Autumn in Vermont offers a particular sense of magic, one that compels people from all over the U.S. to experience it for themselves. Among the many visitors are brides and grooms who see the miles of rolling hills and mountains enveloped in shades of orange and red as a picture-perfect setting for their Fall-focused weddings. 

If there is anyone who knows how best to set up a complimentary display to this Autumn wonderland it’s local planner, Maricela Ehmann. Working together with a talented team of local Vermont vendors, Ehmann headed up the extraordinary styled shoot we are sharing on today’s post. Read our interview with her and the shoot’s photographer, Mei Lin Barral below:

DID: How did this styled shoot first get started?
Mei Lin Barral: “Maricela Ehmann of Ehmann Events initiated the shoot to showcase a new property her company is managing. As a new wedding venue, Des Marais Farm needed stock images for marketing materials and content for social media.”

DID: What was the inspiration for the theme/style of the shoot? How did the location of the shoot influence it?
Maricela Ehmann: “The Farm was the inspiration for the shoot. We were lucky enough that the timing would line up with Peak Foliage in this area of Vermont. The countryside was on fire with color! It was easy to gear the color scheme to fit.  As for the brunch theme, we wanted to offer options for couples that would be out of the box but also be easily adjusted for the COVID 19 Pandemic. A brunch wedding would allow flexibility for a smaller guest list and to get creative with other details.”

DID: Tell us about the reception look. What elements were included and why? 
Maricela Ehmann: “The reception was a brunch theme, creatively curated for the COVID 19 Pandemic. We kept the guest count low and Chef Vicky built a sample menu with individual small plates. This would allow every guest to have a little of everything. Not to mention she also matched the color scheme, a designer’s dream come true!

The smaller guest count also allowed the Floral Designer, Michelle Boleski, to fill the center of the communal table with florals in coordinating fall colors and she added accents to the couple’s chairs with greenery. Our calligrapher added a touch of whimsy in all the paper goods and made sure to include Latinx names in the escort cards to coincide with our gorgeous Latina model, Christa.

We started with a coffee bar with Brio Drip Coffee and cold brews then switched over to a mimosa bar. Top the entire scene with cafe lights to make it simply irresistible.”

DID: How did the team of vendors work together?
Maricela Ehmann: “The vendors all worked together beautifully. For many of us, this was the first time doing some creative work during the COVID 19 Pandemic. We all had safety in mind and wore masks and gave each other the space needed to feel comfortable. I shared a creative brief for the shoot and had the vendor team provide creative and logistical insight. From rentals to floral and stationery to food and cake, this shoot was beautifully coordinated (and captured).”

DID: What was your favorite part of the shoot and why?
Mei Lin Barral: “My favorite part was seeing all the specificity Maricela designed. Especially seeing Latinx names on the place settings; it’s an arguably small detail for a wedding inspiration event, but I love that couples could see this and potentially see themselves in all aspects.”

Maricela Ehmann: “I feel our diverse backgrounds, ages and professions added to a variety of points of view that came together as a beautiful shoot showcasing the spectacular color show that is Fall in Vermont. It is not a simple task to find culturally diverse vendors in New England but certainly worth the effort to seek them out!”

Vendors: Photographer: Mei Lin Barral Photography; Event Planner: Ehmann Events; Floral Designer: Petals; Event Venue: Des Marais Farm, Swallow’s Nest; Makeup Artist: Heather Garrow Studios; Dress Designer: Morning Lavender; Model: Christa Guzman; Equipment Rentals: Vermont Tent Company; Invitation Designer: Wander on Words; Caterer: Lian Catering; Bakery: Gourmet Provence; Drone Photos: Caleb Kenna Photography