Tabi and Mike came all the way from Florida to have the Fall wedding of their dreams in Maine! Pumpkins, hay bales, and dried flowers are only some of the details that were so thoughtfully put together for this destination Maine wedding.

It all started many years ago when Mike decided to adopt a dog from the animal shelter. She was very anxious and couldn’t be left alone at home, so he enrolled her in a doggie daycare. At that doggie daycare, one of the workers (aka Tabitha) started becoming very attached to Mike’s dog. The dog would follow her everywhere, and they quickly bonded. One day when Mike came to pick up his pup, he met Tabi, and it was an instant click for both of them. They were polor opposites, but there was a connection there that couldn’t be denied. Tabi also had a dog, and surprisingly enough, the dogs got along great! About 5 years into their relationship, Mike took Tabi to the Hardrock Casino for her birthday. During the light show that evening, he pretended to drop something, and when he knelt down, he took out a ring and proposed to Tabi. Of course she said ,”Yes”!

Mike and Tabi live in Florida, but both of their families live in New England, so it made sense for them to get married in this area. When they came across Sweet Meadow, they fell in love with the quaint New England feel of the property, with plenty of Fall foliage, a big open meadow, and space for the family to spend the weekend all in one place! They wanted their wedding day to be relaxed, for everyone to be happy and truly enjoy themselves, and they wanted to be sure that all of that would come across in their wedding photos. They have two REALLY adorable kids (who I took about a million photos of that day), who were a big part of the wedding day! The day before the wedding, there was a huge rain/wind storm in Maine, which caused quite a few branches to fall down. When I arrived Saturday morning, the venue crew was busy cleaning up after the storm, but luckily they had power and everything was coming together nicely! Tabi did her own hair and makeup that morning, she wanted to feel very natural and like herself, which I love! She wore her long brunette hair down, and had matching floral crowns made for her and her daughter. The flower crowns, as well as the bouquets, were all made with hand-dried flowers that the florist grew and dried themselves. When it came time for the first look, we all had a surprise for the groom … for the past year, Tabi had planned a fake first look with one of Mike’s groomsmen, who stood in the bride’s place, wearing a cheap wedding gown and veil! Oh the look on Mike’s face when he turned around was priceless! When it was finally Tabi’s turn to come out, the two of them were in tears almost immediately. You can tell this was a day they had been waiting for, and it was finally here! Their ceremony was held under the big apple tree in the field, decorated with matching flowers by Good Buddy Farms. The sun was shining so bright that October day, it was actually quite warm out! Tabi’s brother walked her down the aisle, and oh my goodness, it was honestly the sweetest moment to watch them walk down together. The ceremony was heartfelt, and when they both said “I do!”, they came back up the aisle with so much joy on their faces (except for that moment of surprise where Tabi’s veil blew off into the wind)! The gardens at Sweet Meadow provided the perfect backdrop to take photos of the bridal party and the newlywed couple. The lighting was just dreamy, and I love that you can see some of the Maine foliage in the background. The reception was held in the field under a big white tent. M.A.N.E. Catering provided a delicious family-style meal, which the guests enjoyed on long farmhouse tables. The guests danced all afternoon, played cornhole, enjoyed fresh S’mores from The Marshmallow Cart, and even got a late afternoon snack – fresh hot dogs from a street-cart! Guests took home a tote full of goodies, all of which were printed with the couple’s names and signature logo with the hashtag: #MikeClosedHisTab

Thank you so much, Mike and Tabi, for trusting me to capture your special day! Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Farriter!

 

Also, thank you to all the amazing vendors who made this day possible!

Venue: Sweet Meadow, Durham, Maine

Catering: M.A.N.E. Catering, Bridgton, Maine

Day of Wedding Coordinator: Lindsey with Sweet Meadow

Officiant: Vows for You by Cynthia, Maine

Florals: Good Buddy Farms, Hiram, Maine

Bride’s Dress: All Who Wander

Bridal Dress Alterations: Lady Blue Alterations, Aventura, Florida

Bridesmaids Dresses: Lulus

Groom and Groomsmen Suits: Men’s Wearhouse

Dessert: The Marshmallow Cart, Portland, Maine

Bartender: Sips N’ Saddles, Saco, Maine

DJ: Pete Chambers, Kingston, NH

Photographer: Andrea Simmons Photography LLC, Maine