A Rustic, Bohemian Wedding at Hidden Pond in Kennebunkport, Maine

With a palette of sunny yellow, earthy green and warm neutral hues, Lauren Updegrove (33 and a literacy specialist) and Kathryn McBride (33 and a physician assistant) perfectly blended the beauty of Maine and their fun-loving personalities to pull off an unforgettable bohemian bash. With an intimate affair in mind, the pair focused in on Hidden Pond, a charming, tranquil resort tucked away in the seaside town of Kennebunkport, Maine. “It hit every criterion we had,” Lauren says. “Everyone could stay on the property; there were fire pits, a barn and a beautiful barn.” Taking advantage of the striking scenery, Lauren and Kathryn hosted each portion of the evening in a different location on the property. The day started with a sentimental ceremony in the farm’s lush gardens, where Lauren and Kathryn shared heartfelt vows before a wooden shed decorated with bright yellow lemons and lush greenery. “Our processional song, 'Stars' by Grace Potter, was personal to us and held a lot of meaning," Lauren says. "Two months before our wedding, Kate’s best friend and maid of honor was tragically killed in a car accident. We wanted to find a way to incorporate her into the ceremony in a meaningful way, yet not focus on her absence and the loss so many of us felt." Cocktail hour unfolded in the garden, where guests tried their hand at lawn games like corn hole and sipped cocktails to the sounds of the Evan Cuddy Quartet. As a nod to Kate’s proposal, in which she cleverly hid an engagement ring under an oyster shell at dinner, the pair made sure to include a fried oyster appetizer on the menu. Afterward, guests celebrated in a barn reception just a short walk up a nearby dirt road. Before kicking the party into high gear, Lauren and Kathryn surprised their families and friends by having their first dance outdoors, as Kathryn’s uncle performed a mash-up of classic songs.  At the end of the night, the newlyweds shared one last dance to Florence and the Machine’s “Never Let Me Go,” before making their exit under a canopy of sparklers and joining their guests for bonfires and s’mores. “It was great to have extra time with guests in a more relaxed atmosphere, and it kept the party going,” Lauren says. —Libby MacCarthy