Wedding at Searles Chapel in Windham, NH | Allison & Bobby
When Allison's parents reached out to hire me for their daughter's wedding, I was excited as soon as they told me the venue was Searles Chapel in Windham, NH, and I knew I needed to be there. There is something about returning to a place you love — a place that holds pieces of your own love story — that makes the day feel different. I arrived early on a gorgeous late September morning, met Bobby outside the chapel, and watched as his soon-to-be father-in-law carefully pinned on his boutonniere before quietly hiding him away before the bride's arrival. Allison arrived already stunning in her wedding dress — and her father, who had been holding it together all morning, took one look at his daughter and completely fell apart in the best possible way.
The Ceremony | Laughter, Tears, and a First Kiss Worth Waiting For
Allison and Bobby chose to wait until the aisle for their first look — and walking into Searles Chapel's ceremony space to see it filled with guests and flowers and that beautiful vaulted ceiling, the anticipation in the room was palpable. Steven M. Dembow officiated the ceremony and if you've never seen Steven work, he has a remarkable gift for balancing genuine emotion with humor — the kind of officiant who has the whole room laughing one moment and reaching for tissues the next. The groom's five sisters were among the first to reach for those tissues, and they weren't alone. It was the kind of ceremony that reminds everyone in the room why they showed up — not just to witness a marriage but to feel something. When Bobby finally saw Allison for the first time at the end of that aisle, the wait was more than worth it.
Portraits | Afternoon Sun, a Glowing Dress, and the Best Dip I've Ever Photographed
After the ceremony Allison and Bobby took a moment to soak in the congratulations from their guests — drinks in hand, beaming — before we slipped out back of the chapel for portraits in the afternoon sun. Searles Chapel's exterior is one of those locations that almost photographs itself — the granite stone walls, the arched doorways, the ironwork details — and in the early afternoon light it was all working perfectly. At one point we were shooting by the bushes out back and the sun hit Allison's dress in a way that made it look like it was genuinely glowing — one of those moments where you just keep shooting because you can't quite believe what you're seeing. As we moved around to the front of the chapel to work in the shade I asked if they wanted to do a dip shot — and they didn't hesitate. As it turned out, the dip was something they already had in mind — a recreation of a moment from the day Bobby proposed. He lifted her first before bringing her down into the dip, right in front of the chapel's iconic red arched doorway with the granite castle wall rising behind them. Knowing the story behind it makes the photo mean even more than it already does.
The Reception | Heartfelt Toasts, a 30-Year-Old Bottle of Champagne, and a Sibling Dance to Remember
Searles Chapel handled the transition from ceremony to reception seamlessly — one side of the venue cleared and transformed while the other filled with the warmth of a celebration already in full swing. The father of the bride opened the reception with a speech that was equal parts hilarious and heartfelt — the kind of toast that has the room laughing one moment and quietly wiping their eyes the next. Then came a moment I had never witnessed at a wedding before and likely never will again. The groom's father had purchased a bottle of champagne the day his son was born, saving it specifically for Bobby's wedding day. The sentiment was absolutely beautiful. The champagne, unfortunately, was not. Champagne does not age the way wine or whiskey does and what they uncorked was flat, oddly fragrant, and by all accounts an acquired taste. Bobby, Allison, and both sets of parents raised their glasses anyway and drank anyway — and the photos are genuinely wonderful. The first dance was lovely, the father of the bride was still emotional during his dance with Allison, and the groom shared a warm dance with his mother. But one of my favorite moments of the entire reception was watching Allison and her younger brother share a dance together — quiet, genuine, and completely unscripted. The kind of moment that makes you glad you stayed until the end. As the afternoon light began its slow descent toward golden hour we slipped outside one last time for a final set of portraits — the light lower now, softer, the stone walls of the chapel catching it perfectly. Then I said my goodbyes to Allison, Bobby, and their parents and headed home — something that almost never happens before dark as a wedding photographer.
Searles Chapel is one of those venues that makes every photographer's job a little easier and every couple's wedding a little more magical. If you're getting married there I'd love to hear from you — reach out and let's talk about your day.
Searles Chapel is one of my favorite venues in southern New Hampshire — to see more of my work there check out Sheridan and Shail's enchanting autumn wedding and visit my Manchester, NH Wedding Photographer page to see more of my work across the area.
