New England photographer Anne Skidmore captured this gorgeous and magical winter wedding full of elegant details. It snowed that morning, giving the trees and mountains a fresh and beautiful covering of snow for the day. Perfect for this ski-loving couple. Guests and family got ready at the Mount Washington Hotel, Mount Washington Hotel, which is a gorgeous historial landmark overlooking the Presidential Range (including Mount Washington itself.)
Why a Mountain Wedding?
New Hampshire holds a special place in my heart because I grew up hiking and skiing in the White Mountains. My family has had a vacation home in New Hampshire since I was a small child. It has always been our place to relax, to connect and to enjoy nature. I currently volunteer as an adaptive ski coach and, as a result, we spend most winter weekends in New Hampshire. My husband and I felt that a winter wedding in the White Mountains would be a wonderful way to share our love for the area with our friends and family.
Where did you find your inspiration?
I found my inspiration from the hotel itself. We chose the Mt. Washington Hotel because it is a truly beautiful piece of architecture set within the mountains. It is a majestic place, gorgeously decorated in line with the hotel’s Victorian history. Stepping into the hotel is almost like stepping back in time to the early 1900s. As a result, the theme of our wedding was modern Victorian elegance. Our decorations and designs were inspired by lace, pale pinks, ivory and gold.
What were some personal details you incorporated?
We attached our escort cards to antique Victorian keys hanging from a refurbished French door. Behind the glass panels of the door we placed a piece of lace my parents had bought in Paris in the 1970s. The pattern of the lace depicts a couple embracing and had hung behind a French door in my childhood home. It was a personal touch that meant a lot to my family and added a gorgeous element to the door. In addition, we designated one table in the reception to our parents and grandparents wedding photographs as a way to incorporate our family’s history into the day.
Your favorite moment of the day.
It is hard to choose one favorite moment of the day! Everything was wonderful! I really enjoyed walking out of the church with my husband right after the ceremony and having a few moments alone to soak in the joy!
Three things you’re glad you did.
- Trusted my instinct and tried not to over think each decision.
- Attended dancing lessons and had our first dance choreographed because it eliminated a lot of nerves on the wedding day.
Anything you wish you hadn’t done?
- I wish we had allocated more time to our gift bags because they took longer than we expected!
- What was the best piece of wedding advice you got?
- To consciously be in each moment and to stand back to admire all the months of hard work. In addition, to relax and to enjoy the food. I made sure to eat my entire dinner!
What piece of wedding planning advice do you wish you followed?
I wish I had slept more the last few nights before the wedding. I was running around finishing up last minute things until the day before we left for hotel and I was exhausted!
Anything you wish you hadn’t worried about?
Everything! It such a beautiful day! But I wish I hadn’t worried so much about the gift bags because they were a small detail that took a lot of time and energy.
Anything you wish you had known about sooner rather than later?
We had planned to go on a sleigh ride right after the church ceremony, however it was cancelled the day before due to the lack of snow. I wish I had known the ride would be cancelled earlier, but no one can predict the weather!!
How did you choose your vendors?
Most of our vendors were in-house, except for the photographer, limousine and musician/DJ. We hired the limo driver and DJ based on word of mouth and originally hired the photographer based on her interest in both photography and the outdoors. However, we really fell in love with our photographer during our engagement photo shoot. She did such a wonderful job and we couldn’t wait to work with her again on our wedding day!
What is your very best advice to other mountain brides?
To enjoy the scenery and to incorporate the mountains into your pictures as much as possible. Also, to bring a good pair of boots! For many of our pictures we were in the snow and I am glad I had my boots with me!
Brenton Woods, NH Wedding Vendors
- Photographer: Anne Skidmore Photography
- Dress Designer: Allure Bridal
- Jewelry: Shreve, Crump and Low
- Caterer: Mount Washington Hotel
- Venue: Mount Washington Hotel
- Ceremony Location: St Patricks Church
- Submitted via Two Bright Lights