Cathy & Jerome’s Wedding at Stonewall Farm

 

29 May 2010

 

The wedding today is at Stonewall Farm in Keene, NH.  First we are going to meet our bridal party at the Riverside Hotel in Chesterfield, NH.  The first riddle of the day is trying to figure out why GPS thinks it is a good idea to send you down a dirt road that parallels a perfectly good paved road . . . I mean the view is nice and we are ahead of schedule, but seriously, I am not quite sure that I have complete faith in GPS yet.  There is something about a wrinkly rectangular wad of paper shoved in the junk collecting pockets of my jeep door that makes me feel safe and secure.

 

 

 

 

 

The hotel seems very new and well decorated.  The Riverside also boasts lots of natural light and a very cool rusty patina green bridge that stretches and connects Chesterfield NH to Brattleboro VT.

I meet up with Cathy, (the bride) and the bride’s maids who are well equipped with adorable little girls – anxious to fulfill their flower girl duties.

While Bethany visits the groom and the groom’s men . .

 

 

A few final touches . . . .

We take a few photographs at the hotel . . .

 

. . . and just before the brief summer downpour starts, we jet east on RT. 9 over to Stonewall Farm in Keene, NH.

 

 

Despite the brief shower, it is a gorgeous day.  Perhaps the only downside to the morning is not the lingering threat of more rain, but the constant reminder that no matter how many amazingly cool and fun little yard sales (or tag sales as they call them over here) I pass I can not stop or barely even slow down for two reasons –  1.  I already have the jeep filled to capacity with every camera, light, jacket, vitamin water, snack, bug spray and sunblock that I might need during a day out in the field, and more importantly – #2.  I am on a tight schedule that allows no variance even under extreme temptation.  Alas, another awesomely cool rustic re-painted with bright, too bright for that era chair, kind of chair that I will surely find again at an overpriced retro or antique store and likely end up buying another day when the cargo area of the jeep is not as full and I am not on the clock.

We arrive at Stonewall Farm and in typical Stonewall Farm fashion, The bride & groom receive congratulations on their matrimonial bliss upon entering the farm’s main entrance.

 

 

The brief rain did not thwart anyone’s enthusiasm.  Associate photographer Bethany sequestered the groom & groom’s men in a room secluded from the outdoor locations where I was photographing the bride & bride’s maids.

 

 

 

 

Soon it was time to make our way to the ceremony site on the knoll behind the farm’s main building.

 

 

The ceremony was carried out in French& English!  Hearing all of the common phrases of the ceremony repeated in French made everything sound even more beautiful.

 

Cathy and Jerome shared many thoughtful glances during the ceremony . . .

as many of Jerome’s relatives from France,and Cathy’s friends and family shared in the ceremony.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After the rings were exchanged and the kisses were shared  . . . .

 

the new husband and wife shared a few moments alone before we headed off to explore locations for our post ceremony photography.

 

 

 

Cathy & Jerome wanted to enjoy as much of the reception as possible so we were brief but thorough in our picture taking including some tender moments between the newlyweds . . .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

the bridal party . . .

 

and a few candid moments . . .

 

 

 

With all of the outdoor events accomplished, we headed indoors to reconnect with the guest and to have a wonderful dinner prepared by Elizabethan Fare.

 

 

 

Dinner was delish, only to be topped off by an amazing cake by Ronna Gendron.

 

Yum, I really wanted seconds but the dance floors call my attention . . .

 

 

Jenn & Chrissy from New England Entertainment were great at providing the music and entertainment for the evening!

 

When I first met Cathy and Jerome the main theme of our meeting was that they wanted their guest to have fun.

 

The photographers had an excellent time and it seemed as if everyone else did too!

 

Thank you Cathy & Jerome for letting Kendal J. Bush Photography share in your wedding day!