The Day Before the wedding
I woke in Portsmouth to the news that my grandfather had passed away overnight. (I wrote about that here). I still needed to get myself to Maine that morning and I wanted to get there by noon so I could make the bridal lunch I had helped plan! Obviously no longer able to help host the thing I still wanted to be there. My head and heart were flooded with adrenaline, grief, excitement and a general feeling of “where-the-hell-am-I-and-what-am-doing??” But I made it to the continental breakfast and had one of those make-it-yourself-pancakes that are equal parts disgusting and comforting. When the front desk lady went in back and found a banana for me I nearly cried. why? cuz I just wanted a banana, okay?
I hit the road by about 8am with 4 hours to go. As soon as I pulled on the highway I saw a bunch of confused tiny baby ducklings running between lanes with no mama in sight. It was too much. Unable to decide if I should pull over and help them I broke out into sobs. Heaving, fat teared, moaning sobs. I kept at it for a good 5 minutes, finally laughing at how crazy I probably looked sobbing in my rental car and speeding along the highway. Keep your eyes on the road folks – you never saw a girl lose her shit before?
Look a moose!
and then I felt better.
Four hours later I pulled up to the site where all the wedding festivities were to take place – The Lookout Inn
(source) Yep – I just completed #17 - Go see two out of the following three: mountain, ocean, desert. I’ve actually seen all three this year!
The lunch was well underway but my sister and the women in her life welcomed me with hugs, laughter and good food and then ushered my crazy-ass-tired self up to my room for a nap.
The Lookout is a really beautiful spot. Many of the guests were staying in either the inn or one of the cabins on the property. It felt like camp! (I think…I’ve never been to camp)
As evening approached we each slowly wandered down by the water for a Lobster Boil! Yay, Maine! The air was cool and the flies were pestering us, but the food and company were great. I had my wits about me now and was starting to get into this whole wedding in Maine beeswax!
Just before dinner was served I learned my bag had arrived at Bangor International Airport! woo hoo! I would have to go get it b/c they couldn’t guarantee me that it would arrive before the wedding, but I didn’t care – I could change my clothes finally!
A few of us headed up to the bar at the Inn where the fun and quirky staff made us any drinks we requested. I think we would have been happy to settle down for the evening hanging out here, but soon texts reading “bonfire on the beach!” and “get down here!” were coming in – so with drinks-to-go we headed down to the beach.
The Wedding Day
I made the quick 2 hour round trip to grab my bag with one of my *DP’s – Dan (of “happy place” Michigan fame). After returning I showered! and put on clean clothes! Then went down to my sister’s cabin to hang out with the bride for a bit while she and her hubby-to-be took care of last minute details for the wedding. Our hanging out mostly consisted of her making me a sandwich (so nice of the bride!) and then running down the hill to deal with some immediate wedding need. I tried to help out by doing the dishes before I headed up to start getting ready myself. Okay, I realize now that doing the dishes – not the most important task on the day of the wedding - but it was something!
By 3 o’ clock the family gathered together for photos. 4 o’clock cocktails were drunk and by 5:30/6pm the ceremony began.
I’ve opted against a moment-by-moment recap of this wedding in favor of the photos. They will tell the story. What I will say is that this was maybe the happiest wedding I’ve ever been to. The bride and groom were happy, the families were happy, the friends were happy. It was a great, great day.
Enjoy.
Let’s do it again every year!
xoxo, Erin
*DP = Designated Parent
