Sheridan and Shail’s Enchanting Autumn Wedding at Searles Chapel in Windham, NH
There is one wedding venue in New England where I have the added bonus of seeing it through the eyes of someone who got married there — not just as a photographer — and that's because my wife Hannah and I got married there in 2018. Searles Chapel in Windham, NH is where my own love story blossomed, and I love being able to share and bond with my couples over that connection. When Sheridan and Shail reached out about photographing their autumn wedding there, I couldn't respond fast enough. The chapel looks like something out of a fairytale — a small storybook castle that's both grand and intimate at the same time. For me it'll always be more than just a wedding venue — it's one of the places I feel closest to love.
Sheridan arrived at the chapel after a nervous morning of hair and makeup — which is completely normal and something I see at almost every wedding. Those nerves always seem to melt away the moment they see each other for the first time. I tucked Shail away behind the bushes at the back of the chapel, giving the two of them a private and completely hidden spot to share their first look together. Once they had their moment, we made our way back inside where Sheridan's parents had been patiently and eagerly waiting for their own first look with their daughter. The look on Sheridan's mother's face when she saw her is one of the best reactions I've seen as a photographer.
Sheridan and Shail's ceremony was short but filled with so much love it didn't need to be anything more. Searles Chapel is a breathtaking setting for a ceremony and watching two people exchange vows inside it never gets old for me, especially at a place this personal. One of my favorite moments of the entire day was the ring warming — before the rings were exchanged, they were passed from guest to guest around the entire room, each person holding them for a moment and silently passing their love and wishes into them. It's one of the most beautiful wedding traditions I've ever witnessed and one I had never seen before Sheridan and Shail's day. By the time those rings made their way back to the altar, they carried something from everyone in that room.
The reception was held on the other side of the chapel and Sheridan and Shail had made sure there was something for everyone all evening. A close-up magician worked the tables throughout the night, which kept guests thoroughly entertained between dances. At some point the groom's shoe disappeared and the bidding war that followed to get it back drew quite a crowd — one of those spontaneous moments that ends up being one of the most talked about of the night. And then toward the end of the evening Shail set up his telescope and invited everyone to take a look at Saturn. I've photographed a lot of weddings and that was genuinely a first for me.
Every wedding I photograph at Searles Chapel feels like a little bit of a homecoming — and Sheridan and Shail's was no exception. This is where my own marriage began and where some of my favorite wedding memories as a photographer. If you're planning your wedding at Searles Chapel and are still looking for a photographer, I would love nothing more than to add yours to that list.
Vendors
Venue: Searles Chapel
Planner: Laurie | Everyday Details LLC
Catering: Artisan Chef Catering
Florist: Flowers by Marianne
DJ: JF Entertainment
Searles Chapel is one of my favorite venues in southern New Hampshire. To see more of my work across the Manchester area and beyond, visit my Manchester, NH Wedding Photographer page.
