If you're dreaming of a wedding that feels like you've somehow escaped to a European estate without leaving New England, The Mount in Lenox, Massachusetts might be exactly what you're looking for.
Located in the heart of the Berkshires, The Mount was once the home of author Edith Wharton, and the entire property feels like it was made for an elegant, romantic wedding weekend. Between the historic architecture, formal gardens, tree-lined paths, and sprawling grounds, there are so many opportunities to create a wedding day that feels elevated without losing the warmth and personality that makes it yours.
I had the opportunity to photograph wedding inspiration at The Mount while spending time in the Berkshires, and it immediately became one of those venues where I could envision a hundred different wedding days unfolding.
Getting Married at The Mount in the Berkshires
One of my favorite things about The Mount is how much variety exists within a single property.
You have the grandeur of the estate itself, but you're not limited to one backdrop all day. The gardens bring in a softer, romantic feeling, while the architecture lends itself beautifully to more editorial wedding portraits. Even simply walking through the grounds creates opportunities for photographs that feel completely different from one another.
For couples who want their wedding to feel elegant but don't necessarily want it to feel overly formal or traditional, this is where The Mount really shines.
You can embrace the history of the property while still bringing in modern fashion, unexpected florals, personal details, and a wedding design that feels completely your own.
European-Inspired Wedding Ideas Without Leaving Massachusetts
The Mount has an unmistakably European influence, making it such a beautiful setting if you're drawn to destination-wedding aesthetics but want to celebrate in New England.
Instead of trying to transform the venue with excessive décor, I would lean into what already exists.
Think romantic garden-inspired florals, textured linens, handwritten paper goods, long dinner tables, candlelight, champagne, and details that feel collected rather than overly coordinated.
Fashion can also completely change the direction of the day. A structured gown or dramatic veil against the historic estate can create a much more editorial look, while softer fabrics and organic florals can make the gardens feel whimsical and romantic.
That's part of the fun of a venue like this: the property gives you a beautiful foundation without forcing you into one specific wedding aesthetic.
Wedding Portraits at The Mount
From a photography perspective, The Mount is basically a playground. There are opportunities for wide photographs that show off the architecture and landscape, quieter portraits tucked into the gardens, movement along the pathways, and editorial images that play with the symmetry and structure of the estate.
But I wouldn't want a wedding gallery here to become only portraits of a couple standing beautifully in front of a beautiful building. The setting is incredible, but the people are still the most important part.
My approach would be to balance those more intentional, editorial portraits with documentary photographs throughout the day: friends getting ready together, family reactions during the ceremony, champagne being passed around, someone fixing your veil, guests wandering through the gardens, and all of the little interactions you couldn't possibly plan ahead of time.
The result is a gallery that shows how incredible The Mount looked while still preserving what it actually felt like to be there.
Let the Venue Be Part of the Wedding Experience
If you're planning a wedding at The Mount, I would intentionally leave room in the timeline to actually experience the property. That doesn't mean disappearing for an hour-long portrait session.
Instead, build little pockets of breathing room into the day. Take ten minutes to wander through the gardens together after your ceremony. Step outside during cocktail hour for portraits around the estate. Sneak away for a few minutes around sunset before heading back to your guests.
Those small moments give you space to take everything in—and often create some of my favorite photographs of the entire day.
They're less about "going to take wedding photos" and more about giving the two of you a second to realize: oh my god, we're actually married.
Planning a Wedding That Feels Like You
A historic estate doesn't mean your wedding has to follow a traditional rulebook. In fact, I think venues with this much character are even more interesting when couples bring their own personality into them.
Wear something unexpected. Add color. Skip traditions you don't care about. Have a champagne tower in the garden. Change into a second look. Host an intimate dinner instead of a huge reception. Bring in vintage-inspired details or contrast the historic setting with something completely modern.
The venue can set the scene without dictating the story.
Documentary + Editorial Wedding Photography in the Berkshires
Photographing at The Mount only made me more excited about weddings throughout the Berkshires and New England.
My work blends documentary wedding photography with an editorial eye, which means I'm paying attention to both sides of the day: the photographs that happen naturally and the intentional portraits that deserve to feel like art.
Especially somewhere as visually rich as The Mount, I want your gallery to preserve the architecture, fashion, florals, landscape, and design you've spent months choosing—but also your mom tearing up when she sees you, your best friend losing it on the dance floor, the half-finished glasses of champagne on the table, and the people you love filling this incredible place.
Because years from now, the venue will still be beautiful. Your photographs should remind you who was there with you.
Planning a Wedding at The Mount?
If you're planning a wedding at The Mount, elsewhere in the Berkshires, or anywhere throughout New England, I'd love to hear what you're dreaming up.
I'm a documentary and editorial wedding photographer based in Raleigh, North Carolina and available for weddings throughout New England and beyond. My approach combines digital and 35mm film photography to create wedding galleries that feel romantic, lived-in, artful, and true to the people in them.
Planning a Wedding at The Mount?
I'm a documentary and editorial wedding photographer based in Raleigh, North Carolina and available for weddings throughout New England and beyond. My approach combines digital and 35mm film photography to create wedding galleries that feel romantic, lived-in, artful, and true to the people in them.
