Caitlin and Kyle’s Wedding at the Bedford Village Inn, New Hampshire

bedford village inn wedding k lenox photography

Caitlin and Kyle’s Bedford Village Inn Wedding

It’s always a pleasure to get acquainted with different cultures and traditions through my profession. While the love, support, and joy stay the same at different weddings, those small things that are done differently during the ceremony are an honor to witness. And it’s even more heartening when the guests guide me through any rules I have to follow to show respect to those traditions too.

Caitlin and Kyle got married in a Quaker ceremony (which was a first for me too!). And as a general rule, we were told that there would be no photos for the first half an hour or so. But even though I didn’t get to photograph the vows or the exchange of the rings, I did get the first kiss! Besides that, I was also able to get plenty of shots of the bride and groom and their bridal party too! On the morning of the wedding day, there was also an unplanned moment, which turned out to be literally picture-perfect. But more on that later!

I had already photographed Caitlin and Kyle’s engagement session, so I was way too excited to shoot their wedding. We had established such a great relationship during the session that being their wedding photographer felt like I was just meeting old friends again. And of course, it’s always a delight to shoot at the Bedford Village Inn! The light and airy photographs perfectly matched the vibe of this wedding.

Caitlin and Kyle’s Proposal Story

Caitlin and Kyle met during their sophomore year at Drexel University. After scheming with Bridget, Caitlin’s sister, who was also the Maid Of Honor, for what felt like “FOREVER,” Kyle proposed to Cait in the North End of Boston. It was a cold, windy winter evening, and they were with her whole family. Now, Kyle had to perfectly plan this moment and pretend like this was just another casual day. So, when they were “on the way to dinner,” they decided to take a stroll through Christopher Columbus Park. Kyle had Bridget get her phone out to “check directions,” aka have her camera ready to capture the moment, and under the beautiful blue Christmas lights by the water, Kyle got down on one knee.

Clearly, what felt like a forever phase of planning, worked out in his favor! I am telling you guys, don’t give up on love! When you finally feel like you have found the one, do what it takes to make that proposal moment perfect. Not only does it give you a moment to cherish for a lifetime, but it’s also a great story for your photographer! It helps us get to know you better too. And of course, it makes for a great story for your friends, family, and kids too!

Caitlin and Kyle’s Bedford Village Inn Wedding

Getting back to that unplanned moment I mentioned in the beginning, before the ceremony, we ended up having an impromptu first look with Caitlin’s dad. As the couple had their first look, the bride’s dad was just outside relaxing in a chair, enjoying the beautiful weather. And even though we didn’t have anything planned, we did get some really sweet first look pictures of Caitlin and her dad. These unplanned moments are my favorite! They allow me to capture the real emotions, and it all just seems like an authentic moment told through pictures.

Even though this was my first time photographing a Quaker ceremony, the wedding was SO much fun. We had strict instructions for no photos for the first 1/2 hour or so because that was when the prayer was to deepen, and various guests could rise to speak to the couple. I was told that guests could say a prayer from the heart, words of encouragement, or a memory they had of the couple.

Kyle’s uncle went on to explain we could start shooting after the “handshakes.” Since I was sitting at the back, I never saw the said handshake. His uncle described the ceremony as a mixture of Quaker and Catholic, so I envisioned everyone shaking hands as they do during a Catholic ceremony. But I quickly learned that that was not the case.

At one point, after the couple stood up, I picked up my camera but was kindly told to put it away again by a couple who was recently “Quaker-married”. As a photographer, while it is my job to document all the moments of my couple’s special day, it’s also my responsibility to honor and respect all cultural traditions. So, even though I missed some pivotal moments, I did get to capture Caitlin and Kyle’s first kiss as husband and wife! And honestly, that was more than enough for me. In the end, everyone in attendance also signed the marriage certificate! This entire day was just so amazing. I simply can’t get over how awesome everyone was to be around.

After the couple was introduced and had their first dance, the DJ switched up the music, and everyone started tearing up the dance floor. This crowd was SO much fun. Jamie, Kyle’s brother and one of his groomsmen, played the guitar and serenaded the couple with a song. He even got a standing ovation from everyone! It was a joy to photograph this wedding, from the beginning till the end. The party was so amazing! Everyone just let go and danced their hearts out, including my bride and groom!

New Hampshire Wedding Photographer

Caitlin and Kyle, thank you for letting me be a part of your celebration and trusting me with your wedding photography. It was a truly enriching experience to witness you two get married. And a huge thank you to your guests for guiding me through the traditions too. I hope you like the photos as much as I do. I wish you both a lifetime of love, happiness, and good health!

If you too want to book me for your wedding photography, you can drop me a mail at kristen@klenoxphoto.com. To see more weddings at the Bedford Village Inn, you can also take a look at Anne and Matty’s wedding photos. To see more of my work, you can check out my Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest or visit my websi t e.