Leah and Justin
Leah and Justin were married at the gorgeous Bellevue Barn at Carlisle Place in Jefferson, NH on June 10, 2017. Their wedding was so memorable to me for a number of reasons: an unstructured outdoor ceremony, gorgeous DIY flowers, pub trivia, a really interesting catered buffet, and a quiet, private last dance. Leah and Justin were laid back and considerate of all their guests, trying to keep the day’s events comfortable for all of them, as well as keeping it personable and unique to them as a couple. Read on to see what a beautiful day it was!
getting ready
When I arrived at the sprawling and majestic Mountain View Grand where Leah was getting ready, it was immediately clear to me that both sets of parents were absolutely over the moon about the day’s events. Leah’s parents and Justin’s parents could not have been any more excited. Both of the mothers were there helping Leah get dressed, and they were both so thrilled to be a part of the process.
And as for the location, well, the Mountain View Grand is simply known for its incredible views of the White Mountains and elegant hospitality of an era gone by.
Once we made a few portraits highlighting the gorgeous views from the hotel, it was time to make our way over to Jefferson to the Bellevue Barn.
Bellevue Barn at Carlisle Place
I was more than impressed when I first saw the Bellevue Barn. I had seen pictures of it, but it simply does not do the venue justice. It is literally a perfect venue for a New Hampshire wedding, with plenty of space outdoors for mingling, and a gorgeous barn with all modern amenities for dinner and dancing. The space was decorated beautifully for the wedding. Little did I know that Leah had done all the flowers herself, using a bulk flower service called FiftyFlowers. She created her bouquet, the centerpieces, and filled every bucket and barrel imaginable for the outdoor ceremony space.
the ceremony
Justin and Leah had a unique approach to their ceremony. Wanting to keep things unstructured, they simply transitioned from a cocktail hour as guests arrived and mingled on the patio, to an almost impromptu ceremony right in the middle of it. Everyone just simply loosely gathered by the arch and watched as these two exchanged vows. Their small bridal party and parents stood nearby and watched happily.
Portraits and Reception
The rest of the evening was a blur of activity! After the ceremony, we accomplished family photos on the hill behind the barn, and then took a short drive down the road to an open field with perfect mountain views.
Back at the barn for the reception, Leah and Justin challenged their guests to pub trivia! Each table that won the round was able to head to the buffet, so there was quite a bit of motivation to win. There was an incredible spread catered by The Common Man, with menu items that included burger and pulled pork sliders, salads, mac & cheese, and a gorgeous buffet with an Asian and Mexican theme! Making your own tacos and lo mein made this a really memorable buffet.
At the end of the night, after the dance party, Leah and Justin had one very special photo request. They wanted all the guests to exit the barn, leaving them with one private dance, just the two of them. This “Last Dance” moment is a beautiful way to close out a long and exciting wedding day.
Venue: Bellevue Barn at Carlisle Place
Flowers: DIY from FiftyFlowers
Catering: The Common Man
Dress: Val Thieberge from Love Me Two Times shop
Shoes: Shoes of Prey
Hair and Makeup: Mountain View Grand Resort & Spa
DJ: Peak Entertainment
Pies: Richardson’s Farm, Boscawen NH
Cookies: White Mountain Cafe, Gorham NH