Vermont is one of my favorite places in the world and John and Melissa’s wedding at the Notch House was a joy to photograph. John and Melissa’s wedding weekend was the first in July and at this time of year, the lush, green forests of Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom felt like the peak of summer. I spent the day before in the area and photographed John and Melissa’s rehearsal/welcome dinner at The Inn at Burklyn which offered stunning panoramic views of the mountains. After dinner, we were all treated to a fireworks show for the 4th which was the perfect way to end the night with everyone on the lawn of the hotel.

The Notch House is situated on a hill directly above Lake Willoughby with a forest path that leads straight to the beach. Lake Willoughby is one of those places in Vermont that makes you instantly fall in love with Vermont. Its shape is more like a fjord and the surrounding mountains are truly breathtaking in every season. With this being summer, the lake was buzzing with weekend vacationers, locals, and families looking to bask in the sun and enjoy the water. On the day of John and Melissa’s wedding, it felt a bit less summery with cloudy skies and patches of rain but, in my opinion, this provided the perfect complementary backdrop for the rich, bold colors they chose (and a welcome respite from the heat). After their ceremony and dinner, the skies cleared a bit and their guests emptied out onto the lawn between dancing to sit by a roaring fire.

John and Melissa were the most fun to work with and every detail of their day was thoughtfully curated to match their tastes. Melissa is a designer herself and founder of Trued Apparel (she even made the chainmail tunic she wore for the wedding ceremony which was the coolest thing I’ve ever seen). Scroll down further to see more from their Vermont wedding at the Notch House!

Are you planning a wedding in Vermont or the New England area and in search of a documentary wedding photographer? Get in touch through my contact page here, I’d love to talk! Follow along on Instagram to see more real weddings and moments from my travels.

Rehearsal Venue: The Inn at Burklyn
Wedding Venue: The Notch House
Planning and Coordination: Harlow & Dahlia Events
Hair and Makeup: Beauty Art by Natalia
Audio/Visual: VT Audio Visual
DJ: DJ Brian L