Love and Lobster Coastal New England Weddings

Clockwise from top center: Rebekah J. Murray, Martha Stewart Weddings, Anna Naphtali Photography, Julene Harrison, Martha Stewart Weddings, Mollie Jane Photography, Tracy Turpen, Tec Petaja

The Maine coast makes for such a stunning wedding backdrop that you need little more than a tent for a spectacular outdoor event. But before you drive those stakes into the ground, check out the open-air venues already nestled along Maine’s seaside.

These locales are unlike any other in the state, combining the beauty of the natural landscape with striking historic architecture.

• Camden Harbor Park and Amphitheatre: Gifted to the town in 1931, the public park and amphitheatre overlook the harbor from a high point in Camden’s downtown. Designed by renowned architects the Olmstead brothers and Fletcher Steele, both were restored in 2004. The amphitheater, made of fieldstone and brick, is woven with native trees and shrubs, with iron rails and elegant arches making it a one-of-a-kind outdoor site. In addition to concerts and fairs, the amphitheater plays host to many weddings each year.
• Vesper Hill Children’s Chapel: Just south of Camden, this nondenominational outdoor chapel sits amid a formal garden, rising above a sweeping lawn atop an intricate stone foundation. The chapel seats up to 50 people, drawing intimate weddings from mid-April through October. Named in honor of the holiness of children, the site blooms with hydrangeas and overlooks Penobscot Bay.
• Saint Anne’s Episcopal Church: In addition to its quaint stone chapel, Saint Anne’s in Kennebunkport is also home to an outdoor chapel, made up of a stone pathway leading to a pulpit at the ocean’s edge, flanked by rows of pews. Views of the rocky coastline stand in for stained-glass windows, and blue skies take the place of arched ceilings. Weddings are hosted all summer and into September.

Many brides wrestle with the question of whether to have children. All that responsibility and expense, the emotional fortitude required, the potential joys and pitfalls. But we’re not talking about giving birth to the little bundles of joy, we’re talking about inviting them to the wedding.

Adorable in photos or attention-stealing nuisances? Integral parts of the family or $100-a-plate tagalongs? It’s up to you and your sweetheart to make the call. But keep in mind that few other decisions are as apt to draw complaint from your guests. Childless college pals hoping to get rowdy at the reception whine if you invite the kiddies, while your cousin takes offense that she can’t tote along little Emma if you don’t. Once you take a stand on the offspring issue, keep a few rules of etiquette in mind.

Go all or nothing. If children are invited to or part of the ceremony, don’t expect their parents to take them home before the reception. And never cherry-pick from among your guests’ children – if you invite one kid, invite them all. That is, unless you’d like to explain to your high school BFF why her little darling in particular didn’t make the invite list. Some experts say it’s ok to have children in the wedding party only while excluding guests’ kids.

Be clear. If you’ve chosen not to include children, indicate so on your invitations. “Adult reception” or “Adults only reception” will do – stay away from “No children” or equally blunt phrasing. If you’d rather be more subtle, spread the word at the bridal shower and other pre-wedding events that kids aren’t invited, but don’t be surprised if you get a few write-ins on your RSVPs. For couples who do want kids present, list their names on the inside RSVP card, along with the parents.

Think beyond the cost. If a tight budget has you leaning toward nixing kids you really want to share the big day with, check with your venue and/or caterer before finalizing the guest list. Many offer children’s menus at much lower prices, though you may have to specifically ask. What 10-year-old wants to eat poached salmon anyway?

Embrace the unexpected. Getting back to those write-ins. If a guest fails to take the hint (or chooses to ignore your explicit request) it’s appropriate to phone them ahead of time to reiterate that kids aren’t part of the plan. But if a guest shows up on the big day with unexpected tots in tow, channel your inner Zen master and welcome them all. Put an usher in charge of discreetly escorting parents with screeching babes to the lobby during the ceremony.

Make kid-friendly arrangements. You don’t have to turn your reception hall into a Chuck E. Cheese, but do consider the needs of the 12 and under set. Put out a low snack station with mac and cheese or fruit kebabs for the little ones to munch on while their parents nosh on bacon-wrapped scallops. And arrange for a separate area with games, videos and other fun activities for children to enjoy while the adults mingle. You’ll earn major brownie points if you hire a babysitter, too. Just don’t be surprised when your best man (or you!) winds up joining the tykes in the bounce house.

Tucked away on one of the many islands dotting Casco Bay is an intimate wedding venue known for raising the bar behind the bar. The Inn on Peaks Island, just a 15-minute ferry ride from Portland’s waterfront, mixes up signature cocktails your guests won’t soon forget.

Tapping into a trend toward more personalized reception refreshments, the inn’s distinct edge comes from its connection to an iconic Maine beverage company. Shipyard Brewing Co. owns the six-room inn, which is why you’ll see its popular Export Ale and many other microbrews on the menu.

But it’s the brewery’s line of sweet sodas that puts the pop in the inn’s two signature drinks. General manager and cocktail connoisseur Fred Hayman incorporates Shipyard’s selection of Capt’n Eli’s sodas into the Blueberry Hill, a fruity favorite among brides, and the more masculine Dark & Stormy, says events sales manager Amanda Conley.

To create the Blueberry Hill, Hayward pours 1.5 oz. of vanilla-flavored vodka into a 10 oz. flute, then adds Capt’n Eli’s blueberry soda. He tops it with fresh blueberries for a final Maine touch. The Dark & Stormy is a deceptively simple blend of Gosling’s dark rum and Capt’n Eli’s sweet and spicy ginger beer.

In addition to its two signature drinks, the inn works with couples to design a range of personalized cocktails. A recent bride served up mojitos, made with mint grown right on the property, to match her bridesmaids’ green gowns, Conley says. And for the under 21 crowd, the inn sets up soda stations featuring all of the Capt’n Eli’s flavors, from a refreshing orange to a tropical Parrot Punch.

We’ll raise a glass to that kind of cocktail creativity. Cheers!

Budgeting for your wedding is a personal process unlike any other, a blending of the highly emotional with the ruthlessly pragmatic. Your right brain screams for orchids and caviar while your left brain shrieks for carnations and pigs in a blanket. So where to scrimp and where to splurge? Where can you afford to save a few bucks and what’s worth the extra money? We checked in with an expert, event planner Kate Martin of Beautiful Days, for some answers. Here are her top recommendations:

SCRIMP

Local flowers. The same farms that offer food also offer flower perfection! From June into October, local fields are filled with gorgeous seasonal blooms. Explore a local farmers market to ask about what might be available around your wedding date. If you are flexible on colors, just ask them to put together bunches of flowers that you can pick up and have a few of your gals help you put them into mason jars or vases found at flea markets. Gorgeous, easy and thrifty!

Sweets and treats. Let me start by saying that the cake is one of my favorite parts of a wedding. I have always been a sweets addict and I cannot wait for that slice of cake. But that doesn’t mean you have to spend a lot to have a heavenly treat served to your guests. If you have a favorite bakery, ask them to put together a sampling of their best treats, a few cakes and maybe a plate of chocolate truffles and you have yourself a delightful dessert table. If cutting a cake it a must, have a small special cake made just for you and your groom.

Boogie nights. If it’s in your budget for a band, then go for it. But if live music isn’t important to you, book the best DJ you can find. He or she will still keep the party rocking all night long and save you plenty as well.

SPLURGE

Local food. Depending on the time of year, local Maine and New Hampshire farms offer so much variety and deliciousness – heirloom tomatoes, scrumptious squashes, perfect pears, cheeses, grass-fed beef, golden honey. Work with your caterer to incorporate local foods and flavors into your meals. It may cost a bit more, but think of the flavors and the fact that you are supporting local farms.

Photography. Your wedding day will go by in a flash, as much as you try to embrace and hold on to every moment. Having a fantastic photographer to capture the day is crucial, but even the best can’t be everywhere. If your photographer offers a second shooter for the day, go for it! Every detail of your day will be recorded.

Dress it up. Don’t underestimate the impact the perfect linens can make. You have picked your colors, carefully chosen just the right bridesmaids dresses, the perfect mix of flowers -why not take it up a notch and bring in more color and texture with just the right linens? Whether it’s a runner, overlay or full cascade of color to the floor, a little extra spent on linens will make a big difference in the overall design and vibe of your party.

Staying on track. Finding that right person to help guide you through the planning process and be at your wedding for the ceremony, rehearsal and wedding day is invaluable. I am partial to this, being a planner and all, but honestly the amount of stress taken off your shoulders knowing that on your wedding day all the pieces will come together is worth it!

Thank you Kate! If you’d like to contact Kate about your next event, reach her at 207-384-4703 or kate@beautifuldaysevents.com.