Erika and Carl
Date of engagement: Dec. 17, 2013
Date of wedding: May 30, 2015
Images by Kim Keyes Photography
Erika and Carl met at a game of Ultimate Frisbee and the bride says, “We were introduced at the tournament. I thought he played on the men’s team but he was in the Army and only came to North Carolina (where the bride resides) on weekends.”
After becoming engaged in 2013, the couple had a few years to organize the wedding, with Erika taking the lead in most of the planning.
“I am from NH and grew up going to my grandparent’s house in Wolfeboro. Carl is from NJ, but we now live in North Caronia with our dog Xerxes.”
Thus, the wedding was planned from afar, which meant that help from her family, who lived closer to the Lakes Region, was vital.
The reception and ceremony were held at Gunstock in Gilford. “My dad and grandparents actually chose Gunstock. Since Carl and I live in North Carolina, we couldn’t tour any of the venues. I had my parents check out a few places, including Gunstock. It was among the prettiest venues and could accommodate our (mostly my) ever-growing guest list!”
The day of the wedding was sunny, and that meant the ceremony could be held outdoors without any sort of tent coverage. Says Erika, “The ceremony was right outside the ski lodge at Gunstock. There is a beautiful wooden gazebo overlooking the pond close by. It was amazing.
She continues, when recalling the wedding plans, “I had SO MUCH help from my family! The wedding came together seamlessly and it was such a wonderful day. My dad, my bridesmaids, and Carl and I made our wedding favors. I made the signs and painted the table numbers and Carl and I made the programs together. My dad made our card box and my bridesmaid, Adrienne, helped me make the vases for the bridesmaids’ flowers and the place cards.
“My mother-in-law and I made the girls’ gifts (tie-dyed shirts to wear while getting ready for the wedding and long necklaces they could wear at the wedding), and Carl and I made the guys’ gifts (flasks with their names on each one wrapped in leather). We got the guestbook in one of my favorite shops in Wolfeboro called Stay Tuned.
“My mom (with lots of help from my step-dad) organized my bridal shower and rehearsal dinner and had both at her house. My aunt Abaigeal did an amazing job with the wedding flowers. I still get comments about how beautiful the wedding flowers were. We also wrote our own vows. I had my brothers do a reading and Carl’s sisters also did a reading at the ceremony.”
With a guest list of 250 people, the lodge at Gunstock was the perfect location due to its spacious size and rustic feel with the added ambiance of a stone fireplace.
Erika’s advice to others in the wedding planning process is to start early. “Get help when you can and trust that everything will turn out. You’ll be married at the end of the day. Don’t get caught up with the little things. If you don’t like something, ask for it to be changed. The answer might be yes or no, but if you don’t ask you definitely won’t get what you want. And don’t forget, on your wedding day, to eat something!”
From start to finish, Erika and Carl’s wedding was truly a family affair, with love from each and every member who helped along the way.
The Wedding Vendors:
Officiant/JP: Heather Cubeddu
Cake baker and cake flavor: Jacques Fine European Pastries (almond cake with nutella buttercream)
Florist: Abaigeal Burbank
How many maids and where were their gowns from? 5 bridesmaids wearing dresses in shades of green
Hair: Wendy and Marissa at Back Bay Salon in Wolfeboro
Photographer: Kim Keyes Photography. Says Erika, “My mom went to high school with Kim and I saw her wedding photography work on Facebook.”
Caterer and menu: Centerplate
DJ/band: DJ Scott Langlois from Cuzin Richard Entertainment
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