A Personal Story of Adaptability
As most are aware, wedding planning can be stressful to say the least, and outdoor weddings are downright dicey! For several months, my daughter and I had been planning her intimate outdoor wedding on the beach at my father-in-laws lake home in Maine. As the day approached, it was clear we would be challenged by impending thunderstorms that would likely wash out the beautiful beach setting for her wedding ceremony.
At this point, we had two options: take our chances, or contact our guests and multiple vendors in the quest to change her wedding day, a daunting task to say the least! After agonizing discussions, followed by multiple phone calls and emails, the decision was made to have the wedding ceremony on the beach one day early. As luck would have it, the photographer, florist, and hair and make-up artists were on board (even though they said in all their years they had never seen this done). Catering was a bit more complicated, so we decided to leave the welcome dinner and reception events as planned. This meant the wedding would be followed by a Welcome dinner for our guests under the outdoor tent, with the Reception being held under the tent the following evening.
It seems that sometimes the stars align beautifully, which in our case, is exactly what occurred. The weather was absolutely beautiful on the wedding day, with the bridal party enjoying a champagne brunch out on the lake, followed by wedding preparations such as hair, make-up and photos. As it turns out, our hairdresser, who was very pregnant, went into labor and had her baby the next day, which was the original wedding date. Phew!
The wedding ceremony and Welcome dinner went off without a hitch, and the evening ended with an incredibly delicious s’mores display at the outdoor firepit.
With impending storms and a Wedding Reception on the horizon, our entire family pitched in to secure the tent, and keep tables, centerpieces, and equipment as dry as possible while we awaited the caterers and the storm. The fierce storm blew through around 3pm, and the skies cleared just in time for the caterers’ arrival. Another beautiful evening unfolded in Maine as we celebrated my daughter’s marriage at her very favorite place on earth.
I am so grateful and thankful for my family and friends who made this special event possible. We will be sharing the memories for many years to come as well as the lessons learned in love, trust, resiliency and teamwork!