An intimate mountain wedding after a romantic double proposal

Due to the pandemic, Beth and Allie’s October 2020 wedding at a Vermont ski resort consisted of only thirty guests. Covid safety was a priority, but it didn’t stop the couple from having a magical day.

“Every attendee quarantined, tested, and wore masks while indoors,” Beth says. “The months leading up to the big day were filled with uncertainty given the state of the country. Yet on our wedding day it almost felt as though life had returned to normal…We were all able to celebrate our union, but also have a night of completely forgetting the outside world. It truly added an extra special meaning to an already amazing day.”

Who Proposed?

Allie proposed first in the most romantic way. Prior to popping the question, she had spent months making a compilation video with some of our closest friends. Over the summer, we were on vacation with my family on a mountain in North Carolina. While I was distracted, she managed to set up a huge projector under this beautiful apple tree and decorate it with lights. At sunset, surrounded by my family, she played the video and when I turned around she was on one knee. It could not have been more romantic!

Sometime later, I also proposed to her. Everyone deserves to feel that heart-stopping moment (although I had it easy considering we were already engaged). I had lined a path with photos of us leading to a beautiful pond on her families farm. At the end of the path, I surprised her with a ring and kittens. We love that we each got to have our moment to be proposed to, and to bring joy into the other’s life.

What advice would you give to engaged LGBTQ+ couples?

Don’t sweat the small stuff! Your partner and your love is all that truly matters. Being able to show the world this love has much deeper meaning than the details of one day. Don’t let a party bring you too much stress.

Do you have any advice for vendors working with LGBTQ+ couples?

It’s really important to feel comfortable with your vendors. Frankly, our first insight to their mindset was in their questionnaires. If they used terms like “bride and groom”, we directly asked them about it. Their responses were a great test on how it would be to work with them. We found that many blew off our inquiries, and we promptly walked away. The best vendors we found were ones that either already were working with members of theLGBT+ communities, or were excited/willing to grow from the experience of working with us.

Were there any pleasant surprises as an LGBTQ+ couple planning your wedding?

Yes! Our venue (Sugarbush Resort in Warren, VT) not only was enthusiastic about hosting our marriage, but actually wanted to improve their inclusivity. They approached us for advice about how to better be aware of challenges the LGBTQ+ community faces in the wedding industry, and even took courses on the subject.

It was amazing to see a venue acknowledge their lack of experience and take active measures to be more inclusive. They did an incredible job. Also, our wonderful wedding photographer came out not long after our engagement shoot. It was an honor to walk with them and support them on their journey.