Camp Kieve in Nobleboro, Maine is a special place for Lucy and Erik. Not only did they meet there, but they spent three summers together as counselors at the camp, making irreplaceable memories and having an absolute blast. When the couple got engaged, they wanted to bring back that nostalgic camp feeling. Lucy and Erik could think of nothing more fitting than to invite their dear friends and family to their very own camp wedding weekend retreat.

“We chose Labor Day weekend so everyone could really get an opportunity to enjoy the camp and all it had to offer. It is a very special place,” the couple says.

The first, and luckily, the only issue was figuring out where all the guests would sleep. Erik and Lucy staked out Harriet House, which is the nicest cabin the camp uses for alums and corporate guests. The couple’s parents stayed in small guest cabins on the lake, while most of the parents and older guests stayed in the retreat center on the campgrounds. The rest of the guests stayed in the camper cabins which the couple says made for great memories. With every guest staying at the camp, the wedding truly had camp vibes.

“Our [wedding] website, Camp Pelletier, was designed to look like the official Camp Kieve website, with the permission of the camp, of course. That was a lot of fun designing,” the bride says.

Lucy and Erik’s website provided detailed travel options for guests, including; planes, trains, buses, car rentals, carpool rides, Uber, limo service and family member pickups.

The couple created a logo of a paddle and thistle in navy and white (their chosen colors), which was made as a look-alike to the camp’s logo. Invitations included a map of Maine on the back and a separate card had the schedule of events for the weekend. A poster of the schedule also hung in the main dining hall. When guests arrived, they found flannel shirts monogrammed with the couple’s logo rolled up on their bunk beds, along with personalized koozies and M&Ms.online research and referrals.

The couple did extensive online research and took referrals in order to locate their ideal vendors.

“My mom had experience planning numerous parties and events and back in the day considered wedding planning full time, so we were very fortunate to have her help,” Lucy says. “We used Pinch Me Planning for the coordination and boots on the ground, which we could not have done without. We knew what we wanted and miraculously we pulled the entire weekend off without a hitch.”

In the end, Lucy and Erik’s destination wedding felt extra special because it gave friends and family time to get to know each other and experience the camp. Several of the guests even extended their trip to explore various parts of Maine, which they all raved about. Many guests had never been to the state and were overwhelmed with the beauty.

For other couples looking to plan a destination wedding, Lucy and Erik advise you to take lots of deep breaths and enjoy the process as much as possible. Afterall, your wedding should be just as fun as camp.

Vendors: Photographer: Rachel Buckley Weddings; Wedding Coordinator: Pinch Me Planning; Ceremony/Reception Site: Camp Kieve; Florist: Yellow Twist Floral Studio; Stationery: How Impressive!; Cake: Barn Door Bakery; Gown Designer: Sareh Nouri; Groom’s Clothing Designer: Peter Millar; Wedding Caterer: The Bread + Butter Catering Company; Rehearsal Dinner Caterer: Fire & Company; Wedding Band: Take it To The Bridge; Rentals: One Stop Event Rentals; Bed Linens and Towels: Pratt Abbot; Catered Weekend Lunch: Fernald’s Country Store