Riverside Farm Vermont

Fabulous Super 8 Wedding Video

2012-02-08T10:02:00.000-08:00

Here's a gorgeous Super 8 video from our friends at "Hello Super 8" - making modern films with vintage cameras:)

Click this link to view:
http://hellosuper8.com/blog/text/13454951

Cara & Andrew's super 8 wedding film: Riverside Farm in Pittsfield, VT

"Where do I start? This celebration encompassed everything I love about weddings. A perfect (very warm!) fall day. An incredible rustic farm setting. Pretty details. Great style. Yummy food. A fun-loving group of family and friends. An awesome band. Some raucous dancing. And a truly lovely couple, madly in love. Cara & Drew's day was perfection, plain and simple.

To experience a bit of the magic, please enjoy their film highlights..." --Super 8

Shannon & Colm's Save the Date

2012-01-18T13:54:00.000-08:00

Something tells us this wedding with Shannon & Colm will have some unique touches:) Looking forward to all the planning and celebrating in 2012!

Sara and Ben's Wedding

2012-01-09T10:09:00.000-08:00

Enjoy this beautiful slideshow (love the song) by photographer Sabin Gratz (one of our most favorite Vermont photographers!). It's really lovely. Just the thing to inspire all of our 2012 brides...

Thanks Sara & Ben - we LOVE the photos!

xoxoxo
click here to view:
http://www.sabingratzweddings.com/shows/spera_slideshow/index.html

Loving the Holiday Season

2011-12-16T12:06:00.000-08:00

We just adore this time of year. Everything is so peaceful and the nights are cold but the fires are so cozy and warm. There's fewer events lately and more time spent at home. We are making lots of soups and enjoying the company of friends and family (and skiing as much as possible). We look back on this past year and reflect on all the love and happiness that came through our little Vermont farm... and the dancing and laughing and toasting and tears of joy that we get to witness as couples take that leap of faith together in marriage. It's pretty incredible what we get to be a part of... and we are grateful for the opportunity.

We always think of our couples and know they must be loving the excitement of their first holiday season together. They are busy choosing which of their stunning wedding photos to print as gifts and sending holiday cards to everyone (just after they finished the thank you notes! lol). And most of all just basking in the glow of post wedding bliss. It's a wonderful time of year.

As we close out 2011 we look forward to meeting all of our 2012 folks ands getting down to wedding planning.... but for now we will enjoy this downtime and love sitting by the fire and reading a good book:)

Thank you to everyone for coming to Riverside Farm and making this one of the greatest places in the world (or at least in Vermont)
to get married...

xoxoxo Courtney & Liz

Rachel & John's wedding featured on Blueberry Weddings!

2011-11-29T10:05:00.000-08:00

We are so excited to see that Rachel & John's wedding was featured on the chic wedding blog- "Blue berry Weddings".

Click here to see the article

http://www.blueberryweddings.com/a-love-that-lasts

From Riverside Farm....
What a lovely wedding this was... such a fun-loving crowd and a gorgeous couple. They chose a rustic country fall theme with natural autumn colors and plenty of lanterns, candles, heirloom pumpkins and mums. Their wedding ceremony took place in the Red Barn and was very unique - they wove hand-fasting and native american rituals into their vows and a very special uncle married them. I love when that happens. These photos will speak for themselves. Thank you to the Watts and Black families for choosing Riverside Farm in which to host this unforgettable wedding weekend. We LOVE these images from photographer David Coleman and you will too... Rachel you look so beautiful!

Jessica & Jamie's September Wedding

2011-11-16T04:11:00.000-08:00

Jess & Jamie's September wedding was really elegant and beautiful. Jess, an event planner from Boston, has a great eye for detail and she created the perfect setting for her "vintage" autumn wedding.
This was one of those weddings that we truly looked forward to seeing how it all came together. And it did. It was a fabulous weekend. She chose to host an intimate Rehearsal dinner in the stone room with chocolate colored silk linens and covered the room with sunflowers and candles- gorgeous! And the wedding day was stunning too. A lovely ceremony in the Red Barn followed by dinner and dancing in the Stonewell Barn. The guests enjoyed seeing the different event spaces throughout Riverside Farm- and felt right at home :) We love that. And we LOVED this wedding. Congrats to Jess & Jamie. xoxoxo

Hi Liz,

I wanted to say thank you for everything and for making Jessie and Jamie's weekend so magical at Riverside. Jess was glowing on Saturday and everything was exactly how she has dreamt it for the last year!

Thank you,
Lauren Cotter
Maid of Honor

More Pix of Jocelyn's Gorgeous Wedding!

2011-11-07T07:47:00.000-08:00

A chuppah (Hebrew: חוּפָּה‎, pl. חוּפּוֹת, chuppot, literally, "canopy" or "covering"), also huppah, chupah, or chuppa, is a canopy under which a Jewish couple stand during their wedding ceremony. It consists of a cloth or sheet, sometimes a tallit, stretched or supported over four poles, or sometimes manually held up by attendants to the ceremony. A chuppah symbolizes the home that the couple will build together. While a Jewish marriage is still considered valid in the absence of a chuppah,^{[citation needed]} a chuppah is still considered a basic requirement for a Jewish wedding.

Jocelyn & Steven's late summer ceremony

2011-11-07T07:40:00.000-08:00

As our temperatures drop and we wake up to fresh snow or frost each morning... we have been dreaming of warmer days here at Riverside Farm. And looking at Jocelyn & Steven's gorgeous wedding pictures of the bright green meadows and lush mountains... we are reminded of summer and warmer days. They chose the lower meadow as their backdrop and you'll see the lovely view and the intimate space they created. We loved this ceremony:) The shade from the trees covered the guests and added to their comfort in the warm August sun... Here are some photos from our "staff" photographer- lol- the "real" ones will be coming soon! ENjoy!

First Snow of the Winter...

2011-11-02T13:53:00.000-07:00

Last week we woke up to fresh powder everywhere (before Halloween!) ... it reminds us that the heavy snow will be flying soon and ski season is upon us. The air is so crisp and sweet with smokey chimneys and the sky so blue and clear while the trees are still clinging to the bright fall colors... It's a lovely time of year here in Vermont.

Pittsfield Pumpkins

2011-10-31T07:44:00.000-07:00

Happy Halloween! It's chilly here today in Pittsfield and the kids around town are all excited for the trick or treating on the Village Green.... FUN!

October Foliage

2011-10-21T07:53:00.000-07:00

Looking right outside our front door, it's easy to see all the gorgeous colors of fall. We are loving all the bright golds and fiery oranges and reds... We LOVE autumn.

Winter is an etching, spring a watercolor, summer an oil painting and autumn a mosaic of them all. ~Stanley Horowitz

Pittsfield in Autumn '11

2011-10-16T05:47:00.000-07:00

Get ready to look at a lot of photos! If you're wondering what Pittsfield, Vermont looks like these days (post flood)- Not to worry! There is life all over this little town and the beauty of autumn has flooded the windy dirt roads of Lower and Upper Michigan Roads and the Village Green is bright with colors... still a quaint, lovely New England town dotted with lush green farms, country farmhouses and old barns.. and newly paved roads and bridges as well! When you're coming to Pittsfield you'll see that we are safe and sound... here's some photos from mid October... enjoy!

The hilarious Duck Family that lives at the Amee Farm pond:)

Wedding planner Liz Cotter touring an engaged couple:)

Swiss Farm Inn- Worlds Best Breakfast!

Just next door to the Amee Farm Lodge

Pittsfield Garden Center... best kept secret in Vermont for Wedding Floral Design. Trish Hegewald is amazing...

Her shop where Trish works her magic

Don't let the country look fool you... she's got fabric, chandeliers and lanterns and all sorts of tricks up her sleeve to make Riverside Farm weddings come alive!

Rent Kayacks from Moondog next door to the General Store!

Yummy sandwiches at the Pitt Stop

Yum!

The Amee Farm Lodge

The Casabella Inn... great B&B

If you're coming to visit Riverside Farm... check out these other great spots in town!
The Amee Farm (north side of town- beautiful VT Inn and farm, green house, farmstand & bike trails- say hi to Russell & Elizabeth)
The Original General Store (sweet old fashioned country store with great food & stuff to buy- say hi to Devan & Kim & Andrew)
The Kayack King- Kayack rentals!
The Pitt Stop (gas station & great deli & VT Stuff- say hi to Joyce & Roger)
Casabella Inn (charming B&B right next to the General Store)
Swiss Farm Inn (cozy B&B right next to Amee Farm= awesome breakfast!)
Bikram Yoga Studio (say hi to Liz)
Pittsfield Garden Center (Trish Hegewald is the best kept floral design secret in Vermont!)
The Clear River Tavern (great local bar- say hi to Doug & Jason!)
The Village Green and everything in between:

Local Firefighter's Wedding Featured in Vermont Vows!

2011-10-14T09:52:00.000-07:00

We are so proud to have been a part of Brian and Del Rae's wedding adventure:) These guys had an out of town wedding planned a couple weeks after the flood of Irene... needless to say, with roads and bridges severely damaged, travel was difficult. Also, considering most of the groomsman were on the Pittsfield Vol Fire Dept, they felt uneasy taking them all out of town for the night... And we had rescheduled our wedding that weekend because our guests couldn't get INTO Pittsfield... So it just made sense and was a bright spot in an otherwise gloomy time.
Everyone in the community was trying as hard as they could to pull it off. Local vendors and friends jumped in and the wedding was a beautiful event. Looking back, this wedding will be one we will never forget and we are so proud that we had an opportunity to give something back to the Pittsfield Fire Dept and Brian & Del Rae for all they had given to our town. It was such a wonderful party and celebration of Pittsfield:)

Folks we want to thank for such an amazing wedding!

Brian & Del Rae and their families
Pittsfield Volunteer Fire Department (most of the groomsman are on the crew)
Pittsfield Garden Center - provided floral design: Trish Hegewald is amazing.
Nichole Baxter - photography
Sharon Meyer - event coordination:
Swiss Farm Inn - provided catering: Joyce & Roger Stevens
The Clear River Tavern - provided beverage service: Kim & Jason Evans & Doug:) FUN
Tweed River Video - provided a gorgeous video of the entire day - Thanks Marion Abrams

Check out this link for the entire story!
http://www.vtvows.com/blog/real-weddings/real-wedding-delrae-brian-love-overcomes-hurricane-irene

Elana & Michael's Vintage Summer Wedding- August 6th

2011-10-07T11:30:00.000-07:00

Elana and Michael's early August wedding on the farm was bursting with color and joyful emotion. Their gorgeous ceremony took place in the meadow on a warm misty summer day surrounded by their closest friends and family. It was a fabulous weekend overall and you will LOVE the way they created the homespun vibe of the Stonewell Barn (photos at the end). Michael's Mexican heritage was celebrated with the beautiful handmade ceiling decorations. And they chose long "kings" tables to encourage the family style dining. The floral design was beautiful... courtesy of Trish Hegewald at the Pittsfield Garden Center:) Occasions Catering as always did a fantastic job as well!

Here's some pix of an ideal summer wedding...photos from Riverside Farm photographer :) The 'real' professional photos will come out soon... enjoy!

family wedding portrait inspired the bridal party as they got ready in the Bridal Suite

Amazing makeup layout by Vivian Infantino and Kara Stickney

chilling out behind the bridal suite...

fun lavender sachet favors

Setting up the ceremony in the meadow:)

August is a great time to get married in Vermont... so green and warm and lush. Can't beat it

Adorable wedding party and flower girls....

Loved this little guy too!

Check him out! So cute

Elana is LOVELY!

Liz Cotter and her new camera... wooohoo!

Event Planner to the Stars!

Mike rocked a bow tie

And some bold color!

Moments before the ceremony.... the bridal party gathered in the Red Barn

Long way to the big city

And the Groom and his parents are heading down the "aisle", kicking off the ceremony

the beautiful bride

the procession...

flower girls

little red wagon for my buddy :)

not too shabby

Red Barn in August

Love this one

this could be you:)

the guests are invited to the upper meadow for cocktails, music and good times:)

they stroll by the white barn

and they stroll through the parking area..they are drawn to the music coming from the upper meadow:)

Wonderful Rabbi.. hope to see them again!

Gorgeous

bright colorful flowers in bloom all over the Stonewell Barn and cocktail hour

cocktails

chalkboard menu

type writer for guests to leave messages:)

The periodic seating chart...very clever

fun fun fun...the barn felt very light and airy with these homemade Mexican decorations all over the beams...

Mismatched fun Vintage napkins and salt shakers (groom's own collection) on the tables

who doesn't love their own box of chocolates?

doves

amor

What Weather Can Do - Poem by John Oliver

2011-10-06T11:13:00.000-07:00

- for Brian and Julia on their wedding day (Pittsfield, VT 9-24-2011)

In Whatever Weather

I have seen what weather can do.

I have clear memories

of hot summer swimming mornings

with Brian in the gorge,

of the two of us basking,

lizard-like on rocks,

of the riverwater, icy clean and glorious,

running off us in droplets

and evaporating like every care

I had ever had.

The august humidity has baked

these mornings into me,

these moments of peace

with my friend.

Just to think of them reminds me

that I love him.

This is some of what weather can do.

And now come with me

to one of the few and fleeting times

I have ever truly known the color blue.

Think of Spring,

of that first ecstatic day

when the grip of winter’s

frozen fingers finally slips

and boom – with a sudden gasp

the world is nothing but birds

and buds and blooms.

Purples, yellows, ever imaginable green.

Now follow the sound of laughter across

a stone patio to Julia,

perhaps the first time I have ever met her,

amd watch her head tip back with the type

of smile that’s impossible in winter,

alive, bright, open

like every other blooming spring thing.

Look at her eyes turned upward,

teaching the sky to remember blue.

Yes. I have seen what weather can do.

But, too,

I have seen cold seep

into the hearts of growing trees

and have watched them burst

from the inside out.

I have gotten lost in blizzards,

and fog.

I have watched it rain,

and rain, and rain

until the very earth is

eaten away, and houses

are cracked open

and let to run on the ground

like broken eggs.

Yes. I have seen what weather can do.

And so have these two.

They have watched each other’s backs grow strong again.

They have held each other’s hands.

They have built a home, a shelter, a life.

They have built a love that stands,

no matter what weather can do.

Do you see how the looks they give each other

let in the light?

Do you feel how their mutual care

keeps out the cold?

Do you notice how the bricks

of their intelligence, creativity,

and generosity are cemented with

a mortar made of their own mashed-up

and acknowledged faults?

Even now, they have us here gathered

under their compassionate roof.

That noise is Julia doing goofy walks

in the kitchen and Brian laughing over

the soup.

Yes. In whatever weather,

I have seen what love can do.

Thank you, you two.

I am humbled, and awed.

Thank you.

Written by John Milton Oliver

John Milton Oliver is a writer, teacher, and dear friend of Brian and Julia's living in Vermont. If you have a poem to share or would like to reproduce this poem (or many others), please email him at johnmiltonoliver@gmail.com.

"Thank you people of Pittsfield for your courage and care and generous hearts. Our thoughts are with you."

The Wedding of Brian & Julia

2011-10-05T15:29:00.000-07:00

Brian and Julia hosted such a fantastic wedding a few weekends ago... It was the first wedding (welcoming guests from out of town) since Hurricane Irene and it was truly something special. This couple is based out of Middlebury, VT and are especially connected with Vermont and their wedding will always be in our hearts. Their family and friends are so supportive and amazing - we are honored to be the chosen venue to host ning wedding.

Their wedding day: A private ceremony in the Stoneroom surrounded by candles and a roaring fire... their favorite yoga teacher officiated the ceremony and their closest friend wrote a poem that was so touching and significant... it was unforgettable.

Their reception was held in the Stonewell Barn (photos at the end of collection)- all the beams were covered in candles and hanging chandeliers. They dined on long "king's tables" and it was a fabulous "harvest meal"... so beautiful. Cronin Hill Photography did an amazing job covering the weekend's events! Enjoy!

The day began with a yoga class in the Red Barn!

Ceremony Rehearsal

2011-10-04T10:42:00.000-07:00

Brian and Julia's ceremony rehearsal and dinner in the Red Barn... such a lovely night:)One of the last really warm evenings of summerish-fall. Such a mello evening, great food, great music..great people. These pictures from Cronin Hill (mass. photographer) say it all.

Our lovely wedding & events director...Liz Cotter.

Practicing the "walk"

Happy Mom:)

Officiated by Prem Prekesh... an amazing yogi.guru :)

need we say more... this wedding was a grooovy!

lovely

beautiful

Happy mom:)

s'mores

s'mores expert

goodbeye summer...

Brian & Julia's Photoshoot

2011-09-29T09:26:00.000-07:00

Last weekend we enjoyed the company of Brian and Julia and their friends and family who came to celebrate their wedding here in Pittsfield. It was stunning actually. So many incredible photos to come courtesy of Cronin Hill Photography (Mass.). Here are their pre-wedding photos taken here at Riverside Farm. As you can see the colors of the mountains have begun to pop leaves are scattered on the lush grounds and Fall is definitely in the air:)

This is our favorite time of year. Beautiful!

September 10th Wedding: "Symbol of New Beginning"

2011-09-12T07:28:00.000-07:00

We are so proud to have hosted such a lovely wedding for local Pittsfield Fire Department Officer, Brian Merrill and his new wife Del'Rae this past weekend. The weather was amazing - a perfect September day and we were so excited to see the whole event come together so beautifully.

After a couple of weeks of rebuilding and cleaning up after the storm everyone in Pittsfield was ready to celebrate. An article was written in the local paper about the groom's excellent job as a firefighter during the storm and this special wedding and the way the town Pittsfield came together after the flood....and here's an excerpt...

"The wedding symbolized a new beginning and an appropriate thank you to the Merrills (and all volunteers)." Brian Merrill shrugged off the compliments. "One person couldn't have done it without everyone working together, without putting any differences aside and working together, " he said "This town will never be the same. It will be 10 times stronger than ever."

Brian and Del'Rae had their wedding ceremony in Pittsfield's Federated Church and fittingly, one of the readings from their wedding that pastor Howard Gunter read aloud was from the Song of Solomon which includes the words, “the rains are over and gone.”

After the ceremony, the entire wedding party was driven over in a tractor straight to our Stonewell Barn (the big wedding barn) where tons of mason jars and lanterns with candles greeted the guests. It was the perfect combination of "rustic elegance". The bride wore a beautiful strapless dress and the bridesmaids wore long black gowns and carried sunflowers and hydrangeas. Gorgeous!

It was such a wonderful celebration for our whole town and considering so many of the groomsman were on the Pittsfield Volunteer Fire Dept... there were all kinds of firetrucks from Pittsfield and surrounding towns there to create a memorable entrance. Sirens and cheering- It was so much fun!

Thanks to local wedding coordinator Sharon Mayer and RF's Liz Cotter, Jason and Doug from The Clear River Tavern, Tweed River Video, Trish Hegewald from the Pittsfield Garden Center and Joyce and Roger Stevens from The Swiss Farm Inn (and so many more) for all their contributions to the wedding... we are sooo looking forward to the video and the photos!

'

photos by Barb Wood, Yvonne Daley, Cronin Hill

Marc & Janina's Wedding Weekend

2011-09-07T13:15:00.000-07:00

Every wedding we do here at Riverside Farm is special but we can tell you that THIS wedding will go down in history:) Here's some beautiful photos by amazing photographer Jennifer Sosa (love her and her adorable assistant!).

Thank you Marc & Janina for all your love and support and for an incredible week together!
xoxoxox

Click here to view the pix!
http://www.jennifersosablog.com/stranded-in-vermont-janinamarc-preview/

And yes... we finally DID make the Huffington Post but perhaps not the way we had always hoped:)
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/30/vermont-flooding-wedding-helicopter_n_942756.html

And CBS flew a helicopter into Pittsfield to interview Marc & Janina (thanks guys for all the great things you had to say about our town and the work you did- unforgettable).
http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2011/08/30/brooklyn-newlyweds-marc-and-janina-leibowitz-wedding-guests-stranded-in-vermont/

CNN
http://articles.cnn.com/2011-08-30/us/vermont.town.flooding_1_fire-station-gas-pumps-general-store?_s=PM:US

http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-665150?ref=feeds/oncnn

Pittsfield Hurricane Relief Fund

2011-09-03T09:35:00.000-07:00

Riverside Farm was incredibly lucky during Hurricane Irene and not to worry, we are back to hosting amazing weddings:)

Thank you so much for all the LOVE & SUPPORT from friends & family asking what they can do for Pittsfield. Our church started a foundation called "Pittsfield Hurricane Relief" and our neighbor created a website overnight where you can donate greatly needed money to rebuilding our town. FEMA is doing what it can but it's going to be a long road and winter for many residents of Pittsfield. If you love this town like we do- please show your support in 2 ways.
1. Make an online donation and tell us what Pittsfield means to you.
2. Get this donation link viral (post on facebook and email everyone)

Please send a paypal donation and in the "Special Instructions for Seller" section write how you KNOW/LOVE Pittsfield. We want to know if you were a vacationer, wedding guest, bride, groom or racer... any note you want to leave is going to be read by us so please tell us your story. We want to know who to THANK and we wouldn't ask unless we really needed it.
Donate Here:
http://www.pittsfieldhurricanerelief.org

Cronin Hill Photography - Kylie & David's Engagement Shoot on The Farm

2011-07-31T07:44:00.000-07:00

Having lived in Vermont while attending Middlebury College, Kylie and David seem right at home at Riverside Farm.

And a few hours before their guests arrived to their Friday night "welcome party" in the Red Barn... Kylie and David strolled the property and took these beautiful photos in some of our most scenic areas... they chose the covered bridge and the lower meadow as their backdrop. You can see how comfortable yet radiant the couple are... the photographers Cronin Hill have a way of getting such "unstaged and natural" pictures... we always look forward to seeing their work.

We'll show you the photos from the rest of their stunning wedding soon... this one was certainly one to remember!

Photobooth Fun at The Lawson Wedding

2011-07-31T07:27:00.000-07:00

All of our weddings at Riverside Farm can enjoy the vintage photo booth during the wedding reception... how fun.

Please note: All names and truly embarrassing photos have been with held to protect the innocent:) And while each guest is free to hop in, have their picture taken and walk away with a lovely printout of their six pix... the bride and groom get a full cd of every photo that is captured. It's pretty great.

July 2nd Kid's Olympics -Morning of Sarah & Ian's Wedding Day

2011-07-09T06:48:00.000-07:00

So the morning of the wedding we hosted a young crowd of athletes and the groom, "Uncle Ian" mc'd the "Kid's Olympics"... it consisted of blue skies, warm weather, red, white and blue everything, potato sack races, wheel barrow racing, egg on a spoon race, three legged race and lots more silliness... my personal favorite was the "Pinwheel Sprint" where the kids ran around the wedding tree (aka kissing tree) with their shiny new pinwheels spinning... that was epic. Everyone earned a gold medal and it was a great time for everyone (especially the parents who appreciated a fun activity designed for the youngest wedding guests).