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.