Fitz & Lacey's Cozy Wedding at the Portland Masonic in Portland, ME

Fitz and Lacey are a couple of engineers living and working out of Portland, ME, and when we first met them almost exactly a year ago for some photos in their hometown we knew right away how fun their wedding the following winter would be. It’s becoming a bit of a tradition for us to photograph a single wedding in the middle of February, and while winter weddings always run the risk of a little excitement (read: weather related stress), this would be considered a part of the plan for these two. When we asked them why they wanted a winter wedding they without hesitation told us it was so that they could spend their anniversaries partaking in their shared seasonal passion: downhill skiing. This sort of practical planning makes a lot of sense to us, and we honestly try to encourage folks to think more like this as they plan their own weddings. Fitz and Lacey seemed to have struck the perfect balance between honoring their guests and never forgetting that this was their day - a truly remarkable achievement.

Their venue, the Portland Masonic, is an an austere but oddly charming building that sits overlooking greater downtown and, at least on the roof top, has a view of the main harbor. It’s gilded wooden interiors are surprisingly grand and offer a warmth that’s more than welcome on chilly February afternoons. When Fitz and Lacey first arrived on site for a first look before the ceremony the skies were clear and their anticipation was palpable. Not twenty minutes after they first saw each other the wind kicked up, snow clouds rolled in, and a wintery scene enveloped the city. We had hoped for something like this for Fitz and Lacey, and seeing them caught in the emotional whirlwind of their wedding day while snowflakes danced around them and their families outside was so beautiful.

The rest of the evening, from the ceremony to cocktail hour to dinner and dancing by candlelight, felt like an ode to not just Fitz and Lacey as individuals but them as a partnership, a team. We’re absolute saps that cry at nearly every wedding we photograph, but Fitz and Lacey’s wedding really did a number on us. It feels impossible to overstate just how lovely it was to watch them feel the embrace of their guests, see the smiles on their faces, and photograph the clear pride they took in pulling the wedding off together. As we packed up and said our goodbyes we wished them well on their honeymoon, which as one may have guessed, was to be spent on the slopes.

Venue: Portland Masonic
Coordination: Nicki Libbey
Catering: Blue Elephant
Dress: Anthropologie
Hair: Wild Offering
Music: The Music Man DJ
Cake: The Sandpiper Bakeshop
Rentals: A+ Party Rentals
Film/Processing: Kodak Portra 400/800 / Kerry’s Warwick Photo