May 26, 2020
Gabrielle and Andrew’s elegant New England Wedding was truly a thing of beauty. A chic color palette perforated by calming neutral tones made it incredibly contemporary, while touches like a stately vintage automobile added undeniable class. Sophisticated and refreshing in design, every aspect of their upscale Maine wedding was an enchanting reminder that sometimes the simplest things in life are also the most special.
Gabrielle and Andrew’s story started years ago. Gabrielle and Andrew were first introduced as children near the snowy slopes of Maine’s breathtaking Shawnee Peak. When they reconnected years later, their love of the great outdoors would once again play a part in their journey together as a couple. During Gabrielle’s very first visit to their newly purchased camp on Sebago Lake, Andrew got down on one knee and proposed spending their lives together. To which, of course, the bride happily agreed. Now, the camp not only serves as a picturesque escape for them and their dogs Otis and Wilbur, but also as an origin point – a place where they can forever revisit exactly where their “forever” began.
A refined palette of effortless gray tones paired perfectly with the neutral and metallic accents that were meticulously intertwined throughout the décor. Fresh greenery and breathtaking blooms carefully accented a white birchbark arbor, under which the couple exchanged their vows in front of family and friends. The tented reception that followed was nothing short of
breathtaking. Greenery accented the natural wood tables, while vintage-inspired decor perfectly highlighted the timeless beauty of the space.
The bride looked incredibly elegant in a contemporary lace gown that featured a form-fitting silhouette and statement-making sheer details. Her traditional train was perfectly paired with a gossamer veil that floated gracefully near her hemline. As exquisite as the couple looked while posing for portraits in front of the venue’s blossoming flora, there was something about the lake’s coastline that made them come to life. Sunset pictures at Maine’s Sebago Lake bathed them in a golden glow that made the magic already hanging in the air practically palpable.
Despite all the undeniable refinement, there was a lighthearted element to their wedding that let everyone feel free to enjoy as much of the occasion as possible. From the darling ring bearer and flower girl duo to the rowdy dance floor that continued on well into the late night hours, it was clear that Gabrielle and Andrew’s wedding was a true celebration. A celebration of friendship, family, love, and the kind of everyday fairy-tales that sometimes takes place in New England’s most breathtaking location.
Photography: Natalya DeSena Photography
Venue: The Stone Barn
Florals: Fiddlehead Flowers
Catering: Fire and Company
Rentals: One Stop Event Rentals
Stationary: Zula Bell
Dress: Andreas Bridal
H+M: Big Day Beauty
Band: Jim Ciampi
April 10, 2020
Getting you ready for the 2020 wedding season and keeping your creativity going during Quarantine.
Every year I spend my Spring prepping for the upcoming wedding season. I start by getting my gear serviced, updating my equipment, buying film, and one of my favorite things, buying new styling tools for flat-lay design. Today I wanted to share what I use for flat lays and where you can purchase all the pretty things! This is also a great resource if you’re bored in Quarantine and want to get creative at home.
Styling Dishes:
I love styling dishes! These are amazing to hold rings, earrings, and fine jewelry. They add dimension to your flat lays and are easily transportable.
Marbella Dish. These are some of my favorite because they look really pretty and they’re plastic. I usually don’t use plastic materials, and in most of my practices I try to be as sustainable as possible, but it’s extremely hard to transport glass or ceramic dishes when you’re running around all day at a wedding. These dishes come in many colors and sizes.
SOCOSY Classic Matte Ceramic Sauce Dishes. I bought these dishes on amazon and they are extremely affordable and really cute. However, they are ceramic so I like to use these when I know I won’t be running around from one location to the next.
Styling Mats:
(Featured above) These styling mats are amazing. In my opinion they’re worth the price tag of $180. Why? Because they’re extremely portable and they’re reversible. When I’m shooting a wedding I have so many things to think about that I will pay for the convenience of portable styling materials. The last thing I want to do is lug around things that will break or are hard to carry.
These mats are rollable and there are a variety of colors. Each one has a marbled texture to it and they’re hand painted canvas. Prices start at $85.
Chasing stone is a great place to source mats with a pop of color. These are premium canvases with frayed edges. These matts also have a marbled look and come with a price tag of $145.00
I just stumbled across this account on Amazon and these mats are double sided and rollable. They also come in a transparent container for storage. The best part of these mats is that they’re $115!
These mats are not rollable, but their price tag is $110, which is much less than the rollable mats. Available fabrics include Cotlin, Oatmeal, Champagne, Silver, Fog, Heathered Blue, Seafoam, Blue Gold, Pewter, Deep Blue, Blue Silver, Blush, Cinnamon, Taupe, Gray Buckram, Linen, & Black.
Favorite Etsy Shops for Flat Lay Styling:
This Etsy shop has everything beautiful from velvet and silk ribbon, to styling bundles and styling dishes. This shop is also based in Texas which makes shipping times fast!
This store has a lot of options from fabrics, table runners, swatches, napkins, and a variety of ribbon.
LustreTheory offers flat lay blocks for adding dimension to your flat lays. Made from clear acrylic, these styling blocks add height and dimension to product photography or wedding stationery flat lay designs.
Stamps and paper goods:
This company specializes in vintage postage. They have an enormous library of vintage postage and everything pretty.
Scissors, Wedding Trays and Wicker Fans on Amazon:
Scissors – Amazon has a variety of affordable vintage looking scissors
Metal Tray with Distressed Finish
Wicker Fans (White) on The Knot
May 10, 2019
Today on the blog I’m excited to feature one of my favorite Maine wedding venues, Cunningham Farm. The owners, Abbi and Tanner, are the sweetest people to work with and they make you feel right at home. Their venue offers 90 acres of land – it includes three event barns, a farmhouse, a pond, a river, rock walls, a pine tree forest farm, and a beautiful white farm fence. I interviewed Abbi and Tanner so that you can learn more about their stunning venue and what they offer.
Q1: Describe your business.
Cunningham Farm is an event site, primarily used for weddings. We really strive to balance preserving the historic look and feel of the estate while weaving in modern amenities for our clients and their guests to enjoy. We’re lucky enough to be close by to Portland and Freeport for convenience, but we are set in a gorgeous, pastoral area of New Gloucester that leaves the property feeling truly private for our celebrations.
Q2: How did you get started and what inspired you?
When we first started talking about the idea of opening an event space, we knew it had to represent how we like to celebrate with our own friends and families. We looked at properties and spaces for several years before coming across Cunningham Farm. Walking around the property, it felt untouched by time, which immediately created this laid back, relaxing atmosphere. The three barns created a special, fun environment for guests, and we really felt like it gave our clients the flexibility to create their wedding or event however THEY envision it.
Photo: http://www.bethanydanblog.com/
Q3: When should couples book your services?
Right now, we only have a few dates remaining for a year and half out, so I would say anywhere from 16-24 months out – definitely look on the earlier side if you don’t have much (or any!) flexibility with your date. If your main concern is the vibe and space, we may have a date or two left a year out for those couples!
Q4: What makes your business different and what type of clients do you work with?
It’s no secret that wedding barns are widely popular right now, so it was really important to us to elevate that experience. The three barns offer different settings for an indoor or rain plan ceremony, cocktail hour, and/or reception, and the manicured acres, mature trees, old rock walls, large pond, and tree farm offer a variety of backdrops for tented or outdoor entertaining! About half our clients come to us looking for a barn wedding or event, while the other half are looking for a historic estate or unique property for their celebration. The similar thread between all our couples is that they want to bring together a team of pros that will specialize the day or weekend to them!
