Have you ever visited Maine? Oysters, lobster rolls, and beautiful New England marina views are genuinely seaside bliss. Therefore, it’s no surprise that this charming Texas couple chose to have an outdoor wedding filled with Southern style.
In the summers of her childhood in Maine, visiting her grandparent’s homes, Bride Paige had a particular relationship with Maine. With a ceremony in the park of the library (where little Paige was a child) and a reception at the marina under an appropriate sailcloth tent, their wedding was iconic in Maine, not just because of the views of the ocean but also due to the fantastic spread of New England fairs, including miniature seafood rolls, oysters, and other seafood treats.
The couple did find numerous ways to incorporate their Texan (and Oklahoman) distinctiveness! The beautiful blue and white china, linens, and other items and elements adorned the reception space and gave the venue the “Martha Stewart’s Southern Home” style. Connor had on cowboy boots and special Texan wristbands. The menu for dinner was appealing to their Southern guests, too, with pulled pork and fish tacos providing a tasty tribute to Texas.
Our Love Story
Connor and I crossed paths via Tinder. Although I’ve been using the app for a long time, mainly for an amusing game with friends and being a bit hesitant to meet an actual stranger, Connor was my first Tinder date. It’s hard to pinpoint what prompted me to accept the date. Maybe it was the hilarious pickup line he was using or the fact that we kept in contact with him daily; however, something in him inspired me to want to become acquainted with him.
Connor proposed to me at my 10th high reunion. I knew the proposal was imminent but was unsure of the exact time it would occur. But Connor did start to reveal the recommendation in the evening before the reunion, as he kept touching my left finger after that; he did it again when I flew to my hometown. Connor proposed at the reunion’s tailgate barbeque before soccer homecoming. He informed one of my closest friends to be prepared to capture photos.
Connor requested an overview of the grounds of my school. He suggested we go to the rose garden next to the tennis court. It meant a lot to me as I played tennis at the time. After every significant tournament or game, the director of the tennis department, Father Perez, would cut us an osprey from his flower garden next to the tennis courts. Father Perez had passed away in the past few months, and I was devastated I would not be able to meet him, and it was great to know that Connor had thought to do this.
The Dress & Attire
My gown is Hayley Paige, My shoes are Badgley Mischka, and My veil is Toni Federici (all from Nordstrom). The clutch I wore was my great-grandmother’s, along with my earrings. Wa wedding present from Connor, my husband, was a sapphire and diamond studs purchased from Effy Jewelry.
Conner had an all-black tuxedo by Generation Tux, Lucchese cowboy boots, and Texas needlepoint cufflinks by Smathers and Branson. The groomsmen and the groom also wore custom suspenders from El Ray Clothing.
His father died from pancreatic cancer when he wasn’t small, so in honor of his father, he wore his father’s wedding ring in his tuxedo jacket for the entire evening. The groom didn’t wish to be doing something obvious and make his family members unhappy during the ceremony, so it was the perfect and discreet way to go about it.
The Destination
The place I grew up in was Tulsa, Oklahoma (now living in Dallas); however, I spent most of my summers as a kid living in Maine and visiting my parents in Camden. I’m not the kind of person who was planning my wedding when I was a kid, and throughout my adulthood, I thought that weddings were a joke. The idea of an elopement seemed appealing. I had always wanted an intimate elopement/wedding at the summit of Mt. Battie in Camden overlooking the water, and that was the perfect location. It all changed after I got to know Connor. Connor is an incredibly romantic. He is a lover of love and weeps during every TV or movie show wedding. It was he who had dreamed of a wedding since he was young. He had always wanted a wedding, and I would not refuse the chance to throw a massive celebration, so I jumped at the event.
When we were engaged, we figured we’d probably celebrate our wedding at Tulsa in my parent’s country club. The country club was booked for the dates we wanted, so we had the opportunity to consider options for our dream Maine wedding I had in mind, but also the more extensive (yet nevertheless private) ceremony Connor desired. Connor went to Camden for the first time before our wedding and loved the place. The photos aren’t enough to convey the beauty. It truly is among the most stunning locations I’ve been to.
Wedding Week Events
As most of our guests have never visited Maine, We wanted them to experience all Camden offers visitors. It’s one of the only places to stand at the top of a mountain and overlook an open harbor with sailing boats. The wedding was intimate, with just 90 guests. So we planned various events during the week and on weekends to ensure everyone had a memorable trip. We planned group hikes to Mt. Battie, kayak excursions, tee times at golf courses, and organized sailing. We also had an evening party for the new members at the top of the 16 Bayview Hotel. The rooftop offers excellent views of the harbor town and Curtis Island. It was a perfect opportunity to begin on the weekend of weddings.
