Haley and Ted’s Maine Lobster Picnic Rehearsal Dinner | The Barn at Flanagan Farm

Haley and Ted were planning their Maine wedding from New York City, and wanted full planning support to help with booking local vendors, maintaining the to do list and coordinating meetings, creating a vehicle for design and execution of their ideas to best personalize their day, crafting details and overseeing the day and days leading up to the wedding. The two met in June of 2011 when Haley visited her brother, Cassidy, to watch him play Jazz at a local club.  Ted, who is also a talented Jazz musician and guitarist happened to be at the gig.  It’s no big surprise this wedding was going to have some surefire music inspiration, and some hot strings to go late into the night!  Their ‘first date’ took place at Haley’s parent’s house in Connecticut, which served as a neutral ground to get to know one another.  Haley grew up in Maine and resided there at the time, so taking Ted out of the busy city scene seemed like the perfect idea.  Turns out it was, because they’ve been together ever since!  Ted planned the ultimate trip to Paris when he proposed; overlooking a park where the whole city was in view, the Eiffel tower lit up right after she said ‘yes’ which Ted claims was not in the plans but made the entire moment so much more amazing.

These two love teasing each other and being silly which is what makes them the perfect pair.   Seriously, they had me in constant stitches the entire weekend!  Oh, and THAT major cutie who only appears to be taking a backhand?  Just about the world’s most adorable pup and best dog, ‘Bella’.  I think this photo really speaks to their sense of humor, agreed??

Haley and Ted hosted their rehearsal dinner, wedding and day after brunch at The Barn at Flanagan Farm.  They wanted their guests who were visiting them from all over the world to be a part of all of the celebrations as much as possible.  Friday night’s rehearsal dinner kicked off a beautiful weekend and was the perfect precursor of events to come. Our plan for eating outside didn’t work out as we’d hoped due to rain, so we fashioned the dining tables inside the barn as they would have been outside on the patio.  Six farmers tables supplied by One Stop Event Rentals lined the center of the long barn, and were arranged three tables seating 16 each (three groups of two tables).  We separated each group with our wood posts to hold single strands of cafe lights that were strung low over each long dining table.  The lights added a unique festivity to the set up and helped to keep some of the focus off the fabric draping we had done in preparation of the wedding day.

 

We crafted red and white striped cotton runners for each guest table, and arranged locally grown summer blue and white hydrangea, daisies, Queen Anne’s lace and other market lovelies in Haley’s family heirloom blue masons and vintage clear glass.  We paired the look with wrought iron lanterns and candles.  Kraft paper picnic boxes lined with white hemstitch napkins were prepped to each place setting, waiting to be filled with so much goodness from Dandelion Catering.

Haley and Ted really wanted to give their guests the ‘Maine experience’ with the food (a subject of great importance to Haley in particular; naturally we hit it off right away!!), so of course lobster had to be on the menu.   We wanted the rehearsal dinner to be fun and relaxed, and in no way compete with the more formal menu at hand for Saturday.   Although there’s nothing like the full on breaking shell, bib and butter experience, there’s also nothing like lobster meat tossed in a light aioli in a toasted brown butter roll with local greens.  And presented this way it says, ‘we’re so thankful for your company, and we care enough to make enjoying lobster easy, delicious and fun’.  We supplied Dandelion with a four and eight ounce jelly jar per person and used the same striped fabric as the runners to dress them up.  The larger jar held skillet browned fingerling potato salad with double smoked bacon and chive, and the small jar a white bean and kale salad.  But wait.  There’s more.

While Hors d’oeuvres of fried oyster with pickled cabbage, braised beef latkes and summer tomato tarts with chevre were being passed, more amazing food was placed inside so that each box was ready to be enjoyed the moment guests found their seat.  Grilled preserved lemon and rosemary skewers were carefully inserted before the final touch-avocado and cucumber salad with mixed greens, grilled croutons and buttermilk dressing in a mini wooden boat added just the right summer color and freshness.  It was the perfect welcome and truly made guests feel special.  Not to mention out of this world delicious!  A big thank you to Dandelion for helping us to pull this together so effortlessly.

Of course, before any amazing food and drink happened (okay, amazing food happened), the ceremony rehearsal had to!  It’s truly my favorite thing ever, to witness people experiencing this very exciting time together, in a private setting with the people who mean the most.  The venue really allows the process of living these moments fully, privately, and for a longer period of time.  An ideal destination wedding setting for being a fantastic host and personalizing every event, from the welcome party to the farewell brunch.  Here we’re rounding up for the walk to the sanctuary.

Here’s some of the beautiful ladies!

Here’s Haley’s Father Dale, with Ted.

Pretty little flower girls (and sisters), Tia and Frankie.

I did everything I could not to smother this sweet baby!

The wood planked path to the clearing in the woods is simply incredible.

That gorgeous birch structure is about to get even more gorgeous with the help of Emily Carter Floral Designs.

Getting everyone comfortable with placement.

A close friend of Haley’s Mom (and Haley claims as her ‘second Mom’), Susanne, officiated the ceremony.

Shreya, one of Haley’s beautiful Bridesmaids and long time friend experienced her first wedding as an attendant with Haley and Ted.  Remember her, because she’ll be seen again in Part 2 in a big way!

I have no idea, but this is the stuff I’m talking about.  All weekend long!

Kiss the Groom!

Such cuteness! AND onto the dinner party!

Heartfelt toasts,

…fist sized hand pies,

…and giant Jenga that continued well into the night!  Stay tuned for part 2 for all the gorgeous details of their amazing wedding day, photographed by Peter Jensen Bissell.  A huge thank you to Michael Santerre Photography for sharing these lovely images!