A Casual, Rustic Outdoor Destination Wedding in Vermont

Chris was a sophomore in high school when he was hanging out at his friend Ron’s house one day and his buddy’s younger sister, Meghan, entered the room. Chris decided she was the love of his life. Meghan wasn’t as instantly smitten, but Chris was persistent, and two years later, she agreed to a date. They clicked, but parted ways when they went to college. Then, in 2007, the two reconnected through Ron again, this time at a picnic he hosted on his family’s boat, and three years later, Chris proposed.

The pair knew they wanted to get married at Spring Brook Farm, Chris’s family’s 1,000-acre estate in Reading, Vermont. So on September 4th, 2011, they tied the knot, then celebrated in fresh air with farm-to-table food and unique, rustic elements.

The rustic invitation suite included a hand-drawn map of the grounds.

Spring Brook Farm offered views of lush lawns and refreshing serenity. “It’s peaceful, restorative, quiet, and yet full of life,” Meghan said. “We wanted to share that with our loved ones.”

Meghan carried loosely tied white dahlias, astilbe, garden roses, and anemones mixed with lavender, star-of-bethlehem, geranium leaves, and hypericum berries. She wore an Anne Barge dress and a veil by Vera Wang.

Meghan shared a laugh with her five bridesmaids, all decked out in navy J.Crew.

Chris, dressed in a custom Victor Talbots suit, stood with his parents as he prepared to see his bride.

The couple’s rings, secured with a sage green ribbon, rested on a eyelet pillow.

The morning’s heavy fog cleared just in time for Meghan and Chris’ afternoon vows. “The sun came out right before the ceremony and stayed out for the cocktail hour,“ Meghan says. “It was all very much meant to be.”

Meghan and Chris exchanged self-penned vows before 175 guests on a lawn surrounded by centuries-old stone walls. Here, the bride’s 8-year-old cousin walked the rings—and the couple’s dog, Klaus—down the aisle.

Chris’s dad, a vintage-car collector, gave his 1959 Austin-Healey to Meghan as a wedding gift. “Chris was driving it the day that we rekindled our relationship,” she says. “I’ve loved it ever since.”

The lovebirds drove across the far to their reception in classic style.

The post-ceremony scene: The farm’s lush foliage, cozy wicker furniture, and milk bottles filled with white hydrangea, mini green hydrangea, sprigs of lavender, Queen Anne's lace, lemon leaf, cream garden roses and purple and white dahlias.

A pint-size guest cooled off with a Mason jar of pink lemonade.

Celebrants swizzled cocktails with “You Stir Me” flags.

Fromages, including Spring Book Farm Tarentaise and Reading raclette, were a hit at cocktail hour.

Escort cards awaited their takers in the slats of old shutters leaned against hay bales.

In lieu of a guest book, loved ones were invited to leave their best wishes for the newlyweds on paper scrolls.

Meghan and Chris grooved to their band’s rendition of Van Morrison’s “Into the Mystic.”

Burlap favor bags contained goat’s milk soap and lavender sachets that meghan found on Etsy, and maple syrup from the farm’s sugarhouse.

Chris’s family surprised the couple with a fireworks display.