Weddings & Events Go Kennebunks
Everything you need to know about planning the perfect wedding or event in the Kennebunks
The Maine character here
Laura Dolce Executive Director
Kennebunk
Kennebunkport Arundel Chamber of Commerce
CONTACT US
207.967.0857 gokennebunks.com
LOCATIONS 16 Water Street Downtown Kennebunk 1 Chase Hill Lower Village, Kennebunk
EThe Kennebunks provide a picture-perfect backdrop
Everyone talks about the bride at a wedding and, of course, she/they are the most important women there.
I didn’t really think about a ranking for weddings until a saleswoman helping me look at dresses that I worried were too clingy or revealing pulled me up short with, “after the bride, you’re the most important woman there!”
And so began my season as the MOB.
I’d done a lot of events in the Kennebunks over the years, so I knew we had wonderful venues and great business owners, but I didn’t realize how large a role Maine itself would play in making the weekend spectacular.
From the cocktails overlooking the water at Casa Seventy Seven to the rehearsal dinner on the deck at Cape Pier Chowder House to the
welcome party on Nick’s Chance (complete with July 4 fireworks!) to the wedding itself on the Nonantum’s sprawling lawn with the Kennebunk River as a backdrop, Maine itself was a main character – and the guests fell in love.
That allowed us to see it all with fresh eyes – the picture-perfect charm of the buildings, the sweeping water views and the genuine warmth of the people.
Our guests were blown away and we were, too.
And while everything was beautiful, that’s not to say it was effortless or easy. I learned a lot along the way and would love to share those lessons with you.
See Maine wedding, Page 18
The Kennebunks set the scene for unforgettable “I dos.”
Cover and Page 2 photo by Greta Tucker Photography
Sarah and Tyler were married at the Nonantum Resort in Kennebunkport on July 5.
Wedding Guide of the Kennebunks
BEAUTY SERVICES
BEAUTY SERVICES
207 LASER
45 Portland Road, Unit 9A, Kennebunk (207) 807-9376
207laser.com
Get wedding-ready with glowing, radiant skin through personalized treatments for brides, grooms and the entire wedding party.
Coastal Veil
73 York St., Unit 11, Kennebunk (207) 604-4138
coastalveil.com
Concierge hair styling and makeup services for weddings and formal events.
For the Love of Food & Drink
411 Post Road, Wells (207) 216-9927
fortheloveoffoodanddrink.com
Little Port Catering
41 Water St., Kennebunk (207) 985-0252
Littleportcatering.com
Maine Coast Bar Company
Wells (207) 752-0935
mainecoastbarcompany.com
Professional mobile bartending service specializing in weddings and private events.
Mobile Musette
artisanal cheeses and charcuterie made daily and delivered to your door.
Rustic Taps & Catering
186 Brackett Road, Unit 1, Gorham (207) 776-8991
rustictaps.com
Vintage beer truck and mobile bar services along with a variety of catering options ideal for weddings, events and festivals.
Smoke BBQ
58 York St., Kennebunk (207) 502-7311
smokebbqkennebunk.com
Serving regional BBQ classics smoked in a 100% wood fired smoker. 16 beers on tap. Everything is made from scratch.
CATERING / BAR SERVICES
CATERING / BAR SERVICES
Above & Beyond Catering
49 Shaw’s Ridge Road, Sanford (207) 459-4351
aboveandbeyondcatering.net
Traditional catering & bbq / corporate, weddings, social events / charcuterie boxes and grazing tables / bar service.
Kennebunkport (207) 204-0707
mobilemusette.com
The Port Box Company
Kennebunkport (207) 468-6650
theportbox.com
Luxury portable charcuterie boxes, curated
DESSERTS / SPECIALTY CAKES
DESSERTS / SPECIALTY CAKES
Chatterbox Bakery
Arundel (207) 752-2335
chatterboxbakery.com
Award-winning bakery.
Making the marriage legal
How to get your marriage license in Maine
So you’ve decided that you’re going to get married in the Kennebunks. On top of your venue and vendors, you’ll need a couple more things: A license and an officiant. Town clerks Merton Brown of Kennebunk and Tracey O’Roak of Kennebunkport offered these tips for getting your license and getting it right:
• Licenses are $40 and they’re good for 90 days.
• Give yourself 4-6 weeks for the process.
• Both parties must present IDs.
• If you were married before, you must show court annulment papers, a death certificate or a divorce decree.
• If you live locally, you must get your permit in
the town where you live. If you live out of state, you can get a license in any municipality.
• Some towns, like Kennebunkport, prefer you call and make an appointment. Others, like Kennebunk, take walk-in appointments.
• Couples need two witnesses for the ceremony.
• You can get married on a public beach in Maine, but you must take into account tides, parking and other things. Remember: You can’t stop the public from coming to your wedding on a public beach.
• Weddings can be performed by licensed officiants, clergy members, attorneys or anyone who has been licensed online.
Brown said he’s performed weddings at a number of different venues, including a gazebo in a town park, in and on the water, a hot air balloon, on the top of a mountain at Sunday River (and at just about all of Maine’s ski resorts), on a football field and in a ‘54 Chevy.
And he’s worked with cats, dogs, horses and llamas as part of the ceremony.
Brown has been marrying couples for nearly 50 years, but he said one still stands out in his memory. It was two gentlemen who decided to get married right after Maine legalized gay marriages.
“They were both 80 and had been together since they were 40,” he said. “They thought it was just a paperwork thing, then it hit them. I ended up being there for three and a half hours. I’ll never, ever forget it.”
Wedding Guide of the Kennebunks
ENTERTAINMENT
/ MUSIC
Absynth Entertainment, LLC
South Berwick (207) 690-1857
absynthdj.com
Mobile dj, event photographer.
Central Maine Pyrotechnic
Hallowell (207) 623-9285
centralmainepyrotechnics.com
Music Man DJ Service
Kennebunk (207) 468-7904
themusicmandjservice.com
The Music Man DJ Service provides DJ, emcee, lighting and photo booth services to your wedding or event in ME or NH.
TuneTown Music Gear
932 Sanford Road, Wells (207) 641-8863
tunetownmusicgear.com
Musical instrument retail and services, private music lessons and recording studio lessons.
EVENT
PLANNING / SERVICES
Azalea Events
Kennebunk (207) 229-4255
azaleaevents.com
Mainely Experiences
Kennebunk (207) 910-7230
mainelyexperiences.com
Curated coastal celebrations, pop-up picnics, and intimate events designed with local flair and unforgettable details.
Peak Event Services
169 Port Road, Unit 41, Kennebunk (833) 888-PEAK
peakeventservices.com
New England’s leading event rental provider offering tents, tabletop, furniture and more.
Weddings by Kaileigh
Kennebunk (207) 651-0989
weddingsbykaileigh.com
Offering day of coordination, partial planning, full planning and custom planning services for weddings and events.
EVENT VENUES / CEREMONY SITES
Above & Beyond Catering
49 Shaw’s Ridge Road, Sanford (207) 459-4351
aboveandbeyondcatering.net
Cozy modern farmhouse venue / indoor & outdoor space / ceremony areas, gardens / catering & bar.
Wedding Guide of the Kennebunks
Atlantic Hall
173 Main St., Cape Porpoise (207) 710-3560
atlantichall.org
A unique historic landmark available to rent for corporate meetings, seminars and social events.
Batson River Brewing & Distilling
12 Western Ave., Kennebunk (207) 967-8821
batsonriver.com
Blackrock Farm
293 Goose Rocks Road, Kennebunkport (207) 967-5783
blackrockfarm.net
Blackrock Farm offers fresh produce, cut flowers and the perfect backdrop for events of all kinds.
Caring Community Cuisine
2 Pier Road, Kennebunkport (207) 204-0707
ccckport.org
Church on the Cape UMC
3 Langsford Road, Kennebunkport (207) 967-5787
churchonthecape.org
The Elective (617) 320-4972
58 Main St., Kennebunk the-elective.shoplightspeed.com
Federal Jack’s Restaurant & Brew Pub
8 Western Ave., Kennebunk (207) 967-4322
federaljacks.com
Well-known for its spectacular views, creative pub fare and award-winning hand-crafted ales.
Johnson Hall Museum and Functions
2713 Post Road, Wells (207) 985-0015
johnsonhallmuseum.com
Historic tea room venue, lawn for tents, and vintage buildings for unique wedding photo backdrops.
Kennebunk Inn and Tavern
45 Main St., Kennebunk (207) 985-3351
thekennebunkinn.com
Reflecting the charm of Kennebunk, the Inn has welcomed travelers from all over since 1799.
Kennebunkport Conservation Trust
57 Gravelly Brook Road, Kennebunkport (207) 967-3465
kporttrust.org
We are a DIY venue set on a nature preserve; your event decor, caterer, entertainment, and schedule are completely up to you.
Kennebunkport Historical Society
125 North St., Kennebunkport (207) 967-2751
kporths.com
Lady Mary Inn & Tea House
2 Elm St., North Berwick (207) 676-2133
theladymaryinn.com
Historic inn and tea house.
Wedding Guide of the Kennebunks
The Lost Fire
62 Mills Road, Kennebunkport (207) 204-0123
thelostfire.com
True Patagonian wood-fired steakhouse. We feature the finest cuts of meat, cooked on our custom wood grills.
Motorland Maine Classic Car Museum
2564 Portland Road, Arundel (207) 602-6620
mainecarmuseum.com
Weddings | Welcome Parties | Groomsmen Experiences | Chauffeured Transportation | Engagement
Photos | Wedding Staging Props
Nonantum Resort
95 Ocean Ave., Kennebunkport (207) 967-4050
nonantumresort.com
The perfect setting for life’s special events.
Rhumb Line Resort
41 Turbats Creek Road, Kennebunkport (207) 967-5457
rhumblineresort.com
Indoor conference/event space or outdoor tented events, plus lobster bakes, to fit every budget.
Rococo Artisan Ice Cream & Dessert Bar
8 Western Ave., Shipyard Shops, Kennebunk (207) 360-0804
rococoicecream.com
Host your small, intimate event in a chic dessert bar with gourmet desserts, craft cocktails, and an elegant atmosphere.
Rustic Taps & Catering
186 Brackett Road, Unit 1, Gorham (207) 776-8991
rustictaps.com
South Congregational Church
2 North St., Kennebunkport (207) 967-2793
southchurchucc.org
Vinegar Hill Music Theatre
53 Old Post Road, Arundel (207) 985-5552
vinhillmusic.com
Intimate, vibrant community events & national artists including drive up and barn performances & movies.
Wandby Landing
46 Western Ave., Kennebunk (207) 849-8849
wandbylanding.com
Coastal Maine, Italian-inspired cuisine and vibrant bar.
Wells Reserve at Laudholm
55 Skinner Mill Road, Wells (207) 646-4521
wellsreserve.org
Rustic barn, spacious grounds, and stunning views. Your fees help protect and preserve this historic site.
Planning Starts Here!
Wedding Guide of the Kennebunks
OTHER EVENT VENUES / CEREMONY SITES
Arundel Wharf Restaurant
43 Ocean Ave., Kennebunkport (207) 967-3444 arundelwharf.com
Beacon of Hope Cooperative Church 1298 Alfred Road, Arundel (207) 499-7591 christchurchkennebunk.org
Breakwater Inn and Port Fish & Chop House 127 Ocean Ave., Kennebunkport (207) 967-5333 breakwaterinnmaine.com Ideal for weddings and events.
Casa Seventy Seven 77 Pier Road, Kennebunkport N/A - Walk ins only seventyseven.casa
Osteria by Chef Germán Lucarelli and Nano Crespo.
Chez Rosa 173 Port Road, Unit #3, Kennebunk (207) 204-0183 chezrosabistro.com
Upscale casual French Bistro and Bar, serving comfort food, made with locally sourced ingredients.
The Colony Hotel
140 Ocean Ave., Kennebunkport (207) 967-3331
thecolonyhotel.com
Dutch Elm Golf Course
5 Brimstone Road, Arundel (207) 282-9850
dutchelmgolf.com
First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church
114 Main St., Kennebunk (207) 985-3700
uukennebunk.org
Jillyanna’s Woodfired Cooking School
141 Wildes District Road, Kennebunkport (207) 967-4960
jillyannas.com
Kennebunk Baptist Church
77 Main St., Kennebunk (207) 985-4207
kennebunkbaptistchurch.org
A caring Christian community, traditional service, hymn-singing with grand piano and organ, beautiful stained glass windows.
Kennebunkport Resort Collection
Kennebunkport (800) 573-7186
kennebunkportresortcollection.com
Pedro’s Mexican Restaurant
181 Port Road, Kennebunk (207) 967-5544
pedrosmaine.com
Pilot House Restaurant
4 Western Ave., Kennebunk (207) 204-0709
thepilothouseme.com
Wedding Guide of the Kennebunks
St. Ann’s Episcopal Church
167 Ocean Ave., Kennebunkport (207) 967-8043
stannskennebunkport.org
Summer chapel - oceanside.
Ultramar
77 Pier Road, Kennebunkport (207) 987-2001
ultramar.restaurant.com
Seafood grill and raw bar. Fresh local seafood combined with Mediterranean flavors and authentic wood-fired cooking.
Wallingford Farm
21 York St., Kennebunk (207) 985-2112
wallingfordfarm.com
White Barn Inn & Spa
37 Beach Ave., Kennebunk (207) 967-2321
whitebarninn.com
Wine House on Main
17 Main St., Kennebunk (207) 467-3462
winehousemaine.com
Our intimate setting is a perfect space to host special occasions for small groups.
PHOTOGRAPHY / VIDEOGRAPHY
PHOTOGRAPHY / VIDEOGRAPHY
Brea McDonald Photography
Wells (207) 361-4806
breamcdonald.com
FLORISTS
FLORISTS
Copper Penny Flowers North
Kennebunkport (617) 852-4214
copperpennyflowers.com Floral designer.
OffMill Flowers
Kennebunk (207) 985-2831
offmill.com
Bespoke wedding and event florals.
Timeless wedding and portrait photographer with a focus on beach portraits.
Lindsay Levin Photo
Kennebunkport (207) 205-3112
levinweddingphoto.com
High-end wedding and events photographer with a unique editorial and documentary approach.
POSE Photo Experiences
Kennebunkport (617) 439-3900
poseypose.com
HONEYMOON PLANNING
HONEYMOON PLANNING
CIRE Travel (207) 805-3110
ciretravel.com
A concierge-style travel agency specializing in luxury honeymoons and epic vacations.
Custom photo and video booths/experiences.
Wedding Guide of the Kennebunks
TRANSPORTATION
TRANSPORTATION
Coastal Maine Carts
Kennebunk (207) 625-2050
coastalmainecarts.com Street legal golf cart/LSV rentals.
Intown Trolley Co. 21 Ocean Ave., Kennebunkport (207) 967-3686
intowntrolley.com
Private charters available for weddings, group tours and transportation.
Motorland Maine Classic Car Museum
2564 Portland Road, Arundel (207) 602-6620
mainecarmuseum.com
Weddings | Welcome Parties | Groomsmen Experiences | Chauffeured Transportation | Engagement Photos |
Wedding Staging Props
Pineapple Ketch 95 Ocean Ave., Kennebunkport (207) 888-3445
pineappleketch.com
Arrive in style or set sail as newlyweds! The Pineapple Ketch offers a memorable and romantic way to enhance your wedding day.
RideMaine
Kennebunk (207) 502-5067ridemekpt.com
Safe, fun transportation serving the Kennebunks. Private transportation available.
Photo by The Colony Hotel
The Chamber magazine is produced by those who know weddings and events best!
Photo by Wandby Landing Our Chamber staff can help you choose your photographer, venue and more!
HIGHLIGHTED VENDORS
Above & Beyond Catering/ The Ridge (207) 459-4351
Atlantic Hall (207) 710-3560
Batson River Brewing & Distilling (207) 967-8821
Blackrock Farm (207) 967-4050
Caring Community Cusine Cafe (207) 967-6501
The Church on the Cape (207) 967-5787
The Elective (207) 985-0850
Federal Jack’s Restaurant & Brew Pub (207) 967-4322
Johnson Hall Museum (207) 985-0015
The Kennebunk Inn & Tavern (207) 985-3351
Kennebunkport Conservation Trust (207) 967-3465
Kennebunkport Historical Society (207) 967-2751
The Lady Mary Inn & Tea House (207) 676-2133
The Lost Fire (207) 204-0123
Motorland Maine Classic Car Museum (917) 331-4949
The Nonantum Resort (207) 967-4050
The Rhumb Line Resort (207) 967-5457
The Rococo Dessert Bar (207) 835-1049
Rustic Taps & Catering (207) 776-8991
South Congregational Church (207) 967-2793
Vinegar Hill Music Theatre (207) 985-5552
Wandby Landing (207) 849-8849
Wells Reserve at Laudholm (207) 646-4521
Weddings
&
wedding and event venues can be found on Page 12.
Wedding Guide of the Kennebunks
Maine wedding, from Page 3
Your venue/planner can make or break your experience
There are a lot of incredible venues in the Kennebunks, from oceanside resorts to rustic barns to sophisticated restaurants and community spaces.
But as great as that variety is, none of it matters if it isn’t the right space – or staff – for you.
Details matter, even if the mother-of-the-bride lost hours of sleep over creating oyster shell menus with a pearl fastener!
1. What’s covered in the package they’re inquiring about? Setup, breakdown, hours, limitations around duties?
2. What is an example of a difficult situation you had to deal with on the day of the wedding, and what did you do to solve it?
3. Do they provide staffing to help with setup/breakdown and what’s their backup plan if they were to get sick/be unable to make it? For example, we have three coordinators and won’t take more than two weddings in a weekend so we have a backup!
Touring each venue (yes, I’m that crazy person who did a questionnaire and gave everyone a color-coordinated clipboard and pen) and asking LOTS of questions is definitely the way to go. At the end of the day, with two sets of parents, the bride and the groom tallying my crazy scoring sheets, it gave us a much better idea of what our priorities were and it was clear which venue ticked all those boxes.
Weddings by Kaileigh owner Kaileigh Drake suggested asking these questions when talking to a salesperson or planner:
Three days isn’t crazy
While the Kennebunks are home for us and my dad, for every other guest ours was a destination wedding. And destination weddings these days usually mean three days of activities: rehearsal and/or welcome parties, the wedding itself and then some kind of breakfast/brunch/ farewell party. While it can seem like a lot, it also allowed our guests to spend more time with us at no extra expense to them and to experience the Kennebunks at their best. Almost everyone who came joined us for all the planned events and that created even more memories for everyone.
And more of those memories are being captured in photos.
“I am doing a lot of intentional timeline work, crafting focused group/family photo lists rather than the generic check list,” said wedding photographer Brea McDonald, “and photo coverage at the welcome party/rehearsal dinner
Details matter, and brides (and MOTHERS of the brides) are taking note. Here are custom name tags at the rehearsal dinner.
is something all of my couples value.”
Curated guest info is important
Over the years, we’ve gotten hundreds of requests at the Chamber for our guidebooks so couples can put them in welcome bags. That’s all well and good, but it can be overwhelming for someone new to the area to digest that and choose things on the fly. Given what I do, we were able to create a curated guide to the Kennebunks that suited our guests. We knew we had golfers, lots of foodies and people who loved the beach, so we were able to give personal recommendations - with photos - both online and in the welcome bags. Good news!
The Chamber is now offering this service to all people having events here! Give us a call at (207) 967-0857 and we can chat about options.
Details matter
My daughter Sarah knew exactly how she wanted her wedding to look, from the blue and white hydrangeas to the candles in hurricanes to the positioning of the chairs for the ceremony to the blue and white fan-shaped wedding programs with blue tassels. I actually learned how to use a Cricut to make those programs AND the table cards AND the menus, which were oyster shells held together with a pearl fastener. Sure, I lost hours of sleep over those things (a MOB’s work is never done!) and had a million paper cuts, but people really noticed
GOOD NEWS!
the coastal vibe and the little touches that tied everything together. Especially touching were the letters Sarah and Tyler hand wrote to each guest and had waiting at our places.
Incredibly personal and touching.
It’s all a part of a bigger trend.
“I am seeing couples very focused on guest experience, time with their guests and keeping the day as stress free as possible!” McDonald said.
Everything old is cherished
Sarah and Tyler found ways to honor their grandparents who had passed on (she wore a ring of my mom’s and a bracelet of my mother-
The Chamber can help you customize your own guest recommendations! Give us a call at (207) 967-0857 and we can chat about options. Flip the magazine to
in-law’s. Her engagement ring was a reworking of my mom’s ring and incredibly meaningful.
That’s something McDonald is seeing more of as well.
“I am seeing an interest in nostalgic wedding details,” she said. “Reworking a family members vintage dress to wear at the welcome party, or
a veil passed down and reworked heirloom jewelry.”
Protect the memories
Here’s something I can guarantee: Things will go wrong. The bride’s hem will get stained. Your corsage might fall apart. A dish won’t be quite right. And you know what? At the time it might seem huge and frustrating. But don’t let it affect you or drag on to the point where that’s all you remember.
That’s because at the end of the day it’s about two people in love and families coming together - and those are the memories you want to hold onto.
I know I do, because my time as a MOB isn’t at an end yet. In September my oldest daughter is getting married, so we’ll have the joy of gaining a new daughter and bringing another family into the fold. I can’t wait.
