Nate & Allyson's Maine Beach-Themed Wedding

As the one year wedding anniversary of my good friends Allyson and Nate approaches, I thought I would take some time to highlight their seaside-themed wedding.  While Eventi was not involved in the planning and I attended only as a guest, the couple planned a beautiful Maine wedding and agreed to sit down with me and discuss their planning process and the big day itself so that I could share it with anyone looking for inspiration or who just loves weddings.

What was the inspiration for your seaside-themed wedding?
    When asked why the couple chose a beach theme, they said it was in order to capture their shared love for where they were raised. Said Allyson, "Growing up in coastal towns is an important part of our lives. When we were dating, we spent many nights walking the beach with a coffee in hand, just talking about where life would take us. Couple that with the fact that it was an August wedding in southern Maine, the beach theme just fit."

    The couple was married at St. Mary's Church in Wells, Maine followed by a reception at the Dunegrass Country Club in Old Orchard Beach, Maine. While the ceremony and reception were not held on the beach, the fresh, seaside feel was present in all the details they incorporated into their day.

What was the starting point for your planning process?
    "Pinterest definitely served as a launching pad for many of the ideas that we had," Allyson explained.  "Nate was very involved with the planning and decision-making," she added.
    Ally's mom - though she developed a Pinterest addiction in the process - was instrumental in pulling together a number of the projects including making the tablerunners, addressing the invitations in calligraphy, and using sand dollars to make the seating chart table cards.

What was the best part of the planning process?
    Doing all the projects as a couple and with Ally's mom.

What was the worst part of the planning process?   
    Making decisions!

What were some of your favorite touches?
    Some of my favorite touches included the table numbers which included photos of each of us at that age," said Allyson. "Actually," she continued, "I loved the whole tablescape…from the favors with the little tags that we tied onto the jam jars. Also, the little details such as the tags having a heart-shaped hole-punch and the votive candles with the tiny sand dollars on them."

The couple set up a "Message in a Bottle" table for guests to write them messages and advice to be opened on the anniversary corresponding with each bottle.

Upon entering the reception, guests could peruse "Meet the Maids" and "Meet the Men" displays that the couple made containing photos of each person in the bridal party and information about the person and how they know the couple.

"We were IN LOVE with our cake!" gushed Allyson about the three-tier white and blue beachy confection decorated with seashells and edible "sand" created by Flour! in Wells, Maine. The couple described Autumn Poulin of Flour! as great to work with.

Flowers were provided by Blooms Flower Shoppe in Maine which the couple highly recommends. 

Anything you would have done differently?
    "I definitely wish we had utilized a wedding coordinator's services for the actual wedding day. There were so many things to take care of on the day of the wedding and things that could go wrong and I would have enjoyed the day more had I known someone from Eventi was on top of it all," answered Allyson.

Any tips for couples on their wedding day?
    "One of my biggest tips would be to make sure you stay with your bride or groom all night. We got separated, mainly because I was stressing about things a wedding coordinator could have handled if we had had one, and we didn’t end up getting many pictures of the two of us together."

Thanks Ally and Nate for letting me showcase your beautiful wedding and I hope your anniversary is a fun as the wedding itself!

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