When Emily and Tad envisioned their wedding day, they knew they wanted to create more than a beautiful celebration; they wanted to create an experience for all of their guests. Set against the breathtaking backdrop of Lake Champlain at Basin Harbor Resort, their Memorial Day wedding weekend embraced what bride Emily lovingly describes as a “lake-forward” aesthetic: elegant yet approachable, thoughtfully designed, and deeply rooted in connection. We can’t wait to dive into all the details from the weekend and beautiful photography from Danielle Allendorf below.
The Meaning Behind Their Basin Harbor Celebration
Like many great love stories, Emily and Tad’s began unexpectedly. In June 2024, Emily traveled to Philadelphia to visit a friend before heading to Lake Champlain for the summer. Her friend suggested the group attend a Phillies game with another visitor in town, a friend named Tad. Despite receiving strict instructions not to flirt, Tad made an immediate impression with his genuine curiosity and interest in getting to know Emily. After the game and drinks afterward, the two parted ways without exchanging numbers. But after realizing Tad had taken a group selfie at the game, Emily enlisted her friends’ help to get in touch. Within moments of asking for his number, a text from Tad appeared on her phone and the rest, as they say, is history!
Choosing Basin Harbor Resort carried deep personal meaning for the couple. Emily’s parents own a home in Westport, New York, directly across Lake Champlain from Basin Harbor. After Tad proposed at the family lake house over Labor Day weekend in 2025, Emily envisioned creating a full-circle moment by marrying on the Vermont side of the lake the following Memorial Day weekend.
The location also held a special connection to Emily’s family history. Her grandmother, with whom she shared a close bond, grew up at what is now Kingsland Bay State Park, where her great-grandparents operated École Champlain, a French-speaking summer camp for girls with a focus on horseback riding. Hosting their wedding weekend at Basin Harbor allowed Emily and Tad to create their own elevated version of a summer camp experience, one centered around family, friendship, and celebration.
Thoughtful Details That Made the Day Unforgettable
Emily and Tad’s wedding weekend centered around a feeling they called “sophisticated warmth.” Rather than focusing on elaborate details for the sake of grandeur, they prioritized creating a seamless weekend where every guest felt welcomed, appreciated, and immersed in the beauty of the setting. This vision came to life seamlessly thanks to the help of Vermont wedding planners, Wild Fern Planning. The couple found much of their visual inspiration through their stationery suite designed by Rachel Browdy of RH Designs. The watercolor details in the “Milly” suite immediately reminded them of Basin Harbor Resort and became the creative foundation for the wedding’s overall aesthetic.
From there, Emily and Tad’s color palette reflected the soft beauty of spring, featuring blush pink, pale blue, soft green, and delicate lavender. Instead of a traditional ceremony arbor, Emily and Tad opted for a floral ground installation by Vermont wedding florist Tipsy Tulip Designs, allowing Lake Champlain itself to take center stage.
Throughout the weekend, thoughtful details elevated the guest experience, from custom welcome tote bags filled with Vermont-made products to Adirondack chair escort cards that paid homage to the venue’s lakeside setting.Their after-party cups even featured the phrase “celebrating our love on the lake,” a sentiment that perfectly captured the spirit of the weekend!
Emily and Tad exchanged vows on Basin Harbor’s picturesque Lodge Lawn, where Lake Champlain served as a breathtaking backdrop for their heartfelt ceremony. From there, guests enjoyed an effortless transition into a lively cocktail hour. The evening continued inside Ardelia’s, Basin Harbor’s largest reception venue. Guests were welcomed into a romantic atmosphere filled with abundant blooms, glowing candlelight, and watercolor dinner menus that beautifully echoed the lakeside inspiration woven throughout the entire wedding weekend.
Perhaps one of the most memorable moments came courtesy of the bridal party. For the bachelorette celebration, Emily’s sister and maid of honor had ordered fans featuring Tad’s face, but they arrived too late for the festivities. Instead, they made their debut at the wedding reception, with the entire bridal party dancing into the reception while enthusiastically waving them, creating an entrance that perfectly embodied the warmth, humor, and connection that defined the entire weekend.
Additional highlights included a beautifully designed lounge area by Wild Fern Rentals, which seamlessly connected the reception and dance floor spaces, an interactive photobooth by Super Sounds and a stunning topper that Emily added to her wedding gown during cocktail hour, creating a fun and unexpected outfit transformation early in the evening.
Music also played an important role in the couple’s love story. During the early months of their long-distance relationship, Emily and Tad bonded over the music of Teddy Swims. Emily walked down the aisle to an instrumental version of his hit, “Amazing”. Additionally, the couple chose one of his songs for their first dance, incorporating choreography and lifts that made the performance especially memorable. As the evening progressed, the celebration became even more personal. The reception concluded with the MC of their wedding band, King of Hearts 2, performing “Lose Yourself,” honoring Tad’s favorite artist, Eminem. In a moment that captured the joyful spirit of the evening, Tad joined him on the microphone while guests flooded the dance floor, singing and rapping along.
Congratulations, Emily and Tad, on your beautiful Vermont wedding weekend!
Vendors
Venue: Basin Harbor Resort, Photographer: Danielle Allendorf Photography, Second Shooter: Isora Lithgow Creations, Planners: Wild Fern Planning, Stationery: RH Design House, Beauty: Hillary Fay Studios, Band: King of Hearts 2, Lounge: Wild Fern Rentals, Photobooth: Supersounds Entertainment, Florals: Tipsy Tulip Designs, Linen Rentals: The Linen Shop, Transportation: Ethan Allen Coach
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