Tell us a little about yourselves!
We’re Kira and Nicky. We met as colleagues in San Francisco in December 2018, when Kira joined the startup where Nicky was working. Our relationship began as a friendship, blooming over the course of a year into something deeper. When Kira moved to New York in November of 2019, it seemed like things might never go further, but the pandemic provided the silver lining that brought Kira back to the Bay Area and, a few months later, to the decision to move in with Nicky and give our relationship a real shot. Since then, we’ve built a loving, trusting partnership defined by our mutual curiosity, loyalty and zest for life.
Why did you decide to get married where you did?
We’re both from California, but Nicky’s family has been visiting Mount Desert Island (MDI) in Maine for generations. Eliot Cottage, fondly known as “The Big House,” was built by Nicky’s Great-Great-Grandfather, Samuel Eliot, in 1897. We’d initially talked about getting married in California, but decided that MDI—home to Acadia National Park—would be more meaningful to us and our guests. It’s bucolic and mysterious, serene yet full of attractions for the adventurous with its many hikes, views, and valleys.
It’s a long ways from the West Coast, but getting married there would give our friends a good reason to make the trek—and convince them to visit us again in summers to come.
How many guests did you have?
We had about 75 guests. We would’ve loved to include more, but our biggest restriction was how many people could fit on the back porch for dinner! In the end, the intimacy was perfect for us—we felt closer to everyone by the end of the weekend.
What was your budget?
Our entire wedding budget was about $40,000. Our budget allowed us to have additional celebrations—a Friday-night welcome party with by a sunset cruise around Frenchman Bay and dinner at the castle-like Turrets building at College of the Atlantic, along with tea and popovers at Jordan Pond House in Acadia National Park on Sunday.
Tell us about your outfits.
I only had one dress appointment before finding the one—which totally surprised me. I’d imagined wearing something sleek and minimalist, maybe silk, maybe a column dress with an organza wrap. When I tried it on, it was like nothing I’d seen before. The abundance and romance of the gown, designed by Maria Korovilas for BHLDN Blue Label, swept me away. It has some French Regency-era elegance to it, a timeless appeal or a modern heirloom feel. The cutwork and layers (three!) of pink tulle lining are just so delightful. My tailor gave the generous train the perfect 12-point bustle for dancing, and I wore vintage gold jewelry from my mother, Karen, and maternal Grandmother, Ruth. My shoes were comfortable heels from Dolce Vita in a natural raffia—I’ll definitely be wearing them again! For Nicky’s suit, we envisioned a rich, dark green from the start—just as elegant as black, but a more natural fit with the setting (and Nicky’s eyes); complementary to Kira’s dress and to the green, black, and weathered gray tones that characterize the house. His wool suit, shirt, and ivory tie are all from Suitsupply.
What was the most important aspect for you, in terms of planning your wedding?
Over 125 years old, Eliot Cottage has been lovingly cared for and retains much of its original style and features. For decades, Nicky’s relatives have dined on the long, wrap-around porch, celebrating marriages, birthdays, and the joy of summer. We like to say it’s haunted, in a good way—this was their summer home, after all! Joining that tradition in the most authentic way possible was important to us. We wanted to lean into the best of the house and the best of Maine summers, so we chose a menu reminiscent of shore dinners and picnic favorites, made plenty of time for dancing on the porch, and welcomed guests to relax around the house—in rocking chairs out front by the fire pit, inside by the cozy fireplace, or on the porch railing looking up at the stars.
Any tips for couples getting married?
Especially if you’re taking on some of the planning yourself, your to-do list will feel endless, but remember what it’s all for—to celebrate your partnership, to build lifelong memories with the people you love, and to have fun! I also think planning this wedding has made us better wedding guests—now we’re a lot more mindful of ways we can help the bride or groom, we’re more generous with our gifts, and we’re more outwardly appreciative of their efforts. So much consideration goes into creating a beautiful wedding, and one of the best gifts you can give a couple is to honor that effort with your thanks and enjoyment.
Are there any vendors that you would like to tell us a little more about?
We ordered bulk flower buckets from Salt Farm Flowers, and they delivered a stunning array of fresh, locally-grown blooms. The star of the show were the creamy white lisianthus—which held up for nearly three weeks after the wedding, letting the beauty live on. Our photographer, Parker Selman, came into the weekend like a gift from the heavens. Charming and personable and seemingly everywhere at once—she has the eye for finding the little moments that bring a memory to life. She made everyone feel at ease while essentially making art from the experiences we were having in real time. I found Parker here on The Anti-Bride. When I first reached out, I said I’d rather have 10 photos that I love and want to frame on my wall, like fine art—rather than a folder of 800+ images that might feel duplicative, posed, or forced. We clicked right away. She has pure talent in spades.
We were also blown away by the Super 8 film that Bennett Piscitelli created for us. Bennett is Nicky’s childhood friend from LA. He attended our wedding as a guest and his film was his gift to us. It captured the joy of the day better than words can express, and was a contribution that feels truly priceless.
Our catering came from Clark Point Catering, a local, women-owned small business that we met through family on the island, and from Jolie Rogers, an oyster purveyor located a few hours south of MDI. All of the food was fantastic and fresh and the logistics easy—we would recommend these folks to anyone.
And lastly, our coordinator Didi De Wilt from Leif Events + Planning. She helped us stay on track with our planning and ensure no details were missed, and on the day-of, was by our side keeping the event flowing and everyone calm. We loved working with her and all of our vendors!
Photographer : Parker Selman @parkers.pictures | Videographer : Bennett Piscitelli @bennettpfilms
Ceremony + Reception Location : Private residence in Northeast Harbor, ME (Mount Desert Island, ME) | Celebrant : Rob Lippincott | Day-Of-Coordinator : Leif Events + Planning | Rentals : Wallace Event Rentals @wallaceevents | Flora : Salt Farm Flowers @saltfarmflowers | Makeup : by the Bride | Hair : Emmy Emery @emmy_does_hair | Catering + Beverages : Clark Point Catering @clarkpointcatering + Jolie Rogers Raw Bar @jolie_rogers_ | Dress : BHLDN 'Marina' @bhldn | Suit : Suit Supply @suitsupply | Engagement Ring : VRAI @vraiofficial | Shoes : Dolce Vita | Jewellery : Vintage | Tailor : Irena Studio | Stationery : by the Bride
Commenti