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Sarah & Nick: York, Maine Wedding (Morning Glory Inn & Clay Hill Farm)

Published by brianwedge on September 29, 2009 in Brian Wedge Photography, Maine, Weddings, friends and maine wedding. 1 Comment

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I first met Sarah way back in the day (I think it was 1996). I was taking a year off from college to work and ski the mountains of Utah. Within days of arriving, I had been quickly “adopted” by Sarah and her incredibly outgoing and gregarious friends. That winter we skied and climbed all over the Wasatch range, and even made time to leave our precious snow for a few journeys into the Utah desert. It was the best winter of my life… 100+ days of skiing, laughing and exploring without a care in the world. Though years had passed, all of our Utah friends had kept in some sort of communication… and when I got the email from Sarah saying she had found the man of her dreams, I was absolutely ecstatic to photograph her big day!

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It took Sarah about 4 minutes to get dressed. No fuss with this girl ever, and she looks THIS great!

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Classic Sarah moment: she snuck out the back door so she could see who had arrived and what the ceremony site looked like.

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Something old… gifts from her family.

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Walking with her dad. A proud moment.

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Nick is peering around a corner eagerly awaiting his first glimpse of Sarah.

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Finally, the moment arrives… well worth the wait. Nick sees her for the first time.

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The energy between these two is incredible. Happy would be an understatement.

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Nick’s uncle watches the wedding from a nearby window.

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The kiss!

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Sarah’s bouquet.

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One of a few beautiful toasts offered by her family.

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Listening to the toasts.

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This is Nick and Sarah as they really are: always snuggling, goofing around and laughing.

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Beautiful.

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The new wedding bands look great!

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Yummy cake!

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At the reception, the kids stole the show. Here, Sarah’s little brother takes the mic and rocks out!

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Sarah’s nieces and nephews were everywhere on the dance floor.

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I don’t think I can remember a wedding where more folks danced. There was barely enough room!

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She can’t help but respond when Flo Rida’s “Low” is played by the band (no joke). Absolutely amazing!

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This is a serious dip… I didn’t think they were coming up from this one, but they did without a problem.

Sarah & Nick… thanks so much for having me. Your wedding was beautiful, intimate and a wonderful reflection of you both. It was fantastic to be able to be there to support you and your families! I had a wonderful time… thank you!!

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Want to see the COMPLETE photos? Just click here or go to: www.brianwedge.com

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Vendors:

Ceremony Location: Morning Glory Inn

Reception: Clay Hill Farm

Band: Felix Brown Band

Florist: Lyndsey Loring Design

Paper: Momental Designs

Cake: Let Them Eat Cake

Dress: Judd Waddell

Photographer: Brian Wedge Photography

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Heidi & Ross: Sebasco Harbor Resort Wedding, Maine

Published by brianwedge on September 24, 2009 in Brian Wedge Photography, Destination Weddings, Maine, Weddings and maine wedding. 6 Comments

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Sebasco Harbor Resort is one of our favorite New England wedding locations to photograph. Just across The New Meadows River from The Boathouse Studio (the Maine home of Brian Wedge Photography), The Sebasco Harbor Resort is a idyllic spot that looks out over the islands of Casco Bay. When Heidi and Ross booked us just over a year ago to photograph their wedding, we were absolutely thrilled to be returning to Sebasco for the big celebration!

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The Lobsterbake Rehearsal Dinner

The moment I met with Heidi and Ross I knew I enjoyed them instantly. They are both intelligent, talented, organized and driven people who have the unique ability to execute complex tasks and then, in an instant, have the versatility to be giggling and laughing until it hurts. They’re probably two of the most accomplished folks you’ll ever meet… but also two of the most fun as well!

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Sunset over Sebasco Harbor Resort.

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Heidi & Ross watch the sun go down before their wedding day.

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Oh, and what a wedding day! I’ve never walked in for the very first time and had the entire wedding party dancing and laughing BEFORE the wedding even starts.

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A handmade something blue… with Heidi’s initials on it.

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Ross waits patiently at the back of the church before the wedding begins.

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We loved their enthusiasm coming down the isle.

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The Phippsburg Congregational Church is as beautiful as it is old.

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Their pastor and family friend came all the way from Virginia to preside over the ceremony.

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The final blessing. A special moment.

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The kiss… with the pastor doing a double fist pump in the background!

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All smiles on the way out!

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Ringing the church bells.

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Elegant floral arrangements by Fleur de Lis.

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I don’t think they stopped smiling the entire day!

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Back at Sebasco, the wind just kept blowing Heidi’s vail every which way… so we decided to just go with it and captured this beautiful moment.

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Off to the reception!

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Yummy coconut cake (for journalistic reasons only, I had to try a slice).

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Their rings on a sundial just outside the reception building.

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Then The Bob Charest Band got things going…

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And what started off as dancing…

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…turned into singing into a spoon as if it were a microphone.

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The spoon was quickly replaced by a giant ladle…

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…which was then replaced by a porcelain chicken (of course).

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Not to be outdone, the wedding party got involved and tore it up.

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Then the props came out…

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Here, Ross receives instruction on the proper dinosaur dance technique by a master.

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Their departure was lit by sparklers… a beautiful send off for two wonderful people!

Ross and Heidi: it was so great to get to know your family and friends! We were inspired by the love and joy you showed, and truly appreciate how welcoming everyone was! What a celebration!! Thank you for having us!

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

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Vendors:

Ceremony Location: Phippsburg Congregational Church

Reception: Sebasco Harbor Resort

Band: The Bob Charest Band

Floral: Fleur de Lis Floral Design

Photography: Brian Wedge Photography

Videography: (trying to find that… will update soon!)

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Kate & Paul: Newagen Seaside Inn, Boothbay Harbor, Maine

Published by brianwedge on September 17, 2009 in Brian Wedge Photography, Destination Weddings, Maine, Weddings, fun, inspiration and maine wedding. 4 Comments

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Kate and Paul’s wedding had everything we could dream of: incredible people, thoughtful details, beautiful weather and an amazing story of love that we were so honored to document. When Kate contacted me last year about shooting their Newagen Inn wedding, we could tell that she possessed an energy & enthusiasm that was rare. As the months passed and we continued to exchange ideas, I learned that Kate was a local girl from Boothbay whose family had been there for generations. Though she now lived in Boston, she wanted her wedding to be a celebration to show her love for Paul, their love for Maine & their deep respect for family.

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Paul engulfed by a Kate Hodgdon Bear Hug… just after the ceremony.

As the months went by, I learned that Kate had recently lost her dad, and above all else Paul & Kate wanted their wedding to honor her dad through laughter, joy and a party that no one would soon forget. Kate’s honesty about her dad’s passing was incredible. When we finally met in person Kate looked me straight in the eye and with a fierce, unflinching intensity explained to me that her dad was her best friend… and that the color yellow I saw throughout their wedding was in honor of him. I could see the hurt, I could understand the loss… but as importantly I could feel the determination and excitement to celebrate all that is wonderful about life with her dad looking down upon her.

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A pocket sewed into Kate’s wedding dress just over her heart held a photo of her & her dad.

There is a passion and enthusiasm for living that some people have when they survive great adversity. I’ve seen it in over the years as we battled leukemia, but it’s not limited to cancer nor the passing of a loved one. There’s just some people who manage to get through tough times with their spirit intact and a perspective for life that is inspiring. Kate and Paul have that twinkle in their eye and a presence about them that just radiates enthusiasm. Their wedding day was all about being in the moment, being in love and savoring every opportunity to enjoy their friends and family to the fullest.

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Paul & Kate created Maine inspired wedding gift bags. Nothing says “Maine Wedding” like an engagement ring on a can of Moxie!

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Paul’s wedding day gift to Kate was a dog crate filled with puppy toys and a card that contained a photo of a litter of Golden-doodles. The photo reads: “Your choice! I love you!”

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The groomsmen all wore cufflinks with their photos in them.

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The ringbearer did SO well! He walked and smiled… until he stopped.

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He spent about 3 minutes figuring out if he should walk towards the crowd or run away. With the collective prodding of 140 guests, he made it!!

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The ceremony held on the front lawn of The Newagen Inn.

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Surrounded by yellow flowers in honor of her father, a single tear falls from Kate’s eye.

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After the wedding, Kate & Paul took a few moments to look at their rings and stand back and check each other out. In this shot Paul shows off his fine physique.

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“Foolish Choices” just happened to fishing nearby… we HAD to get that shot!

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Even the lobsters held hands.

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Kate wanted a photo with them standing in the water… which is easier said than done, as Paul slipped just seconds after this shot getting a bit wet.

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Bridesmaids bouquet rests on a chair.

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Their guestbook was a collaborative painting made by all the guests. Very creative!

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During the first dance… there was evidence of Paul’s impromptu splash in the Atlantic.

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Mmmmm…. whoopie pies. Yum!

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Then the dancing started.

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All kinds of dancing.

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An all candlelight cutting of the cake per the request of Paul & Kate. Tough shot, but very creative!

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Then the party REALLY got started. This is NOT the band… these are wedding guests on stage.

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Kate in the arms of her husband… rocking out! Pure joy.

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Going big (Another victim of Bon Jovi).

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Paul sings Livin’ on a Prayer.

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Late night bowling at The Newagen Seaside Inn.

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Paul’s bowling technique was impeccable. Look at that follow through!

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The stars come out at The Newagen Inn. That’s not photoshop folks… that’s the Big Dipper!

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Kate and Paul: It was an honor to document your day and to be there to celebrate with your family and friends! Thanks so much for having us. Your love for each other and for life is inspiring to us! Have fun in Greece!!

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

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Vendors:

Location: The Newagen Seaside Inn, Southport Island, Maine (the amazing Innkeeper Jason took care of everything there… just a wonderful person and host).

Band: Sly Chi (Kate emailed me months before the wedding and wrote that she was having “Sly Chi, a sick band from Portland that plays funk.” Indeed, there is no better description than that. They rocked!)

Cake: Sweet Sensations

Florist: The Greenhouses

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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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Bowdoin College Pre-Orientation Trips

Published by brianwedge on August 27, 2009 in Brian Wedge Photography, Editorial, Maine, New England and Photojournalism. 4 Comments

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The night before last I was asked to spend a few hours with the incoming freshman students at Bowdoin College as arrived for their Pre-Orientation trip. For those who aren’t familiar with that term, the “Pre-O” trip is an opportunity to spend about 5 days with a small group of fellow students off campus before the on campus orientation begins. Bowdoin takes full advantage of being located in an incredible state like Maine and as a result, most of the Pre-O trips involve some sort of outdoor sport and service component.

Incoming students get to choose their preferred trip: for some that means sailing or kayaking through Casco Bay, for others it’s community service in downtown Brunswick and many more head north into “The County” to explore the wildlands and immerse themselves in the culture of that “other Maine” we often hear about, but so few get to truly experience.

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Seeing the students arrive at Bowdoin brings it all back for me and my days as an incoming freshman. A night spent sleeping on a field house floor, the excitement and exhaustion of meeting 300 new friends and the anticipation for all that was to come.

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Camping next to the indoor triple jump lane.

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A Bowdoin Tradition: sleeping in The Farley Field House.

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First conversations.

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The bonding happens quickly in these small groups.

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Impromptu games of kickball were started.

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Frisbees were everywhere.

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Even a few old school woodsman’s games.

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No, I did not ask for this… though I was impressed by the spontaneity of the design & construction.

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After dinner there were a few brief instructions about the logistics of getting 300+ people packed and out the door beginning early the next morning.

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The singing of Bowdoin’s Alma Mater.

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And then there was this…

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Which turned into this…

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Which created a reaction like this…

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And this…

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Whatever “that” was I still don’t know, but it resulted in hundreds of smiling faces… and the start to an incredible four year experience at one of the best schools in the country. On behalf of all the alums that are floating around out there, welcome to our community!

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

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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)