Fall Wedding Photography at LaBelle Winery During Peak Foliage
I knew Patricia and Nik’s day was going to be special the moment I met them for their engagement session. Their love for each other was immediate and obvious — silly and passionate and they were completely at ease together. So when their October wedding at LaBelle Winery in Derry arrived I had been looking forward to it for a long time. And it delivered everything I had hoped for and more.
LaBelle Winery is one of my favorite venues in New Hampshire in any season — but in late October at peak foliage it becomes something else entirely. The fall colors are so thick around the vineyard they appear almost like a sandstorm closing in around the property, making the whole day feel isolated from the rest of the world. On a wedding day that's exactly what you want — the feeling that nothing else exists but this moment and these people.
The First Look
One of my favorite features at LaBelle Winery is the wooden walkway that stretches from the main function area toward the vineyard and tasting room — and it happens to be a great spot for a first look. There's something about the length of it that builds real anticipation. Nik waited at the end while Patricia made her way toward him, and I watched him go through every emotion before she even reached him. Their moment together on the walkway was private and completely their own.
Portraits & Group Photos
One of the real bonuses of doing a first look is that it frees up time before the ceremony for portraits and group photos — time that would otherwise be lost to cocktail hour or the post-ceremony rush. That time was much appreciated on Patricia and Nik’s day. The foliage was everywhere and at its absolute peak — in the trees lining the walkway, surrounding the vineyard, wrapping around the property in every direction. There was no single best spot because every direction you pointed the camera was stunning. I focused as much as possible on working the natural colors into every frame and letting the season do what it does best. It was some of the most beautiful fall foliage I have ever had as a backdrop on a wedding day.
The Vineyard Ceremony | Rain or Shine
Nik had made it clear early in the day that the ceremony was happening outside no matter what, but, luckily, the sky cooperated. There is something about getting married surrounded by actual grapevines at peak fall color that feels completely unlike any other ceremony setting. Patricia and Nik exchanged their vows in the vineyard and it was everything an outdoor fall ceremony in New England should be.
Planning a Fall Wedding in New England
If you're dreaming of a fall wedding in New England with peak foliage as your backdrop, the most important thing to know is that the peak is real — but it's unpredictable. In southern New Hampshire the window typically falls somewhere between mid-October and early November, but it shifts year to year depending on temperatures, rainfall, and the specific mix of trees around your venue.
The good news is that there are some genuinely useful tools to help you plan. SmokyMountains.com publishes an annual fall foliage prediction map that updates weekly and covers all of New England. NewEngland.com runs a detailed seasonal forecast each year with regional breakdowns. And for the most granular New Hampshire specific reporting, foliage tracker Jeff Folger at jeff-foliage.com has been documenting New England color changes for years with weekly reports throughout the season. None of these tools can guarantee your exact wedding weekend will land at peak — but they can help you understand the window and set your expectations. And if you do hit it the way Patricia and Nik did, there is simply nothing better for wedding photos in all of New England.
The Reception
Nik made his grand entrance into the reception wearing a Jack Skellington jacket — which was exactly as perfect as it sounds — before swapping back to his suit and getting the party started. The toasts were funny and heartfelt in equal measure, both fathers spoke back to back and had the whole room going, and the parent dances were wonderful. But honestly the best way I can describe the reception is that it felt like the natural conclusion to a day that had been building toward exactly this moment. Patricia and Nik's friends and family showed up ready to celebrate and that's exactly what they did.
Patricia and Nik — thank you for one of my favorite wedding days. LaBelle in October with the two of you was something I won't forget.
For anyone else dreaming of a fall wedding at LaBelle Winery, I would love to be your photographer. Reach out and let's start planning.
LaBelle Winery is one of my favorite venues in southern New Hampshire — visit my Manchester, NH Wedding Photographer page to see more of my work in the area.
