Jack and Brittany came home to Maine to celebrate their big day, and the mountain backdrop was absolutely perfect for this late summer wedding at Sunday River.  With the bridesmaids in burgundy and the groomsmen in navy blue, even their pup, Madigan, donned a bowtie and joined in on the fun!

Brittany and Jack went to high school together but didn’t talk much during their time there. It wasn’t until shortly after high school that they connected and started dating, and that was 9 years ago! Jack proposed to Brittany at his parent’s lake house in Maine, where their friends and family were hiding in the bushes and watching the moment she said ‘Yes’! Jack currently works as a firefighter and paramedic, and Brittany is a vet tech, so they both love helping others. Over the last 9 years they have moved several times, supported each other through school and careers, gotten their adorable dog, bought their first home together, and are now officially husband and wife!

The week leading up to the wedding, I’m pretty sure I wasn’t the only one constantly checking the weather reports. The forecast showed pouring rain all day, and I braced myself for a conference room ceremony and indoor portraits. I was so bummed knowing how important the scenery of Sunday River was to Jack and Brittany, and how much they were looking forward to those photos. And then the day before the wedding (as I was at another wedding that had to be moved indoors due to pouring rain), the forecast shifted, and we showed up the next day to slightly overcast skies! There was even some sun throughout the day, which was amazing! I found Brittany getting ready with her friends in a gorgeous suite at the Jordan Hotel. The wonderful on-site coordinator was handling all of the setup while I started bridal detail photos. My second photographer, Laura, photographed Jack and his friends getting ready, and before we knew it, we were all headed down to the ceremony site on the back lawn of the hotel by the ski run.

The maid of honor walked Madigan down the aisle, who excitedly sniffed everyone she passed. Then everyone got a good laugh when the “flower guy” walked down throwing petals into the air! But when Brittany appeared, I’m pretty sure Jack lost his breath for a minute as he started to tear up. I love the photo of Brittany as she slows down and takes a deep breath before continuing down to see her groom. I’m not even sure either of them had noticed that it started to rain right at that moment. Guests chuckled and some held jackets over their heads, but the show went on! Take note of the rain in the background of the ceremony photos – it definitely created a unique look! After they were pronounced husband and wife, guests threw flower petals in the air as they came back up the aisle and Jack dipped Brittany back for a kiss!

It stopped raining shortly after the ceremony ended, so we were able to do all of the photos outside as well, which was amazing! Brittany and Jack drove to the Sunday River Golf Course with me, where two golf carts and attendants were waiting to drive us around the course and help us find the best backdrops for photos. The bugs were terrible that day, so we kept moving and got the mountain photos the couple had been dreaming so much about!

The reception was so much fun, with bubble machines, glow wands, hilarious toasts, and delicious food catered by the venue. There was even a surprise visit at the end of the night by Sparky the Fire Dog, which is apparently a tradition in the firefighting community!

Thank you so much, Jack and Brittany, for trusting me to capture your special day! Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Stafford!

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

Venue and Catering: Jordan Hotel, Newry, New Hampshire

Officiant: Albert York

Florals: In Bloom Weddings & Events (Kaitlyn Guillemette), Dover, New Hampshire

Hair and Makeup Artist: Lustre & Waves (Calina Webster), Dover, New Hampshire

Bride’s and Bridesmaid’s Dresses: Alexandra’s Bridal Boutique, Fall River, Massachusetts

Men’s Suits: Men’s Wearhouse

Wedding Cake: Big Fish Cake Studio, Saco, Maine

DJ: DJs Of Maine (Dionne Entertainment – Sean Leclair), Gorham, Maine

Photographer: Andrea Simmons Photography LLC, Maine

Second Photographer: Laura Stevens Photography, Maine