The Sun, the Moon, and all the Stars

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Matt and Jessica

Date of Engagement: August 4, 2012 (on a mountain top in Vermont)

Date of Wedding: May 2014

Photography: Philbrick Photography

Wedding inspiration comes from many places. For Jessica and Matt, that inspiration came from a line of poetry by e. e. cummings: “You are my sun, my moon and all my stars”. It is obvious in the romantic, nighttime colors of their wedding and the vintage style that they translated those lines from a poem into wedding day beauty in colors of Navy Blue and Champagne accented with pops of lavender.

The couple have known one another for years. “Matt asked me to our senior prom at Manchester High School West. We grew up going to school together. We dated for just over eight years before we got married,” she says. Currently residing in the Washington, DC area, the couple’s families still live in NH and the decision to hold the wedding here was an easy one. “My Dad and his brothers built a house on Winnipesaukee that has been in our family for years.When we are home in NH we often try to get up to the lake.”

With a long-distance wedding to plan, Jessica’s mom and future mom-in-law were invaluable. “My mother Rosanne and mother-in-law Barbara came to my rescue and proved invaluable. The whole event took just over a year and a half to plan.

“Lake Opechee Inn and Spa in Lakeport, NH was the very first venue that my mother and I looked at. I was insistent that the location be on the water, within our budget and have the charm and hospitality that would make the weekend a fun getaway for our family and friends. The staff at Opechee were incredibly accommodating, inviting us to tour the conference center, the Inn, various rooms and the on-site restaurant. We talked a little about open dates in May 2014 and put a tentative hold on Saturday May 3, 2014. The people at Opechee and the venue made me feel welcome and at home.”

The couple’s favorite part of the wedding day? Jessica says, “My husband and I had a first look done prior to the ceremony. He held up incredibly well and we went on to take the majority of our pictures before leaving for the church and ceremony. I thought we were golden, emotionally we were both running on a high we had never felt before, excited and ready to start the next adventure. As the ceremony started, he was lined up with our best man at the front of the church and when I rounded the corner with my dad he lost it. Even already having seen me… we both felt in that moment that it wasn’t about the dress or the congregation or the flowers. It was about the success and work we put in for eight years doing long distance as we pursued our education and careers. We lived in different states flying, busing, and driving to see each other every chance we could, and when I saw him waiting for me this last time, every ecstatic hello hug and every tear from the hundreds of goodbyes over the years was worth it. We spent the majority of our relationship pushing each other to live our dreams and walking down that aisle we got our real dream come true!”

Choosing Philbrick Photography was an easy decision. “My cousin used Philbrick for her wedding a few years ago. Based on seeing her photos, I never entertained the idea that it would be anyone but Jay and Vicki (Philbrick) with us on our big day. Jay has always been willing to think a little outside the box and we loved that! I am a ballet/contemporary dancer and teacher and my husband is in law enforcement and has a background in martial arts…our engagement shoot had us on top of a mountain leaping, kicking etc. We had a blast!”

Jessica’s wedding planning advice to other brides-to-be: “Water bottles and breath mints in your welcome bags will save the day! Be conscious of the miscellaneous category on your budget and anticipate more last minute small expenses than you would think.”

Jessica and Matt’s Wedding Vendors:
Gown: Modern Bride
hair and makeup: Elavina Salon and Spa
Cake: (Cupcakes) Fredericks
flowers: Chalifours
Limo: Grace Limousine
Tuxedos: (Suits): George’s Apparel
cCatering and menu: Opechee Executive Chef
DJ/Band: Holy Cow Productions
Ceremony location: Wesley United Methodist Church
Rehearsal dinner: “O Steaks and Seafood hosted the most amazing rehearsal dinner we could have asked for! ”

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