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Wedding Guest Entertainment: Photobooth / Crazybooth

Published by brianwedge on September 2, 2009 in Brian Wedge Photography, Destination Weddings, Maine, Uncategorized, Weddings, fun, inspiration and maine wedding. 7 Comments

You’ve been looking for a creative way to have a guest book at your wedding, but you want something that’s truly original … or you’ve realized that even the most die hard dancers can’t last for the entire 4 hours that you booked your band for. Whatever the reason, we’ve been swamped with requests by our clients this season to bring along our photobooth (nicknamed the crazybooth). The photobooths we’ve set up for our clients have been hilarious and entertaining to say the least.

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We provide the studio lighting, cameras, props and backdrop (in this case our client’s Matt & Ashley provided their own which is fine too)… as well as our super cool wireless remote control that allows guests to have fun and be creative without having to do anything other than press a button and smile. The wireless remote is great because people won’t trip over cords as they move around the camera… an important safety feature as the creativity gets flowing!

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Armed only with chalkboards and chalk… the creativity is amazing.

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What you can’t see off camera is the crowd of people laughing, giggling and planning their own signature photo. We always joke that the photobooth is like bringing the third ring to the three ring circus… your friends, the dancefloor and the photobooth make for an entertaining reception!!

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Classic.

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Some folks are sweet and appropriate.

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Some are… a little more creative.

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The chalkboards are great for sharing your deepest thoughts and wishes.

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Or so he says…

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Maine Moose. So much better than a signature on a blank guest book page.

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Yay!

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This guy wanted to know if we had Photoshop.

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Yes we do…

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Thanks guys. Not sure if they were talking to me or the bride and groom. I’ll take it!

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Receptions mean: off with the fancy shoes and on with the dancing shoes.

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In the words of Kool & The Gang: Cherish your love.

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These folks are from Wyoming… one of our favorite places on Earth to photograph (and ski/climb/ride). They’re all nuts there, which is why we fit in so well. We’re still trying to to decipher this one…

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It’s true… damn it!

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So positive!

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“Rain sucks… party didn’t!!!” Too true.

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Amen.

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We’ve had a great time setting these photobooths up at the weddings we shoot. It’s a whole new layer of creative entertainment for your guests… and the best part is that everyone gets to see all the photos within a few days after the wedding! Thanks for the laughs everyone! We love sorting through these images the next day and discovering what people came up with!

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Want to see the complete version of Matt & Ashley’s photobooth pictures? They’re all right here.

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Alli & Mike: Bowdoin College Chapel / Newagen Inn Wedding

Published by brianwedge on August 24, 2009 in Brian Wedge Photography, Destination Weddings, Maine, New England, Weddings, inspiration and maine wedding. 2 Comments

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The groundwork for Alli & Mike’s wedding celebration at the Bowdoin College Chapel and The Newagen Inn began a very long time ago. Their courtship started when they were in SEVENTH grade, and continued straight through high school, college and even grad school. It would be a safe bet to say that they found love early on… and it would be an even safer bet to say that their wedding plans were meticulous, thoughtful and filled with creativity.

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It was in the middle of a snow storm almost two years ago that Alli and her mom Debbie arrived at our studio for some brainstorming and a weekend of crisscrossing the state of Maine to find the perfect celebration venue. Alli was a fellow Bowdoin grad (Go U Bears!) and wanted her wedding in the Bowdoin College Chapel. Though the ceremony location was easily decided, finding a location that could accommodate all 240 of their guests for the weekend-long festivities proved to be a challenge. We finally connected her with our amazing friend Jason Schlosser, who is The Inn Keeper at the Newagen Inn. Once Alli & her mom visited, they knew right away that they had found their spot!

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This is Bodhi, AKA “The Greatest Dog in the World.” Truth be told, I think Alli and Mike would have been quite happy with their wedding photos if we showed up, got this one photo of Bodhi and then left. Bodhi really is a good boy, and his image was a constant theme at their wedding. In addition to roaming the reception tent in search of hugs and pats on the head, Bodhi’s portrait appeared on everything from the invitations to the table cards.

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Alli getting ready.

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Talented florists and friends of Alli’s came all the way from New Jersey to create some incredible bouquets and arrangements.

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Pre-game fuel for the ring bearer. Adorable.

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When Mike proposed to Alli, he placed the ring in this mitten and had Bodhi bring it over to her. It was fitting then that the ring bearer would carry their wedding bands down the isle in that same mitten.

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Final preparations… so many people came together and worked hard to make their day perfect.

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Alli’s dad walks her down the isle on their personalized runner.

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The Bowdoin College Chapel Wedding. Amazing space. Incredible history.

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Joy!

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Back to The Newagen Inn to party!

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Every detail had been thought of, from the cupcake tower to dog cookies, their wedding was totally original.

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Alli’s sister dancing with Bodhi.

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I love the light that comes through Sperry Tents.

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The enthusiasm! Awesome!

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Bridesmaids throwing down some moves.

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The band plays Bon Jovi and the Jersey folks respond!

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Dancing above the crowd on the shoulders of friends!

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Alli & Mike’s wedding went off without a hitch. Careful planning, attention to detail and incredible energy created an amazing experience. Our thanks to both families for being so welcoming and so thoughtful. We had a wonderful time supporting everyone, and felt honored to be a part of it all!

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Want to see the complete set of photos? Just click here or go to www.brianwedge.com

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Vendors:

Wedding Ceremony: Bowdoin College Chapel, Brunswick, ME

Reception: Newagen Inn, Southport Island, Maine (Great job Jason!)

Floral: Bouquets To Remember (Manasquan, NJ)

Dress: Carolina Herrera, (NYC)

Cocktail Hour Band: Dani Tribesmen (ME)

Reception Band: Current Affair (NYC)

Dessert: Sweet Sensations (ME)

Videographer: Michael Simons (NJ)

Tent: Sperry Tents

Photography: Brian Wedge Photography

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Petra & Lee: Fox Fields Farm Wedding, Bar Harbor, ME

Published by brianwedge on August 20, 2009 in Brian Wedge Photography, Destination Weddings, Maine, Weddings, inspiration and maine wedding. 2 Comments

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Petra & Lee created a very special wedding celebration this past weekend. It was more than beautiful, it was more than fun… it was based in community and enriched with tradition. In my opinion, it was everything a great wedding should be. It involved true communion amongst friends and family (they all stayed on the farm for the week leading up to the wedding) and it epitomized a cooperative spirit (those same friends and family members literally designed and built almost every detail of the ceremony and reception).

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To say it was beautiful would be an understatement. To say it was completely effortless… well, that would be a lie! What I mean is that Lee & Petra’s friends WORKED in near 100 degree heat to get everything built and ready for their ceremony. With good cheer and great spirit, everyone pitched in and made it happen.

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At the helm even when beauty calls: Petra on the two way radio as her friend does her hair.

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“Laborer”: AKA longtime friend / dishwasher / comedian

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There was A LOT of enthusiasm at this wedding!

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A beautiful touch, these small wooden bowls filled with blueberries were located at every place setting. (Rings not included)

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Something old… and something blue.

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A gorgeous Jewish ceremony: Petra & Lee circle eachother.

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Beautiful.

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The Chuppah, handmade by Petra’s mom and adorned with crystals.

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Just after breaking the glass… “Mazel Tov!”

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Just radiant.

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The signature drink… yummy!

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Another grueling location…

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I love this because it’s so real. We took some photos in the hammock and as soon as we finished, Lee did something to make Petra start giggling. Note Petra’s red shoes!

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Beautiful tent at Fox Fields Farm.

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Lee likes sunsets… so I had to indulge him.

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Tearing it up…

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The Hora and Mitzvah dances lasted a good 25 minutes. Grueling!!!

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Yeah, these guys had no fun!

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Petra’s view…

There were quite a few journalists with snazzy cameras at the wedding. There’s ALWAYS room for others to take photos when I’m there… and after a little while, I started using their flashes to my advantage, shooting directly opposite of them allowing more dramatic lighting of the room.

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Lee’s view…

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Petra & Lee at sunset.

I would like to say that all this community, hard work, creativity and general enthusiasm was a direct result of Lee’s good sense to graduate from Bowdoin College like my wife and I… but the truth is that Petra & Lee are so detailed oriented, yet inclusive, fun and welcoming that it encourages everyone around them to give their very best. It isn’t something learned… it’s just who they are. It was very inspiring to see so many people come together in the heat and yes, even a few bugs to create an incredible celebration that was worthy of these two.

To Lee & Petra: thank you for having me at your wedding! To their friends and family: thanks for pitching in and being so welcoming!!

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Want to see the complete wedding photos? Just click here or go to www.brianwedge.com

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Vendors:

Photography: Brian Wedge Photography

Ceremony/Reception Site: Fox Fields Farm

Day Laborers: Too many to mention

Caterers: Sassafras (we use these guys for weeks on end with the LL Bean shoots… yummy!)

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Sherry & Paul: Sebasco Harbor Resort Wedding

Published by brianwedge on August 7, 2009 in Brian Wedge Photography, Destination Weddings, Maine, New England, Weddings, inspiration and maine wedding. 3 Comments

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A Sebasco Harbor Resort wedding is always a welcomed treat for us. The beautiful Sebasco Harbor Resort is across the bay from our Boathouse Studio, and is just minutes away from our offices by boat. It’s in our backyard quite literally, and when Sherry and Paul contacted us last year to photograph their wedding we were thrilled to support them.

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Paul is a graphic designer who designed their wedding invitation. He did a beautiful job. The two little birds became a theme on all their paper.

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Gorgeous floral designs by Minott’s Flowers.

Sherry and Paul live in Brooklyn, NY, but returned to Paul’s home state of Maine to exchange their vows. Sebasco Harbor Resort was a wonderful location choice for these two, as some of Sherry’s family traveled all the way from Iran to be there for their wedding weekend. Sebasco is an ideal destination wedding weekend venue, where families can really connect and spend quality time together by the sea. There’s plenty of rooms, activities, shoreline and opportunities to get away from it all, while really appreciating the coast of Maine.

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This ringbearer was focused so intently on doing his job that he kept his head down staring at his precious cargo. For one instant he looked up and we got that moment. Adorable.

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Paul is one of the most fun and expressive grooms ever. He’s quick to smile, quicker to laugh and as Sherry walked down the isle with her dad, he was literally bouncing on his toes, grinning ear to ear to see her. She really did look beautiful.

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Sherry, with a flower in her hair that her mom brought all the way from Iran.

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Oceanfront Wedding at Sebasco Harbor Resort. Classic Maine.

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The backlit ceremony was beautiful.

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I always love that moment when the couple turns to walk down the isle. Some cry, others look to their families, but Paul & Sherry just turned to eachother and giggled. It was so genuine and clear that they enjoy one another so much.

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These two have a LOT of fun. Here they’re just cracking up laughing after their wedding.

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The Clipper Room is an old shore house that was brought up from the waters edge and beautifully restored.

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Stunning, simple, elegant decorations.

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Each guest received a gift bag of dragèe (sugar coated almonds) and Iranian coins. Want to know the significance of dragèe at a wedding? We had no idea either, so we looked it up… and the answer is: “because the almond is technically a seed, it has long been associated with fertility. And so dragees have come to symbolize fertility, prosperity and good luck – what we all wish for the bride and groom.” See the full article from which we snagged that explanation here.

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Their first dance.

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Wedding cake with a goldfish… huh? People always ask us how we find such interesting details at weddings. The answer is that we ask questions and then pay attention to the answers! This is Sherry and Paul’s pet goldfish that made the trip all the way from Brooklyn! They didn’t want to get married without him there!

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Rockin’ out.

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The Sherry’s dad tearing it up.

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Once again, Jon Bon Jovi gets the better of otherwise responsible adults.

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Want to see the complete photos? Just click HERE or head on over to www.brianwedge.com

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Wedding Venue & Reception: Sebasco Harbor Resort

Florist: Minott’s Flowers

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Ryan & Julie: Pemaquid Point Lighthouse Shoot

Published by brianwedge on July 30, 2009 in Brian Wedge Photography, Engagement Shoot, Maine, Weddings, fun, inspiration and maine wedding. 9 Comments

I got a call a few weeks ago from Ryan & Julie, who were looking to have some photos taken for a Save The Date card for their upcoming wedding in Austin, Texas. I was absolutely swamped with photo shoots and a backlog of editing, but Ryan seemed like a pretty energetic guy who was motivated to run around with his fiance near a lighthouse in Maine for an hour or so and get the best images possible.

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When they arrived in Maine from Manhattan for vacation last week, the weather simply refused to cooperate. Weather forecasts predicted rain throughout most of the week, and so with only a few hours of notice, we rallied to catch the last moments of sunshine, before the storms rolled in.

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I’d say the extra hustle was well worth the effort! Ryan and Julie were absolutely wonderful to work with, and we literally ran all over Pemaquid Point Lighthouse, making the most of our time there. I think we were all huffing and puffing at one point or another during the shoot, but laughing and having a blast doing it.

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In this shot, the sun had already dropped very low in the sky. I was setting up a silhouette shot, but then saw how the light reflected in Julie’s eye with the lens flare. You might just be able to see it in these smaller images… but it’s a beautiful moment… or I thought so anyway!

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So this was the original inspiration for having an engagement photo shoot. Can you imagine receiving an awesome “Save The Date” like this? Hilarious. That’s their puppy in the center! Nice job Cooper!!!

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I’m a pretty high energy guy, and as a result I’m cautious not to push my clients into doing anything that’s too uncomfortable for them. Great images are great in large part because people are natural, having fun and showing real emotion. Great shoots on the other hand, occur when the collective energy is so positive, creative and enjoyable that spontaneous ideas are followed without hesitation. These shots of them IN the breakers was NOT my idea… but it worked, and is a reflection of a great connection between photographer and client. Photographers have to be able to “roll with it” as much as the clients/models do!

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Julie & Ryan were wonderful, energetic and willing to try new things. This shoot reveals the simple truth of who they are: vibrant, athletic, fun, beautiful, adventurous and in love. Who knew that so much could be achieved in about an hour?

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If you’ve ever been to a lighthouse, you know that there are dozens of people milling around at all times. A man with a bright yellow jacket was in the background of this image, so I moved to hide him behind Ryan & Julie. Looked like it worked!

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Julie’s boys: Cooper & Ryan.

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That was a great time! I hope you both enjoy your images! (Don’t worry… there’s LOTS more).

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To view the complete images, just click here or go to: www.brianwedge.com

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Jessie & Chris: Bar Harbor Club Wedding, Harborside Hotel, Spa & Marina

Published by brianwedge on July 27, 2009 in Brian Wedge Photography, Destination Weddings, Maine, Weddings, inspiration and maine wedding. 1 Comment

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For the past six years, we’ve been lucky enough to be involved with the photo shoots for the iconic LL Bean catalog. Each September, we pack up and find ourselves living for a few weeks at the gorgeous Harborside Hotel, Spa & Marina in Bar Harbor, Maine. It’s the perfect “basecamp” for a large scale commercial photography shoot: plenty of rooms, wonderful location and fantastic service. We’ve been so busy with those catalog shoots, that we had never even contemplated shooting a wedding there.

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When Jessie and Chris contacted us last summer to inquire about weddings at the Bar Harbor Club and the Harborside Hotel, we were thrilled. As Jessie described to us their vision of a laid back, seaside wedding that was beautiful, elegant but not boring or stuffy, we could relate immediately. The fact that they were both sailors, fun, and they previously lived in San Francisco right near our West Coast studio made making a real connection with them easy. It wasn’t going to be difficult for us to get them gorgeous images… without being overbearing or obtrusive. We “got it” right away.

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Their beautiful rings.

The Harborside staff have become like family to us over the years… and it was a joy to return to photograph a wedding there. The Bar Harbor Club is a gorgeous wedding venue, on the ocean, with beautiful views, easy access to the beach and plenty of rooms available at the Harborside Hotel next door. For Jessie & Chris, it was a special location as well, as Jessie’s parents owned a home only a few blocks away.

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I would describe Chris & Jessie as being smart, creative, fun people that are as easy and as low maintenance as they come. They wanted their day to be a celebration and a true party… which is exactly what they got.

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Chris’ daisy boutonniere.

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Daisies created a pathway to the ceremony location.

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Jessie and her dad walk down the isle to Chris.

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Beautiful Bar Harbor, from the ceremony site.

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The ceremony was presided over by their longtime friend, a newly ordained minister. Nice job Padre.

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Beautiful, simple ceremony.

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Jessie’s gorgeous bouquet. Loved it!

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Happy to start the party!

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On the beach for a few minutes together.

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They had a really beautiful wedding cake.

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So basic… but they got it all right. Great color.

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Lots of kids made the party fun.

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Like everything that day, Jessie & Chris put their own spin on things: a series of buffet bars for everyone. Gourmet fish tacos and Sliders were a few of the offerings.

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Yum!!

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Just a wonderful evening to be by the sea.

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The Bar Harbor Club at sunset. Gorgeous.

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The first dance dip.

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It was hard to limit myself to only two images of this guy in this blog post. Incredible.

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Arguably, the most enthusiastic dancer I’ve ever seen. Wish I had the video (and I know someone does)!!

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Jessie and Chris are independent, creative people… as they demonstrate their original technique for cutting a wedding cake.

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Right through the middle!

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Sunset on a Bar Harbor Club Wedding.

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Chris and Jessie stayed true to themselves and created a special evening: they found a great location, had fantastic food, kept things simple… and brought all their family and friends in to celebrate. It was a wonderful wedding, it was a reflection of who they are and it was really an honor to support them and their guests.

Though it may be while we’re sailing somewhere in the Caribbean, or while we’re on a photo shoot in Manhattan or at our West Coast studio in San Francisco… but wherever it is, we hope to see you all again soon! Thanks for being so welcoming and fun!

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To see the complete photos, just click here, or go to www.brianwedge.com

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Vendors:

Ceremony & Reception: Bar Harbor Club

Host Hotel: Harborside Hotel, Spa & Resort

Photography: Brian Wedge Photography

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