Leah & Scott: A Lake Winnipesaukee Wedding

I spent a couple of days on an island on Lake Winnipesaukee in southern New Hampshire for Leah and Scott's wedding last month. On Friday, I took the twenty minute boat ride out to Sandy Island for the rehearsal dinner. The evening was gorgeous, and the day ended with an incredible sunset as the boat returned me to the mainland. You can see more of that here. Saturday was the big day. Unfortunately, it also dawned cold and wet. We arrived at the boat launch to a steady rain and a very overcast Lake Winnipesaukee...


I've never been one to let a little rain ruin a wedding day, but I would lie if I didn't say I was a little bummed about the weather this day. I don't often take a boat ride to a private island for a wedding, and we had so many ideas for portraits that we had schemed up. Quickly putting that aside, however, we jumped right in. A few details to get started...


My friend Doug, who was with me for the day, captured this great ring shot...


Leah had plans to get ready in a cabin near the outdoor chapel. Figuring that the service would be moved indoors, I instead found her getting ready in the buildings where the service would now also be held...



Leah wasn't going to let the weather get her down either, and looks giddy with excitement for her wedding...


Meanwhile, Doug wandered through the rain to find Scott getting dressed at a nearby cabin...



Did I mention the rain? I grabbed this portrait of a slightly soggy Scott, followed by Doug's image of the guys escorting -- and trying to keep dry -- Scott headed over to Leah for their first look...


First looks often happen in relative privacy. This was how Leah wanted it to happen at least. However, guests had started arriving via water taxi an hour+ before the ceremony, and because of the rain did not have anywhere to go other than the ceremony building -- where Leah was. After a little coaxing and corralling of guests, I was able to clear the room at least. I couldn't ask guests to leave the porch, of course, so we had more than a few eyes peeking through the windows as Leah came out to meet Scott...



We then left all of the guests for a short bit, stopping under some cover from the rain to snap a few pre-ceremony portraits...



With everyone dried out, and nerves settled -- things were not quite going how Leah had planned, but she pressed on, always with a smile -- it was time for the ceremony. Relocated inside, two massive stone fireplaces kept everyone cozy and warm for the service...


Doug snuck up to the landing behind the fireplace and found a nice perspective on the left, and caught Leah focused on Scott's vows...


The deed done, the newlyweds make their way past their cheering family and friends...


It was important to Leah, especially, to have some outside portraits taken by the water. I mean, they were married on a private island, right?!?! The weather was not so conducive to making this happen, but I kept my eye open for a window of opportunity. Just after sunset, but before dark, the rain stopped. Briefly. It happened to also coincide with Leah and Scott being served dinner, but I interrupted them all the same. We quickly went out to the pier, after making sure the dinner staff would not take their plates, and setup for some portraits. It all happened in a few minutes and was one of the funnier couple shoots I have done! Doug was wrestling the light stand as a pretty significant wind tried to send it into the lake. Leah and Scott had trouble stopping their laughter at the absurdity of the moment. I think the images made it all worth while, and I can't wait to see the video footage of the shoot from Morgan Kirkham who was there for the day also...



Portraits on the water completed, it was back inside -- where the sane people were -- for the rest of the reception and dinner. A highlight of the day for Scott, I am told, was the beer canoe...

There were toasts...



And then cake and dancing...






At the end of the evening the rain had almost completely stopped, so we snuck back out for a few more portraits, this last one taken under a moonless night, along a stone lined trail...


Thank you Leah and Scott for having me at your celebration. The day did not unfold as planned, but was filled with lots of excitement and emotion. It will definitely be a day to talk about for many years to come!