Anna is a New Hampshire based editorial and wedding photographer, creating intentional, moment-driven imagery throughout New England and beyond.

This stunning wedding took place at Nikki’s family’s lakeside estate in Moultonborough, New Hampshire, a place where late summer light pours in through the trees and the mountains meet the water in perfect harmony. For Nikki and Matt, who call Washington D.C. home but have a wanderlust-filled zest for exploring the world, Lake Winnipesaukee was the perfect destination to provide a grounded, intimate feel for the large circle of family and friends that arrived to celebrate them.

A private estate wedding in Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire, by Anna Solo Photography.

The Celebration

There is something extra beautiful about a wedding that unfolds over several days. It gives us an excuse to step away, to live inside the moment, and to celebrate with intention. Nikki and Matt are both professionals in the health field and have a commitment to making a positive impact on the world, and it’s no surprise that they chose to make their wedding a multi-day experience. It was a reflection of how they live their lives: fully present and surrounded by the people they care for most, which, as we observed, is everyone that showed up for them.

A couple at their first look before their private estate wedding in Lake Winnipesaukee, Moultonborough, New Hampshire. By Anna Solo Photography.

The celebration was the ideal kind of slow burn, leading up to a ceremony held right at the water’s edge. It was important to the couple that their wedding be laid back, yet elegant. The dress code was open to summer-by-the-lake interpretation, and comfortable shoes were encouraged. The lake served as a natural altar alongside the couple’s chuppah, and as the light began to turn golden, Nikki and Matt exchanged vows with their parents and siblings standing beside them. After their ceremony, which included several meaningful Jewish wedding traditions, they snuck away for a few minutes alone to toast their marriage over cocktails and appetizers before joining their guests on the lawn.

Cocktail Hour and Dancing Under the Stars

Following the ceremony, guests shifted over just a few feet to cocktail hour, enjoying the relaxed vibes and the final, cozy moments of a late summer evening. As the last rays of light faded, the band ushered the party to a beautifully lit clear tent, where the reception began. The transparent canopy kept the starry night close and the atmosphere buzzed with exhilaration. The night was a blur of laughter, dancing, and happy energy. The Hora that followed was an incredibly powerful moment of communal joy, and it’s not an understatement to say that the ENTIRE room participated.

The Story of the Weekend

I was instantly drawn to this partnership from my first call with Nikki, Matt, and Nikki’s mom, Karen. They made it clear that they wanted to focus on their wedding story, rather than a production. They value their deep-rooted connection to each other, to their friends who have become family, and, after our engagement session made clear, adventure. Their home is a welcoming space, holding years of good times shared, and Nikki and Matt’s wedding would be another gorgeous memory to add.

The party went into the early hours of Sunday morning, wrapping up around 1 am. The following morning, the couple and their families greeted their guests for one more round of food, drinks, and reminiscing of the weekend’s festivities. Driving away from their brunch, we really felt like we’d been embedded with these amazing families who invited us into their orbit like we were part of their group, giving us the space to capture exactly what everything felt like.