This Intimate Wedding on top of Mount Washington, NH from back in 2021 is one that will forever stand out to me in my wedding photography career. It was definitely a pinch-me moment to have the opportunity to document an intimate wedding on top of Mount Washington, NH for the most wonderful couple, ESPECIALLY on a perfect day with tons of visibility! I'm excited to talk more about this experience today to provide some insight into how this wedding played out, what the logistics of organizing this Intimate Wedding entailed, and also some tips from the couple on how they made the most out of their adventurous wedding day.
The Booking
Stephanie + Dan found me on The Knot, and booked me almost immediately! We got along so well, shared similar values, and we just knew we'd be a great match for each other. During the booking process for their intimate wedding on top of Mount Washington in New Hampshire, we talked extensively about their vision for their wedding day, and what moments were most important to them to have captured. They decided that the main priority was the actual ceremony on top of Mount Washington, and that some getting ready photos beforehand also felt special to them. Post-ceremony, Stephanie, Dan, and their handful of guests were going to have dinner in a private section of the Red Fox Bar and Grill, and they decided that, since they'd be eating, it wasn't a big priority to stay once their food had been served. Ultimately, we agreed that a 6-hour Intimate Wedding photography collection was going to suit them and their day best, especially with the logistics of travel time to the top of the mountain and back down.
The Logistics
Stephanie + Dan utilized AirBnB for their getting ready locations, and also for their accommodations for the entirety of their wedding weekend. Dan got ready at an apartment just a few short minutes away from Mount Washington. It was an AirBnB that felt homey for him and his crew to get ready at, and feel more relaxed. We took getting ready/detail photos of Dan outside of this apartment.
The couple had also booked a beauuuuutiful chalet, also very close to Mount Washington, where Stephanie and her crew got ready. It was also where they enjoyed their afterparty shenanigans post-dinner. It had a vast deck with a jaw-dropping view, so it was a no-brainer to take her solo portraits out there. Again, the atmosphere was chilled, laid back, and the air was dancing with excitement for the ceremony!
Stephanie and Dan had their actual ceremony on top of Mount Washington, which was THE COOLEST EXPERIENCE! To get up there, the couple and all of the guests drove up to the top of the mountain. You do have to pay to drive up the mountain, the cost of which depends on how many people you have in your vehicle. You can learn more about the cost here. The drive to the top is definitely easier than hiking, but it is not for the faint of heart! It does still take about 30 minutes to drive up the mountain, and about 30 minutes to drive back down it, too, which is worth noting when figuring out the timeline for your wedding day. We lucked out with the PERFECT weather on their day, so luckily we didn't have to worry about rain, snow, or any other less-than-pleasant weather when completing the steep drive up.
The Experience
Once at the top of Mount Washington, the fun really began! Stephanie + Dan hired a wedding officiant/guide from Redline Guiding to lead the ceremony and to provide advice, which was helpful and I would definitely recommend! We worked with the guide to figure out a good spot to have the ceremony that would still feel as private as possible. We landed on the perfect spot, got everyone in position, and began! It was a tad windy, but honestly not bad considering we were on top of Mount Washington in New Hampshire, which is notoriously known to have the most unpredictable weather. Instead, we had some wind, and a lot of blue skies and the perfect, puffy clouds,
The ceremony was sweet, heart warming, and tear jerking, I must admit. Stephanie and Dan sealed the deal with a kiss and everyone erupted in cheering. We then moved to an area that was easier to maneuver to take family photos, which were funny. You could tell everyone felt very comfortable being themselves and letting their personalities shine through, which, as a wedding photographer, is always ideal to witness. We then went up to the summit sign so that everyone could get pictures next to the sign to commemorate the day. Then, as people started trickling towards their cars to start the journey down the mountain, we took Stephanie and Dan aside to get some quiet, simple portraits with them, simply admiring the view and soaking it all in.
Soon, we all were in our cars going this way and that way down the windy road to the bottom of Mount Washington, and onto the dinner portion of the evening. We headed to the Red Fox Bar and Grill, in a private, reserved area of the restaurant, where a custom cake and cards awaited them. There were some simple toasts over champagne, and soon, it was time for us to say goodbye to our couple to allow them to soak up the rest of their evening in private with their loved ones.
I'm being so serious when I say that this wedding will always be engrained in my mind as peaking - literally and figuratively! It was such a highlight of my career, and was not only full of fun, but it was with a couple who I felt so connected to - we really were the perfect match for each other!
I hope you've enjoyed experiencing Stephanie and Dan's wedding day through these moments that we froze in time! If you're engaged and wanting to sprinkle a bit of adventure into your special day, I hope this provided you with some inspiration, and guided you on how to make it happen on the top of Mount Washington!
-Christy :)
she/her
The Francis Frames
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