Venue: Basin Harbor | Planning + Design: Willow Hill Design Co. | Floral Design: Apotheca | Hair and Makeup: Hopcraft Collective | Band: Soul of Boston | Bride’s Dress: Allison Webb
There’s something about Lake Champlain in the summer that just feels right for a wedding. E and R chose Basin Harbor for their celebration, and honestly, it’s hard to imagine their day anywhere else.
Morning Light and Lake Views
The day started quietly, with getting-ready photos that captured all those small, nervous moments before everything really begins. The bride wore an Allison Webb gown that was somehow both dramatic and understated—the kind of dress that photographs beautifully but doesn’t wear you.
Hopcraft Collective did the hair and makeup, creating a look that felt natural and unforced. No one wants to look back at their wedding photos and see someone they don’t recognize.
Ceremony by the Water
Basin Harbor sits right on Lake Champlain in Vergennes, and the ceremony took full advantage of that. Water, mountains in the distance, that particular quality of Vermont light—it’s the kind of setting that doesn’t need much help.
Apotheca handled the flowers, bringing in arrangements that felt organic rather than fussy. They understood the assignment: complement the location, don’t compete with it.
The Reception
Willow Hill Design Co. planned the whole thing, and you could tell they actually knew what they were doing. Everything flowed. No awkward gaps, no confusion about what was happening next.
Soul of Boston played the reception, and they were the kind of band that reads the room. They knew when to bring energy and when to let people breathe. By the end of the night, pretty much everyone was on the dance floor.
What Made It Work
The thing about this Basin Harbor wedding was that it felt like E and R, not like a Pinterest board come to life. The venue’s classic Vermont elegance gave them a beautiful foundation, and then they built something personal on top of it.
The lakeside location provided endless photo opportunities—soft light on water, mountains creating natural frames, the kind of golden hour that makes photographers weep with joy. But more than that, it just felt like the right place for these two people to get married.
Basin Harbor has this way of being both impressive and comfortable at the same time. Fancy enough that it feels special, relaxed enough that people actually enjoy themselves.
The Details That Mattered
Sometimes it’s the small things. The way the light hit the lake during cocktail hour. The bride laughing with her bridesmaids. The groom’s face during the ceremony. A great wedding isn’t about perfection—it’s about those unplanned moments that you can’t force.
That’s what came through in E and R’s day. They had excellent vendors, a gorgeous venue, and clearly put thought into the planning. But what made it memorable was the feeling of it all. The joy was real, the celebration felt genuine, and at the end of the day, that’s what matters.