A Wedding at Moosehead Lake, Maine

 
 

Do you find find yourself drawn to an intimate experience – like spending a weekend with your family and friends — to celebrate your wedding? Moosehead Lake offers all of this and more making it one of the best places to get married in Maine.

My husband and I shied away from a traditional wedding. Instead, we gravitated to the idea of celebrating with our family for a full weekend in a beautiful location. We invested in experiences we knew would bring joy while spending time with our people.

As a wedding photographer and bride, I am here to help. I would love to share some tips to get you started in the planning process!

 
 

PLANNING AN INTIMATE WEDDING WEEKEND AT A RENTAL IN THE MOOSEHEAD LAKE REGION? 3 TIPS FROM A PHOTOGRAPHER & BRIDE

Sitting down with a blank piece of paper and pen (or Google Doc :) can be A LOT when you’re getting started planning a whole wedding — even when it’s a smaller, non-traditional day.

To begin creating your weekend from scratch, below are a few tips to help organize and prioritize:

  • Booking a rental (at least 8-12 months prior to your date)

  • Locking down a photographer (at least 6-12 months prior to your date)

  • Booking a caterer (at least 6-12 months prior to your date)

 

Photos courtesy of Kristyn Miller Photography

 

BOOKING A WEDDING WEEKEND FOR 16 AT A RENTAL ON MOOSEHEAD LAKE

For the couples who are interested in a weekend to enjoy with your guests, a rental is a great option!

Wondering where to book? A good place to begin is by brainstorming locations that excite you or hold meaning for you and your partner. For a quiet getaway in the outdoors, Moosehead Lake (about 3 hours north of Portland) offers year-round rental options and plenty to do outside in all seasons.

Consider the time of year you are getting married as rentals might book out quicker during certain seasons!

Since we live in the area, we knew Moosehead Lake generally books out quickly, especially in the fall. So, we booked our rental a year prior to our date. We found Lily Bay Chalet through Pine Tree Stays.

It was not only a beautiful property, but the house was plenty spacious enough for all of us to be inside comfortably. We had 16 overnight guests, and 20 during the celebration itself.

Another factor to consider while on the search for a rental is not only keeping an eye out for a larger house, but also one that includes a porch and overhang in case inclement weather pushes folks indoors. This was a lovely convenience at The Chalet.

For more information about what is included at Lily Bay Chalet, head over to my blog below to learn more!

For more information on Moosehead Lake Region and what the area has to offer, check out Destination Moosehead Lake.

BOOKING TIP —

Before booking your rental, I suggest sending a message to the owners communicating what you’re planning and hoping for! Since this is someone else’s property, home, and neighborhood, open communication goes a long way.

 

DOCUMENTARY PHOTOGRAPHY ON A WEDDING DAY WITH A SMALLER GUEST COUNT

Booking our photographer was our next priority — we hired our photographer 10 months prior to our October weekend. I have the pleasure of photographing with Kristyn on wedding days, so I knew she was the gal for our weekend!

I would suggest booking your photographer 6-12 months prior to your date if it is during the busier wedding season (typically August - October).

A documentary approach to photographing a day is all about capturing emotion without interruption. This kind of eye can be so important for couples looking for genuine portraits without disruption on a day with a smaller guest count.

If you’re curious about a documentary style, check out a blog post I wrote that goes more in depth about how I approach wedding days, and what documentary wedding photography is below.

 

FARM TO TABLE CATERING IN THE MOOSEHEAD LAKE REGION

We began looking for catering within a year of our wedding and booked our caterers 7 months prior. I would suggest finding caterers at least 6-12 months before your day.

We found Dirigo Farms Catering Co. through a mutual friend. From the very first chat, we knew we couldn’t wait for Autumn and Dan to be a part of our day.

Dirigo Farms Catering Co. is a husband and wife owned custom catering service offering a wide variety of selections, including farm to table fare, upscale comfort food, fresh seafood, and traditional Italian cuisine to name a few. While their offered food selections are wide, one thing remains consistent regardless of what they are cooking - everything is homemade from scratch using quality ingredients. Being farmsteaders themselves, Autumn and Dan have a deep understanding of the importance in supporting local agriculture and feature many locally grown ingredients in their cooking creations.

From a bread and butter bar, oysters, and seasonal fall grub like squash and garlic, it was better than we could have imagined. Our families talked about Autumn, Dan, and the feast for months!

 
 

A MOOSEHEAD LAKE WEDDING WEEKEND IN MAINE

If a Moosehead Lake intimate wedding weekend sparks your interest, a rental is a perfect option for a full weekend with your people in the outdoors.

If you have any questions about the Moosehead Lake Region, or are looking for a documentary photographer for your wedding, please reach out to me below!

 

Thank you for being here!

I’m Sienna, the owner and photographer behind Sienna Renee Photography. Based out of Maine, I approach wedding days and families with a documentary eye. I value genuine connection and getting to know you and your people to capture you as you are.

 
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