Heather (Wright) and Brian Vickery

August 21, 2010 | Lilac Inn, Brandon, VT

Wedding Photos Saint Phalle Photography

Brian Vickery swept Heather Wright off her 20 year-old feet during his final weeks at Middlebury College, though fate planted the seeds of their romance years before it blossomed

How We Met:

Early in her freshman year, Heather befriended her baseball-playing dorm mates, who joined Brian on the varsity team that spring. With mutual friends, the two crossed paths in the dining hall, in the classroom, and at social events throughout their three overlapping years, kindling a friendship over time. When Heather’s freshman brother, Justin, joined the team during Brian’s senior season, Heather became a mainstay at home games and baseball-related gatherings. Growing quite fond of the beautiful blonde in the stands, Brian seized the opportunity to showcase his talents (coaching first base in tight fitting pants). With only weeks remaining in his senior year, with permission from Justin, and with courage born from a few of Otter Creek’s finest ales, Brian let his interest be known during a starlit walk, ending the evening with the couple’s first kiss. Just two weeks from Brian’s graduation, neither Brian nor Heather had any notion that their budding romance might last forever.

The Engagement

The couple’s college romance matured into true love over the next four years, culminating with an extended summer vacation on Lake Dunmore prior to Brian’s enrollment in graduate school in the fall. With career and life changes looming, Brian ensured that the most important person in his life would remain by his side. After gaining his future father-in-law’s permission, Brian designed Heather’s engagement ring at Freeman Jewelers in Rutland, the same outlet that crafted her parents’ wedding bands 30 years before. With Freeman’s help, Brian designed a ring that wrapped a stunning family diamond (Heather’s maternal grandmother’s) with Middlebury-blue sapphires. With the ring in hand, Brian invited parents and friends to Dunmore for a late August 2009 weekend, under the auspices of an end-of-the-summer party. The cold Vermont evening necessitated a cozy fire, setting the backdrop for a hearth-side proposal. In front of a surprised audience, most notably Heather, Brian dropped to one knee and asked for Heather’s hand. Through excitement and tears, she nearly forget to say “yes!”

The Wedding

A romance born in Middlebury and an engagement proposal on the shores of Lake Dunmore all but mandated a Vermont wedding, and the couple happily obliged with a Brandon-based affair on August 21, 2010. Guests of the bride and groom filled the picturesque Brandon Inn’s comfy and quaint guest rooms for the weekend, where the groom’s family hosted the rehearsal dinner on Friday night. On Saturday, two-hundred guests witnessed the marriage ceremony at the Brandon Congregational Church, highlighted by two adorable flower girls and a “you may now kiss the bride” kiss that might have made Aubrey Hepburn jealous. Though unknown to many of the wedding guests, ancestors of the bride donated two of the church’s stunning stained-glass windows, and Heather’s wedding represented a truly unique homecoming for many in her family. After the ceremony, a horse and buggy escorted the newlyweds up Park Street to the Lilac Inn, where the bride’s family hosted a memorable evening of food, friendship, and hours upon hours of dancing. At the couple’s request, Brian’s aunt designed and baked a beautiful (and melt-in-your-mouth delicious) carrot cake with maple butter cream frosting. Boyden Valley Winery and numerous local microbrews quenched guests’ thirsts, ensuring that the proceedings Vermont theme carried through late into the evening. When the live band finally quit, guests trickled back to the Brandon Inn while the wedding party stayed behind at the Lilac Inn for one last glass of champagne and the remaining scraps of wedding cake.

Advice

Brian and Heather spent a considerable amount of time on the details of the ceremony and reception but recognized in hindsight that those details had little impact on their happiness during their wedding day. The couple now believes that if you have the right people (your closest friends and family), delicious food, and an entertaining band, the details will take care of themselves. On their wedding day, neither Heather nor Brian noticed the flower arrangements they had selected, the color of the table cloths, or even the songs played during their ceremony, and yet they had the best day of their lives!

In addition, it is important to trust the advice of the place you decide to host your wedding.

The Lilac Inn has done this countless times and their recommendations ensured that we worked with the most helpful, competent, and energetic vendors possible.
As nonnative Vermonters, Brian and Heather took special pride in showcasing Vermont to their guests. The venues, food, wine, beer, and even doggy bags filled with maple fudge were all-Vermont, through and through. They used local merchants to obtain anything they needed for the ceremony and related activities, and they were overwhelmed with the friendliness of those with whom they interacted. As a note for anyone considering hosting their wedding in a Vermont town, if you and your many guests patronize the local proprietors, those townsfolk will be appreciative of your business and take it upon themselves to ensure that you have a wonderful time as a guest in their town. That is the Vermont way, and that is the very thing that made for a perfect wedding weekend for Brian and Heather.

Featured Vermont Bride wedding professionals:

Five Elements Salon & Day Spa

I got my hair and makeup done at Five Elements Salon & Day Spa the morning of the wedding, and I could not have been happier with the results. A few weeks before the wedding, I went in for a hair trial with an idea in mind, and the salon helped me turn my idea into reality. Five Elements also styled my bridesmaids’ hair the morning of the wedding. It was a great way to start my wedding day!

The Brandon Inn

Louis and Sarah Pattis charmed our guests with the Inn’s quaint and unique rooms and beautiful foyer. Aside from housing most of our guests, and drawing high praise from all, Louis prepared a tasty feast for our rehearsal dinner and kept the bar taps flowing late into the evening as guests mingled throughout the Inn’s shared space. The morning after the wedding, our guests reconvened for a farewell meal, a hearty Vermont brunch prepared again by Louis. We could not have been more pleased with the Brandon Inn and Sarah and Louis’ hospitality throughout the weekend.

The Lilac Inn

The innkeepers, Shelly and Doug, were wonderful to work with throughout the entire wedding planning process. They were extremely flexible and ensured that our wedding day was exactly the way we wanted it. The Lilac Inn is a beautiful venue and the gardens add a special touch for photographs. With their eight unique and beautiful rooms and incredible honeymoon suite, The Lilac Inn was the perfect spot to house our wedding party. Shelly and Doug worked directly with Celebration Rentals, Inc. to order the tent, and they were able to set up the patio under the tent exactly how we imagined it.

Vermont Bride

Recently engaged and extremely excited, yet slightly overwhelmed with the prospect of planning a wedding, my mother found a Vermont Bride magazine and gave it to me to look through. The magazine was a wonderful asset, particularly as I was not from Vermont, and listed vendors throughout the state. I was able to start picturing my dream wedding and slowly, but surely it all came together with the help of Vermont Bride!

Additional wedding professionals:

Cake: Aunt of groom
Dress: Stylish Impressions, CT
Engagement Ring and Wedding Bands:
Freeman Jewelers
Entertainment: The Mirage Band
Florist: Belladonna, Tina Hutchins
Horse-drawn carriage: Anthony & Donna Peduto, Painted Woods Farm

Vermont Bride Magazine - Vermont's Most Trusted Wedding Resource Since 1990

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