Lindsay, our Digital Marketing Manager, tied the knot last month in a relaxed-yet-elevated coastal celebration in southern Maine. We hope you enjoy her guest blog post detailing her wedding planning experience, and tips for future brides!
"It starts with the venue."
That’s the advice I’ve given to many brides, and it rang true for me as well. After our engagement, my (now) husband and I began venue hunting. After striking out on a few, I was referred to the perfect setting for our celebration. Our requirements? Within 30 minutes of Portsmouth, on the water, lodging on-site for our out-of-town guests, and, of course, within our budget! We found all of that and more in Dockside Restaurant & Guest Quarters, a hidden gem in York, ME.
My husband and I got ready separately at the Guest Quarters on the spacious yet cozy property. It was so fun to peek at our amazing vendors setting everything up from our rooms! In classic New England fashion, the forecast of rain changed for the day and warm, late-summer sunshine poured into the windows and on the lawn for not only amazing photos, but amazing energy as anticipation grew for our ceremony. 
One of my favorite work perks as the Marketing Manager at Madeleine’s Daughter is the ability to try on new dresses to share with our followers on social media! However, because of that I have tried on thousands of wedding dresses over the years. I’ve always advised brides that there is such a thing as being “over shopped”; you’ve become overwhelmed with options, opinions, and there is less emotion attached to your decision.
That state of saturation is unfortunately where I started my dress search. I liked fitted and I liked A-line silhouettes. I liked simple, chic styles and whimsical tulle styles. I liked 3D-florals and beaded details.
Pro-Tip: When you find yourself getting caught up in the details, focus on how you want to feel! After shopping at two other stores, my friend, colleague, and bridesmaid, Melissa, remembered that a visiting dress had caught my eye at a Trunk Show we hosted a year prior. We coordinated a Sample Viewing of that style with the designer, and when it put it on it was “the one”! I had no expectation of what that moment would feel like, but I would describe it as relief!
I continued my MD Love Story when outfitting our wedding party and parents. After visiting other stores to shop for myself, having never done so prior, I knew that I wanted my loved ones to be in caring hands and I could feel confident in the experiences they would have at Madeleine’s.
Pro-Tip: Have your Groom/partner select their look before your bridesmaids! I was considering light blue dresses for my party, and my husband knew he wanted a shade of blue, too! We made sure to have his Styling Appointment prior to selecting my ‘maids, and I’m glad we did. There was a chance the shades of blue would clash, and an even stronger chance that I would overthink it for the next few months if I risked it! Asking my husband to pick a different color when it's such an important day for him, too, just wouldn't have felt fair.
As one of two local bridesmaids, my sister tried on the dress styles I was interested in and, with the help of our Bridesmaids Specialist Bailey, decided on Jenny Yoo “Sylvie” in Prosecco. I admittedly love a more uniform look for bridesmaids parties, and know that the quality of this satin fabric in particular photographs beautifully in comparison to others. My bridesmaids who weren't local had their measurements taken closer to home and then called in their order. This process was mirrored when my husband selected the suits for his ‘gents that they rented them from a distance and looked amazing! For our late-August wedding, we opted for no ties or vests for an relaxed yet semi-formal look.
Working in the wedding industry, I know there are many logistical benefits to doing a first look, so I was torn when it came time to decide if that was part of our timeline. When my (now) husband said he preferred to have our first look as I'm walking down the aisle, I couldn't disagree that there is something so special about that moment. No first look for us, and no regrets!
Outside of selecting attire, the part of the wedding that we enjoyed planning the most were the personal touches. On a planning call, our officiant asked us how we want our guests to feel when they leave our wedding, and my husband and I agreed that we wanted them to see our love, and love in general, in a new light. From our custom cocktail napkins, to our table numbers, and even opting for sour candies versus a cake, these are some of my favorite pieces of our wedding, because they are completely "us". Pro-Tip: These personal touches really helped to keep us inspired throughout the planning process! Decision fatigue and distraction definitely pop up when you're planning an event for a year, so incorporating elements on our to-do list that felt fun was key!
Everyone thought wedding planning would be a breeze for an industry professional... including me! However, the experience of planning our wedding ourselves gave us an incredible amount of appreciation for planners and vendors who execute beautiful events year-round. Pro-Tip: Hire vendors who are experienced and committed to making this process stress-free. I'm a visual person, so I shamelessly stalked my vendors on Instagram to get a feel of their aesthetic/approach. I read their reviews online and vetted their packages, paying extra attention to clues that they’re organized, creative, professional, and experienced. I felt so taken care of by my vendor team leading up to, and the day of, our wedding, we couldn’t have asked for more.
VENDORS
Photography: Katie Kiely Photography
Second Shooter: Erica Warren Photography
Videography: Novae Film & Photo
Officiant: Gateway Celebrations
Flowers: Mellow Botanical
Hair & Makeup: KW Glam
Wedding Dress, Bridesmaids, Suits, Mother of the Bride Dress: Madeleine's Daughter
Rings: Jewelry Creations
Venue: Dockside Restaurant