Margie and Richard were married on a rainy day in western Maine, on the edge of the White Mountain forest by the New Hampshire border. The rain made everything mysterious and magical and these newlyweds embraced the elements! The ceremony was to be held outside –rain or shine– and they were wed as their family watched from under a sea of white umbrellas. It was an intimate event, as many of their friends and family traveled from all over the country to experience the beauty Maine has to offer –lobster and whoopie pies, included! The bride had recently lost her father and sewed a flannel heart to her gown, close to her heart, in his memory. Later in the evening they released a paper lantern into the night sky as he watched over them.
Margie + Richard
The Glen House- Newry, ME
October 22, 2016
Wedding day weather: Cloudy, overcast, rainy
Number of guests: 40
Your budget:20K
Biggest splurge: Venue
Biggest savings: Food and Alcohol
Why did you choose the Mountains for your wedding?
We really love the beautiful scenery, the fall foliage and privacy of the mountains!
Wedding day theme:
We had a rustic outdoorsy theme and color pallet was maroon and grey.
Where did you find your inspiration?
Pinterest was the main source of my inspiration.
How did you choose to personalize your wedding?
We wanted to veer away from traditional wedding trends and embed pieces of us. We chose whoopie pies instead of a big tiered cake, cake toppers of lobsters that mirrored what our invitations had, I did a lot of diy decorations that had that personal touch.
What was your favorite part of the reception?
Dancing. With such a small intimate guest list we all had such a great time dancing and laughing together. At one point we did the Congo which was so random and fun!
What are three things you’re super glad you did?
- Had a small wedding
- Chose Lex as our photographer
- Got married and and reception at Glen House
Anything you wished you hadn’t worried about?
- Hair and makeup- had a trial run with a salon and hated how they did it so my friends did it instead for me which I should have done all along
- Weather – we had to scramble the day before to get umbrellas for everyone but Amazon came in handy just wish we didn’t have to worry about that part
- We had to decorate and rent and set up everything since it was a house and not a real venue. I couldn’t have it any other way but it would have been nice to have someone come in and just do it all.
What was the biggest challenge in planning your mountain wedding and how did you overcome it?
Coordinating everything ourselves without a staff to assist. Our friends and family were absolutely amazing day-of. The night before I made a list of things I needed help with or that needed to get done to avoid having everyone come up and ask me morning of. Everyone referred to the list and took care of things. It was such a humbling experience to see and feel all the love that all our family and friends took charge and wanted us to have the best possible day.
How did you find and choose your vendors?
With the exception our photographer and rental company, they were all friends- chef, florist, bartender. We found Lex (photographer) on the knot.com, reviewed her portfolio and absolutely loved her work. The rental company was found on Google in close proximity to the venue and with good ratings.
What is your best piece of advice to other mountain brides who are planning their weddings?
1) don’t stress, plan ahead but no need to stress. If things don’t get done they don’t get done. Just enjoy your day together because it is such an amazing day surrounded by people who love you. 2) do a first look with your to-be spouse. This not only diminished my nerves but was so special to have an hour of just us. It was so special and personal. Yes the whole day is about you both but this was our time together to enjoy each other in a beautiful setting capturing our candid moments. 3) don’t skimp on your photographer! Great pictures and photography is something you will have and share forever. Lex was so incredible. Whether she suggested how to stand to best capture us or the scene, or we wanted to try something that meant something to us, she really brought to life and love of that day and totally enhanced it.
Sunday River. Maine Wedding Vendors
Wedding Photographer: Lex Nelson Photography | Wedding Venue: The Glen House, Sunday River Rentals Bridal Accessories: Eleganza Tuxedo & Bridal Gallery | Bridal Gown: Eleganza Tuxedo & Bridal Gallery | Wedding Cake: Labadies Bakery | Catering: Matthew Sanderson