A summer celebration at a beloved family home in the heart of downtown Bar Harbor— with guests who flew in from around the world to be there
There are venues that photograph beautifully because they are pretty, then there are places that photograph beautifully because they are real. Marsden and Tom’s garden party wedding was the second kind.
Tom has been coming to this house his entire life. His summers were spent on these grounds, and on wedding day, those same grounds held the people he and Marsden love most. Friends and family who had flown in from Los Angeles, Texas, and all the way from Australia to celebrate with them.
That’s the thing about a whimsical garden party wedding done right. It doesn’t need to be over the top. It just needs to be real.
“When a couple chooses their family’s home, they’re not settling for less — they’re choosing the one place where every details holds a story.”
Getting ready at The Balance Rock Inn
The morning began just down the street at The Balance Rock Inn, one of Bar Harbor’s most beautiful properties. The inn’s sweeping lawn, pool, and blue hydrangeas set the tone for everything that followed: soft and quintessentially Maine.
It was also where Marsden departed in style to her ceremony. A classic vintage car pulled up, veil spilling out behind her — one of those arrival moments that needs no direction whatsoever.
When Your Style Does the Designing for You
Marsden’s approach to her wedding day look was the same as her approach to the entire day. Considered and entirely her own. She wore a minimalist gown with a show-stopping open back and a delicate neck scarf that added an editorial edge. For her bouquet, she opted to be more involved that the average bride. Going as far as to design it herself with her florists at Salt Flower Farms.
Her cathedral-length veil caught the light in every single frame it entered. Her shoes were the kind of choice that rewards a close look. And the finishing touch? Bracelets borrowed from her grandmother. A family heirloom piece that added a layer of meaning no stylist could have sourced.
Their guests were equally as thoughtful. Linen blazers, floral midis, scarves, and intricate clutches. For anyone planning a wedding and wondering how to make a less-designed space feel elevated: the answer is almost always in what you wear and how you carry yourselves. This post on colorful wedding inspiration has some gorgeous examples of couples who let their palette and fashion lead.
Tips For Planning Your Backyard Wedding
When I’m photographing at a private home, here’s what I’m looking for and what I’d encourage you to think about as you plan.
- Natural architecture. Porches, brick paths, garden walls — these are your backdrops. Marsden and Tom had a Victorian farmhouse with a covered porch and that long brick corridor. We used every inch of the property, from the ceremony backdrop and the curved walkway for the aisle to the musician’s setup.
- The light at golden hour. Private properties almost always have open sky somewhere. A well-designed cocktail hour can give guests a beautiful experience while you and your partner steal away for portraits in the best light of the day.
- Distract your guests with food: Project Social handled catering, and if you haven’t heard of them, they are one of Bar Harbor’s most beloved spots. From welcome parties to intimate gatherings in the heart of downtown, they bring a warmth and intention to their food that feels completely at home at a wedding like this one. The lobster rolls alone had guests circling back for thirds. Oysters were provided by Waukeag Neck Oyster Company. Shucked fresh on the lawn, served on nautical linen, as Maine as it gets.
Invest in fashion. This is my biggest piece of advice for couples with simpler venues. Your dress, your suit, your accessories — they become the visual anchors of your gallery.
On the logistics side, Brides Magazine’s backyard wedding planning guide is one of the best resources I can point you toward. It covers permits, rentals, restrooms, and all the practical pieces that make the day run smoothly. And for design inspiration, Vogue’s wedding planning guide is a wonderful reference for couples who want their aesthetic to carry the day.
The After Party & Marsden’s Second Look
The after party called for something looser, lighter, more her after hours. She slipped into a second look that felt like a full exhale, and the energy of the entire evening shifted with it. The group moved the celebration to a local Bar Harbor spot where two of their closest friends, professional DJs, took over the music and kept the night going long past any reasonable hour.
This is one of my favorite things to witness: that moment a bride stops performing “bride” and just is. The dancing is different. The laughter is louder. The photographs are, honestly, some of the best of the entire day.
What “Simple” Actually Looks Like
Marsden and Tom’s wedding may not be highlighted for its grand florals or its table scape. But, it has been one of my favorite galleries of the year to sit with because every photograph is real. The roses were already there. The house has always looked like that. The light fell the way it always does on a summer afternoon in New England.
Simple doesn’t mean unremarkable. Sometimes it means exactly the opposite.
If you’re drawn to this kind of day, I would love to be the one to photograph it.
Connect with me today about your upcoming garden party wedding!
Marsden and Tom — thank you for letting me into one of the most personal places a couple can share. Your beloved family property is beautiful and it was the perfect setting for your beautiful garden party. These photographs are going to be the kind you pull out and look through for the rest of your lives.
Vendor Credits
DJ – Conor Cook
Hair & Makeup – Kevin Murphy
Reception Outfit – Shonajoy set with vintage Chanel sequin jacket & Zadig & Voltair cowboy boots
Dinner + Dessert – Project Social Bar Harbor
After party – Lompoc Cafe
Flowers – Salt Farm Flowers, designed by bride
Reception Tent: Wallace Events
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Emily Brianne • April 16, 2026
