Maine Events

We are so happy to be a part of Maine Wedding Company
and Maine Wedding Buzz!!

In celebration of our Maine Weddings of the Past Present and Future, enjoy some of our favorite photos that showcase so much that Maine has to offer!

Photos: Aphrodite Wedding Photos, CA Smith, Blush Imagery, Blissful Beginnings, Carol Savage Photography

Happy Earth Day!

There are lots of EASY ways for your wedding to GO GREEN!

REDUCE-
I love gorgeous paper products and fully appreciate incorporating beautiful printed programs, menus and place cards into the wedding day decor, but I cringe when I have to collect and discard stacks of paper at the end of the ceremony and reception.  To cut down on the waste, plan to offer your fabulous programs per couple as opposed to per person, consider a beautiful seating chart in lieu of place cards or frame a few elegant menus on each table or the buffet instead of printing one for each guest.

REUSE-

Always ask your Wedding Planner and Floral Designer what supplies they offer for rental as opposed to purchasing them on your own. We reuse candle holders, vases, cake stands, frames, easels and lots of other wedding goods all the time. This will not only cut down your wedding supply budget, but also reduce the carbon footprint of your wedding by reducing transportation, storage and shipping of these items.

RECYCLE-

Be proactive in promoting recycling on your wedding day.  At your tented home wedding, provide recycling receptacles and ask your bar staff and servers to separate trash and recyclables as they clear tables.  Ask a friend or family member to be in charge of collecting the bins and make sure they get to the recycling center.    

RENEW-

Consider live centerpieces, decor and wedding favors as opposed to cut flowers. Potted plants and herbs are beautiful, fragrant and live on long after your wedding day is over.  The Arbor Day Foundation offers wonderful  Gift Tree favors, saplings which can be planted and enjoyed by your guests for years to come.

Happy Earth Day 2011!

Photos: Aphrodite Wedding Photos, Melinda Butler, Claris Photography

Where are you sitting?

Many couples dread (and put off until the very last minute) creating a seating plan for their weddings.  This necessary task is really easier than you may think, and your guests will thank you for taking care in planning a place for them to enjoy the festivities!
 
Why do you need to assign seats at your reception?

1. You painstakingly planned your centerpieces, tablescape, napkin fold and linen color. If you do not plan where guests sit, they will take it upon themselves to move chairs, squeeze 12 seats into a 8-person table and this will not create a comfortable experience for your guests or a pretty photograph.

2. Have you ever walked into a full movie theater with 3 friends and tried to find 4 seats together with 150 people staring at you?  This is what "seating yourself" at a wedding feels like.  Your guest's comfort should be first priority at the wedding reception and searching to find a seat in not comfortable.

3. If you do not plan your guests seats, your caterer will have no ideas where the 6 chicken finger kids meals go, your cousin's vegan plate needs to be or the "shellfish allergy guy" is seated. And no, you can't just point them out that day.

So, what are the rules of thumb in creating your seating plan?

1. Again- guests' comfort is paramount!  Most people do feel most comfortable being seated with folks they know. When you receive your response cards, take a second to bundle them by category- family/work friends/parents friends/college buddies, etc. When all of the RSVPs are received, half the work is already done.

2. When you must mix friends/family members who do not know each other at a table, try to match up guests with similar interests/jobs/hobbies or those who are close in age.  Most often they'll have no problem getting along if they find that they have things in common.

3. Wedding party members are always happier to be seated with their date or significant other than at a "head table".  Traditional 1-sided head tables are far less popular than in the past, and for good reason.  The bride and groom spend very little time seated at the head table, and therefore the wedding party is hanging out "on display" by themselves!  Consider other options like a sweetheart or family table for yourselves and seat the wedding party with guests.

4. Think about the older folks.  Correct, you do not want to seat your older guests directly in front of the sound system, but they do want to have a good view of the action on the dance floor and the entertainment.

When in doubt, always put yourself in the position of the guest and error on the side of their comfort!

Photos, Claudia Kaerner Photography,  Aphrodite Wedding Photos

Let's talk about Wedding Ceremonies-Part 1

One of my favorite parts of my job is creating beautiful, customized wedding ceremonies for my clients.  I became a Justice of the Peace about 8 years ago so I could add officiating to my Wedding Planner's Bag of Tricks, and it has become a wonderful addition to the services that I offer my clients.  In fact, I officiate at about 50% of the Weddings I also plan or coordinate!

The popularity of Civil Wedding Ceremonies (i.e. non-religious) is definitely on the rise.  There are many reasons for this trend.  Many couples come from different faith backgrounds and do not wish to "choose sides"- others consider themselves spiritual rather than religious because they do not regularly attend worship services, or follow the doctrine of a specific faith.  Many couples wish to  be married at outdoor venues or locations where their faith does not permit religious ceremonies to be held.  Still others are Atheist or Agnostic and do not feel the need for religion to be a part of their lives at all.

I like to remind my clients that within a civil ceremony, two individuals "marry" each other by offering their positive intention (along with acquiring a marriage license from the state where they wish to be wed.) The primary job of a Justice of the Peace or non-religious officiant is to act as a witnesses for the State- to affirm that;
1. The couple has a valid license and
2. They both said  "YES."
There is no magic word or formula which "makes" you married. Your positive intention is all that is needed.

 The secondary job of an officiant is to assist in creating the ceremony.  Bear in mind that the "ceremony" is essentially window dressing. There are no legal requirements of a wedding ceremony other than positive intention stated by both parties. I joke with my clients that they could sing the words to "Stairway to Heaven" followed by the words "I DO!" and I can sign the marriage license! Creation of the actual Ceremony Script should be as personal as buying your wedding gown or choosing your rings. It is, after all, completely customizable!

Now, where to begin? How do you create a wedding ceremony?
There are many things to consider. Traditional vs. Contemporary? Short and Sweet or Lengthy, incorporating traditions, customs, readings, etc??? 

Coming soon, Let's Talk about Wedding Ceremonies Part 2 which will describe the customary "Parts of a Wedding Ceremony."

Photos: Melinda Butler Photography, Aphrodite Wedding Photography, Carol Savage Photography 

Groom-spiration!

Do we focus too much on the ladies? 

How about some favorite images of the gents...

Honorable

 Anticipating

 Well balanced

Focused

 Centered

 Buttoned up

 Trusting

 

 Hangin' loose

Giving

Photos: c.a.smith, glenn livermore, alice garik, melinda butler, aphrodite wedding photo, melinda butler, hinkley photo, aphrodite, melinda butler

Blissful Events: ...and the Bride wore Fuchsia!

Many thanks to Jennifer Belkus Goolkasian from Aphrodite Wedding Photos for sharing these great photos from Christina and Steve's September 4th 2010 wedding!

 

You may remember that this was the weekend of much feared end-of-summer hurricane "Earl". Well, Earl wimped out and his presence left no impact on this day! It ended up being 80 degrees on Steep Hill Beach in Ipswich MA- and a perfect afternoon for a festive casual beach wedding!

Christina and Steve lead their guests to the beach...

 (I love to officiate barefoot ceremonies)

 

 

...and then back up to the tent for casual summer fare 

by the crew at Ipswich Clambake Company.

  

 Beach towels and sand toys for the kiddos made perfect wedding favors!

Why have only one cake? C&S chose seven favorite flavors 

and presented them on collected and borrowed cake stands.

 It was truly a perfect end of summer celebration for two really cool people!

 

 

Sweet Tooth

In order to cure my craving for something sweet today, what could be better than creating a gallery of wedding deliciousness!
How about some Seasonal Inspiration?

Or a little High Drama...

Something Delicate and Classic

or Whimsical and Fun?

 

What a delicious way to reflect you style and personality!