Intimate Bailey Island Wedding

Kyle and Leah realized their plan to elope in Norway was not possible during the early days of the pandemic. Instead of waiting to get married, they took the opportunity to design a beautiful,  COVID-friendly intimate Bailey Island wedding day where their immediate families could attend. Their optimism, energy, and love for each other made their day one of the very best days of the year. As a visual storyteller, Bailey Island is the perfect place for an idyllic Maine wedding to unfold. The ceremony took place in the Johnson Field preserve, which overlooks Mackerel cove. I love the sloping terrain with so many levels of activity; quaint houses border the wide field. There are two paths mowed through the tall wild grasses and flowers that meander down to the water. Right before the lawn area turns to the beach, the couples’ family placed the driftwood arbor for the ceremony- built by Leah’s parents.

Across the street from the preserve is the Bailey Island Library Hall, which was built in 1912. The library features giant atrium-like windows framed by significant, full bookcases. It is a charming, inspiring space and housed their reception perfectly. These two are true romantics, so their wedding day was full of thoughtful, personal touches. They had a sweet gift exchange after their first look on the library’s porch. Kyle surprised Leah with a song, and he also read aloud to her inside the library. Old books adorned the tables in keeping with the literary theme.

Being adventurous souls, they wanted breathtaking vistas to be the backdrop of their day, so after the ceremony, we all headed to the coast. Less than a mile away is one of the most breathtaking spots in Maine- the Giant’s Stairs which were formed 500 million years ago and look like massive stone steps rising from the sea. We had the whole walk to ourselves. These wedding portraits are some of my favorites ever because they include… fog. The ephemeral nature of fog creates a magical feel to a place, and it’s never quite the same. Leah and Kyle’s intimate Bailey Island wedding was a dream to photograph. During the pandemic, what has given me hope is the true love shared despite the circumstances. Congratulations to these lovebirds- Deer and Fox!

 

For more magical Maine weddings moment, head to my gallery.

 

 

 

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