Love and Lobster Coastal New England Weddings

Traditionally, wedding anniversary gifts are determined by the year: paper for your first, leather for your third (who knew?), silver for your 25^th, and gold for your 50^th. But what if you’d rather have a memory govern your choice of gift than a material?

Toss tradition aside and opt for an annual memento that represents your wedding day or the year you’ve just spent together. Consider purchasing a piece of art for each anniversary, say a painting of the rocky coastline where you married, a sculpture that reminds you of your honeymoon in Italy, or a vase from that flea market you visited during a day trip last summer. Thanks to Megan Clouse for this great idea!

Marry on the shore of a Maine lake? Adopt a loon that calls the same body of water home. Through the BioDiversity Research Institute, choose a loon from among more than 25 lakes in Maine, including the popular Sebago and Rangeley lakes, and follow the bird’s life from year to year as your contribution funds important conservation efforts. You’ll receive, among other perks, a description of your loon’s history, including its age, size, whether it’s hatched young, and, awwww, its choice of mate.

If it’s a taste of Maine you pine for, enjoy succulent lobster year-round through Catch a Piece of Maine, even if you live hundreds of miles away. Their premium lobster club membership gives even landlubbers their very own trap, fished all season by a specially assigned lobsterman. A minimum of 13 lobster dinners will be delivered (with free shipping!) right to your door. You can even monitor the trap online while you await your meals, which also come with clams, mussels and dessert.

Speaking of sweets, another iconic Maine treat can also be delivered to your door every month, with a seasonal twist. Sign up for the Whoopie Pie of the Month Club, a sugary scheme cooked up by one of our favorite vendors, Nothing Bakes Like a Parrot. Enroll for either six or a dozen whoopies to be delivered at intervals of your choice, and look forward to such flavors as the Hello Summer! — a strawberry whoopie pie with vanilla filling — and the All Hallow’s Eve — a Nutella whoopie pie with Nutella and chocolate ganache filling. If you’re one of the many couples who chose whoopies as your wedding favors, this option is extra sweet.

We won’t tell if you eat one of those whoopies for breakfast, but a more proper morning treat comes in the form of Stonewall Kitchen’s delicious jams. Set up an auto-delivery schedule to have Maine specialties like their wild Maine blueberry jam delivered on your anniversary, and throw in blueberry scone mix and Maine maple syrup to keep the rest of the year packed with New Englandy goodness.

They say you’re supposed to give a gift of pottery on your 9^th anniversary — a pancake batter bowl counts, right?

Changing your last name after getting married can be daunting, and even a newlywed’s happy glow is no match against long lines at the DMV. But an online service has popped up to make the surname switch as easy as a few clicks of a mouse.

MissNowMrs.com offers to guide new brides through the name change process in as little as 30 minutes. The site has researched all of the legal requirements in each state to provide users the most up to date forms and filing instructions all in one place. More than 15 different items, from your passport to your driver’s license to even your insurance coverage, can be updated simultaneously with their $29.95 package.

If you’ve got a number of name change notifications to send out, the service could be a lifesaver, helping to remind you about items you may have overlooked, like your voter registration, and making the forms available in a single location. But MissNowMrs.com isn’t a fairy godmother who alleviates paperwork pain with the wave of a magic wand. You still have to fill out and print the forms, and then mail or hand deliver them to the appropriate agencies and companies, since the filing process isn’t completed online. You can likely find many of the forms online for free, but the service removes the hassle of searching for them and keeping track of which ones you’ve completed. Check out some reviews of the site here.

Providing so much personal information to a website gives many of us pause, but MissNowMrs.com assures users that their data is protected by a password login, encryption and rigorous security testing. If you’d rather not enter certain information, you can always hand write it on the forms instead.

Sigh, the red tape that follows a white wedding.

Husband and wife photography team Jessica and Lyle are the faces behind Maine’s Fidelio Photography. Learn a bit more about their background and what they adore about Maine in this week’s inside peek!

L&L: Tell us a little about you, your background and the history of Fidelio Photography. Where did the name Fidelio come from?

FIDELIO: Lyle and I met in 1999 when I had just moved to New York City from Indiana. I had recently graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Photojournalism and was trying to figure out what I wanted to do with my degree (and not work at a newspaper). I took a job as an admin assistant for a diamond dealer and Lyle would come in a few times a week as their computer consultant. I wasn’t really interested in a relationship and hadn’t paid much attention to him until one of the employees there saw us standing near each other and said we’d look cute together. I kind of blew it off but then started to pay more attention to him and had another employee there find out of he was single or not. He was and I made up some story about a printer problem I needed help with and we started talking, went out on our first date and were pretty much inseparable after that. We were both musicians (I sing, play guitar/piano and write and Lyle sings and plays guitar/bass) and were into photography and have tons of other shared interests, but are also really different in a lot of ways and balance each other out. I was incredibly reserved when I met him and led a fairly sheltered life in the Midwest before I met this New Yorker who had traveled everywhere and experienced so many things. He really helped me to come out of my shell a lot and pushed me to be more confident in myself and to pursue all the things that I wanted to do in life.

We were married almost a year to the day of our first date on August 11, 2000 and we eloped on the top of the World Trade Center on the observation deck overlooking the city. It was so beautiful and totally spontaneous which is very “us.” Our biggest regret? We didn’t hire a photographer! We relied on our families to take photos and they were terrible, we have maybe 5 snapshots of the day and of course now we can never go back there.

We moved around a bit and ended up back in Indiana (where I’m from) for a few years. Digital photography was becoming more popular, our love of photography was reignited and we started shooting landscapes and models together. Eventually that grew into portraits of all kinds (bands, kids, families) and a few weddings for friends and in 2005 we officially began Fidelio Photography and moved to Maine. We chose the word “Fidelio” because we wanted something really unique and a little bit mysterious sounding. Fidelio is the only opera of Beethoven’s and we are both musicians too so we liked that the name had ties to music. When it came time to design our logo we incorporated the drop “f” into it which stands for both “forte” in music and the f-stop in photography.

L&L: Describe the range of services you offer.

FIDELIO: We love working with people. They are so interesting and complex and it is amazing to us that we can document someone’s wedding or family and create something that is so meaningful to them. So we love shooting any type of portrait session! We primarily are focused on shooting weddings/engagements and also fashion/beauty. I love fashion photography and am working on building my book in that area and Lyle also shoots wildlife and landscapes, so we each have our own personal projects going all the time too. Another part of our business is our work with families and high school seniors which we primarily do in the summer/fall. Additionally I have a background in graphic design so we are able to design custom albums and other products (cards, etc) for our clients which is something that I love to do.

L&L: What is the favorite part of your job?

FIDELIO: Definitely the people! We love the clients that we get to work with and the experiences that being professional photographers have enabled us to have. For example this spring we shot an engagement session for a couple who came to Maine from Michigan (they were engaged earlier in the year in Portland). We hit it off immediately with them and they mentioned they were getting married in the Cayman Islands but were probably going to hire a photographer there due to budget. We kept in touch with them and a month before the wedding she decided that she had to have us there, so we worked it out so that I could fly out and be their photographer for the wedding. It was such a beautiful place that I may never have gone to if not for them, and they are such an incredible couple and I loved working with them and getting to know them more. A lot of times the families of the couples we work with really embrace us and make us feel like we are a part of the family, I think that really makes our job easier as well as makes it easier for couples to be more open with us and comfortable while we are there shooting such an intimate and important day for them.

L&L: How is it working so closely with your sweetie every day? Do you always photograph weddings together?

FIDELIO: I think that depends on which day you ask us. We feel very lucky that we have very similar photographic styles and when we shoot a wedding it looks like the work of one photographer, and we are also lucky that we are a husband/wife team and that is very appealing to the couples that we work with. We do live and work together though and that means we are with each other 24/7 basically so we can get on each other’s nerves. We have just made it work though — we have offices in separate areas of our house and a studio that we can escape to if we need a break. Sometimes I will go to New York for a few days to shoot and he can get some alone time or he’ll go to the mountains to shoot and hike and I’ll stay home. We respect that each other needs some time alone and space and are good about giving that to each other when we need it. We are really great at communicating with each other though which is a good thing. When we do argue we get a little space and are over it pretty much immediately.  We are both a little competitive (in a friendly way) too which just makes us push each other to get better and better.

We do shoot every local wedding together, the only time we have shot separately is when I have traveled to do a few destination weddings. I can’t even imagine not working with him though, we have this way of communicating on a wedding day without speaking and are good at not getting in each other’s shots and using our own personal strengths on the wedding day to get great coverage. We are more creative together because we can help each other with lighting or other little things and of course it is awesome to be able to offer two perspectives during a wedding and not miss anything.

L&L: Your creativity and playfulness comes through in your photography.  What’s your inspiration?

FIDELIO: We have always tried to draw inspiration from whatever subject we are shooting and go from there. I know a lot of photographers that spend hours searching for inspiration on the internet, which is helpful sometimes, but we are very much interested in shooting something new and different if we can. For weddings this usually depends on the couple–sometimes the couple has a very classic wedding and are interested in those types of photos and other weddings we have done they have given us total creative freedom which we love. We usually try to get to know them a bit in advance and then the day of the wedding try to find the most unique spots to shoot at their location or look for amazing light. From there we just try to come up with poses and angles that are both flattering and interesting. For our other sessions sometimes we go into it with an idea in advance or a location/theme that we want to base things around, but usually we just try to think of things on the spot.  I think that our love of fashion photography also inspires us for weddings so creatively I guess we are inspired by fashion magazines as well.

L&L: Couples have so many talented photographers in the area to choose from.  Why should they choose Fidelio Photography?

FIDELIO: There are so many great photographers in this area, and more popping up all the time! I think that couples would choose us because we are a husband/wife team and it’s nice that Lyle can shadow the guys before the wedding and I can go with the bride. We also are photojournalists and able to capture moments unobtrusively as well as the creative portraiture that we love so much.  We are also the type of photographers who will go out of our way to get a good shot or to make something amazing happen. I think beyond that we are also just really good with people and anticipating moments and emotions which make us able to capture those moments which are so important on a wedding day.

L&L: How do most of your clients find you?

FIDELIO: I would say that probably half of the weddings that we shoot come from referrals from each a small network of local photographers that we trade referrals with (with similar styles and pricing) or referrals from former clients or their families. The other half is from the web, so either a search engine or vendor directory, etc.

L&L: How far in advance should a couple contact you for their wedding photography?

FIDELIO: It really depends on the date, every year there are those dates that everyone seems to want and we’re booked a year or two in advance for. Generally we want couples to contact us as soon as they can so they aren’t disappointed later if we are booked on their date (which has happened a bunch of times). After they contact us we usually try to set up a meeting in person or via Skype or phone if they aren’t local to see if we are all a good match for each other!

L&L: What is the range a couple will usually spend for their wedding photography package?

FIDELIO: I think the average range would be between $4,000-6,000.

L&L: What is your most (memorable/unique/ outrageous…you fill in the adjective) wedding you have worked and why?

FIDELIO: We haven’t really had one that I would describe as “outrageous” yet, but hopefully soon.    I think one of the most memorable/unique for us was for a couple we shot in August, 2009. They were in love with our style and the bride and I emailed back and forth all the time and became good friends. She had such cute details (lots of DIY as well as other fun things like peacock feathers) and at their wedding and left a TON of time for portraits of the bride/groom and bridal party. They treated us like friends instead of just some vendor they would see the wedding day and never again and really respected our work. Plus they were young and energetic and up for anything which we love. The polaroid shot is one from their wedding actually.

L&L: What “must-see” places and eateries do you suggest folks from out of town check out while visiting Maine?

FIDELIO: When we first moved to Maine we tried to eat at as many different restaurants as we could–that was very fun. There are so many great places here for foodies! One of our favorite places (and first restaurants we discovered when we moved here) is Dogfish. They have great food, nice staff and it’s a very chill place. We also love Street and Company, Ri Ra, The Grill Room, Fore Street and Old Port Sea Grille. If we’re ordering in we either get Portland Pie Co or one of our new favorites, Po Boys and Pickles. For must-see places I think a very obvious answer is the coast! It is so amazingly beautiful. We love Kennebunk and Ogunquit especially. I also love antique shopping and there are so many (too many to list!) places for that here in Maine. We have shot many weddings in Bar Harbor too and it’s a great place to visit and hang out for a few days. And definitely the Old Port is a “must-see” for walking around and checking out local shops as well as all the great places in the East End and Arts District (where our studio is).

L&L: Thank you for giving us an inside peek into Fidelio Photography. If readers want to get in touch with you to inquire about your availability, what is the best way for them to reach you?

FIDELIO: Thanks for asking us to be a part of Love and Lobster! The best way to reach us is by visiting our website, www.fideliophotography.com and we’re also on Facebook at www.facebook.com/fideliophotography and Twitter is @fideliophoto. We would like to give a 10% discount toward a portrait session (including engagement) to Love and Lobster readers!

Credits (clockwise from top middle): jek in the box,  The Dessy Group, Martha Stewart, cannelle et vanille, Martha Stewart Weddings, aroma candles, Maria McBride, The Dessy Group

‘Tis the season for bended knees and sparkling rings. December is the most popular month of the year for couples to get engaged, making January ripe for a fresh round of gift-giving. If you’re unsure about how to congratulate a couple of newly committed lovebirds in your life, here’s a primer.

First, is a gift required? According to manners maven Emily Post, engagement gifts aren’t expected, but it’s become common to give one if you’re attending the engagement party and/or if you’re a close friend or relative. But you don’t need to break the bank; the present should simply serve as a gesture of affection and celebration.

If the couple sets up a registry promptly after their big announcement, by all means buy them something they’ve picked out. Household appliances are typically more appropriate for the wedding shower, but home furnishings and accessories such as vases and towels make great engagement gifts.

If you’re on your own to come up with a gracious gift, consider these ideas:

Together time: Purchase a gift certificate for a couples massage at a local spa or for a dinner out at the couple’s favorite restaurant. Concert, theater or sports event tickets are a safe bet, too.

Eat, drink and be merry: If the couple enjoys wine, assemble a collection of classic vintages for them to open on their “firsts” — first house, first Thanksgiving, first anniversary, etc. You could even add a bottle of non-alcoholic sparkling cider for their first child. Or give the happy couple a gift certificate for cooking classes to be sure they’re well fed during their first year together. If they’re already comfortable in the kitchen, present them with a cookbook and fun oven mitts. 

For the home: The possibilities are endless — champagne flutes, candles, decorative bowls, scented soaps. For something more personal, purchase a sculpture or painting by an admired artist, or frame a photo of the bride and groom together or from when they were children.

Wedding prep: It doesn’t take long for engaged couples to get inundated with wedding planning tasks, so offer a gift that lightens their load. Consider an engraved cake serving set, a subscription to a bride’s magazine or a keepsake for their marriage mementos. Make arrangements with a local photographer for an engagement portrait session or with a dance studio for some ballroom lessons (do your homework first to avoid saddling them with a grudge instead of a gift).

Honeymoon gear: If you know where they’re headed to unwind after the wedding, hook the couple up with the appropriate equipment, like snorkeling gear, guide books or handmade luggage tags. It’ll get them off on the right foot for that other trip they’re embarking on, as husband and wife.

Winter weddings offer a double dose of love and togetherness when they coincide with the holiday season. So in the spirit of all that gratitude and gift-giving, check out these ideas for seasonal favors that are sure warm your guests’ hearts while it’s cold outside.

Visit your local bakery to order up a batch of gingerbread cookies, then wrap them in cellophane bags and tie with a ribbon in your wedding colors. Tuck a boy and a girl cookie together in each bag for a romantic touch. Or, assemble dry hot cocoa mix in a mason jar, layering mini marshmallows on top and decorating with a bundle of peppermint or cinnamon sticks for stirring. If you’d rather leave it to the pros, Stonewall Kitchen’s Sugar & Spice gift set includes all of the above and more in a cute gift bag. Mulled cider is another seasonal favorite — take Martha Stewart’s lead and put together personalized mulling spice sachets stored in decorative tins.

Martha’s also got a go-to idea for an equally fragrant (but far less edible) sachet filled with the lovely scent of dried balsam needles. Or give each guest a fun balsam-scented snowball candle that’s sure to remind them of neighborhood snowball fights. If you’re going for more than just the aroma of the season, bestow each guest with an evergreen seedling that comes complete with planting and care instructions. Choose the eco-friendly packaging option and your tiny trees will arrive wrapped in wax paper and tied with twine, table-ready with the simple addition of a gift tag.

For a more delicate aesthetic, these hand-carved snowflake soap favors wrapped in shimmery tulle on Etsy smell as good as they look. To really make your guests feel pampered, add a customized lip balm in a flavor of your choice and labeled with your names and wedding date. Other snowy souvenir ideas for your big day could include these chrome snowflake bottle stoppers from Kate Aspen, which come packaged in a clear box topped with organza ribbon, or these mini Mr. & Mrs. Snowman snow globes.

If your wedding date bumps up against New Year’s Eve, place a noisemaker at each table to get everyone in a celebratory mood. If you’ve got access to an outdoor gathering space (and your venue approves), bundle several sparklers together with ribbon and a matchbook, then invite everyone to join in for a mini fireworks display under the stars.