Straight out of a cozy Christmas movie, comes Alex & Amanda's beautiful Maine winter wedding. I'd been dying to photograph at Hardy Farm for some time because it's such a lovely venue. They have their own woodland chapel just behind their picture-perfect barn. It's a smaller venue, ideal for intimate events yet still offers all the amenities that make a wedding an event to remember. It's that perfect blend of intimacy and quality.
Alex and Amanda met at a Maine Center For Entrepreneurs Top Gun event where Amanda was pitching the winery she owned, Eighteen Twenty Wines. Fast forward to today and the pair are truly living the Maine dream having bought a family home on the water on Peaks Island that they're lovingly restoring and Alex is making all of their wines!
Before we go any further, the talented vendor team who made this all come together seamlessly:
Catering: @theblacktiecompany
Wines: @eighteentwentywines
Florals: @DutchBloemenWinkel
Hair & Makeup: @karadayhair
The video:
The men stayed in a nearby cabin, also owned by Hardy Farm, where they started preparations for the day.
Even the cabin was decorated for the holidays.
Alex sported cufflinks of Peaks Island and a gorgeous blue velvet tuxedo.
Back at Hardy Farm, just a minute down the road, the ladies had arrived to get ready. They both kept getting ready preparations low-key. It was important to them to document the day but they didn't want a huge production.
With the bridal bean boots laced up, it was time for a quiet first look together, something that was very important to them. For them, this was a moment to slow down, share in the joy of the and occcasion get a few tears out before the vows.
Emotions were running high so I stepped away to allow them some space to enjoy the moment.
The perk of a first look is that you can head straight into portraits before the ceremony. That means that all of the "work" is over when you head to your cocktail hour.
December can be a snowy month in Fryeburg but it was also pretty warm on this particular day. I wasn't sure what I'd find when I arrived but to my relief, we were treated to a light blanket of wintry white.
And sunlight to die for. With sunset at 4pm our portrait session was right at the golden hour.
I loved how I could place this bouquet down and it blended perfectly with its surroundings.
The ceremony was held just before dark. Hand warmers were passed around and blankets were available for guests to cuddle up with. Amanda was walked down the aisle by her son.
One of my favorite wedding traditions is ring warming, perfect for winter weddings. The audience is invited to impart their warm wishes for the couple onto the wedding rings while they warm them in their hands.
So many tears and laughs during the vow reading. They both shared deeply touching words for one another.
Alex also read vows to Amanda's son.
The kiss came at the final moments of daylight. The perfect time to usher guests into the candlelit barn for a 3-course meal and dancing.
Decorated for the holidays, guests were invited to take an ornament from the table as a thank you and to remember the evening.
Guests were dressed to impress, mingling with festive cocktails, wines made by Alex and Amanda, and delicious bites.
That cake!!!!
Food was served family-style and between each course, a wine from the couple's winery was brought out and a toast was made.
The first dance.
More guests were seated in the balcony above.
Mother son dances and more sweet tears.
Then the dance floor opened up and guests danced the night away.
An all-around magical evening that embodied the joy of the season and the love these two share.
As a Maine Wedding Photographer specializing in weddings of under 100, intimate weddings, elopements, minamonies, and micro-weddings across the State of Maine, I'm here to document your wedding day in an unobtrusive, heartfelt way to maximize your ability to say present while capturing authentic, natural moments. Get in touch to discuss your plans, space is limited.
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