Samuel Wilde Memorial Chapel in Portland Maine

Here are some more beautiful photos of Nicole and Rob's wedding at the Samuel Wilde Memorial Chapel in Maine. They are shared with me by a fabulous photographer, Melissa Mullen. It was a true pleasure to work with her and her work is magnificent!  Of course,the bride and groom were gorgeous!! Enjoy the photos and have a look at her website to see more of her exquisite work!  She is so creative!  I just love the one on the rooftop in Portland!!!

Photographer:  Melissa Mullen Photography
Location:  Portland, Maine
Phne: 207 749-2585
Email:  info@melissamullen.com
http://www.melissamullenphotography.com/

Prouts Neck Wedding in Maine

I have to admit, this was one of the most magnificent Maine locations for the intimate elopement of Nicole and Claid. They had gone to Maine to search out some great areas and found the perfect spot. The weather was fabulous, and we all walked down the small private pathway leading us out to the rocks and the beauty of the ocean waves crashing on the rocks. The site took my breath away! Congratulations Nicole and Claid, I wish you a lifetime of happiness and love! Please give me a call 207 590-6339 if you want to experience a great elopment for yourself!

A Bride, A Groom, and Children Too!!! Congratulations Kathleen and John!

This weekend I officiated at the wedding of Kathleen and John at the White Cliffs in Northboro, Massachusetts!  The ceremony was even more special as it truly united Kathleen and John along with there three boys.  The ceremony focused on the love the Kathleen and John found with each other, and then the love that they share with their three sons.  They presented the boys with special family medalions that will always serve as a reminder of the blending of their lives together for always.  They shared with their children what a blessing and gift they are from God and committed today, tomorrow and forever to love and bless them.

One of the wonderful features of being able to write your own ceremony and having it customized is specifically to allow it to represent your own style and words, and for this marriage, the joining into one family was so wonderful.  The boys knew it was a special day for their mom and dad, but they felt it was even more special when they were given their medallions. 

Kathleen and John wrote their own vows to each other which they did not share with each other until the ceremony so they were both surprised!  I have had a number of occasions where I have been with them, and it is truly evident the love that they have for each other. They both have a wonderful sense of human and a special love for their children!  I wish them all a very long, healthy, and blessed life.    Congratulations Kathleen and John, and your beautiful boys!

A gem amid the stones - Samuel Wilde Memorial Chapel

I have had the pleasure of conducting several weddings at the Samuel Wilde Memorial Chapel which is actually located in front of the Evergreen Cemetery in Portland, Maine. This is a fabulous stone church which makes you feel as thought you have stepped back in times. In fact, recently, the Portland Press Herald highlighted the chapel and the wedding I officiated at in July. Rob and Nicole tied the knot amidst their family and friends and I was happy to be there again.

This chapel was built more than a century ago and over the years has fallen into a bit of disrepair however, last fall the City spruced up the interior to continue to make it appealing and provide it with an opportunity to play a role in Portland's public life.

The history of the chapel in quite interesting. Mary Ellen Wilde, built the chapel in honor of her husband, Samuel Wilde, Jr. Samuel Wilde, who lived in New Jersey, was a wholesaler of coffee and spices. He was active with the underground railroad which helped runaway slaves reach freedom in the North and Canada. Mary Ellen Wilde was born in Falmouth, Maine and she and her husband spent summers frequently on the coat of Maine. As a result, she finally chose the Evergreen Cemetary as their final resting place. Samuel died in 1890, at the age of 58, and the chapel construction began in 1902.
Mary Ellen Wilde built the chapel so that it would be available for non-denominational funeral services for the poor families that could not afford in funeral parlors as the wealthier people could. The cost for building the chapel at that time was $25,000 which in today's dollars would be the equivalent of almost $600,000.

The granite is North Jay white granite, Brownville slate covers the roof and the stained glass windows were made by a Boston company. There is a bell in the chapel tower weighing 765 pounds. The pews and the altar are carved oak, which I have heard were carved by hand. The chapel can seat just over 100 people.

The rental fee for using the chapel for a wedding is $400 for City Residents and $500 for non-residents. There is no charge for using the chapel for funerals. John Dumais is the cemetary manager if you would like more details.

Maine's Premiere Wedding Band!

Many times couples are interested in live music instead of a DJ, and one of the great bands of New England is Wavelength. It is a 5 piece wedding and function band from Southern Maine. They specialize in musical entertainment for wedding receptions, corporate events and other special occsions. They can provide light jazz, R&B, disco, country, classic and rock to contemporary selections. They are versatile and can deliver music from the 50's to current day. Have a look at the website and their blog. You will also be able to get updated on their event calendar. I think I may go on the Casco Bay Music Cruise.........doesn't that sound divine????????

Web: http://www.wavelengthband.com
Phone: 207-883-0893
Email: Manager@wavelengthband.com

A Perfect Way To Organize Your Reception Seating

Recently when I attended the New England Wedding Professionals meeting, I had the pleasure of sitting with Bill and Doreen the creators of The Perfect Seating.  I learned about their product, which is a kit that provides a fun, easy and stress free way to plan your wedding reception seating!  I thought it was a great idea and also would be a good shower or bridal gift to help the bride with the planning. 

This beautiful and easy kit allows ou to "map out" your wedding reception.  The package includes everything you will need: round and rectangular tables, moveable chairs to represent each guest; a marker pen, complete instructions and tips for a successful reception. 

The package is designed to make the planning process enjoyable and fun.  You wil have chairs to write each of your guest's names and tables to recreate any configuration your setting will hae.  The chairs adhere to the table with a velcro like material and will stay in place but may be moved as many times as you would like.   The chairs come in two colors so that you can plan for both the bride and grooms side of the family.  It allows you to take time arranging and rearranging chairs and tables until you have created the perfect seating plan for the most important celebration of your life!   

When the plan is complete, you can simply take it with you to the reception site as your guide.  I encourage you to have a look at Doreen and Bil's website  or give them a call.  It is a very affordable and wonderful kit.

Web:  theperfectseating.com
Email: theperfectseating@comcast.net
Phone: 508-316-0520

Saco, Maine Beach Wedding

The weather was beautiful for the wedding of Ashley and David. They chose to have their wedding on the beach in Saco, Maine. The families rented a beach house and after just a brief walk down the wooden boardwalk, the friends and families enjoyed the wedding. It was obvious from the look in their eyes how very much in love they were. The bridesmaids gowns and flower girls outfits were an awesome color, and the gentlemen looked great in their white tuxedo's. Congratulations Ashley and David and thank you for choosing LovingUnity.com to officiate the most important day of your lives!



The coastline of New England offers so many beautiful and magestic locations for your wedding, renewal of vows, or commitment ceremony. Just give me a call at 207 590-6339 and I can suggest some great venues for you!

Custom Wedding Ceremony & Vows Written for You!

Time's sure are changing, and sometimes due to economic considerations, couples have come to me and said they wanted a family friend, or relative to officiate their wedding. They are looking for advice and assistance with writing their ceremony and vows.

Now, I am offering something very special. I will custom write your wedding ceremony and/or vows for you and send them to you. You then an have the officiant of your choice conduct your very personalized ceremony.

The fee for my crafting your ceremony is $100.00. We will have a discussion and based on your input I will create a ceremony and vows for you. Please allow two weeks from our discussion time to provide the ceremony for you. The ceremony will be written once payment is received.

Please email me at lovingunity@gmail.com or phone me at 207-590-6339. I look forward to crafting your ceremony and making the words of your day special and unique.

Welcome to the New England Area Weddings Blog!!

I'm so glad you're here!!  New England is a fabulous, beautiful, and magical place to host your wedding or other life event!  I have been a native of New England for 54 years and each and every day, I seem to find a new location that is more breathtaking than before.  I am hoping that through this blog, you will get a chance to see some very beautiful venues and that you will also share with me, locations and wedding professionals you have met along the way that you would like to share!  So, today, I want to begin by talking about locations and specifically locations in Maine! I am most familiar with the coast of Maine, so I will feature the venues that I have had the pleasure of working at.  I hope to hear from you, if there are other venues that you would like me to feature! One of my absolute favorite venues is The Nonantum Resort in Kennebunk, Maine.  When you have your wedding there, you have a choice of the inside banquet area, the outside near the water, next to a small lighthouse, or in a gazebo area.  All are beautiful choices!  Also, for the record, there is no venue or vendor that is providing me with any financial contribution for speaking about their facilities or their business.  I am speaking from my own personal experience in making recommendations to you, as a service to couples that may be interested in my services as an officiant, at any of these venues.