Isle au Haut, Maine Wedding with Hannah and John

Hannah and John live on Isle au Haut, an island six miles off the coast of Stonington, Maine. According to a conversation I had with a guest, while we ate homemade chocolate chip cookies together, there are under 50 people who live on the island year-round. That's what you call a tight-knit community. There is a general store, a congregational church built in 1857, and lots of veggie and flower fields. Dan and I have kayaked to the island once, and Dan and his friend have circumnavigated the island as well. It was really special to us to get to see a real local Isle au Haut wedding and meet the community.

We all took the forty-five-minute ferry over from Stonington. I was sitting with the pastor most of the trip. Afterwards, we all scampered away to our designated stations. John's crew all headed to their yurt, while Hannah's crew headed to the local librarian's home to get ready. Everyone else had jobs to do, too, like bake cookies, shuck fresh oysters, or set up the lemonade station. It was truly the cutest thing ever.

The ceremony was held on the shore, and boats that passed by waved and cheered at the happy couple. They knew each other. A few readings and a few vows later, they were officially married! We walked together to the church, where they held a Quaker signing ceremony. The family photos were in a fern gully, and then we played together outside the church for some cute couple photographs.

We headed to the reception in a boathouse, which was everything you imagine it to be. We met a dog named Gustavo. There were islanders of all kinds. Hannah and John started their marriage surrounded by community. That has to mean something really promising, don't you think?