Rockport, Maine September 13, 2008

Let me begin by saying that I’ve never been one of the girls who had her wedding planned by age 13. You know, we all have the friend who knows exactly what she wants from the lace on her dress down to the color ink on the program. No, that was never really me. I think I was more concerned with finding the boy and falling in love and all of thatbusiness! Admittedly there was one thing that I did know, that was an absolute must have, if and when I got married, the wedding would be near my hometown in the state of Maine.

Beyond the obvious reasons that I grew up in Maine and am a diehard fan of lobster, blueberries, rocky coasts and all the rest, there is something more, something a little less concrete about the state that made any other location for our wedding pale in comparison. There is a remarkable feeling I get when I go home to Maine and the leaves are changing and falling and crunching under my feet as I walk around town with a scarf for warmth and maybe I even bite into a crisp apple! It’s a feeling of being one with the seasons, an organic resolve that all you really need is a walk in the brisk air, and then a cozy couch, some hot tea and hopefully someone to share it all with.

I wanted to have this feeling on my wedding day, and I wanted to share it with my guests as well.

Like I said, I hadn’t really decided on any specific details for my wedding. So, when I got engaged my first thoughts were of a relaxed country wedding, nothing fancy. Well, I have to say that as soon as I was presented with options these early thoughts were thrown out the window. I wanted roses, but not any roses, I wanted them to look antiqued and romantic. And I wanted a folk-bluegrass band, but not just any band, I wanted Kevin McElroy to play for the ceremony and cocktail hour and then we would have a DJ that would play only the songs we wanted for the reception. And the dress I chose was not just any dress, and it certainly wasn’t country. It was formal but the champagne satin ruched skirt and wrap style strapless bodice made it elegant and endlessly romantic. And yes, it even had a bit of lace on it.

Ultimately, your wedding day is for you and your husband. The color of the rose and placement of the lace on the dress are undoubtedly important – and perhaps a massage the morning of wouldn’t hurt either. But it would be thoughtless and remiss to not also think of your guests’ happiness and comfort. After all, it is the guests that will stand witness and hopefully remember the day in years to come. We felt the most important things in making sure our guests had a good time were staying dry (have a back up plan if the ceremony is outside), delicious food and drinks especially during the cocktail hour, and most of all good music! In this way, we hoped that our guests would have warm, full bellies, enjoy loved ones that they see only once and in a while and shake a leg all night long!

I think we succeeded. It really seemed that everyone had a wonderful time. It may have been the food and the music that made it great, but I tend to think it was the details that made it special and uniquely Maine for the guests, and also for me. The folk-bluegrass musicians, Kevin McElroy and Jonathan Cooper, are not only gifted and well known Maine musicians and instrument builders, but I also babysat Kevin’s daughter for many years and grew close to the family. The Episcopal minister who ordained the ceremony has been in the lives of my siblings and me, working together closely in our local community theatre, since childhood. Of course, who can forget the locally brewed beer, the fresh haddock and beautiful wedding cake made by Sweet Sensations in Rockport that brought to everyone the delightful taste of Maine? And our guests, all those who came from out of town – relatives from Florida and California, cousins coming in from upstate New York and Manhattan, beloved friends from the Midwest and beyond, friends and family new and old, of all ages together in one place – together at last in my own backyard.

The ceremony was outside on the lawn of the Samoset Resort in Rockport. The sun came out just in time for 3 o’clock and cast an unmistakable fall glow over the guests and then, thankfully, over my husband and I. The air was soft and cool, my bridesmaids were radiant, the groomsmen looked proud and everyone was happy. I felt at home, and through the nerves I had a wonderful sense of harmony with the people and the places that had shaped my life up to that moment. And so, it was facing that famous and, to me, ever familiar coast that Joe and I made our promises and became husband and wife. It was very perfect, very me, and very Maine.