Destination Wedding at Stowe Mountain Lodge

Maris and Cory’s love story is certainly unique any other.  The perfect pair wed in September of last year after fate sent them down and their path to the altar.  Maris shared with us their story.  “It did not take long after we started dating for us to know that we were meant to be together.  I couldn’t say whether it was our mutual love of epic fantasy novels or old television shows that were targeted at our grandmothers’ demographic, but it was clear that Cory and I were both consummate nerds.”  Three years later and some unexpected news and a wedding was underway.

But wedding planning didn’t exactly go as planned.  “Originally, Cory and I planned to get married in May of 2011, but in November 2010, two days after I purchased my wedding dress, I was diagnosed with stage 3 Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.  Cory and his family rallied around me and we certainly got the “worse” in the “for better or worse” out of the way!  With the support of my family (old and new), friends, colleagues, and my unbelievable team of doctors and nurses, and six rounds of chemo and twenty sessions of radiation later, I was in remission and well enough to proceed with the wedding in September 2011.”  And so with this life altering curve ball behind them, blessed with a brighter future on the horizon, it was back to the wedding plans (which subsequently helped to keep the bride’s mind occupied on other things during this stressful time in her life).

The couple opted to wed at the Stowe Mountain Lodge in Stowe, Vermont – a locale with sprawling hills and forest and a golf course perfect for photos of the newlyweds.

The ceremony, like all elements of this meaningful event was very personal to the couple.  “Our wedding ceremony was fantastic – it was performed by a friend of Cory’s since childhood who became a rabbi, which resulted in a very personal, hysterically funny, and incredibly moving ceremony that we were thrilled to share with our family and friends.”  

For the decor of the day, the bride and groom had a very specific vision in mind.  “We wanted to choose a theme that reflected both of our personalities, so an enchanted forest theme was a no-brainer.  With the help of our amazing wedding planner, our families, my bridesmaids, and the most creative and fantastic vendors, we were able to accomplish our vision.”  And it began with a tree-clad ceremony setup and a tree full of butterfly place cards for the guests.

“From the butterfly details, the hundreds of trees and plethora of moss, the lake effect on the dance floor, the dragon wedding cake, and the amazing photography (including some shots that were taken on a golf course, but look as if they were actually taken in a forest), the wedding was a dream come true and enjoyed by all who attended.  In sum, the wedding was everything that we wanted and more!”  

What a wonderful celebration of life and love for these very blessed newlyweds.  We wish Maris and Cory a very long life of happiness together and their growing family.

Destination Wedding Photographer: Phototerra Studio

Wedding Vendors:  Wedding Location:  Stowe Mountain Lodge, Stowe, Vermont, Wedding Dress: Jenny Packham purchased at Mark Ingram Atelier, Wedding Planner: Storied Events, Wedding Cake: Irene’s Cakes by Design (also had desserts by BakeAria), Entertainment: Joey Leone’s Chop Shop, Wedding Flowers: Blooma Flicka