Celebrating Love in Maine: Sarah and Joshua’s Dream Wedding Day

Lis Simon Bride Sarah and Joshua’s wedding at The Garden at Live Well Farm was like a scene from a fairytale. With perfectly coordinated attire, a stunning champagne tower, and a breathtaking backdrop, the atmosphere radiated romance. Emily Delamater's film-esque photography style beautifully captured the day's sentimental essence, making their wedding memories look even more magical.

THE LOVE STORY

On March 8th 2014 Joshua and Sarah met in person for the first time at Rhinegeist Brewery .

Sarah’s Pov:

At 21, feeling free and ready to re-enter the dating world, Sarah wasn’t sure how to meet people outside her usual circle. Working at a salon near her hometown in Cincinnati, she took her friends' advice and downloaded the dating app Tinder for fun. One profile caught her eye: Joshua, with his giant smile and big, curly Robert Plant-like hair. When they matched and he messaged her to get a drink, she agreed.

“I believe I made him wait on me” To be cautious, she parked under a streetlight outside Rhinegeist, where they planned to meet. She walked in and found a big table near the brewing area. Joshua arrived with two beers—a Truth for him and a Cougar for her. His smile was even more vibrant in person, though his long, curly hair was now cut very short. Despite her usual shyness, their conversation felt natural and easy, even though she was nervous about his impression of her. She liked him but wanted to keep the evening short. After finishing their beers, when Joshua asked, “Where to next?” she replied, “I’m going to go home now,” got into her car, and drove off.

Josh’s Perspective

Joshua couldn't resist swiping right on Sarah's profile, intrigued by her purple hair. After connecting on Tinder, they met for a drink at Rhinegeist. Joshua knew he wanted to meet someone interesting, but he didn't expect to be so captivated. With two beers in hand, he saw Sarah on a small platform across a crowd. The image of her became unforgettable. She looked down to watch her step, tucking her short purple hair behind her ear. She wore a beautiful white coat and had a calming presence. Sarah took a seat at the long tables alone, so Joshua walked over to say hello. He was in awe from that moment on. She was bold and beautiful—an astonishing woman he was lucky to meet. The night ended when she mysteriously sped away in a Mercedes, in heels. Joshua felt like the luckiest man alive

They had a second date where Sarah impressed Joshua by winning a game of pool in heels. They talked deeply and shared their first kiss, but a miscommunication led Sarah to ignore Joshua for three months. Despite this, Joshua was determined and sent flowers, called, and sent Snapchats, but Sarah kept her distance. Three months later, Joshua invited Sarah to test drive a Tesla Model S, knowing her love for cars. During the drive, Joshua played "Magic" by Coldplay and expressed how the song reminded him of her. This moment changed Sarah's perspective, and she saw Joshua's bravery and kindness.

From that day on, they began building their life together, and Sarah remains grateful for Joshua's persistence..

THE PROPOSAL

September 24th, 2021

It was their first time in Europe, and they reunited with friends who had moved to Switzerland. Together, they took a train to the Appenzell Canton to stay at the mountain house, Berggasthaus Staubern. Once they arrived and settled in, their friend Max suggested checking out the trails for their hike the next day. They put on hiking clothes, grabbed their day packs, and headed out.

At the first vista, Joshua stopped to get his phone from his backpack to take a picture. Sarah was in awe of the view when Joshua got down on one knee and began his proposal speech. She was genuinely surprised and very happy, trying to remember every word he said. The ring he designed was stunning, and she was amazed he waited for that perfect view to propose.

Luckily, their friend Max captured the moment with his camera and pulled a bottle of champagne and two glasses from his daypack. That evening, they celebrated on the mountain with a beautiful sunset, a traditional Swiss feast, and an alpenhorn serenade when the moon rose. It was a perfect day.

engagment shoot with Emily Delamater.JPG

THE DRESS

“My dress shopping experience was unique because it was on the edge of the pandemic, so some of the people I hoped to be there, couldn’t because of Covid exposures”.

The first day was just her and her mother, and it was special to share those initial moments, drinking champagne and trying on beautiful dresses. For her appointments the next day, Sarah asked both of her grandmothers to join her in the Bridal District in Cincinnati, Ohio. Her first appointment was at Lace Bridal. Sarah had always imagined herself in a sheath-style dress with long lace sleeves, so her stylist Maddie chose several dresses with that silhouette. On the way back to the room, a dress caught Sarah's eye because of the uniqueness of the fabric—it almost looked vintage. When she tried it on, she was instantly captivated, but it had cap sleeves she didn't like. Maddie mentioned that with this designer, they might be able to custom order a different strap orientation. Curious about other options, Sarah decided to continue trying on dresses.

At the end of the appointment, Sarah put the vintage-style dress back on and was suddenly overcome with tears, a special feeling she still can't quite describe. “To be certain, I still decided to go to my other appointment and try more dresses with long sleeves, but it thankfully only solidified that my dress was back at Lace”.

When Sarah returned to Lace, she tried the dress on once more and decided on a strap dimension that made her utterly love it. This time, she saw the tag when she took it off. It said, “Lis Simon Designed in Calgary.” It felt like divine alignment, as Sarah and her husband had special memories from a trip to Calgary and Banff and had always talked about eloping there before knowing they could have a wedding. It felt like the final affirming sign. “My stylist was a kindred spirit; she was so helpful and loving that day. She said, 'You found your LIAM”.

WEDDING & RECEPTION

September 16, 2022 at The Garden at Live Well Farm, Harpswell, Maine

Sarah + Joshua’s reception began with a lively cocktail hour following the ceremony. Guests enjoyed an acoustic duo, canapés, and two signature cocktails named after special places: "1910 Elm St," commemorating their first date, and the "Appenzell Spritz," in honour of their engagement location. To kick off dinner and the toasts, a champagne tower was poured. Dinner took place under a sailcloth tent near the apple orchard, with Bossa Nova music setting a serene backdrop. Sharing this meal with loved ones during the golden hour was a moment they will cherish forever, especially given the delicious fare.

As the September chill set in, dessert and dancing moved to the barn on the premises. For dessert, they served local potato doughnuts from Holy Doughnut and Tandem Coffee Roasters coffee, both hailing from Portland, Maine. The evening's entertainment featured the live band Champagne Cassanova, who played early 2000s pop/punk and 90s nostalgia hits. This choice was perfect for their mostly Millennial crowd.A standout memory from the night was when the band played "Sugar, We’re Goin Down." The entire room erupted into dancing and singing along, creating an unforgettable atmosphere. The dance party was a highlight of the evening, with everyone immersed in the joy of the moment.

FAVOURITE MOMENTS

A highlight of the wedding was the couple’s coordinated attire. The groom wore a green velvet blazer, Gucci loafers, and a vintage Hermes silk bowtie. Sarah matched him with green velvet shoes, cabernet red nails, and a coordinating bouquet.

The in-laws hosted a welcome party at Erica’s Seafood, their favourite lobster shack, for out-of-town guests. Their friend Jared played an acoustic set, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. This evening allowed the couple to connect with their guests and feel deeply grateful.

Generosity from loved ones made the weekend even more special. The bride’s mother-in-law made table runners from thrifted linen. The groom crafted lobster claw ornaments for guests, a friend designed the stationery, and their aunt and cousin arranged the table florals. Contributions from friends and family were endless, filling the couple's hearts with gratitude.

“I distinctly remember right before my father and I walked down the aisle, a monarch butterfly flew in front of us, and that felt like a blessing to both of us”. The sky was perfectly blue as Sarah walked down the aisle with her father to the sound of "Starálfur" on the cello. When she and Josh locked eyes, it was a deeply emotional moment. Even though they had done a first look earlier, it didn’t lessen the epic feeling of the ceremony.

PREPARATIONS & INSPIRATIONS

Sarah + Joshua wanted their wedding to be an expression of who they are, involving their dearest friends and family throughout the entire weekend. They found it difficult to imagine a wedding that was self-centric. While celebrating their love was important, they knew that all the people who traveled to be there had loved and supported them up to that point. They hoped to give their guests a celebration of gratitude with a memorable time in Maine, a place that held special meaning for them.

For inspirations, Sarah mostly used Instagram to find vendors for her wedding. She then created vision boards on Pinterest, searching for images that pieced her ideas together. She looked for vendors who aligned with their desired design aesthetic or had a unique quality. They aimed to keep things simple and sentimental, especially to stay within their budget.

Sarah wanted something really unique and affordable for the trellis where the ceremony was held. She came across the idea of using Amaranth for an ethereal, willowy feel. Amazingly, the local Harpswell flower farm she was working with grew it. She then spoke with the florist she hired for her bouquet to see if she was interested in the installation, and the florist absolutely brought the vision to life. “I was just so thankful and inspired by the confluence of that design process and the willingness of everyone to work together”.

HONEYMOON

Sarah and Josh traveled around Ireland for their honeymoon, finding it to be a truly lovely destination. Their journey took them through Dublin, Galway, Killarney National Park, and Adare, and they were charmed by the entire trip. Ireland, with its romantic and cozy atmosphere, made for a perfect honeymoon.

Some highlights of their trip included visiting the Trinity Library, enjoying a delightful dinner at Kai Galway, riding bikes in Killarney National Park, and walking into an impromptu Irish session at the Commercial Bar. The trip was filled with memorable experiences that they would cherish forever.

From Sarah

It is easy to feel pulled into what a wedding should look like, but I think it is so beautiful to go to a wedding and have it feel special in ways that are unique to the couple. So try not to be influenced in ways that don’t feel authentic to what the two of you want.
Along those lines, I decided to do my own wedding make-up. That time gave me a moment of repose just for myself, and it still felt so glamorous and special. It also allowed me to feel confidently like myself, and gave me a moment of familiarity that felt comforting to me. I would absolutely recommend it.

Special thanks to:

Finding Vendors was difficult for 2022, because of the Pandemic. Many vendors had been booked two years prior, so it did feel discouraging for a bit. We found The Knot to be a very helpful tool for the whole planning process, especially for searching for more possibilities. I also used Instagram a lot when it started to feel like the Vendors we reached out to were already booked, or out of our price capability. I do remember I struggled the most to find a caterer, and we got so lucky when I decided to look on Wedding Wire and found Mobile Musette out of Kennebunkport!

All of our vendors were magnificent and Our Day or Coordinator, Kristina led the whole team seamlessly. We are still so thankful we got to work with such a solid team- they honestly made our day extraordinary.

Bridal Boutique: Lace Bridal Couture

Veil: The Veiled Beauty

Rings: Lane and Kate

Hair: Liz Donelan and Lauren Demeropolis

Day of coordinator: Purple Orchid Event

Bar: Studio Bar

Photographer: Emily Delamater

Table florals: Mare Brook Farm

Food: Musette

Ceremony Florals: Clo Floral

Venue: Live Well Farm

Band: Champagne Cassanova