Stacy Rus & Renot Lopes
July 12, 2014
Stowe Mountain Lodge
Stowe, Vermont
Photograph by Eve Event Photography
Stacy Rus and Renot Lopes grew close as graphic design majors at Colby-Sawyer College, in New Hampshire, but it wasn’t until after graduation that they began to see each other as more than just classmates. Three years later, the couple traveled to Brazil, Renot’s native country, so Stacy could meet his parents. It was on that trip that he surprised her with a ring. “I really had no idea beforehand,” says Stacy, who was thrilled to share the big news with his family in person.
When it came time to choose a wedding venue, a celebration in Stacy’s home state of Vermont was the obvious choice (Stowe, in fact, was where she learned to ski). Figuring out how to include Renot’s Brazil-bound family in the festivities was a little trickier, but the pair used technology to their advantage, attaching a GoPro camera to the arbor to capture their vows, and Skyping with far-flung relatives during the ceremony and reception.
From commissioning the birch arbor Stacy’s father built to designing the labels for the homemade-maple-syrup and chocolate-covered-espresso-bean favors, Stacy and Renot were very involved in creating the look and feel of their wedding. The day of their nuptials, though, they took a more-relaxed approach, retreating to an idyllic covered bridge for their first look. “Being able to share that moment and have time to take everything in was honestly indescribable,” Stacy says.
Photograph by Eve Event Photography
“They were very rustic, but not over the top,” says Stacy of details like the handmade escort cards and the Mason-jar tea lights.
Photograph by Eve Event Photography
Sharply dressed ring bearer Sean Gamble, the duo’s godson, carried the rings in a box made by Stacy’s father.
Photograph by Eve Event Photography
Stacy’s bouquet of white and pink peonies and roses was wrapped with a piece of fabric from her mother’s wedding dress.
Photograph by Eve Event Photography
Renot tattooed matching “XO”s on the couple’s fingers.
Photograph by Eve Event Photography
Stacy and Renot chose three cakes: Two were chocolate-espresso with buttercream frosting, and the third was maple with buttercream frosting.
Photograph by Eve Event Photography
For the favors, Stacy and her parents made maple syrup, and Renot screen-printed labels onto bags of chocolate- covered espresso beans. “We’re both obsessed with coffee,” he says.
Photograph by Eve Event Photography
Stacy’s father, who owns a sign-manufacturing company, built the photo-shoot-friendly letters for the occasion.
The File
Bridesmaid Dresses Alfred Angelo
Cakes Michelle Hines, the Cakery
Flowers Floral Artistry
Gown Maggie Sottero, Kleinfeld bridal
Invitations Minted
Menswear Express; Jos. A. Bank
Music DNJ Entertainment
Photo Booth JFH Photobooths
Rings Hannoush Jewelers
For additional inspiration, check out more Real New England Weddings »
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