifully overcast, with soft, muted light over the farm, and by evening a light rain began to fall. Dinner was a true family affair, with everyone contributing something to a potluck spread. There was food from all directions, people passing plates, and the feeling that everyone had brought a little bit of themselves with them.
Bella and Grant were clearly crazy about each other, but just as apparent was how much they love their families. It was in the way people gathered around them, the ease between everyone, and the care that seemed to run through the whole day.
After dinner, everyone square danced into the night. Grant joined the band for a couple of sets with his fiddle and banjo, and the evening carried on from there—music, dancing, rain, and a backyard full of people who had helped make the whole thing happen.
It was one of those weddings that felt completely rooted in its place and its people, and honestly, the kind of wedding I dream about photographing.
