Not only is this wedding as cute as they come, it’s the celebration of two high school sweethearts who tied the knot after 10 years as a couple. Set in the same beautiful locale where they grew up, they returned to the shores of Maine for a day decked out in color, style and a whole lot of love captured by Meredith Perdue and Inkspot Crow. Vendors like Gus & Ruby Letterpress, Black Bow Events and Michelle Peele brought the bride’s Eddie Ross-inspired vision to life, and we’ve got so much more right here.
From The Bride…After ten years of dating (we were high school sweethearts!), Ben and I always knew we’d return to Maine, where we grew up, to be married. I had always imagined a ceremony overlooking the same view I was lucky enough to see out of my bedroom window as a child on Southport Island, and my parents conspired to make that happen, building a gorgeous lawn that we’ll all enjoy for many years to come. During the ceremony, a close friend read the children’s book, I Like You, and Ben and I thanked one another for the things we’d come to appreciate after eleven years as a couple. We walked back up the aisle under a shower of pink and gold confetti, and then waited to hug everyone in a receiving line as they made their way toward the steel drum band and raw bar at the cocktail hour.
We held our reception under a tent on my grandmother’s lawn just up the dirt road from my parents’ house, where both my parents’ and my older sister celebrated their weddings, as well. We couldn’t have been any luckier with the weather—it was the most beautiful, sunshine-filled day, with the only brief shower raining down at the precise moment we wished to usher guests into the tent for dinner (Ben’s favorite: beef tenderloin and my favorite: mac and cheese!).
The smaller details–especially where incorporating color was involved–were the most fun to execute. Some of my favorites included the custom Liberty of London groomsmen’s ties (with a matching collar and leash for our goldendoodle, Bode), the custom pink and orange pennant flags for the tent, and the ikat runner and table squares for the tablescape, sewn for us with love by one of my parents’ best friends. I can’t forget the pink Chiavari chairs (which were super difficult to find!)—they were the first thing I knew I wanted for sure. I’ve long been inspired by an Eddie Ross tablescape that used those chairs and an ikat Quadrille fabric, and I set about recreating it with some personal twists.
The night ended with an amazing surprise fireworks show thanks to a dear family friend, after which Ben and I stayed up into the wee hours talking with our friends and my parents. Finally, we drove off in our old Jetta–the very same one I was driving back in 2003 on the night when Ben asked me if I wanted to be his girlfriend. This time, we headed off the island for the very first time as husband and wife.
Photography: Meredith Perdue | Cinematography: Inkspot Crow Films | Event Planning: Black Bow Events The Black Bow Shop | Floral Design: Marianmade Farm | Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier | Invitations: Gus & Ruby Letterpress | Rings: Joseph Gann | Bridesmaids' Dresses: L'elite Boston | Catering: Trillium Caterers | Hair: Studio One Limited | Band: Sugarbabies Inc. | Groom's Attire: Bonobos | Groom's Attire: Cole Haan | Groom's Attire: BeauxNeckwear | Groomsmen's Attire: Stag Handmade | Ceremony Music: Stretta String Duet | Venue: Private Residence | Tent: Sperry Tents Seacoast | Cocktail Hour Music: Island Beats | Rentals: One Stop Event Rentals | Rentals: Rentals Unlimited