Turtles! Brunch! Dogs In Ties! This Rainbow Lesbian Wedding Is All About Furever Love
With the serene backdrop of Woodbound Inn in Rindge, New Hampshire, on September 2nd, 2018, Caitlin and Kris exchanged their vows in a picturesque celebration. The offbeat pair, with Melissa Koren Photography capturing every special moment, embarked on a new chapter together.
Our offbeat wedding at a glance:
We chose to celebrate our special day with a private ceremony followed by a lively brunch reception. The festivities featured a delectable buffet spread, signature sangria, and engaging games like Jenga, custom Connect 4, Scrabble pieces with personalized messages, and word search cake designed by Caitlin. To make the celebration even more memorable, we incorporated subtle nods to our proposal story at the Southwick Zoo, where Caitlin surprised Kris with tortoises.
This included custom-designed logos featuring turtles, paper straws with turtle cutouts, hand-knitted coffee sleeve favors doubling as a seating chart created by Caitlin’s grandmother Marcia, and additional turtle-themed decorations throughout the venue. As it was a lesbian wedding, we naturally wanted to incorporate rainbows into our celebration. The seating chart and favors were arranged in rainbow order across the barn wall, with each table featuring a different color of the rainbow.
We also had rainbow-themed Jenga, custom-made wedding bands, and a vibrant floral veil inspired by another Offbeat Bride’s unique cathedral veil creation. Other personal touches included a knitted version of Caitlin and Kris created by Caitlin’s grandmother, a purple wheelbarrow, welcome bags for overnight guests, centerpieces designed by the couple themselves, wooden table centerpieces crafted by Kris’ father, and arrow signs made by Caitlin’s dad.
Given that the venue was dog-friendly, we couldn’t resist including our three furry friends dressed up and welcoming four other canine guests! We also set up a doggy cake featuring pumpkin and word search themes matching ours, as well as doggy goodie bags, a custom hashtag for our dogs, and even a selfie station for both humans and pups. And, to top it all off, we had a cat cutout adding to the fun.
Tell us about the ceremony:
Our intimate gathering of loved ones and furry friends set the tone for a truly unique and memorable private ceremony by the beach. The officiant, Jen, was none other than Kris’ childhood best friend, who brought her signature humor to the proceedings with a customized reading that had us all laughing. As Caitlin made her way down the aisle accompanied by her service dog, Kalli, and parents, our own canine companions, Nikola and Kizzi, were eagerly awaiting Kris at the altar.
The relaxed atmosphere was further enhanced by the creative naming of the wedding party – ‘Mates of Honor’ and ‘Captain Officiant’ – which added to the laid-back charm of the day. With Caitlin’s parents walking her down the aisle and Kris’ parents taking charge of the pups when it was time for the reading, everything flowed smoothly.
The uncle-to-be of one of the grooms even treated us to a beautiful acoustic rendition of ‘Can’t Help Falling in Love’, while Twenty One Pilots’ version of the same song got everyone dancing at the reception. To top it all off, Kris had a special surprise in store for Caitlin – two veils that not only added an element of drama but also complemented her stunning dress perfectly.
Tell us about your reception:
Our celebration kicked off with a special performance by standup comedian Omar Capra, who had even surprised us with a drag rehearsal dinner the night before! To keep things meaningful and classy, we opted for a unique brunch reception, complete with nods to our shared love of dogs, turtles, and LGBTQ culture. A highlight was the fun we had cutting into our cake – as well as the pup-friendly dog cake that followed.
Adding an extra layer of whimsy, Kris’ young niece and nephew handed out adorable doggy turtle cookie favors to any furry friends in attendance. Despite not having a traditional dance floor, there was plenty to engage with and discover throughout the space, from intricate geometric shapes to lush succulent displays and even a breakfast-themed guest book.
It was a true reflection of our personalities and interests, which made it all the more special – and fitting, given that our first date had also taken place over brunch!
What was your most important lesson learned?
We discovered the joy of delegating tasks when hosting a ‘Wedding Crafternoon’ just one week prior to the big day. Family and close friends were invited to bring items for the reception, which allowed us to share the workload and create an even more memorable experience. In hindsight, we would have asked for more assistance to tackle some of the smaller details we had planned. Nonetheless, taking on DIY projects is a wonderful way to make your wedding truly unique.
We found that those little touches can become the most cherished memories when looking back at our photos. This approach allowed us to create a one-of-a-kind celebration that continues to bring us joy even after the wedding has passed.
Vendors
Melissa Koren Photography beautifully captured the essence of the special day. The picturesque setting at Woodbound Inn provided a stunning backdrop for the celebration. Journey Ewell, the hostess with the mostest, ensured that everything ran smoothly and efficiently. A sweet treat was had by all thanks to Bean Counter Bakery’s delectable delights, while Quite Fetching added an extra layer of fun with their unique barkery creations.
The vintage charm of Off The Common Antiques’ decorations added a touch of whimsy to the space. Bride and groom looked radiant in their attire from Essence of Australia (dress) and JoS. A. Bank (suit). Julia’s Alterations made sure everything fit just right, while Styles By Suzi worked her magic on hair and makeup.
La Jolie Fleur brought the outdoors in with their gorgeous florals, and finally, Best Friend Jen Capra and Comedian Omar Capra ensured that the ceremony was filled with laughter and love.
