1. Real Weddings

A Rustic, Coastal Wedding at Marianmade Farm in Wiscasset, Maine

Having spent their first vacation together in Maine, Emily Chessin (31 and a sustainability consultant) and Kyle Muther (30 and a consultant) knew it

Having spent their first vacation together in Maine, Emily Chessin (31 and a sustainability consultant) and Kyle Muther (30 and a consultant) knew it would be the perfect place to celebrate their nuptials with their families and friends. “It was everything we loved,” Emily says. “It had beautiful rocky coastlines, delicious fresh seafood, great little towns with interesting shops and art galleries and friendly people.” A working lavender farm, Marianmade Farm in Wiscasset, Maine, offered a stunning, natural backdrop for the affair and let the couple put their personal mark on every aspect of the day, from the menu to the flowers, the entertainment and more. Inspired by the coastal and rustic beauty of Maine, the couple chose an organic, natural aesthetic for the decor. Beach rocks, herbs, sea glass and oysters were incorporated throughout, infusing the Provencal lavender drying house with undeniable coastal flair. “In selecting our palette and theme, we were inspired by a restaurant in Portland that we love called Eventide Oyster,” Emily says. “We used the bright of the Eventide walls contrasted with the gray and tan colors in its marble bar.” Michelle Peele of Marianmade Farm created all the floral arrangements, using lavender grown on the farm itself, as well as peonies, anemones, delphiniums, succulents, lamb’s ear, dusty miller and silver brunia. “We sent her some ideas, but left a lot of room for Michelle to use her creativity and go with what was in season and what she thought would be beautiful,” Emily says. Hurricane lanterns were also incorporated into the arrangements to help bring a warm, inviting ambiance to the quaint, rustic space. In the spirit of their theme, the couple had Trillium Catering create a menu highlighting local flavors and ingredients, and dinner was served family style. Boston, Massachusetts-based band the Sweetbeats brought down the house with their upbeat mix of Motown, classic rock and pop. “Once they started playing, we barely left the dance floor until the reception came to a close,” Emily says. A tip from Emily and Kyle: “The guest list is very difficult. We had a hard time with this, as I think many couples do. Try to make your guest list before touring and selecting venues, so you have a realistic idea of how many people you will invite and expect to attend.”

After a delicious dinner and lots of dancing, Emily and Kyle took their guests to an after-party at a friend’s cottage nearby. “Kyle bought beer beforehand and he and his dad also arranged to have pizza delivered to the after-party, which was a huge hit,” Emily says. “It was definitely a highlight of the night for us when we entered the after-party and were greeted with cheers from our friends and family.”
As a working lavender farm, Marianmade Farm is no stranger to florals. Michelle Peele put her expertise to work, creating beautiful arrangements of local, seasonal blooms in soft shades of pink, ivory, purple, silvery gray and blue. “Given our theme and palette, Michelle suggested using wooden trays and sea glass bottles to display the flowers,” Emily says.
Thistle, Garden Rose and Eucalyptus Bouquet
Simple Wildflower Centerpieces
The wedding’s decor was centered on Maine’s fusion of natural, rustic vibes and coastal elegance. They discussed pulling their palette from Eventide Oyster (their favorite restaurant in Portland, Maine) with their planner, Sarah Goodwin of Daisies and Pearls. She suggested they incorporate oyster shells into all the centerpieces and decor. “We loved how it helped bring in that coastal element,” Emily says.
A lot of time and effort go into planning a wedding, so Emily and Kyle recommend choosing vendors you love and surrounding yourself with individuals who are supportive. “We wanted a wedding that we could sculpt and mold to fit our personalities,” Emily says. “But this is a lot more work! It's definitely easier to choose a venue that includes the caterer, florist, etc., but in the long run it paid off. We are very happy to have chosen a venue where we could put our personal stamp on the day.”
Lavender Place Setting Accents
As guests sipped on lavender-infused lemonade cocktails and noshed on inspired eats, like sesame lamb meatballs and herbed mascarpone and fresh fig crostini during cocktail hour, the Sweetbeats played soft Latin and Brazilian music on acoustic guitar. Emily and Kyle also set up lawn games like boccie and corn hole for guests to enjoy before heading indoors for dinner and dancing.
Inspired by chef Yotam Ottolenghi, the couple worked with Trillium Catering to dream up a delicious menu that highlighted fresh, local and seasonal ingredients. Dinner was served family style to give the evening a sense of intimacy. Guests indulged in grilled flank steak with chimichurri, seared halibut with cherry tomatoes, capers and shallots and sides likes Israeli couscous with haricots verts, feta, olives and mint, as well as roasted kale and broccoli.
Hand-Lettered Driftwood Place Cards
Simple Hand-Lettered Escort Cards
Cocktail hour was a decadent introduction to the evening’s festivities, with Trillium Catering providing a mouthwatering assortment of passed appetizers and stations. A raw bar complete with Pemaquid oysters and lobster tostadas with cilantro and lime were a big hit with guests, as was the couple’s specialty cocktail, lavender-infused vodka lemonade.
Air Stream Trailer Bridal Suite
Vintage-Inspired Diamond Engagement Ring
Emily and Kyle were excited to celebrate with their family members and friends after the ceremony, but they took a few quiet moments together before the reception, so they could really soak everything in. “We rushed off to a private area of the venue for about 15 minutes and had a glass of champagne and a plate of hors d’oeuvres waiting for us,” Emily says. “Once you enter the cocktail hour, it all goes by so fast. Definitely do a sweetheart table. We really enjoyed this and it also gave us time to take it all in together.”
At 5-foot-1, Emily wanted to find a simple, elegant gown that wouldn't overwhelm her petite figure. On a trip to Allegria Bridal in Belmont, Massachusetts, she tried on a lace A-line gown from Amsale’s Nouvelle line and was instantly smitten. For a hint of shimmer, she accentuated her waist with a crystal-embellished belt and added two crystal hair clips to her classic updo.
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