Uniquely yours... the way a maine wedding should be

Vintage Inspired Castine Maine Wedding.

2012-01-27T18:45:00.000-05:00

It's a snow day here in Maine. Cold & Windy. Makes a girl daydream of weddings future & weddings past. So, today we went into our vault for an adorable wedding we did over a year ago. This fun, preppy, & vintage wedding was in Castine Maine, where the bride's family grew up summering.

What makes this wedding even sweeter, is the bride, Laura, came to Maine for a month as our intern this past summer. We Love Her!! She is hilarious, creative & talented! We want Alan to come get a job in Maine so we can have her ALL the time.

Laura had a great vision for her wedding. Vintage, milkglass, chandeliers, greens and pops of yellow & blue. She wanted a nontraditional, unique, preppy look, and she did it... beautifully! We miss you Laura & your wild rice!!! xoxo

So snuggle in and be inspired by this vintage chic gem!

Laura, you are just so stunning

Laura wore a bird cage veil, it looked perfect with her dress

Alan, the adorable groom, greeted guests &
play soccer with the groomsmen on the church lawn

Church pews full & ready

fabulous!!!

Laura's vintage bouquet

vintage get away car!!!

loved the vintage inspired text

amazing details...

lawn games during cocktail hour

gorgeous wedding party

super fun idea... a time capsule for a wedding guest book

I'm warming up just looking at these....
All Photo Credit to Once like a spark photography!

How this made you warm & toasty like it makes me.....
Enjoy your day & make it sweet,
amber

Green Vintage Book Inspired Wedding....

2012-01-27T14:49:00.000-05:00

Cast of Characters....

Planner/Designer- sweetest thing weddings

Floral designer- sweetest thing weddings

Photography- Alexandra Roberts.... all photo credit belongs to this amazing photographer

Caterer- Cleonice

DJ- Mike Dow

Photo Booth- Maine Photo Booth Co

Ceremony- Bangor Public Library

Reception Venue- sweetest thing weddings

Hair & Make-Up- L-Factor Salon

the ring bearer, the bride's little brother, carried the rings on a vintage book
photo credit Alexandra Roberts

love this shot, right outside our studio, we lined the sidewalk with vintage inspired lanterns ....
photo credit- Alexandra Roberts

Lovely Portrait outside the Historic Library....
photo credit- Alexandra Roberts

I love this!!! It's in our 1920 elevator shaft!
photo credit- Alexandra Roberts

ceremony... soooo sweet. Ceremony pieces are belles of ireland and curly willow.... very modern
photo credit- Alexandra Roberts

love this bouquet!!! Green trick, roses, and mini hydrangeas, david austin roses, and curly willow
photo credit- Alexandra Roberts

Love KC's face! He wore a green tie & green boutonniere

love all the books in the background
photo credit- Alexandra Roberts

We brought the Book theme to the studio.... vintage tins, books and lace overlays were on the tables
photo credit- Alexandra Roberts

three were two major arrangements.... tall arrangements of belles of ireland & curly willow, and a shorter arrangement of white hydrangea, green fugi mums, and green lithianthus
photo credit- Alexandra Roberts

amazing carmel corn made by the bride and her mom... insanely good... no really...it was soooo good
photo credit- Alexandra Roberts

New Year's Eve wedding.... 2012

2012-01-10T21:51:00.002-05:00

Our inspiration for this winter wedding came to a reality on New Year's Eve at Morgan Hill Event Center. The ceremony took place in front of the stone mantel cover with candles and birch trees, hydrangeas, and a large clock set at midnight....

The tables were cover in a black underlay with a rhinestone overlay, with three cylinders of submerged and floating rannunculus, callas, anemone, tulips, polar star roses and candles...

The cocktail area we used silver bengaline linens with birch rounds and votives and "snow"

The bride carried david austin roses, black & white anemones, and polar star roses. The men wore calla lilie boutonnieres, the flower girl stattered snowflakes down the candle lined aisle.

Adam for High Tech DJs.... played until midnight when the balloons dropped and the new year began.

Photos were done by Kendra Pietras

Venue: Morgan Event Center

Flowers & design: sweetest thing weddings*floral design*events

Photo booth: Maine Photo Booth Company

such a sweet couple... Jeanna nearly ran down the aisle to Byron.... it was sweet!

aisle lined with candles.... perfect for the evening ceremony

table scape.... rhinestone overlay with a black underlay, with three cylinders with a variety of submereged flowers and floating candles... elegant, modern and perfect for winter

winter white bouquet.... david austin roses, black & white anemones, and polar star roses

L-Factor Salon came and did hair & make up

details....

married....

such wonderful speaches....

Byron's parents enjoying the scrapbook....

photo booth experts.....

sprinkling snowflakes....

getting ready..... these two had such a bond.... it was precious

this girl will change the world.... flower girl extraordinaire

the ceremony was in front of the stunning stone mantel with birch trees & and candles

perfect photo booth strip.... photo booth by Maine Photo Booth Co.

incredible cake made by a friend

white & black candy buffet

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2012!!!

Maine weddings... a year in review.

2012-01-03T14:33:00.001-05:00

Here is a few of our favorite photos from this years wedding.... it was a busy year for us, and we are thankful for it.......

Amanda's may wedding, vintage pin, blue hydrangeas, white orchids

Amanda's classic blue hydrangea & white david austin rose bouquet
photo credit- Russ Caron

Camden, Maine elopement
photo credit- Amy Wilton

Our New Year Eve's wedding.... photo credit... my iphone =)

rustic farm wedding.... photo credit- Rachael Anderson

November green bouquet Photo credit- Alexandra Roberts

Horse inspired wedding..... photo credit- Audra Photography

AMAZING floral design photo credit- Dustin Turin

whimical baby shower photo credit- Andrew Davis

Yellow & blue wedding photo credit- anne schmidt

super fun wedding in Camden photo credit- audra photography

pink seacoast wedding.... sooooo much fun to work with our friend Kate Parker!!

Real Maine wedding of the year! photo credit- Michelle Turner

fall bouquet for a coastal wedding.... photo credit- anne schmidt

December wedding in Bethel.... photo credit- Russ Caron

Lovely Secret Garden Bat Mitzvah..... started as clients, ended as dear friends.... photo credit- Mark Mcall

May they all live happily ever after..... photo credit - anne schmidt

Another Year Fabulous-er!

2011-12-26T14:08:00.003-05:00

Now that the ribbons, bows, and paper have finally settled after the frenzy of Christmas, we have a little time to reflect on all the glorious things that make life so sweet. You, my love, are one of them...

How is it possible that another year has almost passed us by? Our kids are another year older, making our houses seem just that much cozier. Sweetest Thing part deux celebrated its one year anniversary in September. Our friendship is just that much stronger. Our love for weddings and design is given a boost, as is our skill, with every beautiful couple and event that crosses our collective path. The best part of our job is that there is always time and opportunity to smell the roses.

We look forward to the new and wonderful possibilities that await us all in 2012. Thank you for keeping your eye on Sweetest Thing. Hopefully we'll continue to surprise you all. In the meantime, here's a few for the highlight reel.

Amber & Kathryn

sweet things

A & K at the Bangor Bridal Show, January 2011 Photo Credit: Mel Brooks

Looking and feeling glamorous with the fabulous Audra at the L Factor charity hair show in February 2011.

Bustin' a move at Harriet's Bat Mitzvah in the spring. Photo credit: Mark McCall

A Farewell Event in Bangor. We are bookended by the always sophisticated Anne Schmidt on the left and the lovely Deb Neuman on the right.

Amber's husband, Peter, did us a solid Folk Festival weekend and took 5 out of 6 of our kids to the festival grounds. Here they are posing with Deb. L to R: Parker, Paige, Gwyneth, Izze, Thomas.

Emma broke her arm in October. Paige went to the hospital as moral support. Looks like it's working.

Trick or treating. Yeah, you wish we were YOUR cool moms.

Winter wedding with a 1920's feel...

2011-12-19T21:18:00.000-05:00

A year ago we had our first event inside our studio. The bride, Lanie who wanted a glamorous winter wedding, black and white with pops of pink. The result were stunning! Lanie and Rick just celebrated their first anniversary.... So to help celebrate here is the post again..... We love you two... so thrilled you are living happily ever after....xo

I LOVE when bride's trust me. Lanie, was a Dream to work with. She wanted an intimate wedding for 50 that was glamorous and fun. When corresponding with her I found a quote on her facebook page. It said this....

I believe in pink. . . .I believe in kissing, kissing a lot . . . and I believe that happy girls are the prettiest girls. -Audrey Hepburn

This quote was the entire basis of my design. I went for a 1950s vibe using black and white damask print accent with bright pink...

Lanie wanted the reception in our studio and we were THRILLED to do it here. The front end of the studio was were we set up for dinner. Round tables were set up with black linens and white chiavari chairs and white napkins. The dishware was white with silver pattern along the edge. Pink stalk was set on the place settings for a pop of color. Tall centerpieces to make a big statement, the square vessels with submerged orchids, with large arrangements of pink dutch hydrangeas, pink ranunculus, pink David Austin roses, spider mums.
Bar and lounge were in the back of the studio. The bar served beer and wine and of course a Pink signature drink, a pomegranate martini. The centerpieces on the cocktail tables and lounge area as well as the bar were where smaller square vessels with either orchids, and pink stalk.

Mike Dow rocked the evening away by playing great music and everyone danced the night away. Rick was a SHOW stopper on the dance floor!!! I will NEVER hear "Footloose" again without thinking of him. Guests besides dancing had a ball in a photo booth from Maine Photo Booth Company.

It was a fabulous night.....I believe that Lanie was a happy girl and happy girls are the prettiest girls...

Photo Credit Anne Schmidt

shoes.... we know you love them....

2011-12-16T09:08:00.000-05:00

Working on the blog tonight and watching Sex and The City seasons.... I mean what can inspire a girl to write more then Carrie Bradshaw.... Well. It's funny how things happen... While checking the stats on our blog (this can become obsessive...just so you know) I discovered a fun fact...

Our inspiration board on Sarah Jessica Parker's dress at the 2010 Oscars. Take a peek... that blog post got 2,926 page views.

When one thinks of Carrie Bradshaw or Sarah Jessica Parker.... what do you think of... SHOES!!!

Well, that got me thinking... what's a better blog to write about then SHOES!!
I mean think about it.... woman, weddings, and shoes.... A perfect trifecta!

The great thing I have seen trending more and more is the commitment to have shoes be a big part of the the appareal. Anything goes for shoes... flats, heels, colors, sparkles, pattern.... Well you know us... We wear stilettos in the snow. SO here are some of our Favorite Shoes in the past years....

Sparkly Aldo Shoes in the Mountains of Maine... Photo Credit- Russell Caron

Heather's adorable Kate Spade shoes.... Such great pattern and color!! Photo Credit- Alexandra Roberts

Photo Credit Audra Photography.... Lisa wore stunning Cole Hann heels

Lanie wore cowboy boots to honor her Texan roots... Photo credit.. Anne Schmidt photography

Gardenia shoe clips added to make this shoes amazing!! Photo Credit-Sammantha Warren

Check out all of Leslie & David's Rangely Maine Wedding

Lovely Louboutins at the Asticou Inn... Photo Credit Mark McCall

Riding boots.... perfect for fall weddings... Photo Credit- Rebecca Hansen

LOVE when shoes add a POP of color! Photo Credit- Sierra Kristen Photography

love these shoes with a short vintage inspired dress! Photo Credit... My iPhone =)

Inspiration board New Year's Eve Wedding

2011-12-15T09:06:00.000-05:00

Jeanna & Bryon are ringing in the New Year with a new marriage. Now that is starting the year with a bang. They want a classic black and white wedding. We are putting touches of silver....

During cocktail hour we are doing a winter wooded feel.... birch trees on silver linens...

Dining with be on tables covered with black linens with beaded overlays.... the centerpieces will be cylinders with pillar candles and submerged tulips orchids, callas....

Candy Buffets, with black white & silver candies......

Tall arrangements with silver sticks and crystals for drama.....

cocktail hour is to look like a winter wonderland....

The dining tables will have black linens with a beaded overlay to look like snow

candy buffet for the late night munchies...

centerpieces will be pillars and submerged flowers

the ADORABLE flower girl will be throwing snowflakes instead of petals

there will be lots of candles

the bride will carry white david austins and black and white anemones.

tall arrangements will be at the escort card table and candy buffet

Maine Senator Susan Collins is in December's Vogue!!

2011-12-14T09:30:00.002-05:00

Maine Girls sometimes get a bad rap.... Kathryn & I, we are obsessed with fashion and design. So, when we heard a Maine woman was representing Maine in Vogue we were thrilled!

Susan Collins has been a senator for our state since 1996. She works on the homeland security, National Defense, and Education. I was honored to meet Ms. Collins at Brooke and Andrew's Sebasco Resort wedding. Brooke worked for Ms. Collins in Washington DC. where she met Andrew. Sharyn Peavey was the photographer at this nautical themed wedding. (Man, I love doing weddings with her, she is so talented and a spitfire! Sharyn Peavey not Senator Collins)

OK, back to Senator Collin's...she was an incredibly gracious guest and when recognized by some kids staying at the resort, she spoke with them and took a picture.... I will also say, she did rock it out on the dance floor...

Well, Ms. Collin's I don't know about your bucket list, but you accomplished something on mine. Being in Vogue and having my picture taken by the AMAZING Annie Leibovitz along side amazing woman like Joan Wages, Madeleine Albright, Sen. Barbara Mikulski, Barbara Bush (seated on ground), Rep. Carolyn Maloney, Patricia Nixon Cox, Maya Angelou, Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton and Meryl Streep.

Read all about Senator Collins' experience in this article by Portland Press Herald

photo credit Sharyn Peavey!

Oceanside Pink Wedding in Castine Maine.... John Peter's Estate

2011-12-13T09:30:00.003-05:00

Denise's father is the owner of Wallace Party & Tent Rental.... He is one of my favorite vendors, his staff is top notch, he does whatever he can for me and my clients, and he values his partnerships.... He is an honorable man. So when he asked us to do Denise's wedding Kathryn and I were touched. Denise has been working with her dad for as long as she could remember. She knows how to run an event. She was incredibly organized and efficient. A complete breeze to work with.... She wanted pink wedding with purple and gold accents. There would be three table shapes and table designs. On the square tables there would be large tall arrangements, on the rounds would be square low arrangements and on the rectangular tables low and long arrangements. She wanted simple flowers in abundance.... we used pink and purple stalk, pink and purple lithianthus, white hydrangeas, and pink & white callas. The event was held at the Gorgeous John Peter's Estate. The cocktail hour was held on the lawn with cotton candy, ice cream sundae & popcorn bar. Denise & Brian's wedding was touching.... Brian's mom's speech was precious and Brian (Denise's dad) was so incredibly gracious to all of us vendors.... We danced the night away and then moved to a sail tent with all pink lighting for an after party....

Cast of Characters....

Tents & Rentals- Wallace Tent & Party Rental

Lighting & draping- Ambience Lighting

Catering- Moveable Feasts

Floral Design & Day of Coordination- sweetest thing weddings*floral design*events

Photo Booth- Maine Photo Booth Co.

Cake- Montes Catering

Photographer- Dustin Turin

Band- Time Pilots!!

In front of the barn on property.... photo credit Dustin Turin

cotton candy & sundae bar during cocktails.... delicious photo credit~ Dustin Turin

sprawling estate lawn with dinner tent, cocktail tent, and after party tent... Photo Credit~Dustin Turin

amazing day at John Peter's Estate in Castine, Maine photo credit~ Dustin Turin

stunning grounds... with amazing views photo credit~Dustin Turin

oceanside ceremony under a simple handcrafted chuppah photo credit~Dustin Turin

rustic lanterns full of hydrangeas & lemon leaf photo credit~ Dustin Turin

FABULOUS tall arrangement with ivy filled pilsner glass and gold votives photo credit~ Dustin Turin

gold accents in the overlays, beaded chargers, and votives photo credit~ Dustin Turin

amazing tent with liner, pink draping and chandeliers, three table designs and table shapes to break up the space... Photo credit~ Dustin Turin

tall pink and white arrangements, chandeliers hung in the tent by ambience lighting.... photo credit~ Dustin Turin

amazing shot by Dustin Turin.... you can see Denise's tear fall down her cheeks...

Wedding Trends of 2011~ Yellow

2011-12-12T09:30:00.002-05:00

This past season we did a ton of yellow weddings. Not complaining, it is an amazing color so cheerful. Yellow screams summer, sunshine, and happiness! Also, summer is full of yellow flowers: Dahlias, billy balls, solidago, sunflowers, spider mums, black eyed susans, roses, Isn't that what a wedding is, a cheerful event? Yellow adds that pop of color when mixed with any neutral and make a great statement. It works for any style wedding...classic, vintage, modern, nautical, or spring, summer or fall weddings... Here are some sneak peeks of this season's yellow weddings.

vintage wedding at a private residence... photo credit Rachael Anderson

yellow fall boutonniere... photo credit- Rebecca Hansen Weddings

vintage ceremony chair accents... billy balls and vintage ribbon... photo credit Audra Photography

yellow polka dot dress with billy ball, cockscomb bouquets photo credit- Audra photography

vintage table designs using vintage milk glass with yellow flowers... photo credit-Audra photography

vintage cut glass with votives and vintage bottles with billy balls... photo credit- Audra Photography

modern wedding cake with yellow ribbon... photo credit- my iPhone =)

yellow accents in a fall wedding.... Photo credit- Audra photography

Sweet Thanks from a Mother of the Bride

2011-12-11T10:07:00.000-05:00

It is always nice to wake up to a sweet note of thanks. Amanda Walker was such a fun, laid back bride. She wanted a classic nautical wedding in Lincolnville, Maine. She chose the Summit at Point Look Out and it was a great choice, for her classic Maine wedding. The results where lovely and we had so much fun, meeting Amanda and her family, delivering her bouquets and setting up the centerpieces. Today, after being up ALL night with a sick kiddo, it was a nice get this note of thanks from Amanda's mother.....

Finally getting around to say Thank-you so much for the

beautiful centerpieces and bridesmaids bouquets and most of

all Amanda's beautiful bouquet. It was simply gorgeous and

with her Gram's gold pin attached to it completed it elegantly.

She has had many compliments about her flowers.

Transporting the flowers to Point Lookout was appreciated

more than you know... a very big plus,plus. Happy Holidays to

you all.

Here is a link to photos by Russell Caron.... Amanda's wedding

Thank you Debbie for the sweet note.... it was a great pick me up.

xo
a

Real Maine Winter Weddings~ Red & Silver Glam

2011-12-10T09:30:00.000-05:00

Amanda wanted a glamorous winter wedding, with roses, and candelabras... crystals, and garland. Kathryn and I created Amanda an inspiration board that consisted of two designs....

The long head table would have five candelabras four lower and one large with a rose pomander in the center. Two large arrangements on silver pedestals would also be on the table... The tables where cover with a silver detailed overlays and 30 square votive candles to draw light down, as well as up with the 24 candlesticks...

On the smaller round tables we had three rectangular vases with one dozen roses in each vase and three silver candlesticks on the same silver scroll overlays.

We add crystal pendants on the large candelabras and added sparkle details in the rhinestone snowflake napkin rings, and snowflake ornaments with the table numbers. The escort cards where snowflake ornaments that huge from a manzanita branches draped with crystals.... The effect was Glamorous, Elegant, Classic

We used 500 red roses in this design, Amanda' s bouquet had 50 red roses as well as 15 red callas, wrapped in satin and added silver sequin details, and a vintage brooch from Amanda's family....

The ceremony took place in the mountain chalet's great room. We lined the aisle with cylinder vases filled white pillar candles and white pine garland, that filled the room with smell of winter....

It was a wonderful winter evening with good food, good friends, and good cheer.... there really is something about a winter wedding in Maine.....

Photographer- Russell Caron
Flowers- sweetest thing wedding*floral design*events
Venue- Ski-esta
Catering- The Good Food Store
Dress- Kenneth Pool
Shoes- Aldo

Look at even more sneak peeks on facebook.... click here

sweet news.... Maine, the perfect wedding destination

2011-12-09T21:21:00.001-05:00

We are so excited, and really giddy to tell you we are revamping our website. So, in all that hustle and bustle we haven't blogged, shameful. Our goal of the new website, is a modern look that is packed with information and inspiration for our future clients.

We are also thrilled to announce we will be featured in TWO magazines this year!! I know, crazy!! Real Maine Weddings will feature Laura & Nolan's Real Maine wedding of the year... and Seacoast Bride will be featuring Sam & Sasha's wedding!! We are honored and blown away by the response we are receiving from clients new and old. We love designing interesting weddings that reflect our amazing clients.... and we love that you all love our weddings too...

Vendor Reviews~ Audra Photography

2011-10-12T17:29:00.000-04:00

Real Maine Wedding's blog is featuring the 12 Days of Laura & Nolan, where we give a shout out to all the vendors who have help make Real Maine Wedding of Year such an amazing event. Today Kathryn wrote about our friend& colleague Audra, of Audra Photography... Here are some her shots from our wedding together.... and check out Real Maine weddings blog and see all the blog posts about the 12 days of Laura & Nolan...

Real Maine Wedding~ Mother of the Bride Experience

2011-10-12T16:13:00.001-04:00

As Mothers of daughters, we can't imagine what this moment will feel like, to have a daughter getting married.... How much more different would it be if your daughter won the wedding of her dreams..... Here is Ellen's experience as she tells of her perspective of Laura, Nolan, and this crazy journey....

Hello! Well, the fabulous wedding planners, Amber and Kathryn asked if I may want to blog and give my reaction to this whole amazing experience. As the mother-of-the-bride, I have a unique perspective of this wedding...and it has been fantastic!
First of all, nobody knows Laura better than me. I know what this day means to her more than anybody. From the time she was a tiny toddler, her eyes have been focused on that trip down the aisle when she could be the princess and live happily ever after. During her teen years, I used to put a Bride magazine in her Christmas stocking rather than the latest issue of Seventeen. She would daydream for hours! Most often when she was lost in wishful thinking, her sentences would start "Someday, when I get married....." and she'd go on to tell me the details of her dream wedding. Well guess what....dreams DO come true!
Dreaming became a reality when Laura and Nolan entered this contest and WON! We were so hopeful and so happy during the contest. The support from everyone was a gift in and of itself. The day her name was called was un-real. Wow..this is happening!! Little did we know things would only get better! The people we have me along the way have been so generous, so friendly and so sincerely happy for Laura and Nolan. From the moment we started making plans, everyones focus has been on giving Laura her perfect day. The vendors have been amazing! How will we ever be able to thank them?
Not only do I think Laura will be a perfect bride on a perfect day, but I am proud that she will be a good wife for all the years of marriage ahead. She isn't just thinking about her day, but of her life with Nolan. She loves him with all her heart, as he loves her. They will be strong together. They are good TO each other, and good FOR each other. What more could a mother ask for?
One of life's greatest blessings is to be able to see your children's dreams come true. I am so blessed to see Laura's dream about to come true, in just a few short days!
(I am so glad her dad is walking her down the aisle. Otherwise, I think she may break into a run!) She is more than ready for 'happily ever after'!
Thank you Real Maine Weddings !
Ellen Plaisted

Inspiration board for our December wedding

2011-10-06T17:49:00.000-04:00

We have an amazing wedding coming in December at the amazing Ski- Esta in Bethel Maine. It is an amazing location and in the winter is a paradise. To create an amazing ambiance we are using silver, red and lots of candle light. The ceremony will be in front of the large windows, lined with candles, the aisle will be lined with candles as well. The bride is coming down the seeded eucalyptus garland stairs. The table will have to different design scape's.... The first design is tall candelabras with roses on silver linens. The second design will be lower arrangements of roses with vintage candlesticks.

Classic Blue wedding on the Coast of Maine....

2011-10-05T18:14:00.000-04:00

Gotta love those blue weddings... When people think about our stunning State of Maine, they think, blue ocean, blue berries, lobster... OK so the blue thing stops there, but you get the idea. Since the beginning of time, and design, when one thinks nautical, one thinks BLUE! Amanda & Troy wanted a classic blue wedding and asked us to do her flowers.... and we said OF COURSE! So with blue and white hydrangeas, white snow berrys, white delicious David Austin roses, white callas, and white ranunculus, we made her bouquets and centerpieces, wrapped with blue ribbon and pins. It was all photographed by our friend and colleague Russ Caron, who captured these stunning blooms one his blog.... Take a peek!

Here's our favorite picture..... of course taken my Russ Caron photography

National Taco Day

2011-10-04T22:27:00.000-04:00

In case you didn't know it, October 4 is National Taco Day, and that is definitely a holiday worth celebrating. So, Kathryn and I got together with our crew (read 6 kids) and had a MANDATORY staff meeting. On the agenda was finalizing the logistics for our October 21, Real Maine Wedding Giveaway AND Kathryn's AMAZING, KNOCK YOUR SOCKS OFF, SMACK YO' MOMMA, DANG GOOD TACOS and BEANS & RICE...... My kids who don't like ANYTHING new wolfed down these amazing tacos and beans & rice. My neighbor Anne Schmidt, of Anne Schmidt Photography, and her crazy cute baby popped in to feast along with us. I could give you Kathryn's recipe BUT.... I love her and want her to be forever my business partner so I won't.... and truthfully, I wasn't paying enough attention. Shocking I know. Let's just say that the staff meeting was an incredible success! The Real Maine Wedding of Laura & Nolan will be stunning and a fantastic success (we plan on featuring all the vendors that are partnering in the project, so keep your eyes peeled!) AND we ate some dang good tacos. Here are some photos of the evening events..... YUM!

prepping the tacos

prepping the tacos, shredded chicken in a corn tortilla

fry those pretty babies up..... mmmmmm

pinto beans rinsed & ready

ready to be filled with the fixings

mexican rice.... Yum!

homemade refried beans... soooo good!

my contribution... coconut rum & pineapple juice

sink full of dishes.... totally worth it!

Had to wave my white flag.... sooo full!

Say what?

2011-10-03T21:47:00.000-04:00

This has got to be one of THE most beautiful bouquets sweetest thing has ever done! We gave you a sneak peek on Thursday of last week, but here's the real thing. Anne Schmidt of Anne Schmidt Photography just sent these to us, and we couldn't wait to share them with you! Between Amber's amazing skill at creating gorgeous personal flowers, and Anne's phenomenal photographer's eye, I must say that these shots are the bomb-diggity. Say what? You heard me.


Bridal Bouquet with coral roses, Billy Balls, red pincushion, peach Calla Lilies, Fiddlehead. Photo Courtesy of Anne Schmidt Photography.


Groom's Boutonniere with Billy Balls, peach Cala Lily, Fiddlehead. Photo courtesy of Anne Schmidt Photography.

Bridal Bouquet on rocks. Photo courtesy of Anne Schmidt Photography.

Mama Beth's Big Day!

2011-10-01T10:37:00.000-04:00

We know you're all eager to hear what's happening with the Real Maine Wedding of Laura and Nolan. With only three weeks left until the Big Day, you can imagine that everyone's feeling pretty excited. Laura and Nolan recently had the opportunity to make their wedding rings at Brown Goldsmiths in Freeport, and Laura had lots of fun picking out her wedding day jewelry at R.D. Allen Freeport Jewelers. This weekend Laura is bachelorette-ing it up with her girlfriends, and I can only imagine what Nolan's brothers and soldier buddies have in store for him!

But, what, you may ask, are Nolan & Laura's mothers up to? Ready to hear the sweetest thing ever? Nolan's mom, Beth, is actually preparing the ceremony she'll be using to marry the happy couple. Can you even stand it? I'm verklempt just thinking about it! Here's a little from Beth about her experience getting the service together, and some details about the day she and Ellen, Laura's mom, spent together in Freeport while Laura & Nolan finished up some important and fun wedding details. She sent this to us just last night, and you can almost "hear" the excitement in her voice:

Last night I sat down to begin trying to put together a wedding service. It was late and I kept thinking, I'll do a little more and then I'll finish it tomorrow. But I was on a roll and couldn't sleep until I finished it. (Funny, I found out today that Laura couldn't sleep either because she was excited about her bachelorette party this weekend!--I don't hold out much hope for sleep the week of October 21st!) I ran to my e-mail this morning to see if Nolan and Laura had written anything about the service--nothing! Uh-oh! I got nothing left! But bless their hearts, they approved it later on. So with a sense of relief, I left to meet Laura's mother, Ellen in Freeport.

We strolled the sunfilled streets of Freeport very nearly in Laura's and Nolan's footsteps of the 24th, but not exactly. We met at Linda Bean's Maine Kitchen and Topside Tavern and sat down with her wonderful manager, Chris to finalize details of the Rehearsal Dinner! He was so gracious and it was hard to choose from all the delicious items on the menu. But we did and it is going to be a fabulous evening! Everyone had such a good time at the Welcome Home party for Nolan in July, I can hardly wait for October 20! Then we settled down to a great lunch of lobster roll and lemon meringue pie for Ellen and crabmeat roll and flourless chocolate cake with orange sauce for me! (We're contemplating very strict diets later!) Fortified by lunch and a sense of accomplishment, we went down to Brown Goldsmiths Jewelers on the off chance that we might see THE rings shhhhh! They are gorgeous and everyone there was so nice! After walking to the other end of Freeport looking for shoes for the big night, we walked back to R.D. Allen's. They are the jewelers who made Laura's spectacular earrings for the wedding. Again we felt so welcome. (And I must say, everywhere we went that Laura and Nolan had been, it was a mother's dream come true to hear such wonderful things about our children!) We finished off a busy day by finding the perfect gifts for our five little flower girls at R.D. Allen's. Tomorrow we can say, 'this month'! And everything is falling into place!

But what will we do in November?


Beth and Nolan at the engagement party hosted by Linda Bean's Maine Kitchen. Photo Credit: Audra Photography.

Okay, who's crying now?

The last straw...

2011-09-30T09:00:00.001-04:00

Okay, as much as we wish we could, we just can't take all the credit for this find. We worked a wedding a few weeks ago that boasted some of the most darling personal touches. The theme during cocktail hour was a pink old-timey carnival, complete with popcorn, cotton candy, ice cream cones, and of course, cocktails served with the most ADORABLE paper straws. The bride found them on etsy, and we have vowed to track them down for any bride or hostess that wants them, and will soon be carrying them in the studio.

Here are a few photographic samples for your viewing pleasure, but be warned, you will want some!:

DimeStoreBuddy

The Party Fairy

Fall is here, and so are we!

2011-09-29T16:22:00.000-04:00

Wow! What a crazy summer! We have had a wedding every single weekend since sometime in July. We are the best kind of tired and busy, and can't wait to start sharing all the photos and details of our weddings from the past few months.

Today we are in the studio working on flowers for a Saturday bride. Her pallet is autumnal, and if we do say so ourselves (which we do!), the colors and flowers we're working with today are stunning. Bright orange pincushions, peach calla lilies, muted yellow billy balls, coral roses, and fiddleheads. We LOVE working with so much color and texture. Gor-geous! We'd like to wish Ashley and Alan all the best as they look forward to their big day!

Pincushion flowers

Fiddleheads

Sneak peek of the finished product!

Laura & Nolan's Real Maine Wedding

2011-07-01T10:55:00.000-04:00

The decor, dress, invitations, and cake have all been selected. The planning of Laura & Nolan's celebration is well under way and thepromises to be absolutely beautiful. The decor of classic elegance will include chocolate brown and shades of yellow. The dress is a true confection, its gathers reminiscent of whipped cream. The cake is sure to be delicious, and beautifully decorated! So, now that almost everything is in place for their dream wedding, it's time to start thinking about the HONEYMOON!!!

Dragonfly Trips is partnering with Real Maine Weddings to offer Laura and Nolan three amazing destinations for their post-nuptial enjoyment.

Bar Harbor Inn

First up is the Bar Harbor Inn,pictured above, with its picturesque views of Frenchman Bay and immediate access to all things Maine.

Disney All-Star Movies Resort

Disney All-Star Movies resort is the second offering, its name self-explanatory, with a good possibility of "star"-gazing.

Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

Finally, the warm, white beaches of Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, a welcome change to the temperamental summers of the New England Coast.

So, we know how we voted. Where do YOU want to send Laura & Nolan? Go to Real Maine Weddings and help this lovely couple choose their honeymoon locale! :~)

Patchwork & Whimsy: A Baby Shower

2011-06-22T19:51:00.003-04:00

So, what's a designer to do when the expectant mother makes clear that, though she is having a girl, she is far from "girly"? In this case, the answer is to provide distinctly feminine touches while indulging the guest-of-honor's slightly more masculine side. The baby shower, by the way, was held at the couple's Manchester, NH home, the centerpiece of which is a red-velvet wallpapered "man room". To accommodate mom's tastes and blend with the existing decor, we used bright but gender-neutral colors built on a theme of patchwork, carnival stripes and polka-dots.

We used wooden boxes as vessels and filled them with a brilliant combination of bright red mini-carnations, yellow and green mums, purple stalk, Bells of Ireland, sunflowers, fuschia cockscomb, Billy balls, fiddleheads, and roses in yellow, pink, and green. The arrangements were placed on a homemade tablecloth created to suit the theme: offset patches of pink, grey, green, and purple. In the background hung a gorgeous banner created from craft paper and reading "elizabeth", each panel adorned with stickered wishes for baby's personality, such as "adventurous spirit", "feisty", and "dreamer".

Deep-fried tacos and Dr. Pepper, Mom's favorites, were served along with two different types of Sangria. Guests were sent home with the most incredible cake pops, created to match the theme by the incomparable Wanda Prouty. All in all, this baby shower was far from traditional and loaded with fun!

All photo credit to Andrew Davis and a special thanks to him for coming out last-minute to take some pretty amazing pictures of our theme!


Photo credit AndrewDavisPhotography

Patchwork Baby Shower theme, fiddleheads, wooden boxes.

Baby banner, craft paper, shabby chic, whimsy.

Wanda Prouty cake pops, patchwork whimsy babyshower theme.

Invitations!

2011-05-20T08:00:00.002-04:00

As we anxiously await voting results on the dress and decor, don't forget to vote on invitations for Laura & Nolan's October Real Maine Wedding! There are three gorgeous wedding trousseau's from which to choose, each one offered by Hullabaloo Studios. Team Laura and sweetest thing met with Marcy from Hullabaloo at the beginning of the month and settled on these three fantastic designs. Each one was exquisitely photographed by Anne Schmidt Photography.

Photos by Anne Schmidt Photography

photos by Anne Schmidt Photography

We know which one is our favorite. All that's left is for you to vote on yours!

Michelle Turner & Well Wed Blog post!!

2011-05-18T15:51:00.000-04:00

I love Michelle Turner for many reasons: her talent, her ambition and her amazing heart. She is one of my favorite photographers and we always have sooo much fun together. She let us know a few weeks ago that Sam and Sasha's wedding was picked up by yet another blog..... EEEK!!! So exciting!! Vermont Vows, a publication of Well Wed Magazine has used Sam & Sasha's wedding as a inspiration board on their blog. Check it out here, we are so honored, thanks Michelle for loving our work as much as we love yours!!! xo

P.S.- Michelle has published a book on photography..... It is a must have for any photographer or lover of all things weddings.... it can be purchased at Barnes & Noble or Amazon

Sam and Sasha make an appearance there too....

The dress, the dress, the dress!!!

2011-05-17T15:51:00.000-04:00

We have to begin by saying that Laura Plaisted, official Bride-to-be, didn't put on a single dress that DIDN'T look fabulous! She was such a good sport, opening her mind and trying on dresses she never thought she'd choose. Because they all looked incredible on her, it was super hard to narrow down the top three, but with the help of her mother and mother-in-law, she did it. Audra from Audra Photography joined us at Bridals by Sandy in Alfred to take pictures of our gorgeous girl. Sandy, by the way, was the sweetest, most low-key bridal gown consultant EVER! Thanks, Sandy!

The first gown is a gorgeous tiered A-line that looks absolutely stunning as a gown. The twist? The bottom two tiers come off to turn it into a show-stopping cocktail dress! Gown #2 is a fabulous mermaid style elegantly overlaid in lace. It is both classic and elegant. Gown #3 we lovingly referred to as "whipped cream". It has sumptuous gathers of fabric cascading from the mermaid bodice. It is a slightly more contemporary look, but is still absolutely exquisite.

You now have until this Thursday to go to the Real Maine Weddings site and vote for your favorite dress!


Audra Photography

Audra Photography

Time to Vote!

2011-04-22T11:17:00.000-04:00

Today marks the first official voting for the details of Laura & Nolan's fabulous Real Maine Wedding! You can visit www.realmaineweddings.com to help us decide the decor theme. We have brought a taste of these to each of the Bridal Shows put on by The Maine Wedding Association, and are excited to finally reveal them to the public. We love each of these designs and can't wait to find out what you help choose for the lucky couple!

On the table, so to speak, are "Vintage Chic", "Traditional Charm", and "Cool Contemporary"...

"Vintage Chic" is casual elegance at its finest. A white table linen is overlaid with a buttercup yellow table runner and topped with birch rounds, stunning antique milk glass vases, candles in mason jars, antique tins, and an assortment of flowers that include Billy balls, tulips, and cream roses. Opaque pastel plates are used as chargers, with vintage-feel linens completing the look. The effect is sumptuous but light; think high tea held outdoors at a countryside estate. This tablescape is the ultimate in "upcycled" glamor.

Photographed by Audra Photography.

Next is "Traditional Charm". A rich chocolate pintuck linen covers the table. A striking trio of red roses and calla lilies grace the center, surrounded by lots of gold votive holders. This look is reminiscent of Old Hollywood glamour. We can easily picture women in gorgeous dresses and men in tuxedos gracing these tables. Traditional table service, set off with gold chargers, adorns each place setting. Serve from the left, clear from the right, please.

Photographed by Audra Photography.

Finally we offer the "Cool Contemporary" look, so-called for its black-and-white minimalist drama. A black tablecloth is overlaid with a sheer, white linen. Placed in the center of the table is a tall square vase, topped boldly with a huge arrangement of monochromatic carnations, David Austin roses, spider mums, and Star of Bethlehem, accented with peacock feathers, and punctuated with an inverted calla lily submerged in the vase itself. This is a conversation piece, surrounded by an array of small, square votives and candles floating in slim cylinders. The effect is nothing less than sparkling.

Photographed by Audra Photography.

So, go, vote now, and check back in two weeks to find out which design-scape made the cut!

And so it begins...!

2011-04-14T09:44:00.000-04:00

On Tuesday, we had the pleasure of hosting a planning meeting for Real Maine Weddings winner, Laura Plaisted. Joining her were her mother, Ellen, and her soon to be mother-in-law, Beth. Amber and I were joined by the lovely Christine Parker from Real Maine Weddings Magazine. There was so much support and positivity in the room you just couldn't help but have the warm fuzzies! We all settled in with some delicious snacks from local favorite, Giacomo's, and got down to business.

On the agenda was the discussion of the schedule to meet with all the generous vendors that have partnered for this amazing giveaway. The decor, the dress, the jewelry, the cake, the food, the Inn, and more! As Laura has the opportunity to meet with many of these vendors, you all will have the opportunity to vote on many of the elements of her and Nolan's wedding. Every couple of weeks between now and September, you can visit www.RealMaineWeddings.com to vote. The first vote will go live on the 22nd, so be sure to keep checking in!

By the way, we can't help but mention how thrilled we were to hear "Team Laura" say they didn't know how anyone plans their wedding without a team of professionals! Thanks, ladies! Amber and I are honored to be a part of all this and having a ton of fun already! You are making it so easy to help! Muah!

Winning the Real Maine Wedding: Laura & Nolan's Story

2011-04-10T19:57:00.000-04:00

We promised you a blog from Laura, and she has delivered! Get your hankies out now; their story, told in Laura's clear voice, is charming and romantic. Thanks for letting us get to know you a little better!

"My first blogging experience!

Just a few short days ago, Melanie Brooks announced that Nolan and I were the winners of the 2011 Real Maine Weddings Contest! Words cannot describe the way that I felt when I heard our names announced. Eight months prior I was hugging him at the airport, wondering how I was going to make the time fly until I got to have my best friend back. Many long letters and midnight phone calls later, I found myself sitting at a little brewery in California with my soldier, my jaw dropped open, staring at a beautiful diamond ring. He had come home for his mid-tour leave and, so he says, “executed his master plan”. It wasn’t until he was back in Afghanistan that I found out about the Dream Wedding Contest, and I sent him an email urging him to call me as soon as possible!

Now, I’m a hopeless romantic and I can get pretty carried away. As I babbled on and on about the prize package, the Haraseekett Inn, the wedding gown, the tuxedos, the honeymoon, the wedding bands, the cake, the team of wedding planners, photographers and videographer, Nolan just said calmly, “Good hun, go for it. That sounds very nice.” At this point, I was convinced we had a shot. He was probably convinced that this deployment was making me go crazy! It wasn’t until our video was posted and our votes were up that he called me at 2am one morning and said, “Laura, are we in the lead?!” I said, “YES!” And suddenly his facebook wall was announcing the contest. I guess I wasn’t so crazy after all.

The instant support that we received when we entered this contest was humbling and indescribable. My friends, family, long lost friends, old classmates, and other random acquaintances were sending me beautiful messages thanking Nolan for his service, and wishing us both the best of luck. We received marital advice, blessings and kind words daily. Already, the experience was more than worth it. We felt so lucky and we soon learned that it had only just begun.

We are so thankful and so excited to be able to experience the Real Maine Wedding at the Harraseeket Inn in Freeport in October! Nolan and I will be forever grateful for such a wonderful opportunity. This Tuesday, I will be meeting with Amber and Kathryn at Sweetest Thing to begin planning the details, many of which will be chosen by the public. I am really excited to see what everyone chooses for us! People will be able to vote on my dress, our décor, the honeymoon and more!

In just a few short months, I went from planning a wedding alone while my fiancé served overseas, to having the help of some absolutely amazing event planners, and the opinion of all of YOU! This is the best prize in the world, and we are so thankful from the bottom of our hearts.

Laura & Nolan"

We Have A Winner, Folks!

2011-04-04T16:55:00.007-04:00

And, OMG, she is adorable!

We were overwhelmed with excitement and anticipation while waiting for the winner of the Real Maine Weddings free wedding contest to be announced on Sunday at the Freeport Bridal Show. We greeted each of the four lovely couples and then took our places in front of the podium to wait for the official word. When Melanie Brooks, editor of Real Maine Weddings, finally said the words, you can imagine there were a lot of happy tears. Yes, we cried, too.

Photo Credit Audra Photography.

After months of waiting, Laura and Nolan received the news they'd been hoping for; they would, officially, be getting married on October 21, 2011 at the Harraseekett Inn in Freeport. Unfortunately, Nolan couldn't be there because he is a Staff Sergeant in the Army Infantry and currently deployed to Afghanistan. However, Laura's mother, Nolan's mother, several bridesmaids, and one giddy flower-girl were on hand to share in her excitement and help her celebrate. You can bet that the girls from Real Maine Weddings, along with Amber and I, did quite a lot of squealing and hugging, too. We were all beyond thrilled for this charming and beautiful young woman! As she listened to the details of her wedding package she just seemed to glow, signing the contract with a flourish and a mega-watt smile.

Photo credit Audra Photography

Laura did say that the contest had worked wonders to distract her from his absence. She also admitted that the time between now and his return, hopefully in June or July, would be happily involved with wedding planning that would hopefully serve as a continued distraction. Laura is a self-described wedding addict who has been waiting for her wedding day nearly all of her life. Well, Laura, it's almost here and Amber and I are so excited to be able to guide you through the next several months of coordinating the event, choosing decor, dress shopping, and cake tasting!

If you haven't seen it yet, you have to check out her adorable video. You will totally understand why she won, and you'll be as excited as we are about sharing in her big day.

Congratulations, Laura & Nolan! Get ready for the ride of your life!

Please keep checking back for updates, and to read a blog from Laura herself about what it felt like to win!

Maine Wedding Podcast~ Photo Booths at your wedding reception?

2011-03-14T10:27:00.001-04:00

Maine Photo Booth Co.
Such a great idea.....
photo credit Audra Photography

So I (amber) maybe bias but I think this company owner is the cutest, kindest and most adorable man EVER.... he is also my husband. It was so fun to interview Peter about Maine Photo Booth Company the first photo booth company in Maine to offer metal booths with high tech digital prints. Peter did so well having to be interviewed by three crazy chicks... have a listen here.....

New favorite shot of a photo booth strip!

Super cute Shot by SC Photography

Here is some fun photos of the photo booth at work.....

our photo booth album such a great guest book!!
photo credit Stacey Kane

Set up at the Asticou Inn Photo Credit Bill Getty

Bride and Groom playing with props in the booth
Photo credit Audra photography

piles of photo strips! So Fun
Photo Credit Mark McCall Photography

Maine Wedding Podcasts

2011-03-10T09:56:00.000-05:00

How do you know which vendors to use when you are planning a destination wedding?

Audra from Audra Photography had a great idea: How about we do some fun podcasts with great Maine vendors, NOT scripted just chit chat about all things wedding & Maine. The goal of this is to have fun, learn about different vendors, and maybe have a great glass of wine. So pour yourself a glass and enjoy.....

Here is our first one. It's an introduction of sorts.....

http://maineweddingspot.com/maine-wedding-podcast-season-1/

here we are Kathryn, Amber, Audra

Here is a taste of some of our work together.... We have too much fun!!!

Steph & Aaron inspiration to reality.... Hydrangeas in the summer!

2011-02-26T10:16:00.001-05:00

It is still the middle of the winter & I am longing for the sunshine of summer. SOoooo, I am looking back at the amazing weddings we did this past summer for inspiration & maybe even some vitamin D. Steph & Aaron are such amazing people! Steph is a teacher for children with special needs, while Aaron is a fireman who volunteers for autism charities. Honestly, I am not making it up, they are really this beautiful & generous. I was blown away by their love for each other & their community. They choose to get married at Steph's family estate in Blue Hill, Ingleside, were her parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, aunts & cousins were married as well. The house was spectacular & the view was sensational. In fact, Aaron proposed to Steph on the side porch & that is were they saw each other for the first time before the ceremony.

The morning of the wedding before she got her hair & make up done the family had breakfast on the front porch, then Steph and her Dad went fishing out in the ocean. To see Steph & Aaron's blog about their inspiration.... click here.

SO here is the reality, it was truly an amazing day.....

celebrating after the ceremony

flowers by Verona Island Flowers

Hair & Make Up by L-factor
Birdcage & Hairpiece by Blush Couture by Gina

Down a the swim club

Photo booth~ Maine Photo Booth Company

First Meeting, same place that got engaged....so sweet!

Napkins wrapped with muscle shells found on their beach

galvinazed buckets with hydrangea & wildflowers

The AMAZING cast of characters that made this event happen....

ceremony location~ Private Residence , Ingleside
reception location~ Blue Hill Country Club
Officiant~ Captain Ken Barnes
Florist~ Verona Island Flowers
Photographer~ Audra Photography
Hair & Make Up~ L-Factor
Birdcage Veil~ Blush Couture by Gina
DJ~ Bob Wilson
Guest Experience~ Maine Photo Booth Company
Rentals~ Wallace Tent
Caterer~ Cast Iron Catering

Lily's Inspiration to reality!

2011-02-25T14:13:00.000-05:00

My Design Inspiration for Lily can be revisited here.....

The day was fantastic, stunning, and heart felt. Lily looked amazing, Buddy was just adorable. The ceremony was moving, the reception fabulous. It is a true honor and delight when I get to see the inspiration become a reality.

Here are all the players in this in this fantastic event....
Ceremony Location~ Chestnut Street Church, Camden Maine
Reception Location~ Whitehall Inn
Photography~ Sierra Kristen Photography
Ceremony Music~ Casie Poplaski
Reception Music~ Mike Dow
Transportation~ Rockland Yellow Cab
Floral Design~ sweetest thing weddings. floral design. events
Planning~ sweetest thing weddings. floral design. events

It's A Wrap!

2011-02-21T14:27:00.000-05:00

sweetest thing, along with Granville Rental Company, Bangor Wine & Cheese, Ann Marie's Kitchen, and Wicked Wines is proud to be sponsoring a wrap party for Penobscot Theatre Company's production of Dirty Blonde.

The play is based on the life of the outrageous Mae West, so of course the decor can be nothing short of outrageous. Our design scape is modeled after the glamor of both the time period of Hollywood's heyday and the icon herself. The bold and beautiful colors of peacock feathers provided the foundation for our inspiration. We'll add sumptuous fabrics, dazzling vessels filled with beautiful flowers, and candelabras to maximize the drama. Here are a few pictures to tempt you, and we hope to see you there satisfying your... curiosity.

Penobscot Theatre It's A Wrap! Party
Sunday, February 27, 2011
6:00-8:30 PM
Granville Rental, 205 Main Rd., Holden

Tickets are $35 each
All Proceeds to Benefit Penobscot Theatre Company

Vintage Possibilities

2011-02-08T12:42:00.001-05:00

As you know, sweetest thing is currently involved as one of the sponsors of the $100,000 free wedding being given away by Maine Wedding Association and Real Maine Weddings. For those of you that don't know about it, here's a quick recap:

Brides (and grooms) from all over the country are being encouraged to submit a 2-minute video to www.realmaineweddings.com detailing their reasons for wanting a free Maine wedding. Entrants are encouraged to be as genuine and creative as possible. The wedding will be held at The Harraseekett Inn in Freeport on October 21, 2011. The semi-finalists will be chosen by public vote, with the finalist chosen by a panel of wedding professionals and announced at the April 3rd Freeport Bridal Show. That, my friends, is when the real fun begins and sweetest thing's role kicks into high gear!

We will be helping the bride with every important decision from the dress to the decor, but don't forget that the public gets a say. Everything will be voted on, so we have to make sure that quality choices are available. The choices we'll offer for decor are currently being showcased at Maine wedding expos being held around the state. We will offer the bride three looks, catered, of course, to her colors and preferences. The first of these looks is what we like to call "Vintage Glam".

We have a serious love affair with milk glass and opaque dish ware, antique bottles and tins, rustic flowers, and antique-y linens. These amazing images were captured by Audra Photography, who will be one of the FOUR fabulous photographers shooting the Freeport wedding, including Anne Schmidt Photography, Michelle Turner Photography, and Nadra Photography. Enjoy this sneak-peek into what could be YOUR dream wedding!

Starting the year off right!

2011-01-29T14:55:00.001-05:00

Well, hey there all you sweet things! We are just checking in to let you know what we've been up to the last few weeks!

As some of you may know, Amber just finished pulling off the design and coordination monster that was the Bangor Region Chamber of Commerce's 100th Anniversary Celebration. This event hosted 1,000 people and honored some of Bangor's most influential and community-minded citizens. Sutherland Weston Marketing created impressive videos that honored each award recipient and helped to showcase the best of Bangor. Dozens of sponsors joined forces with the amazing events committee, including Karen Cole, Tanya Pereira, and Lynne Churchill to create a total makeover for The Bangor Auditorium. To say it was a hit would be, in my humble opinion, an understatement.

Amber worked with the committee and together they created a design using the color palette of Navy and Gold. White tablecloths were draped with beautiful sheer navy and gold overlays. Gold votive holders adorned each table, along with a cake dome holding cupcakes for each of the table's guests. Solid milk chocolate made in the shape of champagne bottles and wrapped in gold made a fun and delicious favor. Tim Shields, owner and lead lighting designer for Ambience Lighting spent two days hanging what must have been 100 paper lanterns over the floor of the auditorium. Jeff's Catering made serving 1,000 people a hot meal look like a piece of cake. The hospitality students from Husson University busted their humps setting up tables, placing china and flatware, helping to serve guests, and then managing the enormous task of CLEANUP.

We hope to have pictures for you all soon. Let me just say, though, that the only thing that could top this year's unbelievable Chamber event is next year's unbelievable Chamber event! We look forward to serving our community, and fellow small business owners, in future.

sweetest thing has also been hard at work making appearances to promote Real Maine Wedding's $100,000 free wedding! The magazine, in conjunction with the Harraseekett Inn in Freeport and the Maine Wedding Association, along with lots of lovely sponsors (like us!), is giving away a wedding to one lucky couple. In order to qualify, you must submit a two-minute video to the site where it will be posted and voted on by the public. Popular vote will be considered by a panel and the submissions will be narrowed down to 3 semi-finalists, with the winner announced at the Freeport Wedding Show in April. The earlier you post your video, the more votes you'll get, so don't wait! And for those of you not getting married, be sure to vote for your favorite!

Because of this awesome contest, you may have seen our work on display at the Real Maine Wedding's booth at the Portland, Bangor, or Augusta bridal shows. We have been meeting so many wonderfully adorable brides and have started fielding quite a few inquiries for the 2011 wedding season. Things are definitely heating up and we are thrilled to be so busy!

Until next time,
Kathryn & Amber

Hey look! That's us at the Bangor Bridal Show!

Winter Glam Wedding Sneak Peek!!

2010-12-22T16:49:00.003-05:00

submerged orchid with the dutch pink hydrangeas, spider mums, ranunculus, and pink stalk. Detailed with a Damask Ribbon.

Lanie's Bouquet~ white hydrangeas, David Austin roses, ranunculus, and black and white anemones. Wrapped with Damask ribbon and pink pins

Lanie's wore black and white cowboy boots and she TOTALLY rocked them!!

The amazing St. John's Catholic Church

Pink stalk added a pop of color on the back linen with white napkins and white chiavari chairs.

Amazing cake made by Market Bistro, with a damask cake stand and sugar black and white anemones.

Lanie and Rick on our beloved Columbia Street!

I truly believe these two will live Happily Ever After!

Great Decor Blog on Crates

2010-12-10T15:04:00.002-05:00

One of my fabulous designer friends, Rachael Anderson, shared this blog post and I love it! I have been using apple crates in my house for years! As bookshelves, toy boxes, & even for holding diapers. Crates are so versatile & completely shabby chic! I use them in weddings as end tables in a lounge area. Aisle markers or vessels to hold programs. We even have a super cute vintage cracker crate to hold our soap in the studio. Here are some super sweet ways to use crates, in your home & in your wedding...

http://decor8blog.com/2010/12/09/the-crate-trend

With Vintage Shabby Chic & Rustic weddings so trendy right now, try finding a way to use crates in your design, let us do it for you!

Adorable addition to a dessert table, adds great height and texture to the table

water station gives a rustic look

vintage cracker crate filled with Rocky Top soap in our studio

The bottom two photos were taken by my cell phone, so forgive the poor quality.

Our Mountain Side Wedding Featured on Style Me Pretty

2010-11-28T19:35:00.001-05:00

Erin & Eric called me to say they were leaving the big wedding behind. Instead they invited their immediate family and ran away to one of their favorite vacation spots, Bar Harbor Maine. They asked us to plan & design their wedding, their only guidance being they loved vintage shabby chic, and the color palette of muted purples, creams and marigold. The concept we came up with was a vintage feel with birch wood, succulants, & milk glass. Erin's bouquet was very organic with hydrangea, kale, lamb's ear, as well as purple and cream roses. They were married on top of Cadillac Mountain and ate a gourmet meal at the Looking Glass, a four star restaurant on top on a hill overlooking Frenchman's Bay. The long family style table had a buttercup bengaline fabric runner and cluster of vintage sherbet cups, milk glass and bottles filled with roses, hydrangea, buttom mums, and kale. It was here that we received one of our best compliments. As Amber was sewing a bustle on Erin's dress, Erin's mom commented on the design. "Erin, she totally nailed it. Did you tell her what to do?" Erin replied, "No Mom, we spoke briefly twice and I sent her seven photos of things I like" Erin's Mom said, "Well, she got everything you wanted and all that you dreamed!" What a compliment.... see what Erin's vision was
All the Photo Credit Belongs to the Boston Based ADORABLE couple of Rebecca Hansen Photography!!
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=303191&id=51850479973&fbid=10150093158364974

Truffle In A Jar

2010-11-11T16:17:00.001-05:00

But that's just what I call it... You know when you bite into a truffle and the smooth, super-chocolatey goodness is so good that it makes you close your eyes so you can truly savor every note? Well, that's what will happen to you after the first bite of this stuff.

I'm talking about "Robin's Chocolate Sauce", a rich, velvety concoction that can be heated to pour over ice cream or other goodies, but that is perfectly suited to eat directly from the jar. In fact, each tiny jar is labeled "spoon chocolate" and comes with its own little spoon, so you don't even have to wait until you get home to eat it! Robin's is made in Fort Fairfield, Maine, and is committed to using organic and/or fair trade certified ingredients. There are seven flavors; Original, Blueberry, Raspberry, Ginger Pear, Tropical Dark, Orange Spice, and Bittersweet. They will make the perfect favor for weddings or other events, including the kind that involve you, your favorite comfy PJs, a good movie, the couch, and a little jar with a spoon.

Come and get it!

Sasha & Sam-August 28, 2010

2010-11-04T12:52:00.004-04:00

What an amazing couple! What an amazing day! What a pleasure to help such a sincere and down-to-earth pair celebrate one of the most important days of their lives. They were a treat to work with, and we couldn't be more genuine when we say they deserve all the happiness that life has to offer!

Together Sasha & Sam own Salty Dog Farm, an organic vegetable farm in Milbridge, ME. As you may have guessed by their chosen life's work, they are dedicated to doing everything they can to preserve the environment. Even though they wanted to celebrate their marriage in a big way, they wanted everything about it to reflect their commitment, and ultimately their personalities. sweetest thing was thrilled to help them realize their vision! The setting; the beautiful Asticou Inn in Northeast Harbor, Maine. The vibe: fun elegance.

The tables were draped in antique lace and the centerpieces included driftwood, dahlias placed individually in small antique bottles, and white votive candles. We loved shopping for all those sweet, little antique bottles and jars, combing the beaches of Maine for beautiful driftwood, and were absolutely amazed by the shock of colorful dahlias we retrieved from Endless Summer Garden in Camden, ME. We combed the state for the most amazing vendors and connected Sasha & Sam with Sperry tents, whose luxurious tents are made from recycled sails, and in which were hung the most beautiful vintage-inspired chandeliers. We also created gift bags for all of their guests; a beautiful recycled-sail Seabag made right here in Maine and crammed with Maine goodies like gourmet chocolates from Black Dinah Chocolatiers, Mad Gabs lip balm, Tom's of Maine toothpaste, artist Rachael Anderson's stunning photo postcards, and delicious lobster gummi candies.

The bride and groom said their I-do's overlooking the harbor and then it was time to party! Jerks of Grass bluegrass band played the cocktail hour, and Slavic Soul Party made an incredible entrance and led the bride and groom to the dance floor. We all know what happened next; they danced all night and lived happily ever after.

Congratulations Sasha & Sam! Thank you for letting us be a part of your amazing celebration!

All photo credit: Michelle Turner

Check out their Sam & Sasha's inspiration Board & how sweetest thing brought it to reality.

Grand Opening Event

2010-10-26T15:45:00.000-04:00

We are putting the final touches on our Grand Opening Event here at sweetest thing, and we want you to join us. Our Open House will run from 1-5pm, and everyone is invited! Come help yourself to warm cider and Little Lad's popcorn!

For those of you in the industry that may have missed your personal invitation, we're also hosting a VIP event beginning at 6pm. We've got the lovely Bess Leavitt serenading us to the sounds of her violin, Market Bistro catering some unbelievable goodies, Giacomo's bringing us an amazing canoli bar, and our very own in-house baker, Kathryn, will be treating us to a few baked goods. So, come mingle, but please make sure to let us know you're coming!

Please RSVP to sweetestthingweddings@gmail.com.

Grand Opening!

2010-10-05T14:30:00.001-04:00

Preparations for the sweetest thing grand opening are officially under way! We are so excited to be sponsored by some of Downtown Bangor's amazing businesses to make this event a huge success for everyone. We'll leak details a little at a time to really pique your interest! For now I shall simply say that there will be goodies of all varieties and you won't want to miss this shindig!

Me & My Seabag.

2010-09-30T13:23:00.002-04:00

This summer sweetest thing began offering our line of welcome/out-of-town bags to brides. These are Seabags stuffed with all kinds of Maine goodies, such as MadGabs lip gloss, earth-friendly water bottles, gummi lobsters, postcards by Rachael Anderson, and a snazzy "hangover" kit. As we were unpacking the box of wine bags we were to use as the base of these luxurious gifts to the bride's lucky guests, I was struck by the beautiful individuality of the bags themselves.

Seabags are made right here in Maine, crafted out of of sails that have travelled around the world. Each sail owner selected a different grade of sail, and depending on the elements they may have been exposed to, their "personalities" are all unique. Every Seabag has a slightly different texture, seaming that is specific to the sail from which it came, or the occasional mark or string from its former life. For all of the intricacies I've mentioned, I decided then and there that the best way to buy a Seabag is in person. Each one is distinct, and will be appreciated by a different person for different reasons. You should bond with your Seabag!

Guess what? We have Seabags right here in Bangor at sweetest thing studio! Come find the one that wants to go home with you!

What's the motivation?

2010-09-26T22:33:00.004-04:00

We have had many people ask why we decided to open a studio. Well, the answer to that is twofold; we needed more space so that we could expertly execute events, events which now regularly include floral design as part of our services, and we wanted to bring our favorite things to a broader customer base. There are so many amazing Maine artisans that we've had the luxury of discovering in the process of planning and designing events and we want nothing more than to share them with you! Therefore, though we will use the space to meet with our awesome clients and to prepare for weddings and other affairs, the front end of the studio is a boutique. Aside from the obvious goal of supplying you with these amazing products, many of which are specific to Maine, such as Sea Bags, Black Dinah Chocolates, and Rachael Anderson's cards and art, we also want to make the process and experience of design a little more tangible. We want to provide you with the freshest flowers, the most luxurious linens, and other interesting touches that bring our vision together. In short, we want sweetest thing to be the place you come for inspiration, not just for big events, but also for smaller parties and everyday & holiday decorating ideas you can use in your own home. We have so many design concepts and ideas and are excited about the prospect of sharing them with you! For unique gifts and design expertise, please come visit!

48 Columbia St....

Tuesday-Friday~ 11am-6pm

Saturday~9am-5pm

The Studio is opening....the studio is opening!!!

2010-09-24T11:33:00.000-04:00

So, it's here, it's really here! We couldn't believe it when we stumbled over this amazing space back in late May. While we knew we wanted to make a few changes, overall, it was made for us! We spent several months stripping floors, having a wall built, painting, and perfecting. All the while juggling weddings and other events, and this crazy business called motherhood. After months of late nights and elbow grease, we have, at last, opened our doors.

The space looks incredible, and we know you'll think so too. So, come show your pretty face at 48 Columbia Street in Bangor. It's the only place in Eastern Maine to find your very own Seabag! You'll also find the delicious work of Isle Au Haut chocolatier Black Dinah, and the charming creativity of local gem, artist Rachael Anderson. We have a selection of gorgeous fresh cut flowers, and will soon have everything you need to decorate the table for your next party, including luxury linens.

We're open Tuesday through Friday from 11-6, and Saturdays from 9-5. Can't wait to see you!!

Be sure to check out all of the pictures of this amazing (and sweet) transformation!

All's Well That Ends Well.

2010-08-23T15:04:00.003-04:00

So much has happened in the world of sweetest thing since we last updated our blog. Not only is our FABULOUS studio getting closer to opening its doors, but we've been so busy, both personally and professionally, that we've hardly had a chance to breathe! Don't worry, we'll get better at keeping up. We promise!

As many of you know, the weekend of July 17th was pretty profound. We were in the throes of preparing for Kathryn's sister, Wynde's, wedding, which was to take place in Manchester, NH. Kathryn was busily helping Wynde to create place cards & table numbers and wash vases for centerpieces, while Amber took care of ordering Wynde's gorgeous flowers. The day of the rehearsal arrived with a typical amount of "good" stress and last-minute errands, culminating in what promised to be a fabulous meal at Fratello's in Manchester. Amber was on her way to Manchester with the flowers and everything seemed to be running smoothly. As Kathryn pulled into the parking lot to join her family, the phone rang. It was Amber calling with some horrifying news; her youngest daughter, Izze, who had been standing 25 feet away from a working lawnmower, had been hit in the face with a rock as it came whizzing out from underneath.

We won't keep you in suspense. Izze is fine. After losing a scary amount of blood, being rushed to the hospital, and an initially terrifying diagnosis, Izze has healed beautifully. She has the barest hint of a scar on her pretty, little nose, and if you didn't know of the magnitude of her ordeal you would probably think nothing of it. Amber and her husband Peter were blessed to have friends and family form a protective shield around them almost immediately. The mess from the afternoon's trauma was washed away, meals were delivered, laundry was taken care of, and perhaps most thankfully, someone came to finish mowing the lawn.

The craziest thing? Even after hearing about the accident, but knowing there was nothing she could do until the trauma unit decided how to handle Izze's injuries, Amber managed to drive as far as Saco. There her beautiful cousin, Noelle, helped her to put together all of Wynde's bouquets before she turned around and headed back to Bangor to be with her girl. Heather McGlauflin and Andy Willigar then swooped in and saved the wedding day by collecting the flowers from Noelle's house and delivering them to the beautiful bride. We are both beyond thankful for the support system that revealed itself, in many ways, in the wake of that terrible accident.

Wynde's wedding was BEAUTIFUL. She was an absolute vision, and so madly in love with her groom, the incomparable Jason McKnight, that when it came time for her to say her vows she could hardly speak. The tables were a hit, the flowers were gorgeous, and the day was filled with love and joy. What an amazing celebration.

Below are a few pictures from Wynde's wedding, and one of Izze and Gwyneth (Kathryn's youngest) loving on each other just a few short weeks post-accident. Trust us when we say that we know well how blessed we are.

Soooo..... We always say that weddings are kind of like theater. I'd like to share with you a snippet of dialogue from the movie 'Shakespeare In Love' that I think rather sums it all up:

Philip Henslowe: Mr. Fennyman, allow me to explain about the theatre business. The natural condition is one of insurmountable obstacles on the road to imminent disaster.
Hugh Fennyman: So what do we do?
Philip Henslowe: Nothing. Strangely enough, it all turns out well.
Hugh Fennyman: How?
Philip Henslowe: I don't know. It's a mystery.

Bangor Chamber, Business After Hours

2010-07-08T21:37:00.000-04:00

Tonight was our first official outing as sweetest thing!

We were invited by the lovely Shirar Patterson of the Bangor Chamber of Commerce to be one of the featured vendors at tonight's networking event here in Bangor. We enthusiastically accepted, and put our skills to work. Since the event was being held at the historic Charles Inn in downtown Bangor, we decided to capitalize on the existing antique atmosphere of the location by using a combination of vintage vessels, including an old fish steamer, cut crystal bowls, and medicine bottles. In them we put clusters of Baby's Breath, along with just a few beautiful light pink and fuschia wildflowers. The effect was stunning in its simplicity, and perfectly fitted to the aura of the venue.

In other news, sweetest thing studio is coming along famously! We can't wait to show you all some more pictures as the last of our demo is completed and we prepare to open our doors! Stay tuned!

Amber & Kathryn

~Vintage, Peony Inspired Wedding~ Sneak Peek!!

2010-06-23T12:02:00.002-04:00

sweetest thing has been paid the greatest compliment in being asked to join the Style Me Pretty Family. We are both thrilled and honored to have the opportunity to showcase our talents with a leader in the design world. The Victorian Tea Party photo shoot we just completed, and are so very excited about, is for Style Me Pretty, therefore, we can't show you a lot, but here is a little sneak peek!!

First let us say what an amazing experience it is to see your vision become a reality! One of Amber's August brides, the beautiful Lily Lloyd, modeled a gold Lazaro gown and couture hair pieces made by Blush Couture, and carried a sweetest thing bouquet of peonies, white hydrangea, David Austin Roses, and fiddleheads to add just a touch of whimsy. The table-scape started with a black and white toille linen, which we accented with vintage plates and tea cups, lavender water goblets, silver wine goblets, and white linen napkins tied with a fiddlehead. A tall centerpiece using all of our inspiring flowers were complemented by vintage cut glass bowls with floating wild roses and vintage medicine bottles with lavender and fiddleheads. Our lounge area was authentically accented by a vintage victorian chair and end table, as well as a vintage wooden chaise with a toille pillow. The tea sandwiches and petite fours were displayed on a table covered in a pink satin underlay and eyelet lace overlay alongside a beautiful vintage milk bottle full of wildflowers and hydrangeas. The "Tea Station" was a white satin underlay with a white lace overlay, which highlighted a second tall centerpiece that matched the dining table piece. Vintage tea cups, saucers, and silver spoons graced the table. Keep your eyes peeled, I will let you know when we go on Style Me Pretty!!

Photo credit to Anne Schmidt Photography.

Tea Party Inspired Photo Shoot

2010-06-22T00:41:00.003-04:00

As we look to add to our company, we are ramping up our efforts in showcasing our design and floral concepts.

While sitting outside her house in early June, Amber’s attention was captured by the amazing peonies, and she was reminded of the floral inspirations of a Victorian tea party. She imagined those very peonies, along with Garden roses and Hydrangea, fiddleheads and wild roses and knew we had a floral palette. Next up were the linens, and she decided to use toile and lace to play up the Victorian feel. Then came the floral vessels; we wanted to add a vintage flair with cut crystal compote bowls and vases along with an array of miniature bottles. We also searched for a variety of vintage plates and, of course, tea cups, and pictured using them to create unique and beautifully mismatched place settings.

Finally, we invited one of our beautiful brides to model our bouquets, along with a custom made birdcage headpiece from Blush Couture Accents by Gina. Keep your eyes peeled for the reality of our inspirations, photographed by the amazing Anne Schmidt!

As a sneak peek, here is the inspiration board we used to create our tea party.

The New Aspects of our company....

2010-06-16T12:48:00.003-04:00

.....Though our new logo is still in the early stages, this is a preview of our new brand, and all that it will encompass.

sweetest thing

weddings:floral design:events

Weddings~ Amber will continue to provide her design expertise to perspective brides, with sweetest thing's team of assistants helping every step of the way. Worry not; this aspect of sweetest thing will not change!

Events~

We are expanding our company to include events other than weddings. On the agenda already this season is a Bat Mitzvah, a theater Gala, a Bridal Shower, and a High Tea. Our goal is to continue to create events that are unique to each client, taking into account their style, story and vision.

Floral Design~ Over the past five years I have been offering floral design to clients, and owing to the outstanding feedback I've received, not to mention the pleasure I find in creating bouquets and other arrangements, I have decided that this aspect of my business deserves more attention. Kathryn will be partnering with me in this endeavor.

You can look forward to seeing the complete planning process unfold in our studio, to include ever-changing table-scapes of linens, flowers, and table settings. We will continue to work with our clients closely, create a vision, and make it a "sweet" reality. We look forward to taking complete event design to the next level.

Here is some of our work from the past five years......

photo credit~ Audra Photography

photo credit~ Christy Murray

photo credit~ Anne Schmidt

The "We".....

2010-06-16T07:06:00.001-04:00

Kathryn has been working with me for the last two years. She is a mother of two beautiful girls, Paige and Gwyneth, a wife to her husband Shawn, and preschool teacher. She is also an honor student in her pursuit of her bachelor's degree in elementary education. Her background is in theatre and she has a great eye for design and the production of events. Her intuitive nature helps as she assists me in all my major events. She is proving herself as an up and coming designer in her own right. As I have looked at the future of my company and the opening of the studio I knew that I could not do this alone anymore. Therefore, I am honored to say that Kathryn is a partner of the sweetest thing studio team. She will still assist me in planning and design. However, she will take a leading role in the newer aspects of our company. She will manage our studio three days a week, work with clients, keep our events in order, as well as blogging. I am honored to have such a hard working, inspired, friend working with me so closely. Kathryn has taken to this industry with grace and ease and will continue to make this company the sweetest thing.

Photo credit by Anne Schmidt

Please stay tune to hear what the newer aspects of our company will be.....

A Great New Adventure...... first two announcements....

2010-06-14T16:13:00.001-04:00

Five years of Sweetest Thing Weddings!

When I started this company five years ago I was 26 years old, the mother of two beautiful girls, and the proud owner of my first home. In the seemingly short time it's taken me to add two handsome sons to my family and move into my second home, I have been amazed by how fast my business has grown. I have had the honor of planning weddings all over my beautiful home state of Maine; from Kennebunkport to Rangely , and Stockton Springs to Northeast Harbor. I have also had the pleasure of helping brides and grooms from all over the country; from Guatemala to Montreal, California to New York, and Texas to Wisconsin. I have seen so many amazing couples celebrate their love and commitment. Witnessed thousands of "sweet" moments, and seen bride's and groom's visions come true.

As I take a look forward to the next five years, I know I need to take my company and brand to the next level. I will be blogging about this series of changes, which includes rebranding my logo. I have been working with Emilie Ink and her fabulous designer, Christina. As Christina and I worked on my new logo I became more and more aware that my company name does not fit ALL that I do. Over the past few years I have been asked to design and plan events other than weddings. I work for company's events, as well as bat/bar mitzvahs, and galas. Therefore, I am changing my business to Sweetest Thing, instead of Sweetest Thing weddings. I feel this name better suits my company as a whole. I look forward to showing off the new logo soon. We are in the final stages.....so exciting!

The next exciting news is that over these past five years I have out grown my home office. We are so excited to say we're moving to a studio in historic downtown Bangor. We are thrilled with the space and all we plan to do with it. We look forward to sharing the whole experience with you all. We will post all the details as we move in, set up, and make it "sweet".

Here are some memories of the past 5 years...

above photo credit ~Bill Getty

Photo credit for above photos~ Audra Photography

Above Photos~ Christy Murray

Above photos credits~ Michelle Turner

Photo credit~ Mark McCall

Above photo credit~ Ferdinand T. Siagian

Above photo credit~ MTurner Photography

Above Photo By~ Samantha Warren Weddings

Above photo credit~ Stacey Kane

Stay Tuned to find out who "WE" are..........

One Life One Legacy~ Jeni L

2010-04-28T13:21:00.003-04:00

I met Scot Aubinoe at the Emilie Inc. Branding conference in February. We discussed his company

One Life One Legacy . The goal of One Life One legacy is to sell inspirational t-shirts to be a visible reminder that motivates people to act now and give back today. With each shirt that is sold one is given to a person in need. I promised Scot at the conference that I would write about my hero. I thought it would be an easy task, then I began to wonder, who is my hero. What is a hero? As I have walked through this life of mine, with many ups and downs, so many people of touched me. I have many heros, but this woman is a hero like no other. She is a beacon to me. She has a successful business she started with young children even with many people discouraging her. She shares my belief system and desire to love above all things. She is an amazing woman and mother. She is what I strive to be like, Jenifer Lloyd. I met her at a meeting of area woman business owners and we connected instantly. I tease her that our eyes met across the room and it was love at first sight. The more I get to know her the more I crave her wisdom and advise on all things. She has adopted me like family, and my children as well. Our family was hit with some rough news three months ago, when we heard Peter's Step Mom was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. Jeni has walked us through all our questions and given us advice, and encouragement. When my daughter had to go to the Doctor, I call Jeni for good questions to ask when I needed to advocate for better testing for her. She works tirelessly for our community and state to encourage, love, and assist those who have heard the fateful words, "it is cancer". Today One Life One Legacy posted Jeni's story, Click Here and learn about my hero. I encourage everyone to think of their hero and post them on One Life One Legacy. It is a great project, worthy of our support.

Rain Plan!

2010-03-29T19:34:00.003-04:00

With all this rain here in Maine, I thought it would be apropos to discuss the concept of a rain plan. I know it is a touchy subject for brides planning an outdoor wedding, or any wedding at all. Brides cling to the farmer's almanac, pray to the rain gods, and even beg their planners to "make" it not rain. As the day gets closer, brides stalk the weather channel and check the ten day, then five day forecast for minute by minute updates. Save yourself the stress and prepare a rain plan that you love "almost" as much as the original. Here are some simple tips on making a sound rain plan that will give you peace of mind....

I always plan as if it is going to rain, then you can be pleasantly surprised when it doesn't. That means, have an indoor location that fits ALL your guests comfortably. This doesn't mean that everyone needs to sit, just be comfortable.
If you are determined on being outside, put a tent on hold, and you can decide up to three days before your event, whether or not you want it to go up. Remember, you still need to pay for the tent even if you do not use it.
Buy umbrellas for all your guests to use. This is a fun and cute way to kindly ask your guests to sit in the rain. Umbrellas come in many colors and fabrics, to add a fun touch, you can also have them personalized with your names, monogram or graphic that fits your theme.
Have a rain plan ceremony. If you are going to ask your guests to sit outside have a "rain plan" ceremony, shorten it so no one gets soaked or too cold.
If as the day gets closer and there is nothing but rain in the forecast, buy your bridesmaids fun Wellies so they will be more comfortable and their heels won't sink into the ground.
Embrace the change in plans. Have pictures with your new rainy day props- remember guests take their cues from the bride. If you are having fun and enjoying your day, they will as well.
Remember Alanis Morissette said that it's ironic to have it rain on your wedding day, but in Hindu tradition it is good luck to have rain on your wedding day... I think the Hindus have it right...

The Maine Troop Greeters welcomes over one million Soliders

2010-03-22T11:37:00.001-04:00

The Bangor troop greeters are men and women who send hours day and night at the Bangor International Airport. Their mission is to welcome the men and women returning home from the war in Afghanistan and Iraq. They are a non profit organization that goal is to never let every soldier know that their service is appreciated and honored. Today they welcomed home the one millionth solider!

The Bangor Troop Greeters are the subject of the award winning documentary The Way We Get By. I was honored to see the film at Maine Premier in 2009. It was there that I fell in love with the greeters as well as the Director, Aron Gaudet, and the producer Gita Pullapilly. It was this incredible film that started a great journey that ended in an Amazing Wedding to showcase not only this film but the amazing talent of Maine Luxury Vendors. This wedding was showcased in the New York Times as well as Style Me Pretty.

I am so proud of the men and woman of our armed services and the greeters who honor them....He are some of the greeters all dressed up "in penguin suits" (Jerry Mundy).... Congrats Bill, Jerry, and Joan. I am so honored to have gotten to know you....

Above : Gita dancing with Jerry Mundy, Director Aron Gaudet with his Mother Joan, Jerry heading to the ceremony site, Bill Knight, founder of the Maine Troop Greeters and WWII Veteran

Photo Credit, Audra Photography, David Murray, Michelle Turner, Stacey Kane

Happy St. Patty's Day~ Being Green

2010-03-17T10:53:00.000-04:00

Top Green Wedding Tips

Watch the numbers
No matter what other choices you make, the biggest factor in the ecological and financial impact of your wedding will be its size. The cold hard fact is that each person you invite means more miles traveled, more food consumed, a bigger venue, and more waste when it's all over.
Source locally
Almost anything can be found locally, but some things are more important than others. Food and drinks are a great place to start. If there's a good micro-brewery down the road, why use up the earth’s precious resources trucking in a keg of your favorite organic ale?
Source green
Everything you buy or rent for your wedding will have an environmental and social impact, so keep this notion high on the list when planning. Can you encourage caterers to use organic produce? Can you buy your flowers locally?
Pick your venue
Choosing a location that is as close to as many of your guests as possible will reduce your wedding’s impact in a big way. But once you’ve done that, you might also want to consider what type of venue you will be using. If you are not tied to a particular church, synagogue, mosque, or rammed-earth eco-dome, why not consider supporting your local community garden, farmer?
Green your transportation
So, you’ve picked the venue, now how will you and your guests get there? Try to provide as much information on transport options as possible. Let them know that you’d really appreciate it if they arrived by train, bus, bike, or at least by carpool. If you are a little ways out of town, why not provide shuttle buses—that way you don’t have to worry about drunk driving either.
Gifts of conscience- Can you give the guest a "green" gift, such as a plant or bulb to take home and plant in their own garden.
Communicate
Whatever you do to green your wedding, make sure you tell people about it. Tell them about yourselves and about what is important to you. If you can create a wonderful, magical celebration that treads a little lighter on the planet, then people will remember it. Too many folks still believe environmentalism is all doom and gloom--this is the perfect opportunity to prove them wrong!

An event for Penobscot Theatre, Beer and Brats, A Celebration of Hedwig And The Angry Inch

2010-03-12T08:55:00.001-05:00

As a lover of the arts, I am so thankful and proud on my local professional theatre, Penobscot Theatre Company. This year they ask me to help design and plan some events to celebrate shows that will be playing. The next big event is the rock opera, Hedwig And The Angry Inch. The play is about a transexual punk rock girl from East Berlin. She tours the US with her rock band as she tells her life story and follows the ex-boyfriend/bandmate who stole her songs.

To Celebrate the coming of this play Scott Rc Levy, the producing artistic director of the Penobscot Theatre, wanted a Beer and Brats party.... HILARIOUS!!!

After throwing around design concepts for a couple of weeks we decided on a traditional Oktoberfest beer and brats celebration. Therefore I am going for real German Festival feel. Tables will have black, yellow and, red linens, just like the German flags. The back wall will be covered with butcher paper and transformed into the Berlin wall, with graffiti and uplighting. The ceiling will be draped with triangular flags in German colors along with shields of German clans. I am also hanging large bulb lights to give the festival street look. Of course the staff will be wearing tradition lederhosen, and Maine Photo Booth will be bringing a photo booth for guest to use and remember the great event.

For cuisine, we are doing a brat table, with all the fixings, beer and of course, soft pretzels. We will make each station have a festival look, with flags and decor. The Party will be taking place right after the Saturday show. For show times and tickets please go to www.penobscottheatre.org or call 207.942.3333. It should be a great event. Grab your stein and meet me there!!

What is a Groom's Cake? Is it worth the investment?

2010-03-11T11:00:00.000-05:00

A groom's cake is a wedding tradition that originates with the South. The history of a groom's cake goes like this. The groom's cake was not to be served to the guests while at the wedding reception, but it was to be sliced up, and given to them as favors when they departed. Single women at the wedding were said to take their pieces of cake home and sleep with it under their pillows in hopes of dreaming of their future husbands. This tradition has changed, THANKFULLY, and the groom's cake is more to celebrate the groom's hobbies or personality, while at the same time incorporating new cake flavors and textures. Most traditional wedding cake is white and groom's cake are chocolate. However, the trends in wedding cakes have changed. Wedding cakes are often several layers, of many different flavors, not just vanilla and chocolate. The shapes are and colors vary with every bride's taste and design. That being said, the groom's cake tradition has not only continued but grown in popularity. The groom's cake can be served along with the wedding cake or at the rehearsal dinner. Whether or not it is worth the investment is a personal issue. I always believes that guests notice the little things and who doesn't enjoy cake??!!! Besides, what a fun way to get to show off your personality, as a couple or as individuals.

Here are a few fun Groom's cakes. The top one was at one of my weddings. It celebrated the couple's love of the outdoors. It was a huge hit. It was a surprise to the couple and they, along with the guests, loved it.

.....if you love cakes and laughs, I suggest you check out cake wrecks. It is hilarous, as Marie Antoinette said, "let them eat cake."