Categories
Weddings

Lacy + Dan’s Lareau Farm Wedding

Lacy and Dan are two of the kindest people I’ve met. And between Lacy’s beauty and her dreamy never-ending wedding dress train, I was on a creative joy-ride snapping away in a speechless photo-heaven flow state for most of the day. Their July 6th wedding at Lareau Farm Inn in Waitsfield, Vermont, was filled with dramatic rain showers and a magical glowing light that only follows a thrilling downpour. I love the raucous roller-coaster of a hardcore Vermont rain and the buzzing glow-shine of relief that exhales in its wake. Despite the fact that their outdoor ceremony was moved inside the pavilion, Lacy and Dan were overflowing with nothing but smiles and a contagious gratitude to everyone who surrounded them, to each other and to Dan’s two sons. Their Justice of the Peace Wedding Officiant, Stephen Laurie, created a beautiful ceremony, and the Lareau Farm staff seamlessly moved their ceremony inside and created and all-around outstanding celebration while Digital DJ Entertainment brought the party and the photo booth fun. I was so honored to be able to witness and capture their day. And I was deeply inspired by the way they smiled, laughed and glowed throughout their unpredictable weather, loving every moment of their wedding journey’s wild ride.  That spoke volumes that this is a couple who will weather anything life throws their way, and they’ll do it with a smile. Lacy and Dan, thank you SO MUCH for making me a part of your day! It was an incredible experience for everyone who got to be there!

 

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Categories
Editorial

Reporting for The Bridge: “Finding Fur-Ever Families”

I wrote a story this week on the Central Vermont Humane Society in East Montpelier, VT, for The Bridge newspaper’s Pets & Wildlife issue. I learned so much while writing this. I had no idea that a healthy indoor cat could have up to four litters per year and that a kitten can get pregnant at just four-months-old. It sheds some light on how one family accidentally found themselves with 20 cats in just 18 months. I loved the story of the Executive Director’s ‘heart dog,’ Mr. Bumpus, and how he is to thank for her entire career change. Here’s the opening if you want to keep reading, it continues on the tear sheet below.

Finding Fur-ever Families

by Cat Cutillo

Laurie Garrison knows first-hand the paw-print an animal can leave on one’s life. Hanging above her desk is a framed portrait of her late dog, Mr. Bumpus, whom she rescued in 2005 from a shelter in New Jersey, where she was living and working as an AT&T research scientist.

“I call him my heart dog,” says Garrison. “He was really, really a special dog. Obviously, a special dog because he made me change my career,” she says.

After adopting Mr. Bumpus, she started volunteering out of gratitude at the shelter, joined the board, and eventually fully submerged herself into a new career as executive director. Now, she holds that position with the Central Vermont Humane Society (CVHS) in East Montpelier, a job that regularly makes her cry.

“Its emotional work. Ninety percent of the time it’s good emotion,” says Garrison. (continues below…)


Categories
Families

Pink House Farm Family Photography Cornwall, Vermont

This multi-generational family shoot at the Pink House Farm in Cornwall, Vermont, was amazing. The kids reminded me so much of my own children and we had tons of fun with a bouquet of pink balloons before they flew off into the never-ending blue sky. The Pink House Farm is an unbelievably picturesque setting for a quintessential Vermont luxury getaway–and for our purposes, the perfect spot for family photos. Thank you so much everyone for having me take some photos of your terrific vacation! I had the best time hanging out with you all!

Categories
Weddings

Basin Harbor Club Wedding, Smooth Like Water

Torrey and Colin planned their wedding at Basin Harbor Club in Vergennes, Vermont, from their new life on the west coast. As two east coast transplants, they loved the idea of having a wedding in Colin’s native Vermont. The week leading up to their wedding, the weather forecast looked like it would be non-stop rain. But when I looked at the forecast on the morning of their wedding, it looked like we were going to dodge that rain. Minutes after I said, ‘Wow, we really got lucky with the weather,’ a crack of thunder erupted and the sky opened up. This coincided with Colin standing on the dock waiting for their first look. Luckily (and miraculously) Colin stayed dry and the wedding plans shifted. We decided to have the first look at the main lodge instead under that gorgeous green vine. As Georgi, from Basin Harbor, was driving Torrey over to the main lodge from the cottage, where she got ready, he said, “When you have rain like this on your wedding day it means your marriage will be smooth like water.” I absolutely loved the way Georgi put it. Their outdoor ceremony was moved inside, but halfway through the ceremony the sun started pouring in and by the end of the ceremony, they had a gorgeous day and were able to stay with their original plans to celebrate under the tent near the docks. The day was filled with so much love and music. Colin’s dad, a professional musician, performed during both their ceremony and reception. And Torrey’s sister and father also hit the stage, where Torrey’s sister delivered one of the all-time best (possibly only) speeches-by-song I’ve ever heard. Congratulations Torrey and Colin! It was an amazing, beautiful, and definitely exciting day–I’m so glad I got to capture it! And as Georgi says, it marks the beginning of a marriage that will no doubt be smooth like water!

Categories
Weddings

Michelle & Jimmy Elope in Vermont: Basin Harbor Club Vermont Wedding Photographer

A heatwave hit Vermont during the week of July 4th this year, but that was nothing for Michelle and Jimmy, two Texas natives who eloped in VT on July 5th at the Basin Harbor Club. Michelle wore a lemon-love wedding dress that was straight out of a color-on-color sunshine dream come true for me. She sent photos of the dress to Basin Harbor Club’s floral design team ahead of time so they could create the perfect bouquet to match. This will go down as one of my all-time favorite wedding dresses. Michelle’s son and their parents were part of their intimate ceremony in the gardens at Basin Harbor officiated by Pat Johnson. After the ceremony we headed to the dock to take some portraits against the magical, sparkly blue backdrop of Lake Champlain and the Adirondack Mountains. Then we zipped up the hill in the golf cart to capture photos against that gorgeous green vine and gardens. Wandering through the garden, we found the perfect yellow flower to capture some close-up macro lens moments of their rings too. While we were doing this, Jimmy told the best story about how he carried the ring around in his shoe all day waiting to propose to Michelle while they were traveling in Colorado. What a perfect day you had, Michelle and Jimmy! I loved getting to meet you two and your family. Thank you so much for letting me capture your wedding story!