50 THINGS

Congratulations! YOU’VE DECIDED TO GET MARRIED IN MAINE. WONDERING WHAT’S NEXT? NO WORRIES! WE’VE GOT YOU COVERED WITH OUR TOP 50 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW TO GET HITCHED IN MAINE WITHOUT A HITCH!

ILLUSTRATIONS BY JOSH ALVES & LILLY ALVES

If you are planning a wedding in

Maine from thousands of miles away, it helps to have a local person steer you in the right direction. If you don’t have friends or family in the area, consider hiring a MAINE

WEDDING PLANNER.

I N G THERE FROM HERE transportation GE T T information

5If you’re flying in from out of state, KEEP YOUR WEDDING ATTIRE ON HAND. Pack it in your carry-on bag and have it pressed when you arrive.

PUT SIGNS UP along the road in rural areas so your guests won’t get lost.

SCOPE OUT TRANSPORTATION options early. When you plan your Maine wedding, remember there aren’t multiple airports, bus stations, or public transportation venues for your guests to choose from.

2LEAVE TIME

for people “from away” to get lost. If people are driving, provide

SUGGESTED

REST STOPS.

I-95 can go on for miles without one, so be prepared.

BE AWARE OF TRAFFIC.

Coastal Maine is a popular place in the summer, and Route 1 can come to a standstill, making travel time between the church and the reception longer than planned.

CONSIDER PROVIDING

TRANSPORTATION. If people are coming in from out of town for your wedding, consider hiring a party bus, van, or even a trolley to take guests from their hotels to the wedding ceremony, to the reception (if it’s in a different location), and back to their hotels. It will save on parking spaces and offer your guests a safe alternative to driving.

CA L L DIBS ON YOUR STUFF rentals & reservations If you are renting tenting, tables, chairs, etc., doublecheck the details of your

RENTAL DELIVERY, especially if you are having a rural wedding. It may be easier for your rental company to deliver your order earlier in the week, giving you more time to set things up.

10 There are many beautiful, natural places in Maine to get married without access to a restroom. Plan accordingly to have RESTROOM TRAILERS available for your guests.

11

Rural areas can lack a large number of available accommodations. Be prepared to

BOOK ROOMS AND GUEST

HOUSES well in advance. Planning an island wedding? Remember these two words: FERRY

SCHEDULE.

You don’t want your guests to miss the boat.

If you’re getting married in the fall, book hotel rooms early. Autumn is

“LEAF PEEPER”

SEASON in New England, and accommodations book up fast with out-of-state tourists. Give your guests

MAINE-MADE

FAVORS. It’s an easy way to be unique and send your guests home with a reminder of the time they spent with you. FAVORS , FOOD source it locally A N D MORE

Want to send your guests home with a bit of piece of Maine? How about a sapling? The Maine state tree is the EASTERN

WHITE PINE. Have your guests plant the tree and help the environment. 16 One great way to have an authentic and greener wedding is to

PURCHASE SUPPLIES

LOCALLY. Incorporate Maine food, drink, and favors.

SERVE LOCAL

FAVORITES like Maine microbrews, blueberries, whoopie pies, and fiddleheads. Many people can’t get these things where they live.

Lobster is a Maine tradition, but it’s messy! If you plan to serve lobster, consider serving it “LAZY LOBSTER” style — pre-cracked and ready to eat. It will keep your tables and guests tidy. Figure out what flowers are in season in Maine for your wedding. Using SEASONAL FLOWERS in your bouquet and decor will save you money and will still look beautiful.

FOR THOSE FR O M AWAY

planning from afar

20Maine summers are short! Be sure to BOOK YOUR VENDORS WELL IN ADVANCE. 12-18 months in advance is not too early. 21If you plan a Maine wedding from afar, try to MAKE AT LEAST ONE TRIP to your destination site and meet with all of the companies you have booked. VISIT THE CEREMONY SITE during the same time of day and year that you have scheduled your ceremony and make notes of external or environmental noise. There’s nothing like a foghorn to ruin the moment. 23If you are planning a destination wedding in Maine, a great place to start is to CONTACT A LOCAL WEDDING PLANNER in the area you’d like to be wed. They’ll know all of the helpful details to get you going! Maine is just as beautiful in the winter as it is in the summer. CONSIDER A WINTER WEDDING in the woods or on the ski slopes of one of Maine’s premiere ski resorts.

TURE THE

MOMENTS wedding photography

25 Does your Maine wedding photographer have an ASSISTANT?

A second shooter is a valuable asset on the wedding day. BRING A PAIR OF SHOES to wear during the scenic photoshoot on the rocky coast of Maine. The last thing you need on your wedding day is a sprained ankle.

While all physical distancing and mask requirements were lifted for indoor and outdoor gatherings (including weddings!) on May 24, 2021, we will continue to provide updated information on our website. The Real Maine Weddings team will post new developments at realmaineweddings.com/ COVID-Weddings as they are available. We wish everyone a safe and happy year full of weddings and special events!

26 Have a PHOTO BOOTH at your wedding. It’s fun, and people love it. There are many great photo booth rental companies that offer a variety of options. Since going barefoot on the beach is a norm, offer your guests PRE-MOISTENED TOWELETTES so that they can wash their feet before putting their shoes back on. SUN.

SAND. WATER . WAV E S . BLISS. on the beach

If you are going to take beach photos, make sure your BUSTLE keeps your dress from dragging in the sand.

Planning a backyard wedding? Call the local town hall to see if there is any

CONSTRUCTION PLANNED

for the area around the time of your wedding. Summer in

Maine is also road construction season. S ’ THER E

NO PLACE

LIKE HOME in the backyard

It’s also a good idea when planning a backyard wedding to LET THE NEIGHBORS KNOW what time it’ll take place, so they’ll be sure to cease mowing their lawns during the ceremony. 28 Planning a beach wedding? NIX THE

IDEA OF A LONG

TRAIN on your wedding dress. Delicate fabric doesn’t mix well with sand and seaweed.

Beach weddings have a casual feel, so why not SAY “NO” TO STILETTOS and wingtips and choose flip-flops?

COVID-19 UPDATES

OUT THIS

WEATHER? weather in maine

Planning an outdoor wedding? Rent a SOUND SYSTEM. You want your guests to be able to hear your heartfelt vows. 34 The weather can change quickly in Maine. If you plan on having an OUTDOOR WEDDING, have an inside space ready as a backup.

Wear

SUNSCREEN

and bring SUNGLASSES. Many weddings are outside, and you don’t want photos of you to show you sunburned and squinting.

Thinking Seasonally!

LOOKING TO FEATURE FRESH LOCAL FLOWERS AT YOUR MAINE WEDDING? HERE ARE SOME FAVORITES THAT ARE AVAILABLE IN MAINE DURING WEDDING SEASON.

Spring

Peonies Lilacs Daffodils Hellebores Forsythia

Early Summer

Snapdragons Zinnias

Summer

Hydrangea Lupine Clematis Sweet Pea

Late Summer

Dahlias

Fall

Eucalyptus Nine Bark Basil, sage and other fresh herbs

37 If you are planning a romantic ceremony outside on the coast, be aware that it can get quite WINDY. Make sure your hairstyle pulls your hair away from your face to keep from holding it back with your hand throughout the vows. —Jackie Gardner, Moonset Farm Floral (Porter, ME)

If you’re worried about bugs, put a bottle of INSECT REPELLENT on each table at the reception and make use of citronella candles when decorating.

If your ceremony is in a church without a cooling system or outside in a hot area, have PAPER FANS for your guests to cool themselves. BLACK FLY season runs from mid-May to early July; MOSQUITOS can be an issue, too. Try not to schedule your ceremony during the buggiest times of day — like dusk — if you are having an outdoor wedding. Two words. MUD SEASON. If you’re getting married outside in the spring, beware.

42 Summer evenings can be chilly in Maine. Plan on renting PATIO HEATERS if people are going to be outside in the dark, especially on the coast, where it can be windy. On the coast it can get especially chilly at night in summer. Remind guests to

PACK A SWEATER.

BRING AN UMBRELLA. If it’s not going to rain, you can use it as shade.