Portland, Maine City Hall Wedding with Beth and Sam

Beth and Sam traveled from Texas to get married at the Portland City Hall — one of our favorite places for small ceremonies. There’s something so honest about that space. The city clerk’s office isn’t fancy, but it’s filled with character — tall windows, wood trim, and that steady, everyday rhythm of people coming and going for marriage licenses, hunting licenses, and birth certificates.

Both Beth and Sam work in the world of opera — Sam is a singer, and Beth is a stage manager — but there was nothing theatrical about their day. They were calm, grounded, and quietly joyful. From the start, it felt like spending time with two people who simply knew who they were and why they were there.

The ceremony itself was short and sweet, but it had one unforgettable moment. When the officiant asked, “Do you, Beth, take Sam…” there was a long pause. Everyone froze for a second, unsure what was happening — but Beth was just completely lost in his eyes and hadn’t heard the question. Once she realized, she laughed and said yes without hesitation. The tension broke instantly, and everyone relaxed, smiling at how completely in-the-moment it was.

After the ceremony, we took a short drive to a nearby park where they exchanged private vows overlooking the ocean, away from the bustle of the city. They finished the day with their toes in the Atlantic Ocean.

It was an easy, heartfelt day — no production, no big guest list, just two people who clearly like being together.