There are some weddings that feel a little extra special to photograph, and Brittany and Matthew’s wedding at The Little Farm at Willoughby was definitely one of them. Photographing a real wedding at Lake Willoughby has been on my bucket list for a very long time. And there’s a pretty good reason why.

Why Lake Willoughby Means So Much to Me

My family has been coming to Lake Willoughby for more than 65 years. My dad first came here with my aunt (his sister) and grandparents when he was five years old. Years later, he brought me. And eventually, I started bringing my own children.

Every year at the end of June, a big group of us—my parents, brother & fiance, aunt & uncle, cousins, kids—come back to the lake.

Four generations. Same place. Same family tradition. So when I say I know this area like the back of my hand, I really do. Lake Willoughby has been the backdrop to so many of my own family’s memories that I’ve always dreamed about having the opportunity to photograph a wedding here. Funny enough, that’s ultimately how Brittany found me.

The Photos That Eventually Led Brittany to Me

Quite a few years ago, after one of my cousins got married, I convinced him and his new wife to bring their wedding attire with them on our annual trip to the lake. Because obviously that’s a completely normal thing for your photographer cousin to ask you to pack for vacation! Ha! We spent some time creating wedding portraits around Lake Willoughby, and afterward I shared the session on my blog. You can see that post HERE.

Years later, Brittany came across that post. She and Matthew aren’t from the area either, but Brittany has her own connection to Lake Willoughby—her parents own a place here. And somehow, a photo session I created because of my family’s connection to this lake eventually connected me with another couple whose family has their own memories here. I love when things come full circle like that. When Brittany and Matthew trusted me to photograph their wedding, it meant I was finally going to photograph the real Lake Willoughby wedding I’d been hoping for all these years. And it couldn’t have been a more beautiful day for it!

A Gorgeous August Wedding Day at Lake Willoughby

Brittany and Matthew got one of those absolutely gorgeous Vermont summer days for their August wedding. A mix of glorious clouds and blue skies. Sunshine. Beautiful weather.

Brittany and her girls got ready at a property down the street, right on the lake, which meant we were able to start the day with portraits along the water before heading to The Little Farm at Willoughby for the ceremony.

Having that quiet time by the lake before everything really got underway was such a beautiful way to begin the day—and, selfishly, I wasn’t going to complain about having Lake Willoughby as my backdrop. Then it was time to head to the venue.

A Wedding at The Little Farm at Willoughby

There is a lot to love about having a wedding at The Little Farm at Willoughby, but let’s start with the obvious: THAT. VIEW.

The outdoor ceremony area overlooks Lake Willoughby and the surrounding mountains, giving couples one pretty incredible backdrop for saying their vows. But what impressed me just as much was how well the property worked for the entire wedding day. The Little Farm at Willoughby is essentially an all-in-one wedding venue. There’s a dedicated getting-ready space, an outdoor ceremony area overlooking the lake, a tented space for dinner, a cute little area that is used as the bar, and the barn for cake and dancing.

As a photographer, I love that. You get completely different looks throughout the day without making everyone get into cars and travel from one location to another. It keeps the timeline simpler, gives guests a chance to settle in and enjoy themselves, and still gives us plenty of variety for photographs.

Personal Details Made the Day Even Better

As beautiful as the setting was, Brittany and Matthew’s wedding wasn’t memorable just because of the view. It was the little personal details they incorporated throughout the day that made the celebration theirs. Those are always the things I find myself drawn to when I’m photographing a wedding—the details someone else might overlook, the interactions happening when nobody thinks I’m watching, and all the little pieces of a day that tell you something about the people you’re celebrating.

A beautiful venue gives us an incredible backdrop. The people and their stories are what make the photos matter.

A Huge Shoutout to an Amazing Day-of Coordinator

I also have to give a very well-deserved shoutout to Brittany and Matthew’s day-of coordinator, Emily Scherer of Scherer Coordination.

A good coordinator can make such a difference on a wedding day, and Emily kept everything moving smoothly behind the scenes. When the logistics are handled well, couples don’t have to spend their wedding day watching the clock, answering vendor questions, or wondering what they’re supposed to be doing next. They can actually be at their wedding. And that’s exactly how it should be.

Finally Photographing a Lake Willoughby Wedding

At the end of the night, this one felt a little surreal for me. I’ve photographed weddings in so many beautiful places over the years, but Lake Willoughby isn’t simply another beautiful Vermont location to me. It’s part of my family’s story. My grandparents brought my dad here. My dad brought me here. I brought my children here. Four generations of my family have spent summers making memories around this lake.

Then a blog post from a fun wedding portrait session with my cousin eventually found its way to Brittany, whose family had their own connection to the very same place. And all these years later, I finally got to photograph a real wedding at Lake Willoughby.

Brittany and Matthew, thank you for trusting me with it. It was absolutely worth the wait.

If you’re planning a wedding at The Little Farm at Willoughby or elsewhere around Lake Willoughby and you’re looking for a photographer who already knows—and genuinely loves—this little corner of Vermont, I’d love to hear what you’re planning!

Feel free to reach out HERE!