Chelsea + Austin’s Barn On Walnut Hill Wedding | Yarmouth, ME

Happy Summer, my sweet friends! Our wedding season (and our world) isn’t looking exactly as we imagined, but it’s in full swing and we’re making the most of it. In fact, we just produced our first wedding of 2020, the new showroom is nearly complete, and we designed a gorgeous styled shoot last week. So I guess you can say we’re keeping ourselves busy!

Today, though, we’re taking a look back to our 2019 season to celebrate the most perfect union (and almost one year anniversary!) of Chelsea and Austin. These two are seriously fab. Not only did they decide to have a FULL, four day weekend celebration, one of those days consisted of a Hunger Games style ‘Field Day’. Talk about creative and fun! This crazy crew had a jam-packed weekend, and we’re so excited be sharing their experience with you.

As you can clearly see, Chelsea and Austin are absolute stunners. Their vibrant personalities shone bright throughout their wedding day in both the design and atmosphere they created. Think: southwestern-inspired cocktail party with numerous surprises throughout. We had the best time getting to know these two and making their wedding dreams come to life! Thanks to the wonderful team at Maine Tinker Photography for capturing all the beauty of this day.

Chelsea opted for a smokey eye and natural bronze look to enhance her already glowing complexion. Lisa LaCroix at Bei Capelli led the gorgeous group through hair and make-up the entire weekend. And she certainly outdid herself if you ask me!

Nothing beats help from momma and your favorites gals when putting on the dress!

This phenomenal bride wore such a unique dress and we were SO here for it. The fabric had ornate floral details, but the dress was the perfect mix of sexy and sophisticated. The delicate high neck and A-lie skirt was a gorgeous contrast to the open back. And to finish the look, Chelsea wore a simple, stunning headband.

And you certainly can’t forget this handsome groom! Austin chose a light blue suit for the occasion with a navy floral tie and you guessed it – brown cowboy boots for the finishing touch.

We. loved. this. group. Simple as pie! We seriously adored these all-white, mix-matched dresses with such fun, vibrant earrings. And if you’re wondering if the AFA team strongly considered investing in our own pairs of those beauties, you are RIGHT.

These girls may have dressed to impress, but their fondness for Chelsea was the real star of the show here. They were true supporters throughout the entire weekend – always ready to help Chelsea with whatever she needed. And most importantly, right there to pass her a drink when hers was empty!

This crew was a pretty stylish group as well. Austin was surrounded by his closest friends for this day, and I can promise you they had a blast!

And can we just give a shoutout to The Barn on Walnut Hill real quick? Not only did this sprawling venue allow Chelsea and Austin to invite all of their friends and family members to stay with them for the weekend, but created the most perfect background for these images. So much charm and simplistic beauty!

Austin and his lovely parents – so supportive, loving, and kind. We’re so lucky to work with the sweetest families and this time was no different!

Personality pics, anyone?! We love these two!!

Chelsea and Austin were all smiles alllll day. And you better believe their enthusiastic energy set the mood for this entire celebration.

With pre-ceremony portraits complete and the final details in place, Chelsea and Austin retreated to the barn as guests were shuttled from Portland and Freeport over to The Barn on Walnut Hill. After sippin’ on some pre-ceremony drinks, guests were officially welcomed to the grande occasion by the stunning view of the ceremony site – we’re talking florals for DAYS, my friends.

Truly the biggest shout out to Sarah Whiton and team at Harmons and Bartons for these blooms. This lush arbor featured anthurium, xerographica air plants, silver tree protea and peach and orange florals for an extra pop. And most importantly, that gorgeous cow skull came from no other than the bride herself!

With such a gorgeous sanctuary at Walnut Hill, this arbor decor was the only thing needed to make the space feel welcoming, exciting, and just the right vibe for Chelsea and Austin. The weather was perfect as well – sunny but not too hot and perfectly shaded under the trees.

You go flower girl! This girlfriend was a little fashionista if you couldn’t tell!

This ceremony was one of a kind – as you would expect from these two, it was filled with laughs, personal vows and lots of love. Their energy throughout the ceremony was so tender and the love was radiating. We love being involved in such special moments.

MARRIED! We couldn’t be more happy for this duo. And as you can tell, I don’t think they could be happier about this moment either!

Time to get this party started! Cocktail hour was the official start of a fabulous cocktail-style reception filled with so many delicious food options and endless drinks for guests. A large sailcloth tent was situated right next to the barn, under the lush tall trees in the large open lawn. This cocktail hour had some serious fun – from lawn games to creative drinks to a surprise photo camper, Chelsea and Austin knew how to keep their guests entertained.

Working with Chelsea and Austin on design and a custom menu was such a treat for me. They took such a unique approach to everything they did, while remaining wholly authentic to who they are as a couple. The terra cotta pots and gold terrariums were earthy and simple, and the perfect contrast to the brass bud vases and vibrant flowers. To add to the ambiance, we also used large gold lanterns for candlelight.

And here’s the fab photo camper we were talking about! You know this gal by now – Lucy is a one of a kind 1967 camper and she was a HIT. From Maine-themed props to vintage phones and everything in between, this photo camper did not disappoint in giving guests the best pictures to remember the special day.

Annnd pausing to go (try to) make myself that drink because WOW. What a beauty. This creation was crafted by none other than the Fire and Company team – and the impressive fares hardly stopped there. Additional drinks consisted of local brews from Bissell Brothers & Foundation, premium cocktails, and three signature cocktails – a grapefruit margarita, dark & stormy, and an old fashioned. For pairings, Fire and Co whipped up a cheese & butcher station, house smoked meat and sausages, and mini buttered lobster rolls.

Once cocktail hour came to close, Fire & Co served up the first round of dinner as guests continued to mingle outside. Though the plan was to move inside the barn for dinner and speeches, this warm weather had Chelsea and Austin wanting to stay outside juuuust a bit longer. And I certainly don’t think anyone complained! Guests enjoyed skilled seared scallops, pork belly skewers, salad and chicken and waffles to kick off dinner. Right in time for a welcome toast from Austin’s lovely parents as well!

Thee two had guests in tears. We adore them!

After enjoying those extra rays of sunshine before the picturesque sunset and calm evening, guests made their way to the barn for the second round of dinner. And let me jut tell you, we were ALL here for two fabulous dinners. This non-traditional reception was such a hit – guests were able to enjoy numerous food selections while while mingling with everyone in sight, whether that was in the barn or outside. There were passed options always available for grabbing, and we also set up a few stunning food displays inside. Just keep scrolling, you’ll see what I’m talking about!

These design details seriously stole the show. We carried the same aesthetic from the cocktail hour tent into the barn and it did not disappoint. We used gorgeous farm tables from none other than Lani and crew at Heartwood Essentials. Both high and low top tables were placed in the barn for guests to select their own seating throughout the evening. Tablescapes were kept simple, with succulents, minimal florals in brass bud vases, and warm candlelight to create a welcome and intimate atmosphere. And as I’m sure you noticed, we had a seriously unique light install to tie the look together – large Moroccan lanterns hanging over the dance floor. What a beauty! We collaborated this look with then team Griffin & Griffin Lighting and as expected, they delivered.

We also created two lush lounge areas for optimal comfort and a whole lot of fun for guests. Each lounge setting had a velvet sofa, chairs in various colors, and plush floor pillows to add some extra coziness. And of course we had to repurpose the cow skull to make another appearance post-ceremony! This piece looked perfect above this vibrant lounge adorned with lush florals and greens.

Remember those food displays I mentioned? Here they are in all of their glory *heart eyes*. Fire & Co delivered once again with the final round of dinner for the night – consisting of salmon skewers, pork tacos, avocado tacos and poke stacks. YUM.

As guests continued to wine and dine, Chelsea and Austin snuck off for a little fun of their own. Sunset photography, anyone?! Personalities shinning bright in these ones!

Say hello to Dolly! This 1951 Ford made for the perfect pop of color and yet another fun element to the day. And the perfect vibe for this muscle pic!

Duel purpose truck over here! This beauty served as the perfect dessert display for all of these sweet treats. Jessica and her fabulous team at Nothing Bakes Like A Parrott hand crafted these lovelies for guest’s enjoyment – mocha and Oreo cheesecake squares, coconut cream, blueberry and apple pies, cannolis… she did not disappoint! This elegant cake completed the display, and was created by our wonderful friend Melissa at Bear Brook Bakery.

What a stunner! The cake was gorgeous by itself, but was adorned with florals to elevate the look. And that cake stand completed the look perfectly!

With the sun setting, this crew finally retreated to the barn to kick off the evening. We’re talking some serious dance moves, fun tunes from DJ Jon and uhm.. assless chaps?! Only with these two!!

Chelsea and Austin – we adore you! We hope you’re spending your one year anniversary lounging in the Bahamas without a care in the world. It was phenomenal to be involved in your celebration of love and honestly, we wish we could relive this day over and over!

xo, P