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Weddings: Amber and Dustin: Ships that crossed in the night
MIDDLEBURY — Amber Power and Dustin Hunt knew each other in high school, but never talked or hung out — or even, as Amber notes, acknowledged each other.
“It wasn’t until our kids, who are similar in age, met in youth sports and became best friends,” she said.
The couple’s relationship blossomed after they met at the Middlebury Parks & Recreation Department, where Dustin worked for 14 years until he left to become activities director for Middlebury Union Middle School. Amber is now Parks & Rec program director.
The relationship proceeded, deepened and finally, on June 25, 2023, hit a high point.
Dustin and Amber have five kids between the two of them from previous relationships. They spent that morning with the kids at their soccer games. Then Dustin got them all involved in his plan to pop the question and made it super special. Each kid had a responsibility when they went to the Burlington waterfront to celebrate Amber’s birthday that afternoon.
Amber was surprised when Dustin turned to the subject of marriage, but she was receptive.
“I had no idea it was happening but it was so special to have all the kids involved,” she said.
Once the wedding was a go, the couple — and their kids — took a little more than a year to plan the big event. They set the date for Sept. 21, 2024.
Amber described the process as fun and exciting.
For a venue, they secured Black Label Ranch in Bristol, described by the couple as a beautiful property owned by Eric, Monica and Emma Carter.
“Dustin and I knew we wanted an outdoor wedding in the fall,” Amber said. “It was when we announced we were looking for venues that our daughter Nicola, her basketball coaches — father and daughter Eric Carter and Emma Carter — told us about their property. We went and looked and instantly fell in love — from the view, the barn, to the location.”
To officiate at the wedding, they turned to Bill More, who’s head of Parks & Recreation for the town of Brandon.
“We asked him because he is a fellow parks and recreation guy and we know him on a personal level,” Amber said. “He just fit so well with how we met and how everything started with the two of us.
One unique detail was that after Moore married Amber and Dustin, he then served as DJ for the wedding celebration.
“When we did the anniversary dance, Bill asked everyone who was married to get on the floor and dance,” Amber recounted. “He would call out years and if you had been married less, you get off the floor. It was pretty remarkable that the last two couples still dancing were both sets of our parents. Dustin’s parents have been married for 29 years and counting and Amber’s parents 53 years and counting. It was pretty amazing to see.”
Amber and Dustin gave special shout outs to Coles Flowers (Megan & Melanie Pouliot) for the flowers, Pratts Catering, Louise Bowdish for the most amazing cake, Paul Gamba Photography, and to their family and friends who were there to help celebrate and make the day just great.
“Every little detail was perfect — from the location, flowers and food,” Amber said. “It was when we stepped back together to just take the day in that we looked around and we saw our kids along with our close friends and families’ kids running around the property, playing by the pond, and enjoying the beautiful day. It was very symbolic to our life and how we met.”
Dustin and Amber’s advice to other couples planning a wedding is, “Don’t stress.”
“The day is going to be great, especially if you have the people you love and want to see you succeed in life there around you,” Amber said. “The day is about you and your partner. It will be perfect. I promise.
“Make sure you take your partner by the hand, stand in the corner and just watch everyone and take it all in. They are all here because of you two.”
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