1. Real Weddings

Britta & Russell: An At-Home Wedding in Tenants Harbor, ME

Once in a while, a matchmaker makes a perfect match. Britta and Russell were introduced at a charity event by a mutual friend in the hopes that they w

Once in a while, a matchmaker makes a perfect match. Britta and Russell were introduced at a charity event by a mutual friend in the hopes that they would hit it off. Though the two shared some laughs, they went their separate ways at the end of the night. Fast-forward almost a year after they'd bumped into each other a few times. Both of them were attending the same wedding without dates. Love seemed to be in the air that night, and they finally hit it off and became inseparable. The Bride Britta Waters, 31, design director The Groom Russell Pemberton, 33, executive director The Date September 15 Two years later, Britta and Russell went for a dinner at their favorite crab shack in New York City. Russell, who was planning to propose to Britta the next night at a romantic dinner, brought the ring along since he was nervous to leave it home alone. While washing his hands, he pulled out the ring and it slipped from his fingers and into the sink. Not wanting to risk losing it for good, Russell panicked and decided he would have to propose that night. After leaving the restaurant, Russell spontaneously popped the question in front of a pile of garbage and a Sports Authority store. For Britta, it was the perfect surprise. Her family's farm in Maine was the natural choice for the wedding, as Britta had always dreamed of marrying there.

The Transportation
Decorating the tabletops were antique, light blue jelly jars of varying heights filled with dahlias in different hues. Tiny tea lights cast a warm glow on tables.
The invitations helped set the tone for Britta and Russell's wedding. The RSVP cards were white card stock with navy ink and featured twin mussel shells on the front.
Rather than traditional cards, Britta and Russell used a Maine postcard for each table, which was named after a restaurant that had been significant to the couple while they were dating. Guests' names and tables were written on corresponding postcard escort cards and clipped with clothespins to twine strung between tent poles.
The flower girls wore homemade white dresses with coral-colored, vintage ribbon sashes to coordinate with the bridesmaids and groomsmen.
Dinner was served in a tent on Britta's parents' property. Tables were set with white tablecloths and navy-and-white toile napkins, which Britta's mother made. Crystal chandeliers hung at various heights from the tent's roof.
Britta's eight bridesmaids wore white, collared wrap shirts paired with long, coral, A-line skirts. Britta sent each bridesmaid the fabric and the pattern for the skirt so that they could have the skirts made in their own town. As a gift, Britta gave each bridesmaid a different Hermes scarf, which was to be used as a sash.
Britta carried an abundant multicolored bouquet of dahlias from her parents' gardens. The primary flower was a hybrid dahlia, which Britta's father had developed and named after her mother.
The three ring bearers donned khaki pants with navy blue cotton sweaters that had red and orange lobsters across the front.
The couple danced to “New York, New York” which was performed by a large brass band. Dance lessons helped them perfect their moves. Later in the evening, a DJ helped keep the party going into the wee hours.
Britta's parents' yellow lab, Fenway Bark, joined the party with a festive collar of flowers around her neck.