Where do I even begin with Courtney and Matt’s woodland fairytale magical New Hampshire wedding?? Perhaps the inquiry is where it all started… and the short story is, we were just absolutely meant to work together. Courtney’s energy is unmatched. Her smile, her laugh, her very presence makes you feel like you are getting in a sun-warmed car after hours in the air conditioning; your skin tingles as it heats up and it just feels SO DAMN GOOD. Being around Courtney is a special feeling. You are the most important person, the most loved, the funniest, the BEST. She brings out the best in everyone, every time. There may be a point where you ask yourself, is she for real? I am here to tell you, yes she indeed is very much for real! I got to see her light up like Clark Griswold’s house when they finally figure out the power, with each and every friend at her wedding. Each. And. Every. Person. She comes alive, animated, smiling, huggy as all get-out, and makes each person feel the most special, the most seen, the most loved.
She is balanced out beautifully with her husband, Matt. He is quieter, more reserved, maybe even seen as shy, or cautious. But do’t be fooled. Once he feels comfortable around you his smile breaks out quickly, he laughs and just relaxes completely. Bringing shyer folks out of their shells is literally one of my favorite pastimes. I LOVE establishing comfort and safety and a genuine connection with people and allowing them to just be who they are. If that’s quieter, that’s beautiful because that is who they are. Not everyone can shine as bright as someone like Courtney but seeing that balance of the two of them was like a well orchestrated Coldplay song, with it’s hills and valleys and trips it takes you on, ending in one giant, fabulous peak of the song where your heart just swells and spills over. Yeah, Courtney and Matt are exactly like that.
Do you see what I mean when I say we were just meant to work together?
Amazing creative partners for this gorgeous fairytale woodland wedding in New Hampshire:
Venue: Big Diamond Pond, Stewartstown New Hampshire
Wedding Dress Designer: Essence of Australia
Bridal Boutique: Bella Sera, Danvers MA
Tuxedo: Vera Wang
Florals: Clementina Floral Co. / @cfloralco
Catering: White Mountain Chalet Caterers
Rehearsal dinner and wedding night pizza: Diamond Peaks
Bartenders: Stressless Events
Hair and Makeup: Chris Eason
Jewelry Designer: Maureen Connors
Landscaping: Yeti Man, The Houle Family, The Little Family, The Beauchemin Family
Extra love and help: Cabin Community, The Connors Family, The Houle Family, The Little Family, The Beauchemin Family, The Kenny Family, The Johnson Family, The Urqhuart Family
Courtney and Matt decided to see one another and do a first look before their ceremony. I scouted out the spots they mentioned and settled on this spot that really showcased where we were and gave them space to just be.
I knew having a spot close by for some portraits would be important, since time was a big factor here for their New Hampshire wedding. Luckily the woods had a few magical spots and paths for us to duck into and I went promptly into FULL SPAZ MODE. See below for evidence to support why.
This mossy nonsense literally lit my BRAIN on fire!! I also learned of a new phrase for all of us moss loving weirdos: GOBLIN CORE. Yes Courtney you are welcome!
One of MANY photos of this stunning bouquet. I was a woman obsessed!
Yep. This on a mossy stump? HELL YEAH.
I see a path? I wanna go see where it goes. It’s just my nature and Courtney and Matt were down to clown!
We emerged from the woods of New Hampshire into freaking MONTANA or something because hello WHERE EVEN ARE WE HERE??? Someplace beautiful, I can tell you that!
OK. So add to all the absolute pretty a dash or a bucket full of emotional, loving and kind people and just put me to pasture guys, I am DONE.
Another sign that we were meant to me a photographer / couple couple: My clients Kate and Chris were here (I had photographed their STUNNING wedding a few years back) and as it happens Kate’s brother Nick is Courtney’s BFF! If I love anything more than warm socks on a chilly day it’s a small beautifully interconnected world!
I also love ring bearers and flower girls. Oh! And dogs in clothes!
The entire day was overcast. Not a speck of blue sky to be seen all the live long day. EXCEPT literally only for their ceremony! That was one thing that Courtney really wanted; was to feel the sun on her face while exchanging vows with her person. Someone has some pull here, because that is exactly what she got!
OOOOF. I have been loving these tender moments of Mothers with their daughters.
And daughters with their Fathers.
And mountain top views that make me want to just YELL and celebrate!
We *may or may not have all gotten Lyme disease from adventuring in this field but I would say it was worth it!
OK so ALSO. I had scouted a stream on the ride down back to the view that they wanted above and about 4 minutes down (I know bc I timed it) there was this absolutely EPIC stream with a sweet and easy little path to it that I thought originally would be THE spot for their first look. Can you even imagine?? Well. On our way to them we saw a family of about 12 meandering their way in with chairs and coolers and blankets and just STUFF to enjoy their day by the stream. I mean wouldn’t you? It’s absolutely beautiful with plenty of safe beautiful pools to cool off in and little spots to explore. The place was magical. But also you should have heard my mouth on the drive up! I was HEARTBROKEN to not be able to bring Courtney and Matt here for this!
Now. See below for why my heart was restored to its natural beautiful shape of FULL. I suggested it and they said HECK YES and I think I did a good job convincing them it was worth the short drive there!
I had shoes that could be submerged in water and so into the water I went! Anything for the shot, baby! This New Hampshire wedding was making me get wild!
I could have spent HOURS in that stream that would have ended up with them absolutely submerged! But the wedding reception called and so we headed back for the party!
Then shit got a little weird, in an amazing way! Everyone’s personalities just came out and everyone was having SO MUCH FUN!
Damn Daddy!! He knows what’s up. Patrick was delightful!
I decided to use their ceremony set up as the spot for their flat lay and I loved it!
The toasts were something else. That Nick absolutely tore UP his toast and had everyone laughing so hard! Go Wheaton Lyons!!!!!
Fun fact: Courtney can shotgun a beer in FOUR SECONDS. I saw it!!!
We ended the night with a beautiful fireworks display. I was curled up in a ball in my dress on the grass to get these and I couldn’t have orchestrated a better end to an epic, amazing weekend.
Courtney and Matt, what can I even say?? Your New Hampshire wedding was perfect, full of love and fun moments and dancing and strawberry shortcake and FIREWORKS!! It’s like marriage and life, right. Small moments all interwoven into something beautiful and fun and challenging but so, so worth it in the end. Here’s to a long, full marriage together!
To see more amazing weddings photographed by New England and destination wedding, event and family photographer Carla Ten Eyck, click the links below:
Tricia and Bill’s Magical Lord Thompson Manor Wedding in Thompson CT
Rachel and Rob’s Intimate Winvian Farm wedding in Morris CT
Stacy and Jessica’s Autumn Wedding at Wadsworth Mansion, Middletown CT
A + A’s Woodland Wedding at Chatfield Hollow, Killingworth CT
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