Our dark and romantic winter wedding

Feb 12

Every once in a while, you just get lucky. The stars align, God smiles down and you meet a person that you know if going to change your life.

The moment we met was one of these once-in-a-whiles.

We didn’t want to waste any time, and within a year and a half found ourselves at the alter.

Our wedding was really the first project we completed together - and what a project it was!

Originally planned even earlier for Labor Day Weekend, the peak season stress on our vendors and our budget forced us to reconsider. In keeping with our parents’ anniversaries (coincidentally both in February), we decided to embrace Vermont’s seasonality and throw a dark and romantic winter wedding.

Our colors were Valentine's themed, with a dark, sultry twist. Burgundy, deep purple, and plums ruled the palette, accented by bright reds and pinks.

For our venue, we chose the iconic First Unitarian Universalist Society of Burlington - better known as the Church Street church! We felt welcomed and all our beliefs and values were honored in the ceremony. We took advantage of the video streaming option they made possible for services during the pandemic so that our friends and loved ones could view the ceremony from all over the globe. The organ lent a royal air to the ceremony.

Bride standing outside the church, winter backdrop — Feeling regal

Standing outside the church after the ceremony, the bride beams with joy.

Our reception was just around the corner at the Hilton Burlington Waterfront. Our guests got to enjoy the beautiful sunset over gorgeous views of Lake Champlain as the wedding party took photos outside the church.

The hotel provided lots of meal options, but since we had so many kids as guests, we opted for mini sliders, French fries, and a Mediterranean buffet for its ability to cater to different food sensitivities and preferences.

The food was a big hit!

We’d like to give a special thanks to the Hilton staff for working with us to revise the menu numerous times to help guests with dietary restrictions.

After dinner, our DJ cranked up the tunes and everybody hit the dance floor! We had a mix of rock-and-roll, hip-hop, R&B (of course!), and some traditional African beats. With such an eclectic guest list, the DJ had his hands full!
For dessert, we wanted to provide the many kids with a variety of cupcake options, as you can see here. The kids loved it and many adults also had one with their after-dinner tea and coffee.
The cake itself was melt-in-your-mouth gooey-delish chocolate orange mousse with jam filling.
After cake and coffee, it was time to feel all the feelings when the Best Man and Maid of Honor gave their speeches.
After that, the Bride tossed her bouquet and it was time for another round of dancing!

As the night grew on and the kids became sleepy, it was time to wish everyone goodnight with a sparkler send-off — the photos turned out great. Check out the photo gallery and be sure to scroll through our list of vendors, below.