Bride's Side Vol. 10: 'I would do it all again tomorrow, if I could...'

Bridal blogger: Amanda (of Amanda and Pat) of New Gloucester, ME*
Connection to Maine: Bride and groom's homestate
Wedding Date: September 22, 2007
Wedding Location: Ceremony on the deck and indoor lodge reception at Saddleback Ski Area in Rangeley
Number of guests attending: 80 or so
*Click here to see original coverage of Amanda and Pat's Saddleback Maine wedding on the old I Do Click Wedding Photography blog

Like a lot of brides, I was fortunate to be a bridesmaid twice in the year preceding my own wedding. I enjoyed learning the wedding planning process through the experiences of my good friends. I also was given some incredible (and applicable) advice from the brides who came before me. They were able to tell me where to save money (a friend made our lovely invitations), where to shop, and when to splurge (on an excellent photographer).

Like my fellow brides, I wanted to plan a wedding that was memorable, beautiful, and affordable. Fortunately, my husband and I decided to have our ceremony and reception at Saddleback in Rangeley. The venue fulfilled all of my wedding criteria. I could not have asked for a lovely backdrop for our festivities. We were able to entertain 80-some-odd guests, and we didn't break the bank (although, we may have cracked it a little).

A big bonus of our secluded location was the opportunity for our guests to spend the weekend with us. I loved hosting a three-day celebration. And, even with all that time, I still wished for more time with our friends and relatives who hailed from as far away as Florida and Illinois. I also wish we would have asked Sam to shoot our rehearsal dinner. So many memorable moments emerged from that celebration that I wish we would have captured on film.

My wedding day was everything I ever wished it would be. This is due in large part to the fact that, once it began, it was only about Pat and I and sharing our love with our family and friends. It could have rained (it drizzled a little), snowed, or hailed, and I still would have had the time of my life. It was the happiest day of my life, and I'm so pleased to have many photographs to remind me of the way I felt walking down the aisle and dancing with my stepdad or kissing my husband. (We also had an awesome DJ. Tom Kelley kept us all on the dance floor!)

Overall, I really wish that, in the middle of my planning process, that someone would have told me how much I would miss not only the wedding- but also the process of preparation. It was all worth it - every fret and every difficult decision. The process itself, for me, was a celebration of our love and dedication to one another.

I would do it all again tomorrow, if I could duplicate the magic of our wedding day.

Biggest planning surprise: Joanne Taylor's services were a part of our Saddleback wedding package. Joanne (who is Saddleback's wedding coordinator and also officiated Amanda and Pat's wedding) was so available, helpful, and knowledgable. I don't think we could have put together such a terrific day without her help.

Favorite wedding planning resource: The Knot: Complete Guide to Weddings in the Real World: The Ultimate Source of Ideas, Advice, and Relief for the Bride and Groom and Those Who Love Them by Carley Roney (Former bride and my bridesmaid, Michelle Do, suggested this book to me. It was extremely helpful!)

I wish I'd spent more time: Relaxing on my wedding day. Our hair and make-up session was done by noon and the wedding didn't even start until 4pm. This lead to four long hours of sitting still with my bridesmaids. I wish we could have gotten ready later and gone out and played to let off some steam earlier in the day.


I wish I'd spent less time: In my veil! I had it on for over 12-hours!

I wish I had: The opportunity to do it all over again. This was easily the best weekend of my life. Luckily, I have many wonderful photos displayed all around the house that bring me back to that special event.

I wish I hadn't: Worried so much during the planning process. It all came together perfectly, and it would have been perfect with or without my elevated anxiety level!


I am glad I/we did: I asked my bridesmaids to pick their own black dresses. They looked so beautiful and comfortable in their personality-specific dresses.

I am glad we didn't: Have a formal rehearsal dinner. The BBQ we hosted at the Saddleback Club House, with the delicious food of Rangeley's Katering By Kart, was laid back and fun. (And almost 2/3 of our wedding guests were in attendance at the rehearsal.) I was able to connect with family and friends in a way that really wasn't possible during the busy wedding day.


Favorite wedding moment: As I walked down the aisle with my step-dad and gazed into Pat's eyes. I just could feel that we were meant to be.

Detail that was worth it: Displaying a memorial candle for Pat's mother. I think it was a touch that members of Pat's family really appreciated. It also made his mom a part of our special day.


Detail that was a waste: Decorating the tables at our rehearsal dinner! It was so windy on the mountain that no amount of duct tape would keep the tablecloths down or the candles lit.

Best wedding splurge: My tiara! I always wanted to wear one and my grandma was kind enough to make that dream come true for me.


Best wedding steal: The cake my brother made for us. It was breathtakingly beautiful and absolutely delicious!

My best advice is: Hire Sam! As a teacher who is married to a man in the environmental field, we knew we would have to keep our wedding affordable. However, I also knew that we wanted to hire a quality photographer who would fit seamlessly into our big day. We also realized that our photographs would be the most lasting element of our wedding day. I'm so happy that Sam was a part of our wedding experience!


And, for a bit of shameless self-promotion, what was your favorite part of working with Samantha Warren Weddings: Sam was very professional and put us at ease. Sam did a great job of capturing lasting memories. We'll cherish our photographs for years to come.

Read Past Bride's Side Posts:
-Vol.1: 10 tips for making the "Best Day of Your Life" just that
-Vol. 2: 'Remember you are starting a life together'
-Vol. 3: Go green, but stay real
Vol.4: If I knew then, what I know now
-Vol.5: 'Try not to over think things- hard as it may be'
-Vol. 6: What to expect when you are unexpecting
-Vol. 7: 'It's all about being your collective selves'
-Vol. 8: 'A celebration of the people who shaped us'
-Vol. 9: 'Experience is the best wedding planner'