The rain didn't take anything away from Mark and Maura's wedding day. It just changed their plans a little. Instead of getting married on the beach, they were married in Maura's family's historic cabin with guests sitting in chairs, on beds, bookshelves and windowsills. They exchanged their promises on the family hearth like families have done for hundreds of years.
Maura, her friends and sisters prepared for the day in the cabin Maura has slept in many nights as a girl; quilts and comforters on the beds, water-skies leaning against walls, reading lights hanging on the wall by every bed. The room was full of songs, laughs and stories mixed with hugs and embracing. Her childhood cabin transformed into her bridal suite.
Meanwhile, Mark and his gentlemen spent the morning getting ready in the former witches cabin, transformed into the "love shack"! A little scotch, a few slaps on the back, lot of man hugs and bow-tie fixing.
The ceremony was moved into the living room of Grandmother's Cabin with guests jostling for places to sit before Maura entered through the hall from the kitchen, escorted by her father.
Through a heartfelt ceremony presided by Mark's best friend, full of tears and laughs, the closeness was immense and beautiful.
The day wrapped up with dinner by Prairie Bay in Maura's Aunt's modern cabin on the same property with drinking games and a bumpin' dance in the sunroom.
A wonderful rainy wedding day.
Some of my favorite details were:
The watercolor painted stationary by Maura.
The ladies gift bags that included custom printed pencils by Maura's mother.
The floral work of Bloom Designs by Kate Kuepers.
The amazing food and service by Prairie Bay (who made a last minute run to town for more gin).
Maura's dad, Tim's dance moves and the Thriller flash mob by pretty much all of the guests.