This wedding was featured on Modernly Wed.
Whew…. Where do I even begin with this one?
When we arrived at Maren’s parents’ house in Auburn the morning of her wedding, and when I saw her in person for the first time, wearing her adorable little red striped shorts, we both kind of squealed and she gave me a huge hug, and it honest-to-goodness felt like seeing a long lost friend. Though we’d only been in contact by email up to that point, I felt an instant connection to her. We have a mutual love for anything striped or Harry Potter-related, and when she told me she had a dream that I was driving her and Quint around in a seafoam green vintage Thunderbird on their wedding day, it was pretty much confirmed that we share brain waves. She also hinted at her eclectic personal style, full of colors and patterns and inspired by art, especially her mother’s paintings. But when I stepped into their home and saw the walls literally covered in the most vibrant works of art you could imagine, I knew we were in for a treat.
Maren and Quint’s mutual love for art also inspired a lot of their wedding choices. They picked the Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art as their venue, and it couldn’t have been a more perfect backdrop. Maren and her mom collaborated on all of their paper goods, incorporating Mrs. Brown’s paintings and some pretty fantastic hand lettering. They even had their parents and some of their bridal party members draw illustrations of them, which they displayed on a giant easel at the reception, alongside some of their own artwork from their childhood (TOO CUTE).
But what got me the most, more than any of the design elements (although those were wonderful to photograph), was the sheer amount of joy and emotion that was so evident throughout the entire day. From the moment Maren’s father and brother saw her in her dress for the first time (during which there wasn’t a dry eye in the room, including my own), to the bridesmaids chanting Quint’s name and cheering as he showed up to the house for the first look, to the graceful way in which Maren handled the news that the outdoor ceremony she had envisioned would have to be moved inside due to rain, to the playful and affectionate way that Maren and Quint interact with each other…. it was all just about more than any one heart (or camera) could handle.
But for now I’ve got to stop blabbing and get to the goods. Huge thanks to Mary Margaret Smith for assisting and beautifully capturing some of the images you’ll see below!
Mary Margaret and I literally gasped when we unzipped the bag and saw Maren’s Jenny Packham dress for the first time. This designer is a favorite of Kate Middleton (you MUST see this dress), and for good reason. But the best part about the dress was how it suited Maren to a T. I love when brides choose dresses that work perfectly for them!
At the risk of sounding stalkerish, I am just seriously in love with Maren’s style. I’ve been telling people that she kind of reminds me of an actress in the 40’s, playing the fast-talking newspaper reporter role, a la Katharine Hepburn or Rosalind Russell. (Hopefully she takes this as a compliment, because it totally is one.) And I seriously considered stealing those red striped shorts. ;)
If you haven’t already choked up, it’s time to grab the tissues. Maren’s dad was hiding out while she got into her dress, and this was his reaction on seeing her in it for the first time:
And while I’ve seen more than one father lose it over seeing his daughter for the first time, her brother’s reaction REALLY floored me.
“QUINT! QUINT! QUINT! QUINT!”
This next one is definitely a favorite.
It’s a family tradition for all the women on Maren’s mother’s side of the family to have their photo taken in her great-grandmother’s wedding dress before they get married. So special!
Even though the ceremony had to be moved inside, it ended up being pretty dang awesome nonetheless. I mean, they said their vows under a Chihuly chandelier!
All five of Maren’s father’s groomsmen from her parents’ wedding 35 years ago were in attendance at Maren and Quint’s wedding. How incredible is that?
Maren and Quint, I can’t thank you enough for allowing me to be a part of such a magical day. xoxo
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Kelly Cummings - What a sweet wedding. Oh how I love the mountains and moonpies! I love cupcakes and all that green too, but those don’t start with M’s. The raised hand ceremony shot = my fave.
Jillian & Tim - Morgan, we just sat down and looked at the photos together. They are absolutely amazing!!! We just love them all! You truly captured the essence of our venue, our wedding and us!! Thank you so so much!