Love and Lobster Coastal New England Weddings

7.17.10: Jeanna and Tyler

Peaks Island, Maine

Tyler and I grew up on the coast of Maine, just outside of Portland – we both share a deep love of the rocky coast and salty ocean air that only Maine can offer. When we began the wedding planning process from Boston we tossed around a few location ideas, but one thing we were both set on was that we wanted our guests to experience a seaside wedding weekend while having them close to Portland to soak up the fantastic culture of the Old Port and all that it has to offer. It was tough to find that perfect mix, but when we landed eyes on the Inn on Peaks and discovered the short 15 ferry ride from the epicenter of Portland, we were sold.

Next step: create a wedding day that reflects Maine’s best qualities and showcases our design taste and love for hosting a good party. All the wedding events were held on site at the Inn. We worked with our florist to incorporate a rustic ocean infused theme, and we had classic toile custom linens topped with bunches of white hydrangeas that filled the tables under the tent. We incorporated creamy garden roses and white orchids to soften the birch trees we had sweeping through the tent and ceremony. I wanted to make sure the little things weren’t missed either, so we incorporated touches of Maine throughout the venue, using a homemade paddle as our guest book, lobster traps, buoys, ocean rocks and my favorite was the wild Maine blueberry jam jars we used for our seating cards! We wanted to emphasize the fun too, so tapped into purple and blue lighting to enhance the dancing area, had 200 mini red velvet cupcakes as a sweet treat, and rented a local photo booth to give the guests some pictures to take with them. We worked with a graphic designer for months to mix the perfect crimson and navy colors and design to reflect the day… she nailed it. It was great to have a “wedding logo” to carry throughout the wedding as well, from invitations, to welcome bags to drink stirrers – we made sure this was layered into the event.

Outfitting the wedding party was the easiest part of the planning, getting the guys into navy poplin suits with bowties and suspenders was a must. My dress was about as seamless as that. After a 30 minute shopping experience with my mom I nabbed my dream dress at an annual sample sale! I wanted to keep the bridesmaids in a classic dark charcoal… we played up the color with coral heels to match the boys bowties and sprinkled in a pop of color with the crimson orchid in the hair. I felt myself gasp when I saw them all standing together at the ceremony… the long awaited vision became a beautiful reality!