Text by Holly Seng
Three months after the loss of a pregnancy, Megan Vaughan awoke one morning with a desire to build a greenhouse, much to the surprise of her husband, Mitch. Plants had been of little interest to Megan until she and Mitch received them after their loss. “I was determined to keep those alive,” she says. From then on, her fascination with houseplants grew—as did her collection.
When it came to the design and location of the greenhouse, the two Virginia-based photographers studied the light in their yard, knowing they would want to photograph the space. They opted for a neat, symmetrical structure to contrast the wild, organic feel inside. Mitch’s engineering background proved to be an asset when it came time to build—a task the two took on themselves, completing the project seven months later.
On the day of completion, thunderstorms gave way to a double rainbow, a symbol closely associated with their faith that soon took on an additional meaning. “The day the last [nail] went into the greenhouse was the day we found out we were pregnant,” Megan says.
Since then, the project has continued to evolve and expand beyond the couple’s original vision. After a year of privately enjoying the dwelling, they opened the space to local photographers. As word spread, people began requesting the venue for marriage proposals, and eventually, the Vaughans found their weekends booked with weddings on the property.
“Just seeing what God’s done with it has been a true testament,” Megan says. For her, watching so many people find joy in the space is a reminder of the incredible things that can come from a difficult situation.
For more information, visit vaughan-house.com.
