A Nature-Inspired Winter Wedding at Mountain Top Resort in Chittenden, VT | Olivia and Myles
It was like stepping into a slow globe when I arrived on-scene at Olivia and Myles’ wedding, which was every bit a nature-inspired, winter wedding at Mountain Top Resort in Chittenden, VT.
Selecting a February wedding date with the hope of scoring snow, they landed not only that—but also a winter weather advisory. 🥲 It was a true wintry day, the temperature on my dash reading 6°F when I arrived and -4°F when I left, but it was like a frozen fairytale—powdery, snow drifting through the air, icicles catching the sunlight, and the whole landscape glittering like crystalline.
Needless to say, Olivia—an avid snowboarder and through-and-through snow bunny—struck gold when she opted for a Vermont winter wedding, which trust me, is a thing.
She and Myles dreamt of a wedding day that felt hushed, heightened, and immersive, blanketed in snow and quieted by nature, and that’s exactly what they found at Mountain Top Resort. Between the stunning scenery and the stillness of the landscape around them, their day felt less like a formal, buttoned-up “event,” but more like a relaxing, retreat-like getaway. It had that same intentional feel I’ve experienced at other destination weddings, such as Gigi and Alex’s formal, faith-based wedding.
There’s something truly euphoric about a Vermont winter wedding. It’s a destination that feels equal parts quiet and cozy, yet luminous and grandiose, making it not just a gorgeous backdrop for a wedding, but more of a serene, feel-good atmosphere. A place where each breath swirls into soft, smoke-like wisps in the bitter cold and boots crunch along snowy pathways, Vermont practically beckons couples to become husband and wife atop its mountain peaks.
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Olivia and Myles’ venue of choice, Mountain Top Resort, is perched high in the Green Mountains of central Vermont and is nestled among a secluded, quintessential pocket of New England.
Characterized by rolling peaks, frozen lakes, and forested trails, it’s a landscape that is tranquil and tucked-away, and is honestly the perfect wedding destination for any snow lover.
The resort lodge sat tucked into the hillside like a cozy companion to winter, its warm, tawny wood glowing with a rich, golden-honey tone against a world washed in white. Snow blanketed every roofline in thick, pillowy layers, softening the angles of the structure—while long, glassy icicles formed along the eaves, catching what little daylight filtered through the overcast sky.
Around the property, evergreens stood at command, their pine needles dusted in fresh snow, and leading up to the lodge were neatly stacked and half-buried wood piles, creating an ambiance of warmth and comfort.
There was a stillness to it all, and it didn’t just look like a snow globe—it felt like one, too. Every surface shimmered, every edge rimmed in frost and ebbing sunlight, and the entire scene was wrapped in that hushed, glistening calm that only a Vermont winter wedding can deliver.
Olivia gathered with her Mom, sister, and honorary MOH at Sunrise Retreat for getting ready photos. A cabin that boasts floor-to-ceiling windows, it was a bright, airy space with soft natural light flooding the room, and it framed the snowy landscape just beyond. Its design leaned clean and minimal with subtle rustic touches, and it was the perfect place for Olivia to slip into her gown and complete her finishing touches.
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Wearing Sottero and Midgley’s Narissa dress, a Chantilly lace, A-line gown customized to include a scalloped sweetheart neckline and long sleeves, Olivia was the picture of a snow bride.
She donned her Swarovski Constella Drop Earrings and Swarovski Constella Necklace, slipped into her white leather, fur-lined, block-heeled ankle boots, and was ready for her winter wonderland of a day. Her bouquet felt nature-inspired and organic, a textural mix of winter greenery, pinecones, waxflower, eucalyptus—as though it had been gathered straight from the woods themself—and between her hand warmers and champagne-toned faux fur shawl (which had the sweetest hidden pockets, might I add), she was a vision of wintry elegance. 🥹
Keeping things traditional and forgoing a first look, Olivia and Myles readied themselves for their ceremony, which for them was the most important part of the day.
In fact, on our very first consultation call, Olivia shared with me how their Christian faith was the bedrock of their relationship and that it would be the anthem of their wedding as well. They approached their ceremony with intention, desiring it to feel worshipful, meaningful, and reflective of the deeper, truer meaning of marriage—the Gospel. (If you’re drawn to Christ-centered celebrations like this, you might also love Mackenna and Dean’s breathtaking, Gospel-oriented wedding.)
Olivia and Myles recognize that marriage is an exclusive, lifelong covenant that echoes Christ’s love for His church, and that it points to something beyond companionship or intimacy alone, instead telling a greater story—one of God’s redemptive plan, set in motion before time, revealed through Jesus Christ, and ultimately fulfilled in the marriage supper to come. (Praise! 🙌🏼) I loved that they kept this theme central to their ceremony, which reminded me of so many other Biblically sound weddings, such as Nicole and Truett’s elegant Nashville wedding.
In keeping with the nature-inspired spirit of their day, Olivia and Myles were married beneath a circular arbor of evergreens—an organic weave of pine, cedar, winding branches, and blue-gray juniper berries done by Meadows Edge Floral, which mirrored the surrounding woods just beyond their venue.
They layered in a string ensemble to play quiet love songs, a Bible guestbook for loved ones to leave handwritten prayers and verses of encouragement, and a Christian officiant to lead them in a Christ-centered, Scripture-breathed ceremony (who deserves a noteworthy mention for traveling all the way from Long Island for their day!)
Olivia and Myles’ ceremony was intentional and prayerful, culminating in the passing of their rings through their 55 guests, each one invited to pray over them. They were totally surrounded by loved ones who had traveled from near and far, some journeying over 1,500 miles to witness such a meaningful moment, and not a single guest called Vermont home. From Nashville, TN to Miami, FL, from nieces and nephews to co-workers, their people showed up in every sense—present, supportive, and wholeheartedly there for Olivia and Myles.
Following their ceremony, Olivia, Myles, and I moved outdoors for their formal wedding portraits—and let me tell ya, it was freezing.
With subzero wind chills, “feels like” temps at –15°, and frostbite risk advisories clocking in at ~10–20 minutes, we grinned and bore it as best we could, leaning into the beauty and setting our faces to the cold. (Though, if we’re being honest, we were fully roughing it. 😂 Between me and the videographers—Melissa and Karim of Forever Love Films—we were sliding around on the icy, packed down snow like Bambi. 😅)
Despite the bitter weather, the landscape was so breathtaking that it literally commanded our attention—raw and untamed, fierce and windswept, feeling like the kind of winter grandeur that you might expect in a place as wild and fearsome as Alaska.
(If you adore this kind of scenery-driven storytelling, you’ll love my approach to landscape-forward photography.) A thick, untouched blanket of snow softened the world beneath our feet, while towering evergreens stood like quiet sentinels, their branches bowed and frosted, guarding the stillness.
As if Jack Frost himself had swept through just moments before, snow flurries drifted and danced around us—light, restless, and ever-moving. The air carried a crisp, biting edge, and the wind lifted the snowfall in soft swirls—like a veil being stirred—creating a landscape that felt both hushed and wildly alive all at once.
Olivia had shared with me upfront that being in front of the camera made her and Myles feel a little uncomfortable, so knowing they were more on the introverted side, I set out to create a laid-back, pressure-free experience from the start.
I wanted them to feel at home in front of my lens, and I’m a huge advocate of easing into things and creating a down-to-earth photo environment. I like to guide my couples just enough so that prompts and poses unfold naturally, bringing even camera-shy grooms out of their shell.
It was this approach that allowed Olivia and Myles to feel relaxed, themselves, and able to enjoy each other—even while in front of the camera. Together, huddled beneath the snow-lined treetops, we embraced warmth-inducing prompts that invited them to move and snuggle into each other. Think: swaying hand-in-hand in a slow dance, spinning round-and-round just because, pulling together for those instinctive forehead kisses, and wrapping up in a tight bear hug to share body heat.
Basically, anything that whispered “hold me, I’m freezing,” was the direction I gave Olivia and Myles lol.
His hand finding her face, her forehead resting into his shoulder, and soft nuzzles before a kiss was their MO. Each moment that followed felt cozy, romantic, and intimate, making it feel like they were the only two people in the world.
Like a veil of ivory draped softly over the entire world, the white winter wonderland expanded around Olivia and Myles, contrasted only by Myles’ classic, yet cool groom style. Wearing a charcoal-black suit with a matching vest, crisp white shirt, and maroon silk tie, he, like Olivia, incorporated a touch of nature in his boutonniere. Evergreen sprigs, a tiny pinecone, and soft, textural blooms dotted his lapel, and he anchored his look with a clean, tapered hair style—a subtle faux-hawk that gave him a total skater-boy-meets-modern-groom edge.
Their nature-inspired, winter wedding was rooted in timelessness and refined elegance, with its crown jewel found in their reception space.
It felt equal parts grand and inviting, complete with long, farmhouse-style tables that lined the room in a family-style layout. Dressed in evergreen garlands and layered with flickering candles, the tables were adorned with glass votives and floating candles that cast the softest, golden glow.
Rustic wooden textures grounded the space—from the tables themselves to the crisscross-backed chairs—and the rich green linens complemented the fresh evergreen accents. Even their cake—a cutesy, nature-forward creation by Sweet Birch Bakery—felt like a natural extension of it all, echoing the same pine-kissed details in the most charming, understated way.
Overhead, sheer white draping softened the exposed beams and metal piping, while strands of twinkle lights zig-zagged above like a canopy of stars.
A glowing chandelier anchored the room, its warmth mirrored in the candlelight below, and suspended greenery installations brought the outdoors in—most notably above the sweetheart table, where a lush hanging arrangement framed the couple in the dreamiest, forest-inspired focal point. Even though their reception space was able to host upwards of 250 guests, every detail worked in harmony to make it feel intimate and cozy for their 55, like a candlelit gathering tucked inside a winter woodland where the cold raged just beyond the walls.
The flow of Olivia and Myles’ reception was seamless and slow-paced—the kind of ending to an already cozy day where guests don’t scatter, but settle in.
From a receiving line to a choreographed first dance, from toasts to roasts to a room full of revelry, every moment was steeped in a fireside level of warmth. Glasses were clinked, drinks were poured (and not just alcoholic, because ya’ll already know I left that place with a coffee fisted in one hand and a hot chocolate in the other 👀), and the celebration softened into something so sweet and connective.
Olivia and Myles’ entire nature-inspired, winter wedding became what I can only describe as a core memory.
A retreat-like experience not just for them, but for every person present, it was a true destination wedding—the kind of occasion that stays with you long after the day ends. (Planning something similar? I’ve rounded up my top 6 Christian wedding vendors for your destination wedding for your faith-inspired wedding day!)
I’m so thankful Olivia and Myles entrusted me to photograph their day, welcomed me into their close-knit crew, and, in the most natural way possible, invited me to celebrate their marriage—all to the glory of God.
Cheers to Olivia and Myles—the kind of snowboard-loving, mountaintop-vow-exchanging, lodge-loving, Killington-mini-mooning souls who made a Vermont winter wedding feel like pure magic. I’m championing you on, now and always, in this life-giving journey called marriage! 🥂🏔️❄️