You guys.  I can’t even with this wedding.  It’s so special and a piece of me is really sad I’m done with it because editing all the photos let me relive the day over and over again and I’m so sad to see it go.  Leo’s new thing is saying, “Mama, you’re cute” which makes my heart swell in a way I never even knew was possible, and I get the same exact feeling when I look back at the images of the day that Sara and Tony said I do.

Sara and Tony were nice enough to invite my entire family up for the wedding which was taking place at an all girls sleepaway camp in Maine, which I was very grateful for because it’s about as close to camping as Alex will ever let us get.  And when we pulled into Camp Mataponi, I was absolutely floored.  It felt looked much more like the resort from Dirty Dancing than my Upstate NY 4H sleepaway camp that I was picturing in my head.  And Sara and Tony’s details took an already beautiful venue and transformed it into perfect spot for their guests to spend the weekend celebrating their friendship and love.  With limited electricity, guests were happily forced to take a break from the hectic real world and spend a few days taking walks, floating in Sebago Lake, and having “after hours” around a camp fire.  The space truly brought everyone together and united them for what was bound to be one of the most meaningful and special weddings.

So why was the wedding so special?  I wish I could express through my writing with enough detail to explain why, but the emotions that ran through the day are something no words can really describe.  Sara and Tony thought of everything, and although they kept mostly with wedding traditions they put a unique and personal touch to it all, including writing their own vows that I swear they need to send somewhere to get published, leaving a handwritten note on the place setting for each guest to read before the reception started, and giving personal and meaningful thank yous to each and every guest during the reception.  Top the ceremony off with a letter from Sara’s father who passed, followed by funny stories the bridal party shared about the couple, and you can imagine the amount of endless tears, both happy and sad, that filled the day.  You could tell that Sara and Tony wanted to make the day not only about them, but about each person that was there to celebrate with them, and I am certain that everyone left feeling that love.

I also have to tell you about my Rosie. You’ll know her as mother of the bride in these photos, but we know Rosie, or “Wosie” as Leo calls her, as our babysitter extrodinaire, and we “wuv” her.  Rosie started watching Leo a few months back and has quickly become an extension of our own family.  The way she takes care of Leo, and now Nico, with the same attention and care as their grandmothers (notice I didn’t say myself because I’m a B+ caretaker on my best days) is something that I am forever grateful for.  And not living near my own mother, having Rosie in our lives makes me feel as though I’ve got another special person there to help guide me through this crazy world of motherhood, so it shouldn’t have come as a surprise that I was an absolute puddle when Rosie walked her own baby, Sara, down the aisle.  I’m not sure I’ve felt more connected to a wedding than watching the Rosie give her little girl away, and I so hope that I have the same connection with my own children as Sara and Rosie have with one another.

I could go on, but I won’t because I’m crying again just thinking back about this day.

Snell Family Farm totally nailed the flowers.  Sara’s father was a gardener and they grew these flowers especially for Sara.  They were the most beautiful in the world.


























































So happy.  I hope all your days end like this.

Sara and Tony–from the bottom of my heart, thank you for letting me be the one to capture your love, for letting my babies come to “work” with me, for being such a special couple. I couldn’t be more happy for you…and I’m crying again…

And to our Rosie–we wuv you so much!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Venue: Camp Mataponi | Coordinator: Refinery Events | Caterer: Fire and Company | Dessert: Gelato Fiasco

DJ: DJ Greg Hoges | Florist: Carolyn Snell Family Farms