Alethia and John | October 2, 2015

Loon Mountain Wedding Photos | Lincoln, NH

[dropcap]S[/dropcap]o excited. So excited. So excited!!!! Two of our most favorite people of all time are on the blog today with their Loon Mountain wedding! Congratulations Alethia and John!

What a great day we had up north in the White Mountains – Loon Mountain is a breathtaking venue with even more absolutely incredible views! White Mountains + New England foliage + wedding = DROP. DEAD. SEXY. TIME. If you are thinking that Boston to the White Mountains is a commute, this couple traveled all the way from Tennessee for their nuptials!

Okay, so if they live in Tennessee how the hell did they decide on getting married in New Hampshire?! The answer is simple. Alethia and John shared a mutual friend who was a coworker of John’s at the Cheshire County Sheriff’s Office for years. Alethia would often visit the friend at work on Friday nights to say hello. On Friday, September 3, 2010 John was working an overtime shift. Alethia went to visit her friend at the Sheriff’s Office where she introduced the two. Their first date was the following Tuesday night at Papagallos Restaurant. The rest is history.

We are all dying to know, how did John pop the question? Alethia and John returned from a fun trip home for the Pumpkin Festival in Keene, NH when John asked Alethia if she wanted to go on a date the following Friday. John planned a date on the General Jackson Showboat. At this point, Alethia still thought it was just a special date night out. We were seated with three other couples who enjoyed visiting with each other. John ordered a bottle of wine. After dinner and lots of amazing performances on stage, the staff gives you a break so they can clean up. They suggest guests go out onto the deck to enjoy the view of downtown Nashville at night from the water. Alethia and John took their wine and went up on the boat deck to enjoy the view with the rest of the guests on the boat. The view of the downtown Nashville skyscape at night was absolutely breathtaking! When guests started to make their way back down to the the stage and dining area, John put down his wine glass and told Alethia he “had a pebble in his shoe” (yes, Alethia was CLUELESS still). That’s when he got down on one knee (said a bunch of really sweet mushy stuff he will never admit in public to saying), pulled out the ring, and asked Alethia to marry him! We just love, love!

Loon Mountain New Hampshire Greek Wedding JessFoto_0009

When we first saw Alethia after she got into her picture-perfect wedding gown, we were speechless. When we shouted in excitement as to where she found her beautiful dress, she replied with, “I found it at The White Room in Lebanon, Tennessee. John and I live in Nashville and my sister and mother planned a visit for Christmas in 2014. I scheduled an appointment during their visit so that the first time I tried on dresses they could be there. I fully expected to walk out of there empty handed. I showed Celia, my consultant, some ideas of what I thought I wanted. I told her that I trusted her judgement and would try on anything twice. When I put on “the one” I told my mom and sister not to make a face or say a word until I got the mirror to see for myself. I cried. Then my mom cried. Then my sister cried. Then I said yes! 🙂 I had originally not wanted tulle, but it’s a good thing I told my Celia I would try anything, because my dress ended up being tulle!”

As if that didn’t pull at your heart strings – see what Alethia had to say about how they treated her at the White Room! “[They] had a wide selection for all body types and were very attentive and honest. We had to drive my dress to New Hampshire from Nashville, and they stayed after closing to help us pack the dress safely for our trip.” So Nashville brides – this is your go to wedding dress store!

Speaking of trusting her judgement, Alethia put her full trust in us as her photography/wedding planning/anything and everything she needed team and it definitely showed in her photos. We asked her what her general advice and photography-related advice would be to other couples planning their weddings. “Pick early on what means the most to you, spend your money there, and arrange everything else in your budget around that. (My advice–spend it on photos and hire Jess).” Haha!! That is a really good point though – as a bride you need to choose what your “top 3” are as they like to call it in the planning industry. That is where you focus your efforts on with respect to time and budget. Okay, so what about photography? “My advice, at least when working specifically with Jess and her team, is to TRUST THEM. You are paying good money for incredible work. Let them do it! If you force something it will look just that way–forced. Be yourselves! Jess CLEARLY does her job well, so let her. Tune out everyone else except Jess and her voice only (maybe Lauren or Erin, too if needed). Ignore the cell phones. Seriously. Don’t let cell phones ruin your photos!!!!!”

The wedding went off without a hitch! The reception was so much fun! How can someone not enjoy a Greek wedding!? Loon Mountain New Hampshire Greek Wedding JessFoto_0060 Everyone raved about the food with the menu consisting of:

Hors d’Oeuvres: Bacon Wrapped Scallops, Caprese Skewers, Antipasto Display–Fresh Mozzarella, Tomatoes, Roasted Red Peppers, Marinated Artichoke Hearts, Olives, Genoa Salami, Prosciutto, Pesto Grilled Chicken.

Buffet Dinner: Autumn Salad mixed greens, dried cranberries, candied walnuts and feta cheese in a balsamic dressing, Grilled Asparagus drizzled with a balsamic reduction, Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Grilled Salmon topped with your choice of lemon caper butter, Cajun rub, or a chutney glaze, Chateaubriand roasted beef tenderloin with a wild mushroom wine sauce or horseradish sauce.

Ummm. YUM!

Alethia and John danced their first dance to “Everything,” by Michael Bublé. Alethia and her father danced to “My Little Girl,” by Tim McGraw. Are you wondering what Alethia’s favorite moment was from her wedding? “Plate smashing? Dancing? The gondola ride? My husband’s dance moves? My photographers stunting? BECOMING JOHN’S WIFE!! My dance with my dad? My mom’s excitement? The after party in the hotel bar? The after party in our suite until 4am? Are you forcing me to pick just one?!” Definitely sounds like she had a miserable time. 😉

The whole day was amazing. Join me in wishing these two a happily ever after. Without further adieu, Mr. and Mrs. Melia!