Love and Lobster Coastal New England Weddings

credits (clockwise from top right): emilie inc. photography, Ned Jackson, Erin Hearts Court, Shyla Photography, Pure 7 Studios, emilieinc.com, Shyla Photography, Shyla Photography, Erin Hearts Court, Justin Marantz

Nothing says summer like a traditional New England clambake. And nothing says wedding day madness like trying to steam dozens of lobsters without professional help.

Little Neck Clambake Co., situated on New Hampshire’s seacoast, has you covered. While you mingle with guests, they’ll serve up a feast to please seafarers and landlubbers alike. Start with creamy New England clam chowder, followed by clams or mussels steamed in the shell and fresh-picked corn on the cob. Then dig in to the main event, a lobster plucked from the Gulf of Maine and cooked to bright red perfection.

And those are just the traditional eats. Little Neck also offers grilled sirloin and rib eye steaks, barbecue chicken, swordfish and an array of side dishes, plus options for vegetarians and kids. Don’t forget the strawberry shortcake, made with fresh biscuits, for dessert.

Looking for a more portable option? Try Little Neck’s Claw & Tail Boxed Lunch to keep your family and wedding party well fed during pre-wedding outings along the coast. A fresh lobster roll, coleslaw, dill pickle and cookie or brownie will keep them fueled up for seaside explorations.

A family business built on relationships with local fishermen and growers, Little Neck takes pride in bringing a professional approach to the relaxed, casual atmosphere of a traditional clambake. They’ll haul their equipment just about anywhere for fresh onsite preparation, and take care of the friendly service, paper goods (yep, including lobster bibs), clean up and rubbish removal. You’ll be glad you called in the pros.

For all the time and money that go into selecting and purchasing a wedding cake, there’s not much to show for it after the reception, minus a few photos and memories of decadent filling. That’s where the cake topper comes in. Even after the upper tier of your wedding cake has long since disappeared from your freezer, you’ll still have the topper to remember it by.

But how to symbolize your love and eternal devotion atop three tiers of fondant? This probably marks the first time you’ve imbued an inanimate topper with such intense feeling, save for maybe Christmas (and, admittedly, pizza nights). Many couples choose a hand-me-down topper from a friend or relative’s wedding. But if you’re in the market for a unique alternative to a traditional ceramic bride and groom topper, look no further.

One-of-a-kind cake toppers made by New England crafters won high marks in the Etsy-Martha Stewart Weddings DIY Wedding Craft Contest, including a Northampton, Massachusetts woman who claimed the top spot. Ashley Anna Brown won with her precious custom love birds, made with vintage and recycled fabrics. Mosey Handmade of Belfast in coastal Maine was named a finalist in the competition. Check out their bird’s nest topper and refreshingly creative acorn boutonniere, perfect for a fall wedding.

Also not to be missed is — and don’t be discouraged by the name — Etsy crafter goosegrease (really a Brooklyn mom named Michelle). She’ll customize simple wooden cake toppers to match your hair, dress and even your eyeglasses, or you can order a do-it-yourself kit to put your own painting skills to the test. For a more intricate customized option, check out Elle F. Designs, which will even reflect your wedding’s color scheme and flowers in your topper, using materials such as pipe cleaners and wooden beads.

If you’d hoped to adorn your cake with some vintage flair but grandma’s cake topper disappeared or cracked over the years, try Fancy Flours, a Montana bakery that sells a wide range of old-fashioned toppers, dating back to 1920s Kewpie doll versions. Their bicycle-riding French couple says bon appétit with Parisian class.

And if you’re using your cake topper as an opportunity to get a little cheeky with your wedding decor, Weddingstar is your go-to retailer. Complete with figurines of a bride tackling her groom in a rugby match, an expecting bride with a baby bump and a cowboy groom, the site can’t be beat for variety. Weddingstar also offers toppers that reflect a range of religions and ethnicities.

Finally, if you just need a laugh, check out the wedding section of the hilarious Cake Wrecks blog, where you’ll find football helmets and Darth Vader figurines as cake toppers, bedecking some of the most hideous “professionally” made wedding confections you’ll ever come across. An everlasting token of these tiered disasters is, unfortunately, the last thing the brides who ordered them will want.

There’s an old superstition that rain on your wedding day is a lucky omen. The Italians even have a saying for it, “Sposa bagnata, sposa fortunata,” or “A wet bride is a lucky bride.”

Still, most brides would trade a little good fortune for the outdoor ceremony of their dreams. But if you’re tying the knot in coastal New England, you just can’t count on endless sunny skies. So remember another time-tested adage: A flexible bride is a happy bride. Make a backup plan.

Tip number one: Rent a tent. So says Kate Parker, one of our favorite wedding planners and a woman who knows how to prepare for New England’s unpredictable weather. Yes, a tent costs more, but this is not the West Coast, where the sun always shines. If you’re already planning on using a tent, consider ordering just one size larger so it can accommodate guests not only for the reception, but also the ceremony and cocktail hour, Kate suggests. The extra $200 will be well worth your peace of mind. The same goes for shelling out a bit more for a tent floor, so you’re not stuck dancing with dad in a muddy puddle.

Check out the lay of the land, as well. That verdant valley might look like the perfect ceremony site, but not if a downpour fills it with an inch of rain. Shoot for a level surface, and consider keeping your cocktail and reception tents within a short walk of each other, Kate says.

A couple of final notes on logistics, then we’ll get to all of the fun rainy day touches you might never have considered. Write up a communication plan in advance, so you can notify guests and vendors of a location change or other wet-weather contingencies. Be prepared to provide transportation as well. And try to treat your Plan B with the same appreciation for aesthetics as you do the dream vision for your day. If the contingency site for your ceremony is a cramped, drab hotel dining room, you might end up disappointed. “Your rain plan has to be as cool as your non-rain plan,” Kate says.

Now for the fun part. You may think of umbrellas as inclement weather necessities, but when they match your wedding colors, suddenly you’ve got themed accessories. And their counterparts, brightly colored galoshes and wellies, brighten up any drab day. If tracking down matching colors proves difficult, you can always go with classic white (including the ivory Weddington wellie with customizable ribbon and vintage lace-style umbrellas!) Imagine a portrait of you and your intended snuggled under an umbrella in your rain gear. Not bad, right?

And speaking of photography, the soft and balanced light on overcast days makes for flattering portraits free of harsh shadows. If you’d planned to have your portraits taken after the ceremony but a real downpour is looming, stay flexible and shoot them before you exchange vows. A good photographer will be prepared with alternate rainy-day portrait environments, but you can always schedule a backup session for after the big day.

Even more crucial than careful planning, however, is an up-for-anything attitude. Kate has seen brides both rise to the drab weather occasion and completely fall apart at the prospect of a few raindrops. “It’ll break you or make you,” she says. So remember, it’s a nice day for a wet wedding.

Taking care of your skin, both prior to and on the wedding day, is an important step in planning that sometimes brides don’t budget for or overlook figuring they will just do their own make-up. Big mistake. Truly talented make-up artists can create a custom look that highlights your best features and will outlast all the cheek kisses from guests and sweaty booty shaking action on the dance floor. If you’re lucky, you’ll score someone like Joanne McDonough of Joya Beauty who travels to your wedding site and has a spa-like zen energy about her and the experience. She’s in high demand and books early! Read on the learn more!

L&L: Tell us a little about you, your background and the history of Joya Beauty.

JOYA: I spent many years in a corporate environment and came to realize that was a good job, but not a passion. I wanted to have a stronger connection with people and use the creative side of my brain, as well as all the great tools learned in an office environment.

My Italian family always greeted us “kids” with “Joya, Joya so nice to see you,” with many hugs and kisses. It made us feel welcomed and warm and loved. That is the way I want my clients to feel… welcomed and cared for when they come through my door. Doing a makeup application, lesson or skin care treatment is a very intimate experience. My clients share very personal information. They share feelings, desires, and their insecurities. And I connect very personally with them.

I started this career by going to NYC and Boston and studying with makeup artists who work in a variety of different fields… celebrity and fashion model photo shoots, film, theater, runway, as well as women just like us. I wanted to be able to understand how to combine professional techniques, products and results with the realities and challenges in most women’s lives.

I offer make up lessons to many women who come from all walks of life and age groups, who want a private and personal experience customized for their needs. They get custom blended products, a lesson on how to apply it with confidence and a source for their unique and custom products whenever they need them.

Some of my favorite experiences are with women like us who want to look the best we can, but may think that they can’t take the time or don’t have the skills to get great results.

L&L: Describe the range of services that you offer. What is the bulk of your work?

JOYA: I “specialize” in bridal makeup. My definition of bridal makeup is a sophisticated, classic, timeless look that showcases the individual to make her comfortable in her makeup so she feels pretty and smiles a lot for the camera. She wants to look beautiful to her groom and her guests who will see her close up, as well as for the camera or video. In this age of high-def photography and digital cameras, what you see is what you see. And I don’t want people to “see” makeup. I want them to see her eye color, her smile, and to think she looks fresh and rested and relaxed. I want them to see her beauty.

I have to take into consideration the time of day and the light makes a huge difference as well. And typically, the event usually transitions from a daylight ceremony to an evening light- sometimes candle light- reception. I often make them two different lip colors and give them some tips to amp up their makeup before they are announced into the reception. It’s all about having her feel confident.

I offer a variety of different treatments that are proven and results oriented… from basic relaxing facials to resurfacing peels to microdermabrasion. The products used in the treatment protocols are the same that I offer for home care use… they are the same and only products that I use on my own skin.

We would start with an extensive consultation including a discussion about your “wish list,” goals and what it takes to get the best skin you can have. I see men and women looking for age management for mature skin conditions, teen facials and brides – who come for months prior to the wedding and who have become long time skin care clients. I love it when they bring their babies who sleep in their little carry chairs while Mom is having a relaxing treatment.

One thing to emphasize is that brow shaping is included in a facial treatment. I use a sensitive skin aquamarine wax, scissors, tweezers and threading. Not many people in this area offer this option which is great for people who can’t have waxing due to skin conditions or medications. It is great for brides who want their whole face devoid of those tiny little velous hairs which trap makeup and show up in a photograph. Of course once you see and feel how lovely your face looks without those little peach fuzz hairs then you will continue to want your threading appointments long after the wedding.

Joya Beauty is a boutique style makeup emporium specializing in unique ready to wear products. I can make you a palette of products to simplify your life and that you can refill very economically.

You can also have your foundation, concealor and lip colors custom blended. I keep your formulas on file and you can re-order anytime – your favorite shade will never be discontinued. Everyone who walks into my makeup studio is drawn to the blending lab corner of the room and wants to know what all the bottles and jars are used for. Watching someone’s face when I make a lipstick is especially fun. Most people have never seen how a lipstick comes to be shaped into that perfect bullet… again… the magic of makeup!

Product sales always come with instruction on how to use them and also how to multitask with their products to save time and money. Purchases are like a mini makeup lesson for free! I teach people to use palettes like a makeup artist to create a variety of different looks depending on the event. The products are of the highest quality of the product and selected for performance as well.

L&L: Make-up is sometimes considered a luxury or splurge item on a bride’s budget. How would you reply to this statement?

JOYA: Your photos will be a life long memory of your wedding day. For many women it is the day they felt the most beautiful… why not look it as well?

Makeup Artistry as opposed to “having makeup done”… means being able to look at each individual’s face and seeing the bone structure, skin texture, the features – eyes, nose, lips, cheeks, forehead, chin, jaw, neck and creating a balance that is unique to this person.

Makeup is magic to me. With a slight of hand technique we can make a feature virtually “appear” more prominent and striking while making another feature disappear or diminish it so it is not even noticed. What was once a cause for concern simply vanishes. These makeup techniques and corrective makeup applications are used in our everyday makeup application as well as in a more professional setting such as stage, movies, TV, runway, and editorial.

Not even a supermodel’s facial structure is “perfect” and they are just as concerned about imperfections as anyone else. My training and experience crosses into all of these areas.

L&L: You have a natural ability for putting people at ease and making them feel beautiful, as well as making them look beautiful. It really comes across that you love what you do. What is your favorite part of your job?

JOYA: Touching a person’s face creates transference of energy for and from me. I didn’t realize that the other person felt it as well until I started getting many notes thanking me for “how they felt” as well as for how they looked after a visit or during their bridal makeup.

L&L: When you are doing a makeup application, what do you strive to create?

JOYA: I want to see a look in the client or bride’s eyes when they look at themselves in the mirror. It has to say… I love the way I look right now! I can tell when they are not there and we take it off and start over!

I love that “perfect” skin look you see in photos in magazines. Always working to create that – even though we know the photos are re-touched you can still get very close to that in real life with today’s products and technology.

I use an air brush a lot since younger women did not grow up with “foundation.” They are used to powder coverage for every day and when it comes to their wedding they don’t want to “feel” their makeup. Air brush makeup also is very durable and looks flawless in photos.

L&L: How far in advance should a bride book you for her wedding day? Do you require a trial before the day of the wedding?

JOYA: I am fortunate enough to have earned the trust of many talented and in demand photographers and event planners. I usually start booking into the next season a year in advance. A “makeup design” appointment is included in the bride’s package and I highly recommend they take advantage of that benefit. We design their look for the big day, the colors and we also custom blend their lip color right here in my studio.

L&L: On the wedding day, how long does it take to apply a bride’s make-up?

JOYA: I like to have at least 30 minutes with the participants and 45-60 minutes with the bride. Not that it takes that long to apply makeup but we have to allow for the “interruptions.” Flowers are delivered, champagne toasts, gifts etc. happen at the same time and should all be part of the fun.

I have a schedule of appointments for the bridal party to follow so that everyone is ready in time to dress and be ready for the pre-ceremony photos… which are usually the most close up and they need to be picture perfect for that walk down the aisle.

L&L: Do you often beautify her maids and/or mothers as well?

JOYA: Brides, their attendants and Moms are special to Joya. I love getting to know them in the months leading up to the wedding by working on their makeup design to capture their personality and the mood of the event and, of course, taking care of their skin so that they are glowing on the big day. And long after the wedding day, many continue with regular skin care appointments and makeup lessons as they progress through the next stages of their lives as working woman and mothers.

Brides giving the bridal party their makeup application as part of their gift is also a nice way to say thank you for being part of their day. The photographs from the “getting ready” part of the day are usually candid and great memories. The formal photographs are more consistent as well, when the bridal party looks uniform.

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

JOYA: Referrals from photographers and event planners as well as past Joya brides. The internet is also a great source… Google searches etc.

L&L: What was the most memorable wedding you have worked and why?

JOYA: I had the pleasure of attending to a lady getting married to the love of her life – she was in her 70’s. They had a passionate love affair in their early life but parted for various job and life reasons. She never fell in love like that again and never married. She contacted him as she felt time slipping by and found that he was widowed and living alone. They reconnected and were married in New Hampshire.

On the day of the wedding she was like a young, vibrant and giddy bride. She danced all around the salon telling stories and jokes. While I was applying her false eyelashes she took a nap so that she could dance the evening away with her groom.

They had five wonderful years together and I am sure lived a lifetime of love every day.

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

JOYA: Foster’s Clam Bake in Cape Neddick; The Stolen Menu Café in York; The Golden Egg and The Ice House in Portsmouth.

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

JOYA: Call 603-534-3412 or email joanne@joyabeauty.com or use the contact link through the website www.joyabeauty.com We’re also on Facebook.

Exclusive for our Love and Lobster readers, Joya beauty is offering Bride plus 4 package and get an additional makeup application FREE!! Thank you, Joanne!

Credits: (clockwise from top left): Elizabeth Stultz, Jules Bianchi, Rachel Thurston, Lauren Hurt, Amy Atlas, Emilie Inc., Obitran, Julie Parker