Happy Friday! I'm looking forward to a weekend off with Paul and my parents at our home in Maine. We're in South Casco just minutes away from the BEST WEDDING VENUE IN MAINE! Yes, just across the road is the marvelous venue of Migis Lodge on Sebago Lake and it's the most perfect place to get married. Usually weddings only happen at Migis Lodge outside of the regular summer season - May through early June and then again in late September through November. Caitlin & Paul were having a very intimate wedding ceremony on a Monday evening so an exception was made! Not to mention that Caitlin's family have been vacationing at Migis since before she was ever born!
As you leave Rt 302 you'll pass the large wooden sign for Migis and then drive slowly down a narrow road lined with tall whispering pine trees. On this particular Monday (Monday is the new Friday you know!) we were experiencing freaky weather in Maine, just as I was about to leave home my phone started buzzing with a tornado warning in the area. After putting the most important things in the house (the dachshunds, iMac and hard drives in the closet under the stairs ;) I made my way through torrential rain over to Migis.
The original plan has been for Caitlin and Paul to get married outside of "Lake House" on the shores of Lake Sebago but the heavy rain, thunder and lightening meant that the ceremony was moved inside of one of the spacious cottages on the property. Robyn, Maddy and the whole Migis team are just phenomenal in their organization, flexibility and attention to detail when you're planning your wedding at Migis. It's always an absolute pleasure to work with them! The Lake House was a hive of activity with everyone getting ready:
Paul was putting on his suit upstairs...
...while Caitlin was having her hair and make up done downstairs
As Caitlin wasn't yet in her wedding dress Paul snuck a little peek:
I photographed the wedding rings and Caitlin's jewelry including an antique opal ring that belonged to her grandmother:
Caitlin's mother Barbara helped her into her Monique Lhuillier gown and shoes:
Loving Caitlin's "Yay, I'm a bride!" expression as her dress goes on:
With just their parents, brothers and a few very close friends in attendance this was one of the most relaxed yet elegant elopements I've photographed. Guests made their way through the pouring rain to shelter in "Tall Pines" where they were met with a restorative glass of champagne before the ceremony got underway.
Caitlin came down the stairs to be met by her proud father Tom waiting to walk her down the aisle:
Maine Notary Charlotte Nolan officiated and it was a wonderful ceremony, Charlotte had taken a lot of time to get to know Caitlin and Paul over email and the ceremony felt very personal including this blessing of the hands:
How happy do we think Caitlin and Paul are? :)
Married!
Everyone was quick to congratulate and hug the newlyweds:
By some miracle the rain stopped for exactly 45 minutes allowing guests to enjoy cocktail hour out on the porch and for me to steal Caitlin and Paul away for a few quick pictures on the dock down by the lake:
We made our way back to the cottage to take some relaxed family pictures:
Everyone enjoyed Chef John's delicious appetizers with more champagne. Fun fact, Chef John started working at Migis the same year that Caitlin visited as a baby!
During cocktail hour the rain and wind was insane. The tent over the lobster pots and grill out on the porch actually collapsed under the weight of the water. The whole Migis team just rolled with the punches and guests were none the wiser. Just before sitting down for dinner there was a collective gasp and everyone came outside....
...to see this amazing double rainbow over the lake
Once everyone had snapped a picture of the rainbow, they headed back inside for dinner around the huge table set for 16 with flowers and candles:
Caitlin's father Tom gave a wonderful toast incorporating the number seven and there was laughter and even a few tears wiped away:
Usually when I'm booked for a petite wedding or elopement I photograph the ceremony and then there's a little time for pictures afterwards. I'd put away all of my equipment and was just about to leave when I saw this cute little moment between Caitlin and Paul, I was pretty happy to still have one camera still on me.
And with that I left everyone to enjoy their delicious dinner, wine and great conversation.
Caitlin & Paul - congratulations!!! I loved photographing your wedding at Migis Lodge, you both looked so happy and have such wonderful welcoming families! Wishing you a lifetime of love, laughter, health and happiness with many more visits to Migis in your future together!
If you'd like to see more weddings at Migis Lodge you can check out this amazing wedding earlier this year:
Amy & John's wedding pictures at Migis Lodge on Sebago Lake
I'll also be back at Migis for 3 weddings next year so make sure to like the Leah Haydock Photography page on Facebook and or you can check out my random iphone pictures of weddings, dachshunds, food and drink on Instagram!
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