The past two weeks have been deliciously sweet and slow. Tom and I, along with our doggies, just returned from an old-fashioned summer holiday in Maine. We had a lovely time visiting small fishing villages, historic coastal towns, and Acadia National Park on Mount Desert Island, where we stayed in a simple cottage on Bass Harbor. Our cottage didn’t have air conditioning, and it was marvelous enjoying the fresh air and harbor breezes through the windows. (I can’t remember the last time our windows were opened during July in DC. Our temps this week are in the mid – upper 90s!)
The highlight of the trip was the wedding of Jon and Missy in North Yarmouth. Missy is Tom’s niece and goddaughter. The lobster feast and ceremony were held on the grounds of an old farmhouse. Dinner was served in the charming lofty barn. The wedding was beyond beautiful: it was organic, warm, and full of flair. Everyone felt comfortable and had fun.
Many thanks to Jon and Missy for letting me share their wedding. They did a fabulous job planning and executing every detail. We are incredibly proud of them!
All over Maine, many of the fields are covered with wildflowers in July. This was taken near the wedding site.
The wedding was preceded by a lobster feast the day before. Is there anything more delicious than fresh Maine lobster with drawn butter? So simple and yummy!
Brothers Alex and Michael, Tom’s nephews, attended in festive attire. This is their mother, Katie. I remember Katie when she was just in grade school, and now, she is this awesome, earthy and beautiful mom.
And this is the glowing bride, Missy, on the eve before the big day.
Don’t you love the burlap draped over the pergola? I might have to copy that, Missy!
This is the very proud mother of the bride, Denise, next to brother Tom (and godfather). Meet Charlie the dog! Doesn’t Charlie look dashing in a custom seersucker bow tie sewn by cousin Lisa?
The angelic flower girl, Gracie, with dapper cousin Michael. Michael and Alex were the ring bearers. Gracie is holding a newspaper cone containing dried lavender. Instead of throwing rice, we tossed lavender.
The bridesmaids above.
Presenting the handsome groom and beautiful bride: Jon and Missy!
Jon’s father, Robert, and sister, Allison, are immediately to the right of Missy. The couple with some of their friends from the theater world. Needless to say, there was plenty of fabulosity!
Name / seating cards, attached to lavender sprigs, were arranged alphabetically on a table.
The barn all decked out for dinner. Let’s check out the decor. There were hundreds of votive candles, and each table had different flower arrangements from the local farmer’s markets. I love the little tree stump risers under the flowers, as well as the burlap runners.
Guests coming inside for dinner. Let’s see which is my table. Ahhh, table no. 1 – cool!!! ๐
Each napkin was neatly folded, tied with twine, and adorned with a sprig of rosemary.
After dinner, the dancing started. Below is Jon dancing with his 90 year old grandmother. And they were hitting that dance floor fast and furious!
I hope you have enjoyed Jon and Missy’s beautiful wedding!
Loi
PS – Unfortunately, I didn’t have a chance to photograph all the family members, and this was completely unintentional ๐
Loi
PS – Unfortunately, I didn’t have a chance to photograph all the family members, and this was completely unintentional ๐
How lovely to be in Maine! Thanks for sharing pictures of the wedding and all of its charming details. (I'll have to pin some of your pictures to my wedding boards!) Welcome home. Looks like we have some hot and humid days ahead of us in DC.
What a fun post, Loi! I thoroughly enjoyed each and every picture… Charlie, looking so dapper (and Tom!), the adorable flower girl, the bride and groom and the LOBSTER!! Always such a pleasure to read your posts.
Best,
Mimi
What a wonderful post. That looks like a fabulous wedding Loi. Every detail you captured looked beautiful. And the bride and groom looked gorgeous. I was loving that bouquet. My favorite was that barn. Can you say AMAZING? I loved it.
Susan xxooxx
Oh Loi,
I smiled all the way through this post. The love and joy are so evident! Makes me wish I could go back in time and marry John all over again, this time in a barn with sprigs of Rosemary and burlap everywhere. Thank you so much for sharing such a special occasion ๐
Di
xxxxx
oh how cute! the wedding looked super chic and i am so envious of the trip to maine, we've always wanted to go. so glad you could take the dogs. i bet my two would love maine and the cooler nights. that barn for the reception looked idyllic!
Loi,
What an incredibly beautiful wedding! I am so touched that you shared this with all of us. The lavender, burlap and beautiful fresh flowers are a perfect combination. Of course, Missy is a gorgeous bride and I wish her and Jon all the happiness in the world.
xoxo Elizabeth
Hi, Loi,
It was nice to see Tom, as well as the bride and groom. What a fantastic setting for dinner!! Beautiful.
WOW!!!! looks like you had an amazing time (i am drooling over the lobster; i grew up going to maine every summer!). and that wedding- beautiful down to every last detail! the bride is stunning.
For me, this is how all weddings should be. Beautiful, simple, tasteful, and overflowing with love and laughter among family and friends! How wonderful that you and Tom were able to join in their lovely and special day! I wish them all the happiness in the world!
xo Kat
Wow Loi, that's my kind of wedding! So down to earth, stylish, lots of family, friends, dogs and especially those yummy big lobsters! It was nice to see Tom too. Maine must be so beautiful this Summer season. Wonderful photos!
How wonderful Loi for you AND us! So many great ideas, but what I love the most is the genuine nature of the event. Lovely! ps. Emily said that she wants to be married some day at our farm…our barn would not clean up so well as yours did…uh oh, can I ask all guests to wear their favourite wellies?! xob
Brenda, your farm would be perfect for Emily's wedding! Maybe include your horses? Thanks!
That looks like heaven! I love how simple and beautiful everything for the wedding was.
Loi, that looks gorgeous!! I'm so glad you got a vacation out of it too:). Maine just mentally fills you up! I'm dying for the barn!!! Xoxo, k
Such a beautiful wedding. You really sense the ease and joy. Lovely photography…sending this to my friend who might be planning a barn wedding.
An exquisite, beautiful wedding, dear Loi!!! So evident that it was full of joy and love….your photos are gorgeous! The bride's dress….the blush bridesmaid's dresses….the children…the bow-tied pup…the lavender… ๐ Everything and everyone…Perfection! So happy for you and Tom…your stay in Maine sounds positively idyllic…I have always had Acadia Park on my list of places to visit…dreamy!! Stay cool in DC, my friend…
And thank you so much for visiting me…that sculpture is amazing, I agree! ๐
Beautiful! So simple and delicate!
Thank you Loi for sharing these lovely photos!
The scenery of this wedding looks so idyllic!Hope they are happy together!It seems that you have also had a very nice stay in Main.Never been there but I think I have heard they love lobsters!
Hi Loi,
Was wondering where you disappeared to!;) So glad you are having a fun-filled two week getaway! There's a trend towards these beautiful country weddings and your pictures confirm this! How lovely to have spent the day in such a refreshing locale, surrounded by family and friends, views and hues to remember from this most enchanting occasion. Sweet, charming and naturally pretty, thanks for sharing and bringing us along!
xo
Poppy
Dear Loi – how very generous of the bride and groom in allowing you to show us all these lovely photographs – lots of happiness now and in the future to them both.
I love the simple natural theme of the wedding from the vases filled with garden flowers on the table to the sprigs of lavender and rosemary, and the joy that is evident from the photos. Lavender symbolising love and devotion, Rosemary for remembrance.
Thanks, Rosemary! I will share with Missy and Jon – they will love what lavender and rosemary symbolizes!
I love a wedding and this one was extra fantastic. Alex and Michael look adorable in their lobster shirts. I love the bride's dress and the decorations really fit this rustic elegant event. I also love Maine, so good for the two of you to be able to escape some of this heat.
one of the lovliest i have seen, loi. you can tell the whole affair was so full of love and personality-packed. one of my favorite things is that one of tom's nephews (alex, maybe) is wearing his lobster bib as a cape. absolutely adorable.
thanks to you and your family (well, tom's)for sharing the special day. donna
Loi, it looks like you and Tom had a wonderful time. What a beautiful wedding. That barn is the perfect place for a reception! Maine looks so beautiful. I keep saying we need to make a trip there. One day …
Congratulations to the happy couple, Missy and Jon!
Claudia
I am smiling so big right now….there is so much to rejoice over in this post!
OK, where do I start? Well for me, Maine is magic. On the extreme end of where I grew up (California), Maine's rocky coast in contrast with the sandy beaches of S. Cal. has always held a mystical charm for me. But you are so right; there is nothing like a lobster fest in MAINE ONLY, and all the dรฉcor from the sweet little boys in their lobsteresque attire to the dog with his bow tie, to the burlap drapes (GOTTA TRY THIS TOO!) to the dried lavender to throw (what a fabulous idea!) – it all ties together so well.
YOUR TOM is one handsome fella! YOWSA! Good glory……
The bride, her groom, what a feast for the family. And that's what it's all about: family and friends gathering to celebrate this one wild and precious life. Anita
haha, thanks! You made Tom's day, Anita ๐
oh Loi! What a wonderful celebration, and thank you for sharing it with your readers. I loved all the details and how much love seemed to pervade every photo.
I am so happy you had a restful two weeks!
Liz
Thank you for bringing us all to this wonderful family wedding! It was great getting to know Tom a little better and seeing his beautiful niece/goddaughter on her special day!!!
Everything was perfect …..from the wild flowers to the adorable ring barer and flower girl!! Not to mention the food and decor!
Tom thank you for sharing your private day with all of us!
Loi-
Lobster and drawn butter? You are killing me!
Such a beautiful wedding. I am bookmarking this.
I will be back later to see the rest of the pictures. Blogger is having a sense of humor for the past two days. Images appear and disappear.
The dog and the children. priceless.
Teresa
xoxo
Hi Loi,
Thanks for sharing the gorgeous wedding and the sea breezes…I need a few today.
xoxo
Mary
What a beautiful wedding…lobster..yum! Those little boys are adorable and the bride looks beautiful!
What a beautiful family, stunning setting and absolutely lovely bride. Perfect in every way! xo
What a beautiful wedding. Congratulations to the bride and groom. The children look so sweet.
Thanks for sharing their happy day.
Good grief..I'm all "verklempt" and I don't even know them…this was photo perfect! May they always have "Fair Winds and Following Seas." franki
Maine + wedding + Tom just doesn't get any better than this! Thanks for sharing this divine wedding with me.
Many happy years to the couple. xxpeggybraswelldesign.com
How utterly charming was every single detail! Beautiful! And so nice of them to allow you to share the special day.
What a beautiful wedding. I especially love all the cherubs in their lobster togs and princess dresses. Looks like a wonderful event and I wish the happy couple all the best! I spent last weekend in Maine, too, gorging on lobster and relishing all the charms of the area. It truly is lovely! Glad you had fun.
How great a trip and wedding Loi! Thank you so much for sharing .
This reminds me of what a French Wedding might be!
xoxo
Karena
2013 Design Series
what a lovely trip -thanks for sharing with us!
Wow, absolutely gorgeous! I love that barn and the children all dressed up are too cute! What a wonderful event!
xo Karolyn
Lovely – just as you described – relaxed and still elegantly simple. What a nice-looking family! I'll bet they treasure the photos you took – details that might not be taken by the "wedding photographer." Thanks for the glimpse of this part of your life. ๐
-Revi
I loved getting to see this lovely event! What a perfect wedding! And your photos are magical!
What a lovely way to spend two weeks! But it must be very hard getting back to the D.C. heat now… My favorite is the lavender place cards: the perfect touch! And yes, the dog's bow tie is too cute!
Oh Loi, thanks for sharing! Everything was lovely! I adore burlap on a pergola and I love anything set in a cool old barn like that!
Loi,
That looks like so much fun. Love the little ones in their various outfits and the barn, oh my, so a great spot to host the reception. The bride and groom look so happy and relaxed. Thanks for sharing this special day/night with your readers.
xo,
Karen
That barn is unbelievably beautiful and what a dreamy setting for a wedding. Such lovely times, and so glad you were a part of it. Every time I read about your Maine lobster trips, I crave it. I'm looking for the closest lobster roll in Northern VA. I WILL have one by summer's end. So glad you got to take the pups on your vacay and hope they behaved in the long car ride! See you soon,
xo Nancy
Oh Loi, what a lovely treat! Beautiful couple and fantastic barn! Sounds like you enjoyed some great down time. We have three daughters and two will likely be married in the near future-what a great occasion!
XO Sarah
Oh Loi, this looks so perfect. What a lovely wedding. Congratulations to the happy couple.
If you find me someday stowed away in your luggage, you'll have to blame these wonderful blog posts on your travels & adventures. ๐
xo,
Keri
Looks like a delightful holiday and a beautiful wedding for Jon and Missy.
Isn't it utterly amazing that we were both on Mount Desert Island within about two weeks of each other? What an insane coincidence. I will blog about our trip on the weekend. So glad you had a great getaway.
P.S. Do you know Richard French's lovely antique store in Wiscasset?
xo Terri
dear loi
did i miss a post identifying you as a professional photographer? would not be surprised, all of your images are ethereal.
loving the meadows rambling to the sea, the angelic children, the wedding attire, oh and that venue…..lovely lovely lovely!
xx
debra
Hi Loi, What a nice occasion. Somehow I am not surprised that your extended family as such a sense of style and creativity. The kids were especially adorable, and looked like they were having fun taking part.
–Jim
Dear Loi,
Thank you for taking us along to this stylish and charming wedding! This is a wedding done so beautifully, with every detail so carefully considered, every family member and friend made welcome– perfect! I'm sure all of you will remember it fondly for the rest of your lives.
Warm regards & congratulations,
Erika
Olรก Loi,
menina que lindo e encantador o casamento no celeiro. Assim queria tambรฉm fazer o casamento de minha filha. Mas os jovens tem outras ideias. Amei tudo, que festa maravilhosa. O encontro do famรญlia, as crianรงa tudo muito bonito. Obrigada por compartilhar as belezas de seu paรญs.
TBjos e tenha uma รณtima semana.
Beautiful wedding and setting Loi and your photos capture the moments perfectly. The BARN is a gorgeous backdrop for celebration. I am hopping that my daughter or son will choose this type of setting on THEIR day. Absolutely stunning and so glad you are enjoying your visit to Maine.
xxleslie
Loi I had to chuckle at the first photo as my Brian has a shirt just like that only white. What a fun event..thanks so much for sharing this lovely wedding and feast!
Loi,
So glad you've had time to rest and celebrate life. Great wedding photos, lovely wedding party, especially the charming children and pets. Thank you for sharing this moment in time and capturing the smiles of this occasion. Cheers!
Bette
What a beautiful wedding Loi…..with such lovely attention to detail! Thank you for sharing these happy pictures with us…..
Sophia x
Oh my word! This is my favorite post I've ever seen! Loved getting to see a pic of Tom! You've never shared that before or else I just haven't seen it! This wedding was over the top fabulous and I am about to start pinning away! I have a wedding planner that works for me part time and she will DIE over this! Ohโฆand to be in weather where we could have our windows open at night? I can't even fathom it right now! It sounds marvelous! As does the lobster! This was a post that I will remember for a very long time! Thanks so much for sharing your beautiful life!
What a beautiful bride!
Berta
Awww, this is the sweetest wedding ever! Really loving the warmth that exudes from the pics. Thanks for sharing! xx
What a sweet wedding, Loi. Loved the the rustic charm and Alex and Michael were too cute in their lobster shirts. Were your special dogs jealous of Charlie's bow tie?? Hope your stay in Maine was very, very perfect.
xo,
b
Thanks, Billie! We didn't bring Panda and Mocha to the wedding….too many people.
Oh my gosh Loi, I keep looking over and over the images! This is a dream wedding….the barn, the lavender, the rosemary, the candles! Perfect and unpretentious! Where is the picture of you? wink wink!
Thanks! No pictures of me – focus was on the bride and groom ๐
We can't get over how beautiful the barn looked! If we were to do it all over again, we would have chosen a country wedding just like this one. The bride and groom look so happy. Thanks for sharing their special day with us.
xxoo
C + C
Hi Loi,
Thank you for your kind comment on my blog! I enjoyed hearing from you!! What a beautiful wedding! So different than the ones we have in Holland. The bride and groom both look beautiful and so happy. I can image you had a lovely day!
Great photo's too!!!
Happy weekend, say hi to Kirk,
Madelief x
I absolutely love Maine in the summer and try to get there every few years. It's a wonderful place for a wedding and this barn setting is perfect!! Just love the way it has a quiet elegance about it!! Glad you're home and enjoy your weekend!!
Thank you for sharing this wonderful " fresh" and beautiful wedding with us…I love the natural and honest feel of the day.. Thank you for your lovely comment and visit to my blig, I allways feel very flattered by your visits! Thank you , greetings from South Africa X
Oops, – blog- not blig.. X
Oh what a wonderful wedding Loi! I can smell that Maine air and taste that lobster as well. Don't you just want to eat lobster every single day while in Maine!!!
Hello Loi
This is one of the most beautiful weddings I have seen. Lovely to see Tom in the pictures. Wishing Missy and Jon a lifetime of happiness and blessings. Thank you for sharing this special time and so glad you had a delightful and relaxing vacation
Helenxx
Hi Loi! What a wonderful wedding, everyone looks beautiful and so relaxed it must be the stunning setting! I sure could go fro some of that lobster ๐
Greetings my friend. This is one wonderful wedding, thanks for sharing it. Best wishes and good luck to the newly weds.
Loi, What a lovely wedding! Congratulations to the darling couple. Beautifully done. Warm and gorgeous! Love how you captured it all! Doggie bow tie…Nice!
Monica
This is incredible….combines the best of rustic elegance with pure fun. Looks like a wonderful time….thanks for sharing and congrats to the beaming couple!
Absolutely
gorgeous.
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