Julia and Graham’s Willowdale Estate wedding this past November was absolutely perfect – I’m thrilled to share it today! Willowdale Estate is one of my favorite venues on Boston’s North Shore, and it was the perfect setting for this cozy and romantic wedding. If you’re considering Willowdale Estate as your wedding venue, Julia + Graham’s day should give you lots of inspiration!
Willowdale Estate
Willowdale Estate is located in Topsfield, MA, and is a gorgeous property. It’s a historic mansion that sits in the Bradley Palmer State Park. The 1902 fieldstone mansion, its adjacent courtyard, and the surrounding woodlands are the perfect setting for a garden-style wedding. From May – October the courtyard and outdoor tent are utilized for ceremony and reception sites, and from November – April, weddings are held inside the historic mansion. Julia + Graham’s wedding date was November 5th, and so they had a cozy and romantic indoor wedding. All of the architectural details around the mansion provided beautiful photo backdrops throughout their day. And the couple chose lots of vintage-inspired decor elements which complemented the historic venue well!
Willowdale Estate Wedding
I loved all of the details that J + G planned for their Willowdale Estate wedding. The venue is a gorgeous backdrop, and all of their touches and decor really brought it to life! Their flowers were a combination of maroon, pink, and cream, and the bridesmaids wore green. The fall tones were all perfect for this November wedding. They also had some fun details like an antique mirror as their seating chart, and a vintage phone as their guestbook! And one really special detail was that Graham made the chuppah. After the ceremony, guests enjoyed a fabulous meal and mini pies for dessert! There is also a vintage bathtub in the mansion, which we couldn’t resist for some really fun photos throughout the night.
Super 8 Film
Julia and Graham also opted for my film package, so their photography coverage included Super 8 film footage too! You can see their wedding film and learn more about Super 8 film in this post.
Intentional Wedding Details
My favorite part about J + G’s day, however, was how intentional they were about everything. Planning a wedding can be stressful, and it’s easy to get caught up in what you “should” do. J + G were the perfect example of incorporating touches that were truly meaningful to them! For instance, they were super excited about their first look and to have a private moment together to read their vows. If exchanging personal vows in front of your guests is something you don’t want to do – you don’t have to! J + G took this time alone together to really connect, exchange their private vows, and to read each other love letters. They also intentionally chose important people in their lives to be a part of the celebration. Julia’s childhood friend was their officiant, Graham’s cousin sang at the wedding, and another friend of Julia’s was the makeup artist.
New England Wedding Photographer
When it comes to planning your wedding, I always encourage my couples to think through what is important to YOU, and do that! Just like Julia + Graham’s, your wedding can be as traditional or non-traditional as you’d like.
Connecting with couples and learning about your vision for your wedding day brings me so much joy. If you are planning a New England wedding and still searching for your photographer, I would love to hear from you!
Vendor Credits
Venue: Willowdale Estate
Band: Stephanie James Music
Cake: Shari’s Sweet Shoppe
Florals: Poppy
Dress Designer: The Law
Bridal shop: Glo Bridal
Willowdale Estate Photos
