The Notch House Wedding
John & Cassie’s Wedding at The Notch House | Lake Willoughby, Vermont
The morning after their wedding, John and Cassie swam into Lake Willoughby in their wedding clothes. I’m dead serious.
Lake Willoughby in Vermont in June, which sounds idyllic until I tell you that Lake Willoughby is a glacial lake that goes down 300 feet and is absolutely, aggressively freezing. Cassie and John did not care even a little bit.
That’s everything you need to know about these two.
The Notch House, Lake Willoughby, VT
I need to paint this picture properly. The Notch House sits right on Lake Willoughby which is this dramatic, almost impossibly beautiful glacial lake flanked by cliffs on both sides. In June, the surrounding fields are full of wildflowers. Not like, a few wildflowers. Wildflowers everywhere. The barn is rustic in the way that actually means something, not in the way that means “we put some shiplap up.” It’s the kind of place that makes you feel like Vermont is showing off.
John and Cassie didn’t just book a venue for the day of their wedding. They rented out the whole estate for a WEEK and basically moved their people in. Can you imagine anything better?
A week of people, not just a day
Their friends and family arrived days before the wedding and just… stayed. Hung out. Explored. Made food. Swam in the lake (at temperatures I personally would not have survived). Went fishing and kayaking. By the time the wedding day actually came around, everyone had already bonded into this warm, chaotic, hilarious little community.
I’ve photographed a lot of weddings. The energy in a room full of people who’ve been laughing together for a week straight is something different. You can feel it.
The ceremony
Wildflowers everywhere… on the barn, in the bouquets, basically just growing out of every surface. Poems and readings that actually made people cry, not in a perfunctory way but in an oh that hit me way. John and Cassie have this energy together where you can tell they genuinely crack each other up, and it kept breaking through even in the most tender moments of the ceremony.
I just wanted to hang out with them the whole day. Honestly I kind of did.
The reception
Dancing in the barn, local food, the kind of speeches that go long because nobody wants to stop talking about how much they love this couple. Simple and completely full. No detail felt forced because none of it was… everything about the day just reflected who they actually are.
The morning after
Okay. Back to the lake.
They woke up the morning after their wedding and decided the correct move was to go swimming in their wedding clothes at sunrise. The water was freezing. Like, genuinely, glacially cold. They went in anyway, laughing the whole time, wedding dress and suit absolutely soaked.
I was there. On a kayak. Maneuvering with a giant camera on deck. I have the photos as evidence. It might be some of my favorite work I’ve ever made!
Getting married at Lake Willoughby?
Lake Willoughby is one of my absolute favorite places I’ve ever photographed. The light, the cliffs, the water, the wildflowers, the way Vermont just commits in June…my lord it’s unbeatable. If you’re planning a wedding up here, I would love to be your photographer. Seriously, let’s talk!
And if you’re still exploring Vermont venues, check out my full New England wedding venues list for more ideas.
FAQ: Weddings at The Notch House, Lake Willoughby, Vermont
What is The Notch House? It’s a private estate on Lake Willoughby in northeastern Vermont with a rustic barn, stunning lake access, and one of the most dramatic natural settings I’ve ever seen. It’s especially popular for couples who want to rent the whole property and make a week of it… which, based on John and Cassie’s wedding, is absolutely the right call.
When is the best time of year to get married at Lake Willoughby? June is magic! Wildflowers are everywhere and the light is long and golden. Fall is also stunning for obvious Vermont reasons. Summer weekends book up fast so plan ahead.
Can guests stay on the property? Yes, and honestly that’s the whole thing. Having your people all in one place for multiple days changes the entire energy of a wedding weekend. By the time the ceremony happens everyone already feels like family.
Is Lake Willoughby good for wedding photos? I meannnnnn…. the glacial cliffs. The wildflower fields. The barn. The lake at sunrise. Yes. Emphatically yes.
Do you travel to Vermont for weddings? Always. Get in touch here and let’s make it happen.
