FP Ever After: Lizzy and Mike’s Summer Camp Wedding

Step into Lizzy and Mike’s whimsical summer camp wedding in the Berkshires.

The Berkshires might be one of my favorite places on earth. A unique escape that offers amazing farm-to-table food, a burgeoning music scene and rich history, with many nearby small towns ready to discover.  I’ve been very fortunate to know this area within my life, as it’s left me with great memories of my childhood. I wanted originally to have the wedding at my grandparents’ home but, after many years, my grandmother decided it was time to start a new chapter and put the house on the market. So Mike and I spent our winter looking at alternative venues around the Berkshires area until we came across this camp, which we visited in about 3 feet of snow. Even while snow-covered it spoke to us through its magic. I loved thinking about all that could come with a summer camp wedding — a tipi accessible by canoe, hiking, a big old wooden lodge, fire pit complete with totem poles — with the bonus being that our friends could sleep over! It felt so special, a truly magical hidden green world.

We just wanted to be with our friends and family, in a relaxed environment surrounded by nature (and fun dresses). Many of those closest to us live in faraway places, so to spend the weekend with them while celebrating and dressing up was the best. We reveled in sharing all of our guests’ big events — new marriages, babies, little ones on the way. We didn’t stick to too many traditions, but decided to keep it fun and casual — good music and good drinks, with a lake to canoe out on during cocktail hour.

On the day of the wedding we prepared breakfast in the camp kitchen. And afterward, we retreated to the lake where friends were diving, paddle boarding and canoeing. A few of us swam out to the dock and hung out…a little too long, as I lost track of time and realized there was only an hour before the wedding started! I rushed to the cabin as the photographer was arriving. But I wouldn’t trade that time on the lake with my friends for anything. It made everything so relaxed and reminded me what we were all there for.

 The flowers were arranged by my good friends, Ardelia Farm and Co., an amazing couple who live in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont. There they run a flower farm and create floral design, along with some of the most delicious baked goods you could ever imagine. They grew and designed all of the arrangements, as well as making our cake and the show-stopping dessert bar. My bouquet was no doubt my favorite, filled with dahlias (which also happened to be the name of my dress). 

From that day, I soon learned that a wedding is not about pleasing or entertaining everyone, but rather to acknowledge and celebrate the people in your life, in the most beautiful way. It’s about togetherness. All the little things fall away and, even if (when) disaster strikes, no one is there to judge – it’s all so much larger than that. I was so humbled to see everyone join forces to make it all happen. And, most of all, I am so very grateful for the kind friends and family in my life, who helped make this day a reality, and to share in our joy. 

Follow Lizzy & Mike on Instagram!

Credits : 

Photos: Jo Chattman, Instagram:  @jochat

Florist/Cake: Ardelia Farm and Co., Instagram:  @ardeliafarm

Music: Tom Croose DJ 

Band: The Lucky Five

Dress: Rue De Seine

Rings: Mociun