Revisiting this sweet sweet day of Jolie and Casey not only warms my heart, but brings back such fond memories from a beautiful day on the top of a mountain in western Maine. Granite Ridge Estate and Barn will forever be one of my favorite venues solely for its picture perfect location – just look at the breathtaking view! Jolie and Casey may have earned some initial brownie points for selecting this fabulous venue, but it didn’t take long for us to fall in love with their infectious smiles and darling personalities as well.
Jolie and Casey met in November 2013 on Match.com, a heartwarming tale that never fails to make me smile. Jolie had been a Match.com user on and off for a few years, and through a coincidental encounter, saw Casey’s profile just before planning to leave the site for good.
“I was just about to deactivate my account when I saw Casey’s profile and figured I’d give it one last shot,” Jolie explained. “Casey had been active on the site for just 4 hours before I had reached out to him. I don’t usually take the initiative, but had a good, strong gut feeling when I read his profile. I knew he was going to be different.”
Jolie’s insightful feelings about Casey certainly turned out to be true. After initial email exchanges spent bonding over common interests (as well as a growing amount of undeniable excitement) these two had their first date set before they knew it.
“Jolie and I originally had our first date set up for the Boston Ski Expo (on a Sunday) but I got impatient and asked her to dinner and movie (on Friday),” explained Casey. “I was a little nervous because I hadn’t been on a “blind” date before. As I walked into the theater, I recognized her immediately, she was more beautiful in person than expected. We sat down to dinner and I was amazed that our conversation never paused for one minute; we had so much in common.”
“After dinner, we saw the movie Gravity,” Casey continued. “Halfway though the movie, I worked up the nerve and held her hand as we moved in closer; both held in suspense by the movie. When the movie finished, we decided we didn’t want the night to end. We headed over to a nearby bar, where we sat and talked until closing time. The whole night was magical and I was in disbelief that a blind date could go so well.”
The initial spark felt between these two was truly undeniable, the type of love that you know right away is there to stay. Both recall a sense of comfort and relief being together, an instant connection that felt right from the very beginning.
“When Casey first walked through the doors for the first time at the movie theater, I remember being filled with excitement and feeling butterflies in my stomach,” said Jolie. “He is the most handsome guy I’ve met, a smile that just melts you and a true southern gentleman at heart. We had so much to talk about that night and shared many of the same interests. From the moment I met him, I knew he was different and this would be the beginning of an exciting journey.”
It didn’t take long for Jolie and Casey to know they were destined to spend the rest of their lives together. These two are always on the move; their love for the outdoors brought them closer with each new adventure whether it was through camping, snowboarding, or wake-surfing. Their adventurous spirits and love for one another grew founder with each day, making a proposal nothing short of amazing.
“We have a tradition of going to the Boston Ski & Sports Expo every year since we’ve met,” explained Jolie. “In November 2015, the expo fell upon the anniversary of our first date. I had some suspicion when Casey was so worried about what he was wearing or the fact he was bringing a bottle of wine with him. After the expo, we went for a walk around Boston Harbor when Casey dropped to one knee and proposed.”
Most special of all, Casey proposed to Jolie with a family heirloom engagement ring given to him by his mother. These sweet moments never fail to tug at the heartstrings!
It was not long after the proposal that Jolie and Casey reached out to us directly, and oh how lucky we were! Because they were planning to hold a Labor Day Weekend wedding, we had quite a long planning window to utilize – perfect for the many details we included into this fabulous day. Inspired by their love for nature, Casey’s southern charm, and Jolie’s upbringing in New England, we worked as a team to create a day that reflected all of these special aspects of their lives. Captured by the lovely and talented Hailey & Joel Photography, we are thrilled to be able to share the many details and immense beauty from this day with all of you.
This first look would not be complete without the help of an extraordinary wedding party! The support from this group was everything – they were fun, fabulous, and stood by Jolie and Casey’s side through all of the day’s events. And the excitement on Jolie’s face here.. amazing!
Aside from that bright smile, Jolie looked flawless in her Hayley Paige dress and Isolá ‘Felicity shoes, while Casey showed off his impeccable style in a tan J. Crew suit.
Such sweet love!
Ha! It looks like these two found a new hiding spot during pictures! The cuteness here may just be too much to handle!
Jolie and Casey spent time before the ceremony taking photos with the wedding party, their closest friends, and of course, their adoring and loving family. We are always blessed to work with such amazing families, but Jolie and Casey’s parents were two of the absolute sweetest. With photos complete, these two headed to the woodland sanctuary to officially tie the knot!
Guests were welcomed with beautiful hand-written calligraphy signs adorned with readings from Corinthians as well as a pre-ceremony beverage table complete with southern sweet tea, rosemary lemonade, and lemon-cucumber water provided by the wonderful Capers Catering. And my favorite ceremony detail? These handsome young boys who not only carried a beautiful birds nest with the wedding rings, but were joined by Jolie and Casey’s four-legged family member, Buster!
This ceremony was certainly one for the books. With the bright sun shining overhead and a warm breeze rustling the perfectly green leaves, Jolie and Casey exchanged vows and wedding rings in the presence of their closest friends and family. Beautiful acoustic music played softly in the background and special readings were presented by family members. The love these two share is profound, yet simple – there was such a natural ease between them that spoke to exactly who they are as a couple. And let me tell you friends, there definitely was not a dry eye in the crowd!
It’s official! Next up, party time!
Caper’s Catering staff continued to impress guests with a phenomenal blend of both southern and New England inspired hors d’oeuvres – lobster rolls and fried chicken?! Yes please!
Drink options were a guest favorite as well, as Jolie and Casey created signature cocktails reflecting both of their spunky personalities. Casey selected a honey whiskey topped with rosemary lemonade while Jolie provided a classic Moscow Mule. Further showing off this amazing creativity, Jolie and Casey also provided their guests with homemade brewed beers with custom labels as wedding favors! With personal touches and inspiration from their pups, these homemade brews certainly made a statement!
Okay, I know you’re eyeing these stunning florals that adorned the escort card display. Field Floral Studio never fails to impress, and clearly Meg did not let us down here! The beautiful escort display consisted of shelves from our in-house inventory, topped with fresh blooms, deer antlers, and an assortment of beautiful candles.
I am still so in love with this breathtaking design. The mix of farm tables and hemstitch linens served as the perfect foundation for this classic gold-rimmed china and beautiful green water goblets. Incorporating a simple touch of pink ribbon into the place setting was such a sweet detail as well, and paired perfectly with the florals utilized throughout the barn. And let’s just take a minute to be in awe of this cake display… Such beauty! This antique vanity was sourced specifically for Jolie and Casey’s wedding, and wasn’t it just the perfect fit!
From a first dance with the backdrop of a setting sun behind the mountains, to emotional parent dances and all of the yummy dinner options in between, guests enjoyed an impeccable reception that left their hearts warm and their bellies full. And we can’t forget desserts to make a sweet end to the evening!
After breaking down and repurposing the escort card display, Capers Catering filled these beautiful shelves with a mouthwatering display of treats. Guests enjoyed chocolate dipped brownie pops with heath bar, bite sized Maine blueberry pies, mini whoopie pies, and an assortment of homemade cookies. Yum!
I don’t think this party had a single dull moment throughout the entire evening. Dan Sky Music kept all of Jolie and Casey’s guests (and event myself!) dancing for hours on end! Funky tunes and a dress change from this stunning Bride kept guests entertained and enjoying the party long into the night.
Jolie and Casey – we adore you! We are forever thankful to you for giving us the opportunity to be a part of your special day. It was such a magnificent experience that we hold fondly in our hearts and will truly never forget. So hoping you enjoyed your honeymoon in Hawaii and are having a blast renovating your new home! Wishing you endless adventures and love for many years to come. Xoxo.
For even more beauty, watch this special day through the eyes of the talented Ryan Denning below.
We would also like to thank the following vendors for assisting us with creating such a memorable day.
Hair and Make Up: Bei Capelli ** Ceremony Musicians: Encore! ** Wedding Cake: Bear Brook Bakery ** Event Rentals: Peterson Party Center and A Family Affair of Maine ** Invitation Design: Gus & Ruby ** Bridesmaid’s Dresses: Nordstrom ** Groomsmen’s Suits: Mens Warehouse
A Family Affair Design Blog 
Thanks for the reminder of your beautiful and special day. We’ll think of it often as you wake surf passed our home. What a great time it was. Thank you for including us !
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