Back to the Bates.

Somewhere between Bridgewater and Cavendish, Vermont on a road in the middle of nowhere is an old farm house that knows how to put on a wedding - The Bates Mansion at Brook Farm.  I had been there before in early July of last year for the nuptials of Katie & Kirk.  What a cool place.  All types of nooks and crannies packed with unique pieces, like the over-sized bust of Julius Caesar or the full suit of armor...just wild!  I have been back one other time in the middle of winter to shoot the cover for Vermont Vows, a regional wedding publication produced by some great ladies from Burlington, Vermont but what I have really been hoping was for the opportunity to shoot another wedding.  This past August 11th I got my chance.  Cary and Will Gryc, all the way from Atlanta, Georgia gathered friends and family for a great time at the Bates.  I arrived extra early on Saturday morning.  I wanted the chance to show my newest assistant, Kori, around the grounds, gardens, and the mansion.  With the extra time I had, it allowed me the chance to shoot some of the details that I think make-up a good wedding shoot.




After all the hair and make-up was complete and the dress and shoes on, it was time to shoot some portraits.  



Cary, the bride, really wanted some classic and elegant portraits from around the mansion.  In true Bride fashion, Cary looked incredible. My job was easy.



Next up was the ceremony, which at the Bates is held in a garden full of great flowers.  On the way back down the aisle, the group of 60 or so stopped for a photo-op.



Korinne Batschelet photo




After quickly bustling the gown, everyone gathered on the front lawn for cocktails and conversation.


The evening flowed right into dinner, speeches and dancing, and before we knew it, Kori and I were packing up and heading home.

Way, way, way up North...again.

It was off to the Northeast Kingdom again for my assistant and I.  Like a few weeks prior, we packed up early Friday morning and headed North on 91 to Jay Peak.  After another great round of golf, we checked into Hotel Jay and got our gear ready for the rehearsal dinner.  The rehearsal dinner, a lobster bake, took us back to the home where we had been a few weeks before for formal pictures of Tim & Erin.  A beautiful location that looks out over Lake Memphremagog.  After a brief thundershower that sent everyone seeking cover, the sun returned, lobsters were steamed, speeches were made and the night ended with a great bonfire.




The wedding and reception took place at the Bride's family farm - an Alpaka farm - in Coventry, Vermont.

As the bride was getting ready someone noticed that it had started to rain.

No problem I thought, we had plenty of time before the ceremony and if this storm was anything like yesterdays, it would last only a few minutes.  Well, I was wrong.  At the last minute it was decided to move the ceremony inside the tent even though the sky was beginning to lighten and it seemed the rain was letting up.

We had originally planned to shoot the formals at a great location along a river with a waterfall backdrop, but when the ceremony was over the rain was falling sideways and thunder started to rumble.  A quick survey around the property and it was decided to move the formal pictures to the front porch of the house.  I broke out my studio lights and we got to work. After good laughs on the porch and the formal pictures complete, the group grabbed umbrellas and headed back to the tent.  This is the point where things got a little crazy.  The hour and a half downpour had FLOODED THE TENT! What would have normally classified as disaster, mearly rolled off everyones shoulders with laughs. (although I don't think the band was laughing as they ran around saving equipment from the rising water)  




This was the great part about this wedding party, the "what can you do?" mentality.  With a little improvising, they moved dinner over to the main house, relocated the band to the front porch, and the party was underway.  

Like any Vermont thunderstorm, it did eventually pass and with a blessing from the Gods a rainbow appeared to everyones amazement.  

After a change out of some soaked clothes the Bride & Groom enjoyed a first dance on the front lawn with all their family and friends having a front row seat.

It was overheard a bunch towards the end of the reception that "If Jamie and Faith can get through this they can get through anything".....tell me about it!

ps  This next shot is of me taken by my assistant Ian.  I'm ringing out my socks after a trip through the tent. 

Mike & Betsy's very lucky day!

Lucky number 07/07/07.  My third wedding of the season took place at The Castle, in beautiful Ludlow, Vermont on the luckiest day of the year or maybe century.  July 7, 2007.  Friends and family gathered at the Castle amongst the amazing gardens and sculptures to witness a great ceremony that even included their dogs.





After a quick round of formal shots and a stop at the cocktail hour the wedding party made it's way to the tent but not before stopping for a group photo op.

As the evening turned to night, the gardens came to life with a great glow and the tent started rocking.


A R&B/soul band out of NYC took the stage and entertained the rest of the night.  Again, for the third wedding in a row, it was a blast! Below are a few more of my favorite images from the day, enjoy.

Tim & Erin, way, way, way up North.

My first wedding of the year on the mainland took my assistant and I all the way north to Newport and Jay Peak, Vermont.  We loaded the car early Friday morning to get to Jay Peak in time for a quick round of golf.  If you enjoy golf I highly recommend the new course at Jay Peak, it's just awesome!  After checking into Hotel Jay we ventured down the mountain to Newport for the rehearsal dinner.  The weather could not have been better and everyone enjoyed a beautiful sunset over Lake Memphremagog.


The next morning we joined the wedding party at the brides sisters house where they were getting ready for the big day.

In very original fashion, a full sized school bus showed up to chauffeur everybody around for the day.
The church was great and had fantastic views of the Lake that extended all the way to Canada.

After a brief stop for formal shots at a location with equally great views of the Lake and Canada, it was back to Jay Peak for the reception and party.  What a blast.  Everybody was super fun and friendly.