Mari & Ransom in a Backyard in the Berkshires

We loved Mari and Ransom's wedding because it was so them.  They tied the knot in a family backyard, with ceremony music from a cousin and officiated by the bride's brother.  The wedding reflected the two of them perfectly, and their guests loved every little detail.

One of the most memorable parts was the weather; rain was forecast for the afternoon but it appeared to be holding off.  We were under the tent working on set up when suddenly the skies opened up.  The pounding of the torrential rain on the tent was so loud, you couldn't hear a thing.  Moments later, it suddenly stopped and the rain shone down for the rest of the day on the beautiful wedding.

Check out the details of Mari & Ransom's big day below, captured by the talented Erika Hemphill.

The wedding started for many guests on Friday afternoon. After we led a rehearsal with the whole bridal party and immediate family, they all headed out for a rehearsal dinner celebration.

On the morning of the wedding, both the bride and groom spent some time resting and relaxing with their friends and family while they got ready.  The boys played some golf while the girls got beautified at UA Fine Hair Studio.

Setup started early in the big backyard tent, including bathroom trailers from Stone Industries, homemade pies delivered by Grandma Miller's, and flowers from the backyard of the bride's mom. Centerpieces were made of fairy lights and long eucalyptus strands with bud vases and flowers.  It made for a magical looking tent! The favors for guests were custom Harding Lane hats - a friend of the couple started the company.  The ceremony chairs and arbor were set up facing the beautiful mountain backdrop near the tent. 

As soon as the rain let up, the couple hit the outdoors to capture some great portraits with each other and with their bridal party.

The ceremony was set in the backyard near the tent, on a vista overlooking the mountains. The bride was escorted down the aisle by her father. The groom's cousin played live music and the bride's brother officiated.  Because it was so inclusive of family and friends, it was a beautifully personal ceremony that involved lots of laughing and crying tears of joy from all in attendance. 

In a lovely surprise detail, the groom's parents had made small pins that said "WHOOPIE" and we handed them out to start the ceremony.   Mari and Ransom were surprised and especially touched since the pins were based on ones that Ransom's parents' guests had worn during their wedding many years ago.

After "I DO" this group was definitely ready to party! During cocktail hour in the backyard, we put the finishing touches on the tent and the guests heard remarks from the bride and groom's parents.

Once we were satisified that every detail in the tent was set, we invited the couple's guests to find their seats.  The dance band The Classic Yellow introduced the couple as the new Mr. and Mrs. and they went right into their first dance.  There were hundreds of guests there, but when Mari and Ransom hit the dance floor, it was only the two of them, dancing to "Clear Some Space" by Lake Street Drive.  Mari's dad and Ransom's mom were invited to join for the parents dance next and then the entire bridal party and all of the guests were called up to the open dance floor.

The catering team set up the buffet and, once everyone had eaten, we heard toasts from the Best Man, Maid of Honor, and both dads.  The dance floor re-opened while we set up the pie buffet (yum!).  In the midst of dessert, a very special reading occured.  In honor of the bride's great-grandmother, who recently turned 101 years old, a family member read aloud a personal letter to her from President Obama and everyone toasted to her birthday.

The guests danced late into the night. Even after dancing, the party continued with a big bonfire onsite, sparklers for all, and hot dogs and s'mores - the perfect late night food!

Congratulations Mari and Ransom! Thank you for letting us be a part of this wild ride!