An Unforgettable Seaside Celebration at Portside Manor
I don’t even know where to begin with this wedding. As most of you know, Amanda is a dear friend of mine. Aside from that, she is one of my favorite humans on this earth. A hard worker, an unwavering friend, and an overall beautiful soul. So when she asked me to plan her wedding, I wanted to make her proud. She had a distinct vision for the design direction, so I really just took her lead on the overall vibe for the day. We enlisted an A squad of vendors who pretty much nailed her romantic, seaside, powder blue dream of a celebration.
an unforgettable seaside ceremony
On the wedding day, the skies threatened to open throughout the whole morning. The ground at Portside Manor was damp from the previous day’s rain as well, so we made a game-time decision to move the location of the ceremony. It ended up being the right call, a more intimate nook within the property. Amanda opted out of a first look, and it provided one of my favorite moments of the day - Cole’s reaction to seeing his (literal) blushing bride. Amanda walked down the aisle with her mom in a blush-colored gown, and Maria from A Sweet Start executed the perfectly customized ceremony.
The rainbow after the storm
Cocktail hour commenced with music from the Hill Brothers on the deck, and then the crowd soon moved into the tent for the reception - beating the rain and just in time for a stunning rainbow. We knew her father who had recently passed would show up someway, somehow. Although he was present throughout the day, everyone’s focus remained on making Amanda and Cole’s day one-of-a-kind. A moment I’ll never forget is her mother-daughter dance. They ended the song by inviting up all the other women in the room, and you could feel the love and strength among the group.
Meet the Couple
How did you and your husband meet?
"The short story that we tell people is “we met in college” but the truth is, I spotted my future husband for the first time at the McDonald’s All-Star basketball game banquet we both attended in 2012. Cole was nominated for Mr. Basketball and I remember thinking to myself, ‘who is this handsome man?!’ I believe I creepily added him on Facebook shortly after (Cole still denies any recollection of this). During our freshman year of college, Cole transferred to the University of Southern Maine where I was already attending, we exchanged brief passings in the hallways and moments at the gym where I was again, mesmerized by my husband-to-be." - Amanda
"The summer before our sophomore year, I was shopping with my Dad at the Maine Mall and popped into American Eagle where Amanda was working. We exchanged a brief conversation while she cashed me out and suckered me into signing up for their rewards program. Moments and days after our encounter at American Eagle, my Dad hounded me about asking her out. He still takes credit for us being together today (thanks Dad!). I followed his advice and messaged her on Twitter (yes, I slid into her DMs). We had our first date sitting on the beach in Old Orchard and the rest was history." - Cole
A wedding to remember
What is your favorite memory from your wedding day?
My favorite memory of the day is being so blissfully in the moment together. We truly soaked up every second from the laid-back getting ready process to crying tears of joy the moment I saw my dreams come true under the reception tent. The warmth of the sun on our faces (after a crazy rainfall) and the magic of the rainbow after a toast to my Dad. Running hand-in-hand at sunset on the beach with a dirty dress and dirty feet, but feeling so carefree. So many tears of joy during our dances, speeches, and literally being lifted up by our family and friends. I felt nothing but pure joy the entire day.
Favorite part about having a wedding planner :) ?
Being a wedding vendor myself, I knew the importance of hiring a planner. I knew I needed someone to help make my vision cohesive and execute it the day of in a way that I would. But most importantly give me peace of mind knowing my dreams were in good hands and I could be stress free.
Christina did all of that and more. She was my sounding board, my voice of reason, and an absolute rock star the day of the wedding and all the days leading in between. From thunderstorms, to ceremony location changes, and a lot of non-traditional aspects Christina handled the entire day.
The moment I walked into my reception tent my heart exploded and I immediately started crying tears of joy. She made all of my dreams come true. Every single detail just the way I imagined it, and so much more.
our team of maine wedding vendors
These event professionals helped us create the perfect wedding for Amanda and Cole. We couldn’t do it without them!
Venue/Ceremony: Portside Manor
Photography: Mary Claire Photography
Entertainment: Music Man
Catering/Bar/Alcohol: 111 Maine
Entertainment: The Hill Brothers
Cake: 111 Maine
Officiant: A Sweet Start
Flowers: FIELD
Lighting: Griffin & Griffin
Rentals/Decor: Heartwood Essentials
Rentals/Decor: One Stop Events
Rentals/Decor: Marshall
Beauty: Mackenzie
Transportation: Northeast Charter
Video: Happy Camper Film & Photo
Restrooms: Grand Rental Station
LET’S PLAN YOUR EVENT
Do the details of this waterfront wedding in Maine get you excited for your big day? If you need help planning, designing, or coordinating your New England wedding, get in touch with us today. Our approach to wedding planning and design is collaborative. You’ll share your own vision of your event concept, and together we’ll make your vision a reality. And since no two events are the same, all packages are customizable to your needs. We can work together to make sure the planning process and timeline suits your needs. Review our wedding planning packages and contact us to start the conversation today.
