Love Story: Leah (Harstenstein) & Greg Morse

October 2, 2010

Vergennes, Vermont at the The Basin Harbor Club, Lake Champlain

Leah (Harstenstein) & Greg Morse - Photos by Daria Bishop

Leah (Harstenstein) & Greg Morse

On Halloween night, 2003, while attending my first year at Wagner College in New York City, I met Greg, another freshman. He was from upstate New York and ran on the Division I track team. We spent the night watching the famous Greenwich Village Halloween parade with a group of close friends. I was dressed as a Christmas tree, Greg as himself. We both had fun that night but did not think much of it. As college started to fly by we became the best of friends. Everyone thought we were dating, but we just loved spending time together! Finally, when it just so happened that we were both single, we decided to try dating.

As college finished, Greg took a Wall Street job and I stayed in school to pursue my master’s degree. We stayed very close, both living on the Upper East side and enjoyed time together.

Our Engagement

We both love to travel! We were on a two week trip to South America with my parents; on our second night in Chile, there was an incredible sunset over the ocean. We were sipping wine on a balcony staring off into the sky when Greg told me he’d be right back. He came back and gave me a small Tiffany’s box, but not a ring box. I opened it and there was a beautiful necklace with the initials “LKM.” My last name started with an “H” so I was not sure if the store made a mistake. I gave him a puzzled look, he asked me if I knew what the necklace meant. Before I could say anything, he said, “They are your new initials if you say yes.” He pulled my grandmother’s amazing engagement ring out of his pocket and that was it!

Our Wedding Venue

Growing up in Vermont, it was definitely where we wanted to be married. We chose the Basin Harbor Club and the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum for our celebration. I had previously worked at the Basin Harbor Club and Greg agreed it was a beautiful location. The rehearsal dinner and ceremony were held at the Club. Immediately after the ceremony, guests walked over to the Museum where cocktail hour was held in the boat building area. The reception took place under a large tent from Celebrations Rentals.

Our Wedding Roles

Greg and I were both very involved in the wedding planning. Greg focused on the honeymoon and wedding cake but helped with input on everything. We also looked to our parents for lots of advice and ideas.

Favorite Wedding Moments

The ceremony location at the Basin Harbor Club is just stunning. The beautiful weather, amazing string trio, and incredible surrounding gardens made the day.

The guests had bubbles to blow at us as we walked back down the aisle.

The Ben & Jerry’s ice cream wedding cake was great!

Advice for Brides and Grooms

Be different! Modern times allow for wedding flexibility. Just because a book says one way, doesn’t mean that is the only way.

The Lake Champlain Maritime Museum never had a wedding on site before. We asked and they said yes! We ended up with exactly what we were looking for.

Have an indoor site as backup for inclement weather.

Read all the fine print in wedding contracts. Make a chart to pay everyone on time. We asked many vendors if we could mail the final payment a week before the wedding because we left for our three week honeymoon the day after the wedding.

Ask for lots of help! One person cannot do it all!

Things will go wrong even if you spent more than 18 months planning, but at the end of the day, you will still be married to the person you love.

Splurge on photography––it’s what you have to keep forever.

“Be different! Modern times allow for wedding flexibility.
Just because a book says one way, doesn’t mean that is the only way.”

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Related: Online index of other Vermont Love Stories

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