When Covid forced them to postpone their wedding twice, this sweet couple chose to have a small, intimate wedding in Maine instead!

Ali and Ben met in the 7th grade, over 20 years ago! They were high school sweethearts, and despite life taking them in different directions, they one day ended up back together and moved to San Francisco together for work. They stayed on the West Coast for awhile, ending up living in Seattle for 3 years. One Monday in 2019, they went for a walk in Capitol Hill, and Ben proposed to Ali under a tree in one of their favorite parks. Ali doesn’t love traditional diamonds, so Ben surprised her with a stunning grey diamond for her engagement ring!

They planned a big wedding in San Francisco for the Fall of 2020. Of course, we all know that when Covid hit, so many couples had their wedding plans changed. They shifted their plans, and decided to have a small wedding near their family in North Carolina instead, but as the Fall drew closer, they realized that wasn’t going to be doable either. Then, Ali and Ben decided to move to Maine in November, wanting to be closer to their family on the East Coast, but also to enjoy the incredible New England and everything it has to offer. When 2021 came around, they didn’t want to wait any longer to be married, and chose to have a very small and intimate wedding in March, inviting only about 20 of their closest friends and family to attend. You’ll see in one of the photos below that there are all 3 sets of invitations!

I arrived that Saturday morning to find Ali in her suite with her sisters and mother, getting their hair and makeup done. Friends and family came in and out of the room throughout the morning to hang out together, it was a very calm and relaxing environment! Ben was at a nearby Air B&B, getting ready with his family. When it was time for the ceremony, everyone gathered in the sunroom of the restaurant at the Inn. Afterwards, guests enjoyed cocktails on the deck, appreciating the rare warmth of the March afternoon. The first dances also took place on the deck, overlooking the beautiful mountains and Camden harbor. The reception was held inside the restaurant, where the couple and their guests were treated to a 4 course dinner (the swordfish tasted amazing!). We ended the evening by taking a 2 minute drive down the road to take some pictures of Ali and Ben by the water with the mountains in the background at sunset. It was such a lovely day, and hopefully everything Ali and Ben had hoped for in their hearts!

Thank you so much, Ali and Ben, for trusting me to photograph your special day! Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Hastings!

Venue: Camden Harbour Inn, Camden, Maine

Day of Wedding Coordinator: Purple Orchard Wedding and Events, Brunswick, Maine

Florals: Honeysuckle Way, Gardiner, Maine

Hair and Makeup Artist: Whitney Beal, Maine

Officiant: Maria of A Sweet Start, Bath, Maine

Bride’s Dress: Maine Coast Weddings, Rockport, Maine

Rings: Katrina LaPenne, Brooklyn, NY

Photographer: Andrea Simmons Photography LLC, Gardiner, Maine