1. Real Weddings

Ann & Peter: An Outdoor Wedding in Lincoln, NH

High school sweethearts Ann and Peter first met in middle school. Their relationship really blossomed in high school, and they’ve been together ever s

High school sweethearts Ann and Peter first met in middle school. Their relationship really blossomed in high school, and they’ve been together ever since! After college, Peter took a job in Southern California, and Ann joined him. The Bride Ann Cwik, 29, diagnostic equipment sales specialist The Groom Peter Paige, 30, motocross suspension shop manager The Date October 4 One Labor Day weekend, the two were camping in Yosemite National Park, and they decided to take a hike. After lunch, while still on the trail, Peter proposed on bended knee. The ring was custom-made to match the rose gold wedding band her grandmother had given to her as a child. Three years later, Ann and Peter exchanged vows on a mountain in the White Mountains of New Hampshire.

The ring bearer carried a handmade pillow of green moss. Ann attached a photo of the groom’s late grandparents to the pillow, in their memory.
Set atop pin-tucked brown linens, the three-tiered faux bois patterned cake was accented with delicate sugar flowers. The cake topper was a heart “carved” with Ann and Peter’s initials as a tribute to their high school romance.
The gorgeous chocolate-brown and gold invitations were each embellished with a small crystal and included a tourism magazine of the New Hampshire White Mountains so that guests could familiarize themselves with the area.
Though the couple had taken dance lessons before the wedding, they missed their cue! The lesson flew out the window and they improvised to “Yellow Ledbetter,” by Pearl Jam.
The bridesmaids wore elegant black-and-white dresses. Their looks coordinated with the guys’ tuxedos and gave the outdoor wedding a more formal feeling.
Ann carried a wispy bouquet of white hydrangeas, Vandela roses, green mini cymbidium orchids, and pinecones, accented with English ivy.
Peter’s father, a sawmill manager, and Ann’s sister created the sign for the entrance. It was displayed on a chocolate-brown table and illuminated with candles. It now hangs in the newlyweds’ home, serving as a sweet reminder of their day.
Ann tucked the escort cards into small green envelopes and labeled each one with a guest’s name. She found the idea on TheKnot.com.
After the ceremony, the couple rode the chairlift into the sunset.
Simple wedding programs identified the wedding party and their relationship to the couple. The programs, which the couple made themselves, also included the songs played during the ceremony, a reading, an acknowledgement of the grandparents who couldn’t be at the wedding, and a thank-you to the guests.
The centerpieces reflected the couple’s woodsy theme while also taking advantage of the expansive height of the venue. Copper vessels, filled with curly willow and Mitsumata branches, were accented with white stock blooms, moss, hypericum berries, and ivy. Crystals and candles hung from the branches and cast a soft glow on the intimate affair.
Creating the wooden table numbers was a collective effort. Peter’s father added finish to the pieces, and Ann’s sister stenciled on the numbers.
With the help of a lighting company, the ski lodge was transformed into a posh reception venue. The lodge’s beautiful architecture was highlighted in varying colors throughout the night, while simple white table linens and strands of miniature lights softened the room’s heavy metal elements.
Ann and Peter exchanged vows in an amphitheater at the top of the mountain, overlooking the sweeping New Hampshire scenery. The ceremony aisle was lined with shepherd’s hooks and grapevine baskets of baby’s breath, evergreens, and pinecones.
Wooden postcards served as save-the-dates and introduced guests to the couple’s woodland theme.