The next day, sitting on the beach, Ty saw an ad in a magazine for Bear Brook Valley and on our tour we loved the natural rustic-elegant feel, the wooden farm tables, the privacy, the surrounding trees, and the pond near the ceremony site. The bridal suite in the silo and the groomsmen’s room were huge bonuses! Perry Bonadies, the owner of Bear Brook Valley, made us feel like family. We confirmed our wedding date and worked very closely with Katrina Boyle, our wedding planner. She was amazing at keeping us on track, communicating, and reminding us to enjoy the process and each other. She got to know us and our vision for our wedding day. We wanted a big party, so she customized our timeline to have minimal gaps in dancing!
We were lucky with beautiful weather so our ceremony was outside, surrounded by nature. The décor was a statement of the bohemian vibe incorporated throughout. We decorated the arbor overlooking the pond with flowers hanging from silk ribbon and glass globes with candles. The pillars were surrounded by lanterns our families collected. The aisle runner, a cherished family heirloom, added a warm touch to our fall ceremony. I made our programs and decorative signs. A piece of driftwood, collected at Ty’s family house in Maine, read, “You are my home and my adventure … All at once.” Ty’s Aunt Ginny, our officiant, made a beautiful opening statement and my cousins, Kate and Clare, participated with readings about our love of nature and family.