Here are some fun ideas and tips for planning your Maine wedding:
- Make sure the baker, stationery, florist and planner are on the same page so the cake has similarities to the invitations and the floral match the colors and feel of the wedding.
- Bring in a lighting expert—they can transform a space which will make the pictures amazing! One less thing for you to have to worry about–you won’t be wrapping posts with christmas lights the night before your wedding this way.
- Don’t forget that the Maine weather can vary up to 30 degrees in one day be sure to let your guests know ahead of time so they dress properly
- Personalized vows—go ahead and do the traditional ones too—but either write and read your custom vows or memorize them. They are worth it! They make the guests laugh and cry and they really make you remember why you are marrying that person.
- Hire a professional designer/planner. They are able to take a concept and run with it. Not to mention they do all of the setting up and breaking down of the reception space. This is a vintage garden glam wedding.
- Have an intimate wedding—limit the list to the closest friends and family. You get to actually greet and spend time with your guests this way.
- Use long tables instead of round tables. They make people get up and move around more as well as socialize across the table. It just gives the wedding a close knit feel as its sort of as if everyone is sitting at one giant table. Plus you don’t need to seat your wedding party differently this way they are spread throughout the guests.
- Make up a wedding brand or logo that you can use on your stationary, cake, and use in your lighting.
- Let the photographer and videographer know who they key players are….for example if you are particularly close to your parents and your god mother for example its nice to know that ahead of time.
- Get a classic manicure and pedicure for your wedding—French tips are timeless
- Use the invitations to provide as much information for the guests as possible—the dress (formal, cocktail) the weather, things to do in the area, directions, timeline etc. Having a classy invitation suite sets the tone for the whole wedding.
- Make sure your details are meaningful to you two! Have the wedding represent your likes and personalities. Think outside the box and create a story for the guests around them.
- Hire a professional videographer! There is no replacement for an awesome five minute cinema short of your wedding day with the vows and speeches!
- Use a photographer that is right for you—someone you can get along with for the day, someone that fits your personalities, and someone who gives not too much or too little direction. Make sure you LOVE their portfolio because that is a representation of their constant wedding work.
- Don’t go too crazy with pinterest–remember those posts you have seen about pinterest fails 🙂 Your wedding is going to be perfectly yours–with beautiful images you don’t want it to be a direct copy.
- Light your wedding cake—make it an admirable detail for your wedding—get creative with it!
- Get creative with the food….lobster bake, BBQ, pizza bar, food trucks….all awesome experiences.
- Bring in a photobooth and lots of props for the guests.
- Don’t be afraid to mix styles—rustic chic, art deco vintage, modern classic etc A planner can help make this all come together. Its ok to like variety of things–with the right expertise everything can be tied together beautifully to create an event that is totally the two of you that your guests can appreciate.
- Add humor and a story to your wedding day—everyone there should be connected to you enough to have a memory with the two of you—bring those stories out
- Do use something borrowed, and old, blue, and new
- When planning the wedding think about the guests senses—what will they smell, hear, taste, touch, and see? In fact think of the guests in general they have traveled from far and wide to celebrate with you make sure it is a wonderful experience for them.
- Consider letting your photographer use some film for those timeless black and white images
- The photo time should be private time for the two of you—it should feel natural and be fun
- Do a first look—it frees up time to spend with the guests and alleviates the stresses. Not to mention you get a real quiet moment just the two of you with genuine reactions.
- Welcome bags—that have local things from the area in them and suggestions from the bride and groom for things to do and places to eat or items they might use that weekend
- To go cake boxes or an after dancing treat are very popular with guests. We all know when drinking late night snacks are the best!