1. Real Weddings

Kristin & Matthew: A Summer Wedding in Portsmouth, NH

Kristin and Matthew were both looking for someone special when they met on Match.com. From short messages to long emails to phone calls and eventually

Kristin and Matthew were both looking for someone special when they met on Match.com. From short messages to long emails to phone calls and eventually dinner, the two discovered that they were a perfect match! In fact, neither of them ever contacted anyone else. The Bride Kristin Hastings, 27, HR representative The Groom Matthew Austin, 27, senior professional services consultant The Date July 12 A year after they met, just a few days before Christmas, Kristin came home from work to find a small box sitting on the table. Matthew asked her to open it, and when she did, he knelt and proposed. They decided that the New Hampshire coast was the perfect location to gather friends and family for their summer wedding.

Simple pocket invitations were accented with the couple’s signature color: pink.
At the reception, guests sat at tables decorated with pink stock and topped with dupioni silk table runners, which Matthew’s mother had sewn in the months leading up to the wedding. Mahogany chiavari chairs gave the room a tropical feel.
Kristin and Matthew exchanged vows in front of friends and family at Christ Church.
Matthew’s mother made the dupioni silk sashes, accented with crystal brooches, for the couple’s chairs.
Matthew and Kristin took one dance lesson prior to the wedding, where they learned how to waltz. They danced to “The Luckiest,” by Ben Folds.
Signs created by Kristin’s mother were hung outside the church on shepherd’s hooks. The hand-painted motif perfectly matched the wedding stationery.
Pink escort cards in sand-filled trays sat on a windowsill near the entrance.
Each out-of-town guest was greeted with a welcome box filled with regional treats. Maple Moose lollipops and blueberry granola represented Maine, while goldfish and gummy lobsters paid homage to the coast.
Kristin’s bridesmaids carried bright pink bouquets made of hydrangeas, peonies, and roses. The bouquets were tied with kiwi green ribbon to coordinate with their dresses.
Kids who attended the wedding received a goodie bag filled with games, coloring books, and other toys to keep them busy during the reception.
Silver buckets filled with pink and white stock hung from the pews. Pink ribbons added an extra pop of color.
Matthew and his groomsmen wore green dendrobium orchid boutonnieres with hypericum berry accents. The pink berries on Matthew’s boutonniere made him stand out from the rest.
Kristin and Matthew had their three-tiered cake designed to coordinate with their invitations. The buttercream-frosted cake was accented with an azalea pink ribbon and fresh white orchids.