Damian & Jesse | Destination Backyard Wedding | Chebeague Island, Maine

I’d like to first say thank you to Clare who helped photograph this wedding. Jesse asked me to be her Maid of Honor when we went to Peru to take their engagement pictures, but I also wanted to help capture their wedding day in-camera, so Clare and I worked together to do that. The following photos are a mix of both her’s and mine. You can find her work at Madeira Creative. Johnny also helped in capturing the ceremony and drone shots (:

We spent an entire week in Maine leading up to this wedding. Damian is my brother, and so we had our entire family there (something that is rarely accomplished because it is 35 of us between my siblings and nieces and nephews) - Jesse told us for months leading up to the wedding all about this Island she spent her summers on growing up, but I don’t think any of us realized just how special and incredible it would be until we got there. It was like stepping back in time, I felt like I was somewhere between the 50’s and 80’s. There was no internet, no cell service, few cars; only old trucks we’d ride around on the backs of, or we rode around on bikes. It was like being 8 years old all over again for an entire week. The whole time we were there was an experience that added on to the wedding day. It was a wild and fun freedom that makes me love backyard weddings, and even more-so now.

Jesse brought something wonderful to Damian, but also to our family. She’s an incredible hula hooper who inspires and impresses me daily. She let us in on this secret island, and I think we are all so thankful for that. To top it all off, Jesse found a wildflower farm where we went and picked all our own flowers for our bouquets and hair. We went back to one of the cabins and drank and put all our bouquets together late into the night. She’s just really, really cool. (this has become my love note to her.)

This song was one that played during their wedding reception in Maine, and again in Virginia. It’s the song you can run and dance to and feel a bit wild. This song will always remind me of their wedding, I can’t help but dance whenever I hear it. It matches the way the week and day felt, and it matches these two : fun, wild, carefree.

I love these two with all my heart.

Dress : Grace Loves Lace
Cake : Sweet Bella’s Homemade Treats