If you’ve been dreaming of a Vermont cottage core wedding, one that feels whimsical and deeply personal, Kayla and Ryan’s September celebration is the kind of inspiration you’ll want to bookmark. Set at the ever-charming Blueberry Hill Inn, their wedding weekend was less about tradition and more about creating a meaningful experience for the people they love most. Captured beautifully by Vermont wedding photographer Sixpence Studios, this two-day celebration is a reminder that when you prioritize connection, intention, and a little bit of playful creativity, your wedding becomes something truly unforgettable.
A Two-Day Wedding Designed with Intention
Rather than packing everything into a single day, Kayla and Ryan chose a two-day format at Blueberry Hill Inn that allowed their celebration to unfold with care. They began their weekend with an intimate woodland ceremony of just 19 guests, before welcoming a larger group of 75 guests the following day for a festival-style reception.
This structure carried even deeper meaning. It allowed Ryan’s father, Paul, who is living with ALS, to be fully present for the most important moments while his energy was at its highest. It’s a powerful reminder that the best timelines honor your people first!
In place of a traditional ring bearer, the couple hid their wedding bands under two random guest seats. When the officiant invited everyone to check beneath their chairs, the woods filled with laughter, an unexpected, joy-filled moment that perfectly reflected their playful spirit.
Sustainability was a guiding force behind so many of Kayla and Ryan’s decisions, with a focus on keeping their weekend celebration as local and intentional as possible. They sourced vendors they already knew and loved, and Kayla even grew most of the wedding florals herself, supplementing only slightly with blooms from Brandon Florist Shoppe to keep both cost and carbon footprint low. In the year leading up to the wedding, she thrifted an eclectic mix of fine china and glassware to bring her garden-meets-forest vision to life. Ryan also contributed a beautiful, functional touch by building a custom canoe table, which seamlessly transformed throughout the weekend from buffet to bar to grazing display.
A True Labor of Love: Details That Brought Their Vision to Life
This wedding was incredibly hands-on in the most meaningful way, with so many details thoughtfully created by Kayla and her community. Kayla designed all of the florals herself, leaning into an “overgrown,” wildflower-inspired look that felt like a natural extension of the surrounding Vermont woods. That same sense of intention carried into her fashion, where a one-of-a-kind hand-knit shawl, made by a friend’s mother, added a deeply personal and sentimental layer to her second-day look. Keeping things authentic to herself, Kayla also did her own makeup, embracing a fresh, natural look. And behind the scenes, she led the coordination of this multi-day celebration with support from the venue, seamlessly bringing together all of the moving pieces. The result was a vibrant, joyful “wildflower explosion” layered with dreamy cottage core details.
Guests found their seats through a living seating chart made up of wooden herb boxes overflowing with basil, lavender, marjoram, tarragon, and thyme, each one marked with hand-lettered plant tags. At the reception, long farm tables were styled with potted herbs and a mix of blue, green, and amber glassware, creating warmth and a beautifully collected-over-time feel.
What truly set this celebration apart, though, was how interactive it felt. Kayla and Ryan reimagined traditional wedding elements in favor of moments rooted in play, creativity, and connection for guests of all ages. The couple put special thought into the children’s experience, gifting each one a Vermont wildlife-inspired stuffed animal and creating a whimsical Fairy House Hunt around the property. Handmade by Kayla and her friends, the fairy houses led to a final prize: tiny “fairy dust” necklaces that Kayla kept in her pocket all night, ready to hand out, making the magic feel real for every child involved.
For the kids at heart, there was a DIY flower crown station that encouraged everyone to create their own wearable florals, and a dress-up photo booth added another layer of fun, permitting guests to fully lean into the spirit of the weekend. Even the favors were deeply personal. Kayla and Ryan infused their wedding with deeply personal, handmade touches that felt entirely true to who they are. Using leftover clay from past art classes, Kayla spent the winter crafting Vermont-shaped ornaments for guests, while Ryan shared his own maple syrup as a second favor, two details that couldn’t have felt more “them.”
One of the most inspiring takeaways from Kayla and Ryan’s wedding weekend at Blueberry Hill Inn is the beauty of slowing things down. By separating the ceremony from the celebration, they allowed each moment to exist fully on its own. Friday created space for the weight and meaning of their vows, while Saturday unfolded into a relaxed, joy-filled gathering, what they lovingly described as “welcomed chaos.”
Congratulations, Kayla and Ryan, on your beautiful and unforgettable wedding weekend!
Vendors
Photography: Sixpence Studios, Venue: Blueberry Hill Inn, Wedding Lunch: Haymaker Buns, Welcome Dinner Bar: Red Clover Ale Co., Flower filler: Brandon Florist Shoppe, Reception Catering: Adventure Dinner, Desserts: Morningside, Bakery (Cakes/Pies) + Sunrise, Orchards (Donuts), Cocktails: The Club Car, Rentals: Celebration Rentals, Music: Dan Cahill, Engagement ring: Autumn Gold, Alterations: Make it Sew, Kayla’s Wedding Day Dress: Linen Naive, Kayla’s Celebration Day Dress: Of Her Own Kind, Ryan’s Suit: Banana Republic.
Your Next Read:
Looking for another delightful DIY wedding? Check out this celebration at Follow Your Heart Farm.
Want another real wedding post? Check out any of these.
