Jenna and Nate had an amazing intimate wedding at the Sohier Park overlooking Nubble Lighthouse in York, ME.
When I first arrived at the York Harbor Inn where they were getting ready there was a light drizzle, but I was confident by the time their ceremony came around we would be rain-free. It was a laid back getting ready room with just Jenna and her sister getting their hair and makeup done. Once Jenna was in her dress Nate even came into the room for them to finish getting ready together. It was so special!
Sure enough by the time we were about to head over to Nubble for their ceremony the rain tapered off.
When we got to the ceremony location the Nubble Lighthouse was shrouded in a light blanket of fog. It added a lot of atmosphere and allure to their photos.
Jenna and Nate shared a lovely intimate ceremony surrounded by their closest family members and it was officiated by a family friend too — making it all the more special. After their ceremony, we captured their family portraits and some creative portraits using the ocean and the Nubble Lighthouse as our backdrops.
We are very excited for their reception in Boston Harbor this summer :)
Jenna and Nate’s Wedding Date | 4/13/2019
Why did you choose to have a nontraditional wedding small intimate wedding?
Well, there are a couple of reasons. Nate asked me to be his girlfriend on April 13, 2007. For years I knew that if we were to get married, I wanted it to be on April 13. When he proposed last May, we realized April 13 fell on a Saturday in 2019 so we rolled with it. I work full time and am a full-time non-traditional student at UNH and having the full celebration was just too overwhelming to do in the middle of the semester. We decided to keep the ceremony short and sweet with our closest relatives and wait to have a big celebration later on, when my semester is over. Another reason – we were both terrified of getting married in front of a ton of people. Absolutely terrified. It’s one of the reasons we pushed off getting married for so long. I think the way that we did it was perfect for us and I wouldn’t have changed it for anything.
How did you decide on your ceremony location?
Jenna | York, more specifically Nubble Lighthouse, is very special to Nate and his family. Nate’s Nana has Alzheimer’s and wasn’t able to celebrate with us on Saturday but Nubble Lighthouse has always been one of her favorite places to visit. This was our way of making sure she was still there with us.
Nate| The seacoast, and especially the York area, has always been special to me and my family. My mom would take me and my sisters to long sands every chance she got in the summers growing up. My grandparents would take me to Goldenrod to watch them make Taffy and grab a few boxes of peanut butter molasses to take home. Many trips to the beach ended with going to Sohier Park to listen to the waves hit the rocks and look at the lighthouse. It was also a way for me to feel like my Nana Was with is that day,( the trip would have been a bit to difficult for her from the nursing home), and more importantly with the pictures, I am hoping she will feel like she was with us on that day.
On top of all that, the area has a certain calmness to it that we thought would be a nice addition to what could have been a very overwhelming and stressful day.
When did you know he/she was the one?
Jenna | Nate has always had a ‘we will get through it’ attitude. He never, ever lets me give up. I have signed up for so many different challenges over the last decade (going back to school, diving into a fitness career, working multiple jobs to save for a house, buying a house, selling that house, etc.) and no matter how difficult it has gotten or how much I’ve wanted to give up.. he gets me through it. I don’t know how he does it but he does. I knew I needed him in my life forever.
Nate | To be honest, I can’t remember ever not knowing she was the one. If I had to pick a specific time I knew, it would be the summer before I got my license, she would drive me to and from work, every single day. She never complained or anything, she just did it because she wanted me to be able to have a job!
What’s the one thing you love most about each other?
Jenna | Nate can make me laugh like nobody else in this world.
Nate | She’s the only one that laughs at all (most) of my jokes.
What are your honeymoon plans?
We’re going to Panama in December! We’re leaving Christmas Eve and will be back just after New Year’s Eve. Panama will allow us to both adventure and relaxation. It’s a perfect spot for us.
Tell us a bit about your wedding vendors
Ceremony Location | Nubble Lighthouse
Wedding Photography | Lee Germeroth Photography
Dress Salon | I bought my dress from Anthropologie’s wedding line, BHLDN. My mom, sister and I drove down to Chestnut Hill, MA last October and my dress was the very first one I tried on. I still tried on others but I knew this was the one.
Suit | Nate bought his suit at Shaban’s in Andover, MA. It’s a small, family-owned boutique right downtown. They were extremely helpful through the process and Nate looked so handsome in his suit if I do say so myself.
Hair | My hair was done by Kim Quirke who works at Blank Canvas Salon in Londonderry, NH. Kim and I have been friends since freshman year of high school, close to 20 years now, and I was so, so happy to have her make me feel my best on Saturday. She did a wonderful job.
Makeup | My make up was done by Krysta of Aisling Organics. Krysta is from my hometown and opened her own studio in Andover, MA. She’s even developed her own organic make up line. She did a wonderful job for my sister and me on Saturday. We aren’t ones to wear makeup on a regular basis so we’re always afraid of going ‘overboard’ but Krysta did a really great job.
Justice of the Peace | Our justice of the peace was Sally Green of Chester, NH. Sally is one of our best friend’s mother and it was so, so special to have her marry us. Sally captured exactly who Nate and I are as a couple. She made the ceremony personal to us but also included our families which truly meant a lot to us.
I hope that you have enjoyed Jenna and Nate’s story and their wedding photos!
