An Intimate Mountain Wedding at NewVida Preserve

Some people will tell you love is fate.
Others will tell you it’s timing.
Priscilla and Luke are proof that sometimes it’s painfully both.

They met as teenagers — in a backyard. Bikes rolled in unannounced. It was one of those moments that feels insignificant until you realize later it absolutely was not. For years, they drifted in and out of each other’s orbit. No label. No pressure. Just something unfinished. And then, quietly and without spectacle, it stuck. The kind of love that does not rush but also does not leave.

So it makes perfect sense that their wedding day felt the same way.

A Ceremony Rooted in Nature, Not Performance

The ceremony took place outdoors at the Mountain House at NewVida Preserve. Whiteface Mountain stretched out behind the guests. It was quiet, expansive, and grounding. Fifty people. No distractions. No traditions done out of obligation. Just presence.

They wanted the ceremony remembered as tranquil, peaceful, nature-heavy, and relaxed — and that’s exactly how it felt. No theatrics. No filler. Just two people choosing each other in a place that felt bigger than them in the best way.

Priscilla walked down the aisle to Avatar’s Love (Wedding Piano), which honestly set the tone perfectly — soft, emotional, understated. The ceremony itself was short (15–30 minutes), but it did not feel rushed. It felt intentional. The good kind of quiet.

One of the biggest priorities for them was imagery that showed scale — close moments and wide moments. Them at the center. Guests behind. Mountains holding it all together. Documentary coverage that did not interrupt the experience, but preserved it.

Documentary Wedding Photography, But Make It Human

This day was not photographed like a checklist.

It was photographed the way it felt.

Moments unfolding without interruption. Guests settling in. Family leaning into each other. That exhale you feel once the ceremony is done and you realize, oh — this is actually happening.

Formal family photos happened instantly after the ceremony. This kept things flowing smoothly. It prevented pulling anyone out of the moment longer than necessary. Bridal party portraits were already taken beforehand. This was a gift to everyone involved. This meant cocktail hour and the rest of the night could just… breathe.

Priscilla and Luke chose to step away during cocktail hour for portraits. They did this not because they did not care about cocktail hour, but because they wanted space. Space to exist together. Space without eyes on them.

We took portraits at the mountain top outside the house, then drifted indoors for some quieter, moodier frames. Nothing over-posed. Nothing stiff. Just two people who did not need to be told how to be together.

If timing allowed, they planned to rejoin cocktail hour briefly — and that flexibility mattered more than rigid scheduling. This entire day was built around experience first, timeline second.

A Romantic, Classy-Casual Reception

Romantic, vintage, eclectic, and completely unpretentious.

The food was available throughout the evening. There was no formal sit-down dinner. Apps and the Chefs Whim food truck kept things casual but elevated. There was no DJ, no overproduction — just people talking, laughing, wandering, existing together.

And the details? Thoughtful without being precious:

• A beer canoe
• A whiskey cart
• A tattoo station
• An antique phone guestbook
• A table of desserts made by the couple
• A crossword guests actually sat down to solve

This was not decor for Instagram. It was decor meant to be used.

First dances were emotional. They were heartfelt without being performative. These included a grandfather & bride dance and a mother & groom dance. Speeches from the best man and maid of honor followed. They landed exactly where they needed to.

Cake cutting happened at 8 PM. The house? Booked overnight. The party? It was still going.

The People That Mattered Most

One thing Priscilla and Luke were crystal clear about: people over everything.

Grandparents. Parents. Their loved ones who live far away and don’t always get to be in the same place at the same time. The goal was not perfection — it was memory-making.

They wanted photos people would keep. Photos guests would recognize themselves in. Photos that did not feel staged or filtered into something untrue.

And that matters.

Upstate New York Photographer | Courtney Stannard Photography

I document life, love, and the quiet in-between moments with intention, honesty, and heart. I am based in Upstate New York. My work blends moody, vibrant storytelling with a deeply personal approach. It creates space for you to be fully yourself in front of the camera. My goal is simple. I aim to make images that feel true to who you are. They show the genuine you, not who you think you’re supposed to be. Let’s make something meaningful together.
Inquire about your date here.

Vendors: 

The Planner: On The Go Events | Venue: Mountain House at NewVida Preserve | The Florist: Lake Placid Flower and Gift | Cake & Desserts: The Chocolate Duck | Hair: SammiiGlam