Anelise and David got married in August 2024 at Ogontz White Mountain Resort in Lyman, New Hampshire. Their wedding day was nothing short of amazing—a gorgeous Saturday in August filled with love and surrounded by all their family and friends. While Anelise and David actually live in Washington, D.C., they envisioned having their wedding in the white mountains of New Hampshire to tie in their love of hiking and adventure. This venue truly has everything to offer an adventurous outdoorsy couple, which we’ll get into a little later in this post. 

I am so excited to share these images from their wedding day at Ogontz Resort because it was something a little different for me! I often photograph weddings in Boston, Massachusetts, and even in New Hampshire, but not always in the white mountains! A camp wedding was a bit different for me as well, as I’m usually in a city setting. Having a different type of venue and scenery really got my creative juices flowing, and it was so much fun creating imagery in a new spot.

Ogontz Resort Wedding in The White Mountains, New Hampshire

The best part about The Ogontz Resort in the White Mountains of New Hampshire is the lodging! Anelise and David and all their guests stayed for the whole weekend. This made getting ready day of super simple and stress free, as everyone was already on location. 

When I arrived onsite, I began photography coverage at Anelise’s cabin, where she and her bridal party were getting ready. They spent the morning doing each other’s hair and makeup and singing along to all their favorite songs. The vibes were immaculate, and everyone was feeling so good! I started with photographing all of their pretty details including their save-the-date and invitation, as well as the rings, her shoes, jewelry, veil, and bouquet. Anelise was so organized and had everything set aside for me—this is something that I recommend for all of my couples to do. Having everything set aside makes it easier for me to start photographing immediately and maximizing your coverage time.

While I photographed the details, my second photographer, Allison, grabbed some candids of the girls getting ready. When I finished up, she headed over to David’s cabin and photographed him and his groomsmen getting ready. It was honestly so convenient that both Anelise and David had separate cabins from each other, which weren’t too far. It made it easy for Allison and I to go back and forth, and ensured that the couple wouldn’t see each other either!

First Look and Private Vows in New Hampshire

Anelise and David decided to do a first look prior to their ceremony so that they could have a peaceful moment together, as well as share their hand written vows with one another. I am a real sucker for a good first look, and theirs was SO sweet and emotional. I just love when a groom has a good reaction! They both had their fair share of tears, smiles, and giggles. It made for some adorable photos of course. Their vows were equally as sweet, and it was such a special moment for both of them. I feel so grateful to have captured their wedding day. 

Following their first look and private vows, we spent a few minutes taking portraits of the couple on the deck overlooking the lake. The weather was honestly PERFECT! It was definitely hot, but it was a lovely partly cloudy day with the occasional sprinkle. Listen, I’m not afraid of a little rain, so I just kept on shooting! And Anelise and David are so easy going so they weren’t bothered either. Afterwards I photographed their family portraits and then their wedding party.

Wedding Couples Portraits at Ogontz Resort in New Hampshire

Once all the formal portraits were all set (meaning family and wedding party), it was time to bop around the property and get some creative couples portraits. Our first point of action was to get Anelise and David in a canoe together for some unique portraits. This sounds like it would be a challenge, but honestly, they made it look easy. This is something I was so stoked for, and it made my photographer heart flutter. I mean really, this isn’t something you get to do at every wedding!

Afterwards, the venue owner took us around the venue on a side by side, which allowed us to hit all the best spots and get tons of variety in their images. We all had a blast getting dropped off at the scenic photo spots, grabbing some great shots, and hopping back on the side by side! We spent about an hour doing this, and made sure that Anelise and David had about an hour to themselves prior to the ceremony. This is something that I believe is super crucial on a wedding day. The couple needs some time to enjoy together and relax before their ceremony!

Wedding Ceremony in New Hampshire White Mountains

Anelise and David’s ceremony at The Ogontz Resort in the White Mountains in New Hampshire was breathtaking and so THEM. Their officiant was amazing and made the ceremony super special. The couple also recited their handwritten vows again during the ceremony which I loved. Hearing them again through the speakers totally made me cry. Listen, photographers have emotions too!!! I just adore custom vows.

Since all the formal photos were done before the ceremony, Anelise and David got to attend a majority of their cocktail hour and mingle with all their guests. This is something that was super important to them, since they had family and friends fly into New Hampshire from all over the world! One really special thing is that Anelise even had her exchange student from high school there! He and his wife flew all the way from Czech Republic! Towards the end of cocktail hour, the venue owner took us to a secret photo location with the BEST view of the mountains!! Afterwards, they prepared for their reception entrance.

Indoor Wedding Reception at Camp Ogontz in Lyman, New Hampshire

Their reception, just like the rest of their wedding day, was nothing short of amazing! Anelise and her dad had a fully choreographed father daughter dance which was truly incredible! It was probably the best I’ve ever seen! David and his mother’s dance was also super special, and they danced to an Arabian song. After the formalities, it was time to open the dance floor! They had an amazing live band that really got the crowd going. Let me tell you, their guests were READY TO DANCE!!! I believe just about every single person was on the dance floor for a majority of the time! It was amazing to see so many people dancing and enjoying themselves. 

Towards the end of the reception, David’s family incorporated some of their Egyptian culture by passing out hats called “fez”, and coin skirts called “hip scarves”, and playing Arabian music, which was so much fun. Everyone was passing them around, putting them on, and dancing the night away. It was such a cool and special way to tie everything together! 

Wedding Day Timeline Example

Anelise and David’s wedding package had nine hours of coverage, which was the perfect amount of time for me to fully capture their wedding day. Here is what their timeline looked like:

12 PM: Gabrielle and second shooter arrive and begin photographing Anelise’s details & the property

12:30 PM: Anelise getting ready photos with bridesmaids at boathouse, Allison to capture David’s details and getting ready

1 PM: Anelise gets into her dress with MOB and bridesmaids 

1:30 PM: First look at the boathouse on the deck

1:45 PM: Immediate family photos

2 PM: Wedding party photos

2:15 PM: Couples photos around the property

3 PM: David & Anelise to rest and retouch prior to ceremony

4 PM: Ceremony

4:30 PM: Cocktail hour on dining hall deck, any remaining family photos, end of cocktail hour, drive to “Top of the World” for couples photos (5:15 PM)

5:30 PM: Guests to be seated at reception

5:45 PM: David & Anelise grand entrance into reception, first dance 

6:30 PM: Dinner is served 

6:45 PM: Sneak out for a few sunset photos 

7 PM: Speeches, Anelise changes into second dress (10 – 15mins)

7:15 PM: Parent dances 

7:20 PM: Open dance floor

9 PM: Photography coverage ends

This is a custom timeline that I created for Anelise and David’s wedding day specifically, but is a great example if you’re just getting started with wedding planning! This demonstrates the typical flow of a wedding day with a first look.

Wedding Day Timeline Tips

If you’re starting wedding planning and are curious about what your timeline could look like, here are some tips! Please know that if we are working together for your wedding, I will take care of everything for you once I have the ceremony and reception times! But, here are some general tips that you may find helpful!

Decide if you’re doing a first look. If you choose to do a first look, you can get all your family and wedding party photos done prior to the ceremony. If you’re not going to do a first look, all of your formal photos and portraits will be done after the ceremony, during cocktail hour. This means that you will likely not be able to attend your cocktail hour. If you’d like to read more about this topic, check out my first look blog post here!

Are you getting ready onsite or at a separate location? If you’re not getting ready at your wedding venue, you’ll want to account for travel time between the two locations. The same goes for your groom! Add in extra time in case there’s traffic, especially if your wedding is in the city.

If photos are super important to you, add in lots of time for that! It’s your wedding day, and we can do whatever you’d like!

You will want to be tucked away at least 45 minutes prior to when your guests will be arriving (I recommend an hour if possible). This way, you can have some time to relax, and you won’t risk being seen by guests before you walk down the aisle. If you are doing a first look, this will be a nice time to spend together.

If you’re having a live band, make sure you have plenty of time for the open dance floor! Trust me, you’ll want to dance the night away, especially with a band.

All About Ogontz Resort White Mountain Wedding Venue

There are so many things to love about The Ogontz Resort in the white mountains, but one of the best parts is the camp itself! As a couple getting married here, you are able to rent the property for your whole wedding weekend, and host your guests onsite. For Anelise and David, this was a must have for their wedding venue, as they had family and friends traveling to New Hampshire from all over the world. Their guests staying onsite allowed them to host wedding festivities throughout the whole weekend. 

The day before their wedding, they had all their guests join them on the field by the main building and hosted their very own Olympics! Harrison Evans of Harrison Evans Films attended and filmed the entire thing. I was blown away by the video he created of their wedding olympics and at how much fun they had! What a unique and special way to celebrate prior to the actual wedding. Think elementary school field day on steroids—because the games and challenges were paired with full grown adult ambition and competitiveness. 

Additionally, the camp vibe truly tied in their love for adventure and the outdoors, and reminded them of camps they used to attend as children. It was really special to see everyone mingling, getting to know each other, and coming together to celebrate their love. One of the coolest parts was knowing that while Anelise and David were getting ready at their cabins, all their guests were close by doing the same. When it was time for their ceremony, I got to watch all the guests find their way to the ceremony site from their cabins, which was super unique as well.

Aside from the functionality of Ogontz Resort, it has spectacular views of the White Mountains as far as you can see. The background of the ceremony site is the gorgeous Ogontz Lake surrounded by the mountains. No matter which way you looked, the view was breathtaking. The venue owner took us (Anelise and David, Harrison (videographer), Allison (my second photographer), and I) around the property on a side by side which was epic. There are so many secret spots sprinkled throughout the property, which made for some super unique wedding photos. We had a great time exploring and taking in all the venue had to offer. 

If you choose to get married at Ogontz, make sure you build extra time into your timeline for portraits, as there are many locations to go to. You totally have to get the full experience! We had allotted about an hour for portraits which worked out well, however I think I could have spent the entire day taking photos of the couple around the venue. It really is a photographer’s dream, especially with the mountains.

The indoor reception space is also stunning, and keeps the camp vibe. Inside, it looks similar to a barn with the gorgeous high ceilings, natural wood architecture, and plenty of windows. It also has an attached deck for guests to enjoy some outdoor time overlooking the lake. The space has plenty of room for dancing, which was perfect for Anelise and David and their guests. I’m not sure if I’ve ever seen more people dancing for that amount of time, and dancing extremely well, too. They made such a great use of the space, and I know it’s something that their guests will remember for a lifetime.

New Hampshire Wedding Vendors

Anelise and David’s wedding day could not have been possible without their incredible vendor team. I have highlighted them below—these are some great New Hampshire wedding vendors!

VENUE: Ogontz White Mountain Resort – Lyman, New Hampshire

Ogontz on Instagram

FLORIST: Mountain Roots Farm – NH White Mountains

Mountain Roots Farm on Instagram

VIDEOGRAPHER: Harrison Evans Films – New England

Harrison on Instagram

SECOND PHOTOGRAPHER: Allison Clarke Photography – New Hampshire

Allison Clarke on Instagram

BAND: Dan Walker Band – New Hampshire

Dan Walker on Instagram

WEDDING DRESS: Brides to Be – Glastonbury, CT

Brides to Be on Instagram

Other New England Wedding Venue Suggestions

If you’re in the early stages of planning your wedding and have not yet chosen your venue, you’re in luck! I have recently written a few blog posts about the best venues in the New England area. Check them out below.

The Best Wedding Venues in Newport, RI For Your Wedding

New Hampshire Wedding Venues | Best Wedding Locations NH

Boston Wedding Venues

New Hampshire Wedding Photographer

Planning a wedding in New Hampshire or the New England area? I would love to connect with you about creating your dream wedding photos! I have five years of experience photographing weddings all over New England and New York City, and place a strong emphasis on having the best client experience. Because beyond great photos, you deserve a stress-free wedding day where you can be fully present.

If you’d like more information, visit my wedding experience page. Ready to move forward and inquire about your wedding date? You can do so here, on my contact page. I’m looking forward to connecting and hearing about your plans!