Cecilie & Stan’s New Hampshire camp wedding is a perfect example of why we LOVE shooting at new (to us) wedding venues. Not infrequently we get the question from inquiring couples, “Have you ever shot at “xyz” venue before?” Not that that question isn’t valid, there can be some advantages to returning to a venue we’ve covered before. But that doesn’t mean there are disadvantages to venues we’ve never shot at. If anything, new venues are creatively exciting to us both. Ogontz Camp in northern NH was just that! Originally a women’s finishing school built in the 1930’s, it is now a summer venue that hosts all sorts of events, including of course, weddings. You don’t have to spend much time with us to know that we’re all over anything vintage and historical. So you can imagine how excited we were to see how the buildings and grounds here have retained most of their original rustic charm and natural beauty. We highly recommend choosing Ogontz for your wedding, and while you’re at it why not have Birch Blaze join you? We would absolutely LOVE to come back to photograph a wedding here…speaking of returning to venues 😉
Cecilie & Stan’s wedding plans were certainly worthy of this charactered White Mountain wedding destination. We’ll let the imagery do the talking, but suffice it to say Bride & Groom, along with weekend-of planner, Dena Tremblay, Ogontz’s own Andrew Lidestri and Sarah Veninsky as well as our weekend compadre Emily Herzig (Emily Herzig Floral Studio) all did not miss any opportunity to match this historic venue with perfect decor and well-thought-out logistics. The day was just lovely, and made even more so by the 9-piece cello ensemble, Low Strung. I have never had a musical experience quite like the one this group presented, demonstrated by the tears that filled my eyes during one of their arrangements during the ceremony. Breathtaking. Another highlight of the day was a stunning piano performance by Cecilie’s 99 year-old great Aunt that had everyone completely mesmerized. From Cecilie, “…Her claim to fame: beating Leonard Bernstein in a piano competition at age 16 playing Clair De Lune. She played this piece thousands of times and this [was] the last time, at age 99, at my wedding…This was the ultimate gift, the gift of music…” What an amazing day! Lastly, Stan & Cecilie, their Family and friends, were all a delight to work with and we wish them the most joyful of dances throughout their life together!