I've always wanted to visit New England, and after today's real wedding, it's moving right to the top of my bucket list.

Kayla & Matt got married in Maine with an emotional church ceremony and a laid back, elegant reception in Kayla's parents' incredible home (we honestly thought it was a hired venue when we first saw the pictures!)

Their coastal celebration was captured beautifully by Zac Wolf Photography.

The first thing you'll notice when you look at this backyard wedding (aside from how stunning Kayla's parents' home is!) is the seriously chic style.

Kayla's gorgeous Amsale gown with its sheer back, is so fresh and modern, and with so many grooms opting for a straight suit, it's a treat to see Matt rocking his houndstooth blazer for something preppy, dapper and entirely different.

And once you've stopped swooning over what they're wearing, it's the abundance of blooms, the cute signage, and the fun lobster menu that makes this quintessentially Maine wedding so special.

Well, all of that and a fun, smiling couple who look head over heels in love!

Wedding Day Snapshot

Our Love Story

When we first met I wasn't looking to date. Matt took time to get to know me and was patient, thoughtful, and kind. As we grew together, he told me he knew he knew he was going to marry me on our first date! I took my time (a short 5 months), and when he proposed, I said yes before I had a chance to see the ring!

Our Wedding

Our wedding was in my parents backyard in Ogunquit, Maine. We spent so much time here and it is such a happy place for us. We wanted to share the beauty with everybody we love. We decided to have our siblings as our bridal party as keep our wedding feeling simple and relaxed, and keep our precious things most close to us! It meant so much to us to have them by our sides during the ceremony. We weren't working with a color palette, necessarily. We wanted the colors to be clear and simple, with all green and white flowers.

The Attire

My sister wore a beautiful strapless cream dress. Our brothers both wore navy suits and ties. We wanted Matt to wear something a little more stylish and non-traditional. We found a beautiful, light, houndstooth coat that worked amazing with my dress.

Favourite Moments

I really thought that the reception would be my favorite part. I was not prepared, though, for the ceremony. When you walk into the church, you can feel the love from everybody that's there. It was amazing to stand in front of everyone that you've ever loved with the person who you're starting your life with.

The Photography

As soon as we saw his website, we knew Zac Wolf was the perfect photographer for us. He perfectly captured the joy and excitement of a wedding day, and that was exactly what we were looking for. We wanted our pictures to help us remember the feeling of the day, and you can absolutely do that through Zac's pictures.

The Decor & Details

We really wanted the natural beauty of the home to stand out, so we didn't want to do too much. Flowers were hugely important to us, so we let Les Fleurs work their magic! They placed flowers through the tent and inside the house. We wanted them to feel like they had been picked from the side of a Maine country road. They were so green and lush! They used lots of vases and small glasses that we gave them. One was my grandmother's champagne glass from her wedding! Before the wedding, Kayla's mom planted beautiful white and green flowers around the house that filled in wonderfully! Together, we wrote a thank you note to family and friends on chalkboard, and our siblings put up some lights around the trees. I think the biggest DIY project was the gift bags for the hotels. My mom was meticulous about them! My sister, her boyfriend, my mom, and dad put them together, and Matt and Father Chuck (the priest at our wedding) delivered them. It was a real team effort!

Advice for Other Couples

Don't feel bad about spending a lot on flowers and using paper cups! Use your budget as you feel appropriate - you won't regret it.

The Reception

We wanted our wedding to feel like Maine, so we had lobster that you had to crack and bibs to wear! It was so fun to watch our friends and family try the lobster, eat fresh corn and blueberry crumble. We didn't have a seating chart - we wanted it to feel comfortable and free-flowing. The house was open for friends and family, and as a result, they mingled indoors and out, all while enjoying fresh flowers. They were free to sit by the gas fireplace, or smoke a cigar. The band played all night and they played songs for all ages. We all ended up dancing, shoes off, for hours.

The Music

Kayla's brother played guitar and sang "Better than Love" by Griffin House for our first dance. He practiced so much and it sounded so incredible! It was a great gift.

The Honeymoon

Right after the wedding we went to Kennebunkport for a few days. It was great to get some rest and be just the two of us! We are planning our honeymoon now and we're really excited!

Oh this looks like one of those weddings that would have been fun to attend from start to finish! And Kayla's advice to not be afraid of blowing the budget on flowers and going for paper cups? She's a lady after our own hearts!

Thanks so much to Zac Wolf Photography, and of course, Kayla & Matt for sharing their gorgeous backyard bash with us.

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