Set on the rocky coastline of Blue Hill, Maine, Kathryn and Mike’s wedding unfolded at her parents’ private estate with a view of the water and a tent full of greenery, soft candlelight, and hanging disco balls. The day paired natural elegance with thoughtful detail—wild Queen Anne’s Lace-inspired florals, signature cocktails, and a packed dance floor that stayed full well into the night.
Location: Blue Hill, Maine, USA
Style: Classic, organic, timeless
Time of planning: 1 year
Number of guests: 120
Setting: Private estate
Season: Summer
Kathryn and Mike met through mutual friends in 2017, after her Bay Area friend Erin offered to set her up with her boyfriend’s recently single coworker—Mike. At the time, Kathryn was working at a fine art auction house, and the connection was instant. Years later, while traveling through Switzerland and Italy, Mike proposed during a quiet walk through a lakeside park in Lucerne, after a rainy mountain hike and an unexpected detour from his original plan. “We took a ferry back to Lucerne afterward, grinning the entire way.”
Bridal Morning
Kathryn began her wedding day at her parents’ home, where the peaceful surroundings of Blue Hill framed a calm, emotional morning. She got ready in a quiet room, surrounded by greenery just outside the window, wearing minimal pearl drop earrings and soft, natural makeup that highlighted her features without feeling heavy. Her hair was pulled back into a sleek low bun, keeping the focus on the detailed floral lace of her dress and her expression throughout the day. The bouquet she carried was a loose, wild mix of white blooms—daisies, Queen Anne’s Lace, scabiosa, and cosmos—gathered to reflect the natural beauty of the Maine landscape.
The dress was a guipure lace A-line design from Oscar de la Renta, one she had spotted online months earlier and couldn’t forget. “I didn’t feel comfortable in a long or dramatic gown, especially knowing we’d be getting married in the backyard of my parents’ house.” After trying on dozens of options in New York with her mom and sister and finding nothing that felt right, Kathryn tracked down the Oscar de la Renta dress in her size through a retailer. The water lily lace detail felt just right—not too formal but still elegant—and the soft floral straps added something sculptural and feminine. She wore simple low heels by Christian Louboutin that let the hem of the dress graze the grass as she walked.
Groom's Fashion
Mike wore a custom cream suit from Knot Standard, paired with a white shirt and no tie for a relaxed yet polished look that matched the coastal setting. He added brown suede loafers from Beckett Simonon and a small white boutonniere that mirrored the flowers in Kathryn’s bouquet, keeping his style understated and personal.
First Look
Kathryn and Mike shared their first look surrounded by tall grass and wildflowers, tucked into a quiet clearing near the house. The moment felt peaceful and grounding, away from the noise and movement of the day ahead. Mike turned to see Kathryn in her water lily lace dress, and they both broke into wide, easy smiles. They held hands, laughing and talking softly, taking in the stillness of the woods around them before walking down the path together toward the ceremony.
"Surprisingly, our vows were often mirrors of each other, mentioning the same theme or event but from different perspectives."
Ceremony
The ceremony took place at the edge of Kathryn’s parents’ lawn, overlooking the calm waters of Blue Hill Bay. Guests sat on either side of a grassy aisle lined with loose arrangements of white blooms that echoed the local wildflowers growing nearby. The couple chose not to add an arch or formal structure, letting the ocean view serve as the backdrop. The natural palette of soft greens and whites felt effortless and in tune with the coastal setting, while the overcast sky brought a soft, diffused light to the moment. The simplicity of the scene matched the understated elegance that carried through the rest of the day.
Kathryn and Mike chose to walk down the aisle together, hand in hand, a choice that made the moment feel intimate and united. “I was most nervous about the ceremony, but it ended up being my highlight,” Kathryn said. Her sister Hanna officiated and kept the tone warm and personal—“heartfelt but light”—with just a touch of teasing. Their parents each shared a short blessing before the vows, adding a generational presence to the ceremony. Kathryn had expected to cry, but instead felt calm and happy.
"Mike and I chose to walk down the aisle together, and I’m so grateful we did. It gave me courage to face the most vulnerable part of the weekend."
Cocktail Hour
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"For cocktails, we had a Spicy Paloma, a Cucumber G&T, and a Dirty Vodka Martini, which is both Mike and my favorite drink."
Decor & Setting
The tables were set with hand-painted green plates, pale blue water glasses, and soft gray napkins, layered over leafy block-print linens that tied the whole palette together. Arrangements of wild white flowers ran down the length of the tables in relaxed, garden-inspired clusters. Soft taper candles flickered between the florals, adding warmth to the early evening light as guests took their seats for dinner. Birch trees were placed inside the tent, adding height and bringing the surrounding landscape into the celebration. “Our planner, Lani Toscano, completely understood what I was going for and helped us find gorgeous painted plates and sourced blue water glasses for a touch of color,” shared the bride.
Overhead, lighting design professionals from Griffin & Griffin suspended mirrored disco balls from strands of greenery and hung high above the dance floor. String lights crisscrossed the tent, glowing softly as dusk set in. Their team carefully curated every visual element—selecting the right fixtures, environmental lighting effects, draping, custom-built installations, props, greenery, décor, and handling power distribution. The green bar setup and layered lighting details tied the entire space together, creating a reception that felt both effortless and immersive.
"The wedding took place waterside on Blue Hill Bay, and Kathryn and Mike wanted to highlight the natural beauty of Maine."
Reception
Guests were welcomed into the tent for a family-style dinner, where plates of arctic char, tender flank steak, roasted carrots with labne, and other seasonal dishes were passed around the long tables. The menu, created by Trillium Caterers, delivered on flavor and presentation—“the food was just as good, if not better, at the wedding than at our two-person tasting.”
As the sky darkened, Kathryn and Mike shared their first dance, surrounded by their guests and the soft flicker of candlelight across the tables. Hudson Horns brought nonstop energy with live vocals and tight instrumentals, moving seamlessly from one song to the next. At one point, one of the lead singers joined the crowd mid-set and kicked off a spontaneous limbo competition, keeping the momentum high. With the band playing and mirror balls spinning overhead, the space came alive—every guest on their feet until the very end.
"The highlight was the dance floor! We danced until the bitter end."
LIGHTING DESIGN Griffin & Griffin | PLANNING & FLORAL DESIGN Lani Toscano Design | PHOTOGRAPHER Courtney Elizabeth Media | MUAH Alexandra Angelone Bridal | DRESS Oscar de la Renta | VEIL Danielle Frankel Studio | HEELS Christian Louboutin | SUIT Knot Standard | SHOES Beckett Simonon | CATERING Trillium Caterers | STATIONERY Wouldn’t it be Lovely | ENTERTAINMENT Hudson Horns | MEDIA PLACEMENT Rayce PR & Marketing | RENTALS Stradley Davidson, Peak Event Services, Wallace Events, Squiggle Rentals, Heartwood Essentials | COUPLE Kathryn & Mike
