Earlier today, I finally posted about Kelly & Kevin's gorgeous Maine Maritime Museum wedding being featured in the current issue of Real Maine Weddings. I've had this blog post recapping their day waiting in limbo since shortly after their August 2015 wedding as I awaited the official publication (a birdy told me to be on the lookout).

Here we are. Monthly later. And the time has come to look back on the gorgeous Saturday in August when these two love bird officially got hitched.

I first "met" Kelly & Kevin via a video conference, as I do with many of my couples planning from "away", just under a year before their wedding. For Kelly, their weddings plans were taking her home to the beautiful coast of Maine just outside of Bath. With an ode to the working waterfront, they were preparing for a perfect summer wedding ceremony and reception along the water at the Museum. The venue itself could not be more "Maine" and made for an incredibly historical venue to tie the knot. After they each prepared away from the Museum, they both made their way to their ceremony. I dare say that Kelly's trolley ride with her ladies was the perfect way to "go to the chapel"! You have to love all of the honks and cheers that come from passers by as soon as they see a bride on her wedding day!

To this day, their ceremony is fresh in my mind as if it was yesterday. Kelly and her dad made the long walk from Long Reach Hall down in front of the boulder on the Museum grounds to Kevin, who was waiting patiently along the water's edge for his bride to meet him. Kelly's dad was down right glowing with pride as he watched his daughter take her steps to being Kevin's wife. I've always been an emotional person, but it has certainly been more intense for me to see moments like this ever since I had my daughter. Yes, I was trying to hold back the tears. Once Kelly's dad took his seat next to her mom, the personal ceremony was filled with lots of laughter as the (about to be) newlyweds reflected upon what brought them to this day. And laughed even harder after a few mishaps with their rope tying ceremony. It was the perfect way for these two families to officially be joined together.

After a whirlwind portrait session with their families and bridal party on the Museum grounds, they started their celebrations with a bountiful cocktail hour overlooking the water in the shade of Long Reach Hall before heading inside for their reception. The catering was provided by Churchill Catered Events and highlighted many of the things most people love about Maine: seafood and blueberries! I dare say there were not any empty tummies by the end of the night with all of the amazing options before them. Kelly & Kevin danced well into the night with Kevin of Double Platinum Celebrations keeping the dance floor packed right up until the very end.

When the bell struck 11PM, they newlyweds rushed from the Museum under an arch of waving glow sticks as their family and friends sent them off to begin their new life together as husband & wife. It truly was a day that Alan and I will always remember!

Thank you to Kelly & Kevin for having us capture the story of their day, their parents for helping to plan such a timeless Maine wedding celebrations, and the Maine Maritime Museum for being the perfect spot to host all of their festivities. It really was so perfect!

Date: August 1, 2015
eremony & Reception Venue: Maine Maritime Museum in Bath, Maine
Bridal Gown Boutique: Andrea's Bridal in Portland, Maine
Groom's Apparel: Men's Wearhouse
Bakery: The European Bakery Inc. in Falmouth, Maine
DJ: Double Platinum Celebrations DJ Service
Caterer: Churchill Catered Events in Portland, Maine
Florist: Emily Carter Floral Designs
Officiant: Rev. William Saunders