From the beginning we knew we wanted an outdoor wedding, surrounded by our favorite people and crisp October foliage. We wanted our guests to feel comfortable, cozy, and free to explore the scenery. I also wanted the wedding to look natural in the space- as if the guests stumbled upon this party nestled into a clearing in the woods. So when it came time to select colors, I started with sage green- as it is one of my favorites- and then added a shade of rust to tie in my husband’s favorite color, orange. From there we included splashes of grey and terracotta.

My husband and I met as children, growing up in New Hampshire. So once we set our October wedding date, we knew we wanted to take advantage of the beautiful New England fall foliage. (If you’ve never seen it in person, I highly recommend. Photos don’t even do it justice.) At this point we found ourselves referring to the theme as a woodsy, fall New England wedding.

Following a private ceremony at our local parish, our reception took place on a piece of privately owned property in New Hampshire. This spot encompassed the intimate, woodsy style we were hoping for. It wasn’t a simple setup though as parking areas had be to constructed, and we needed golf carts to transport guests around the property. Restroom trailers (MUCH nicer than you’d imagine) had to be brought in as well.

Using a non-traditional space, without the amenities of a normal venue, certainly made the process twice as hard as it needed to be- but I know it was worth it in the end because I believe the location set the tone for the day. It felt natural and authentic for us to celebrate our marriage in such a private, rural spot in the woods of New Hampshire. I truthfully think that’s what I am most pleased with in the end…the way it made me feel to be there in the moment, and the way it makes me feel when I look back at photos. It feels…like us.