A Colorful Summer Wedding at a Private Residence in Henniker, New Hampshire

Samantha Clark (28 and a food-security and nutrition specialist) and Myles Fish (28 and a staffer for the secretary of state) planned an elegant backyard affair for their late-summer wedding in Henniker, New Hampshire, with a cheerful palette of vibrant hues and charming rustic details. “We let the backyard my family shares with their best friends serve as the inspiration for the wedding,” Samantha says. “We wanted to embrace the relaxed, country feel and let the surrounding woods and hills take the spotlight.” The event was truly a labor of love, with the couple calling upon the talents of their closest family members and friends to infuse the day with one-of-a-kind flair. “In a town of less than 5,000 people, we loved the idea of involving the community in our big day,” Samantha says. From the flowers to the wedding rings and the dozens of hand-painted signs dotting the property, even the smallest details were pulled off by the couple’s tight-knit community. The day began with an intimate ceremony on the lawn. Birch stumps topped with vibrant floral arrangements lined the aisle, leading to a hand-crafted birch ceremony arch draped in a lush garlands, under which Samantha and Myles exchanged their own vows. “Ultimately, we hoped our wedding day would be a joyous celebration with all our favorite people,” Samantha says. “We simply wanted people to have fun, so we filled the area with bold colors, big balloons and food trucks.” An alfresco celebration followed the ceremony, with the newlyweds ushering their guests to an open-air tent bursting with color. Bouquets of garden roses, stock, eucalyptus and more cascaded from antiqued silver vases, while pale blue table linens added a note of freshness to the decor. Fresh fruits de mer from renowned local food trucks were served on vintage floral plates, and Samantha and Myles treated guests to signature Moscow Mules, a nod to their short stint in the former Soviet Union. “Despite a small blip, our DJ proved to be one of the unsung heroes of the night. The dance floor was packed all night, which is exactly what we wanted,” Samantha says. “One of our favorite pictures captures a gorgeous moonlit sky, the perfectly lit tent and dozens of empty tables and a packed dance floor.” —Libby McCarthy