It was a chilly fall day for Grace and Bryce’s wedding at the Inn at Valley Farms in Walpole, NH. It was drizzling and raining all morning but once we started to photograph the rains stopped and thankfully held off for the rest of the day.
We started the day off at the lower farm with Bryce getting ready, he sporting some vibrant Sanuk shoes and Prana pants, perfectly fitting his personality and love for the outdoors. This is when we created his family portraits and photos with his groomsman.
It was then time to walk to where the ceremony was — inside a beautiful old barn. The barn is a rustic rough-sawn wood interior that was whitewashed to brighten it up. Once we got all the guests inside and Bryce at the head of the aisle I signaled Grace’s father to bring her down the aisle.
They had a very nice ceremony, filled with many climbing puns and jokes as the two of them are amazing rock climbers. Fitting to the climbing theme they had a unity ceremony where they tied two ropes together in a figure 8 knot. A strong knot, that is essential to rock climbing — a perfect analogy to their relationship.
Following the ceremony Grace and Bryce went inside the inn to share a private moment with just the two of them before returning to create their family portraits. After creating the family portraits Grace, Bryce and I went off to explore the farm a bit for their creative portraits.
Then it was time to head back into the reception tent, for their party to begin! Rather than having a traditional plated dinner, or a buffet-style dinner, Grace and Bryce elected to have a food truck cater their wedding. I completely support this decision! The food from the truck was so amazing! Definitely one of my favorite wedding meals I’ve had. When dinner concluded, we had a few special dances and then the dance floor opened up. There were even some hula-hoops that made it onto the dance floor. It was such a nice day and a super fun evening!
Grace and Bryce’s Wedding Date | 9/30/2017
How did you decide on your ceremony/reception location?
We found our ceremony and reception location completely by chance while doing an online search. We thought we had pretty much exhausted the search, and were feeling a little frustrated because we hadn’t yet found a place that seemed quite right. Then we stumbled upon Inn at Valley Farms and Grace gave the innkeeper Jackie a call. After talking with Jackie we knew the farm was a perfect fit and felt so lucky we had found it! Jackie described the venue as a “blank slate” perfect for a DIY style which is what we wanted. Also, she is dedicated to farm to table eating and sustainable organic farming which is right up our alley. Most importantly though she is committed to the Bride and Groom and helping them make their special day truly theirs.
When did you know he/she was the one?
Grace | I knew Bryce was the one when I realized I didn’t have a doubt in my mind that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with him. It just felt right.
Bryce | Our very first vacation was a long road trip from New Hampshire to Alabama with a bunch of stops along the way. Things didn’t exactly go according to plan. The very first night involved a whiteout blizzard on the highway. Then came the below-freezing temperatures and overnight snow while tent camping. Just when we thought the worst was behind us, we drove into a microburst in the south. The flying trees and limbs tore apart most everything near our destination and knocked out heat and electricity. We tried to keep our sense of humor. On the way back we stopped at a drive-thru and ordered “a small Coke & salad dressing” to a look of confusion that was priceless. After 2,300 miles on the road and her not running away, I knew I had to keep her.
What’s the one thing you love most about each other?
Grace | I love how we can be so completely honest and totally ourselves with each other, and we accept each other for who we truly are, and have a blast together!
Bryce | I love that she challenges me and always gives me an honest opinion.
Besides getting married, what’s the one thing you were looking forward to on your wedding day?
Grace | The food!
Bryce | Seeing family & friends, some of whom I haven’t seen in years!
What are your honeymoon plans?
We planned a “mini-moon” to New York City for a few nights, then rock climbing in the Gunks in New Paltz NY for a couple days. Next year we plan to spend a couple weeks exploring New Zealand.
I hope that you have enjoyed Grace and Bryce’s story and their wedding photos! They were a blast to work with for their wedding and their engagement session. If you haven’t seen that then definitely take a look!
Wedding Vendors
Ceremony & Reception Location | Inn at Valley Farms, Walpole, NH
Wedding Photography | Lee Germeroth Photography
Dress Designer | Stella York
Dress Salon | Blush Bridal Studio in Bangor, ME
Groom Attire | Prana and Sanuk
Hair/Makeup | B & B Style Salon in Keene, NH
Cupcakes | Cupcakes 101 in Bedford, NH
Caterer | Papi’s Stuffed Sopapillas
Tent Rental | Green Mountain Tent Rental in Townshend, VT