Wedding Blog
Summer Wedding in Stonington, Maine
Rachel and John were married last August with a ceremony at the Settlement Quarry Preserve in Stonington, Maine, and a reception at the Goose Cove Resort in Deer Isle.
Rachel and John’s Downeast Maine Wedding
When it comes to Maine weddings, there are so many stunning locations along the coast. But for Rachel and John, their location was very special. They didn’t pick this place for the stunning backdrops and breathtaking views; the quarry is actually a piece of history for John’s family. They were the original settlers of Stonington, Maine.
While most of the family lives elsewhere, their family has owned and operated the quarry throughout its history, which is why John and Rachel decided to travel all the way up here from Alabama to make sure that their wedding venue had deep meaning. Rachel got ready at the Settlement House, which is John’s historic family home. It was right across the street from their ceremony location at the Stonington Quarry Preserve.
One of the things that impressed me most about this day was how Rachel and John made sure that their family and friends were involved. For example, John’s son and daughter got to be a junior groomsman and junior bridesmaid. I loved seeing how much love was between Rachel and those kids, even in the little things like their interactions as they were getting ready at the Settlement House. I loved their reaction when Rachel revealed her wedding day look to her bridesmaids and the kids from the staircase. Those family ties are truly what make a wedding unique and heartfelt.
A Mountaintop Ceremony
During the ceremony, I was once again touched by how involved their friends and family were, from John’s brother, who officiated the ceremony, to Rachel’s friend—the ringer bearer. He had all the kids cracking up when he showed up in a full bear suit, hiding in the woods until it was time to exchange the rings. That’s a whole new meaning to the phrase “ring bearer.”
The ceremony itself was held at the height-of-land of the quarry, with a view of the Stonington harbor and Isle au Haut below. We were sure to take plenty of formal and family pictures here and at the rocky shoreline and woods by the Settlement House—and the fact that the fog broke right before the ceremony and opened up the stunning vistas for some great portraits only made the whole day feel more like a fairy tale. When you’re looking for a venue for your wedding, this is exactly what you want: something beautiful and meaningful at the same time!
Maine Coast Wedding Portraits
My favorite moment of the whole wedding was during the portraits, when Rachel, John, and I hiked through the woods to the ocean. We had so much fun taking photos out on the rocks in the beautiful coastal forest there. With such breathtaking locations, it honestly took me forever to narrow down which images I would use for this blog because I loved them all!
Wedding Reception at Goose Cove Resort in Deer Isle, ME
It wasn’t just the locations that made for a stunning evening, either. Rachel hand-made the geometric table ornaments to go with the pine tree theme. Her personality and elegance bled into those details—and in every photo! I can’t stress enough how important it is when you’re preparing to get married to get those little details right; they really add that finishing touch to make the day feel special.
Once we returned for the reception at the Cockatoo Restaurant Goose Cove Lodge, it was time for a party, complete with cake cutting and dancing. John and Rachel waited until the sun had gone down for a first dance under the night sky—and then another touching one with their parents. That dark sky was the perfect backdrop for their sparkler sendoff, too.
I would like to send a sincere thank you and my heartfelt best wishes to the amazing bride and groom (now husband and wife!) Rachel and John. It was an amazing day, and I am so happy to have been a part of it. I hope my images will bring you and your family back to those moments of the #plantwedding every time you look at them.
Vendors
Ceremony location: Settlement Quarry Preserve is maintained by Island Heritage Trust
Photographer: Cate Bligh of The Green Barn Wedding Photography LLC
Florist: Fairwinds Florist
Hair & Makeup: Blush Boutique
Food, Wedding Cake and reception location: The Cockatoo Restaurant at Goose Cove Resort
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