Schooner Olad Wedding | Camden, Maine Elopement Photographer

As someone who owns a couple sailboats of my own, the opportunity to capture a wedding on a schooner was a welcomed request! What a perfect way to have a small destination wedding on the coast of Maine. Not only was a beautiful August afternoon, but it was also during the Maine Windjammer Festival, meaning the harbor was extra full of classic vessels! After some quick family portraits in the Camden Amphitheater, it was time to board the Schooner Olad!

Schooner Olad Wedding Elopement Camden Maine Photographer-74.jpg

The Schooner Olad was built in 1927 as a yacht, and now serves as a scenic private charter vessel right out of downtown Camden, Maine.

view of Camden harbor from the docks
boarding a schooner in Camden, Maine
Schooner Olad Photos Flax Studios
Schooner Olad Wedding Elopement Camden Maine Photographer-15.jpg
Schooner Olad Wedding Elopement Camden Maine Photographer-18.jpg

Camden Harbor

As we set out toward open ocean, you get a great view of the Camden waterfront. If you look closely enough, you can even spot the Mount Battie tower as well!

Camden Harbor From The Water
View of Mt. Battie Tower from the Camden waterfront

Ceremony

Now that we were out far enough, it was time to get married! Captain Aaron performed the ceremony as family watched. You couldn’t ask for a better spot for an intimate Maine wedding like this!

Sailboat wedding ceremony
Schooner Olad Wedding Elopement Camden Maine Photographer-30.jpg
Schooner Olad Wedding Elopement Camden Maine Photographer-29.jpg
first kiss on the sailboat as husband and wife
Aboard the Schooner Olad
Camden Maine Windjammer Festival
Windjammer Festival on the Camden Harbor in Maine

With the harbor being so busy, the boat was motored out in open water before raising the sails. What a fun first act as husband and wife!

The Bride raising the sails on the schooner olad
how to raise the sails on a schooner
black and white photo of the bride on a sailboat

So many beautiful things to see from the water, including the Curtis Island Lighthouse just off the mainland.

Curtis Island Lighthouse
Schooner Olad Wedding Elopement Camden Maine Photographer-45.jpg
Schooner Olad Wedding Elopement Camden Maine Photographer-47.jpg
schooner olad wooden masts

This day was a particularly windy one, with winds forecast up to 25 knots! HOLD ON haha!

groom holding on as the sailboat keels
windy sailboat picture
group photo on the schooner olad

While out to sail, we were even graced with the presence of an adolescent eagle on the rocks! Some sunbathing seals as well.

Young Eagle on the rocks in Camden Harbor
seals sunbathing on the rocks

The bride and groom even had the opportunity to steer the vessel for a while.

bride and the groom captaining the schooner olad
Schooner Olad Wedding Elopement Camden Maine Photographer-67.jpg
flags on a sailboat
Schooner Olad Wedding Elopement Camden Maine Photographer-72.jpg
wet shoes on the boat
happy face rock
Schooner Olad Wedding Elopement Camden Maine Photographer-73.jpg
Schooner Olad Wedding Elopement Camden Maine Photographer-75.jpg

As we arrived back at the harbor, it was time to walk around downtown Camden some for some final portraits. A perfect way to finish up your wedding day before a fun evening out on the town!

black and white wedding photos at the camden library
Camden library outdoor patio
romantic wedding photos in Camden
bride and groom portraits at the camden amphitheater
dancing in the amphitheater in camden maine
black and white wedding portrait
wedding bouquet
back of the camden library
romantic view of the camden harbor waterfront

Jordan + Katelin | The Timber Hitch Farmhouse Wedding | Sangerville, Maine Photographer

Well…Talk about a day with some things you wouldn’t expect! A common thing I tell my clients is something along the lines of, “Don’t sweat the small stuff too much, because no one will even notice those things. Things sometimes don’t go as planned, so just go with it and make sure you have fun!”. What you definitely can’t prepare for is getting HAILED ON IN AUGUST just as you about to walk down the aisle. I mean seriously, you can’t make this stuff up! Thankfully, the rest of the day turned out to be gorgeous, and I’m so glad that Jordan and Katelin got to enjoy the rest of their wedding day. This was certainly a memorable one, and I hope you enjoy reliving the day through the photos captured below!

-At the end of this blog post is a link to the full album and ordering gallery-

The Timber Hitch Farmhouse Wedding Photos
wedding invitation stationary
close up of the brides engagement ring
little girl looking out the winder

Not everyone enjoys the wedding day, haha!

little girl crying on the wedding day
The Timber Hitch Farmhouse arbor
maine barn wedding groomsmen photos

Jordan and Katelin decided they wouldn’t be able to get through their vows in front of everyone, so they did something unique. Their vows were written out and given to each other to be read privately before the ceremony. There may have been some slight tears from both of them. :)

documentary wedding photography
the groom tearing up while reading his wedding vows
the bride tearing up while reading her wedding vows
black and white creative wedding angles
The Timber Hitch Farmhouse Wedding Photographer-28.jpg

This is the point when things go way off the plan! As the bridemaids began walking down the aisle, the skies grew extra dark with some slight raining. Just as Katelin was about to come out, the skies OPENED UP(as you see below), with heavy rain and hail. Things were quickly called off with everyone running into the barn for cover. Katelin made her way back into the house, which is where I found her. To someone who has dreamed about this moment for a long time, this was understandably upsetting. This is where having an awesome team of vendors come in! Since she decided she wanted to wait out the storm, the ceremony was delayed an hour. Katelin hid away with her bridesmaids for a private cocktail hour upstairs in the house, while all the guests began an early cocktail hour in the barn. Kudos to the Timber Hitch staff and Trinity Catering for being so accommodating!

wedding ceremony in the rain

Since we now had time to kill, Katelin had wanted a photo on her in the mirror. I got creative and grabbed a light so start putting together this shot below! Afterwards, the ladies continued their cocktail hour and practiced some dancing. The mood of disappointment quickly faded and the good times continued!

The Timber Hitch Farmhouse Wedding photographer flax studios

With things clearing up, the boys went out with squeegees and towels and began prepping to start the ceremony again!

cleaning the benches to prepare for the ceremony
timber hitch farmhouse ceremony site
The Timber Hitch Farmhouse Wedding Photographer-57.jpg
first kiss at the wedding ceremony
Timber Hitch Farm Wedding Party Photos
Bridesmaids Photos
The Timber Hitch Farmhouse Wedding Photographer-64.jpg
Nikon 105mm 1.4G Wedding Portrait

Reception

It was time for the festivities to commence! First dance, speeches, cake cutting, and parent dances. All followed by a great night of dancing!

wedding reception entrance
black and white first dance photos
capturing the first dance from a higher vantage point
end of the first dance spin
the bride tearing up during the speeches
maine barn wedding cake
Cake cutting ceremony
wedding shoe game
close up of the wedding rings

With the sun beginning to set, we went out for a few more portraits!

off camera lighting at sunset
black and white timber hitch farmhouse wedding photo
a walk at sunset with the bride and groom
timber hitch barn wedding flax studios
The Timber Hitch Farmhouse Wedding Photographer-113.jpg
The Timber Hitch Farmhouse Wedding Photographer-114.jpg
romantic black and white wedding photos

An awesome little tradition that The Timber Hitch Farmhouse is doing, is giving their couples a key to nail up in the barn with their names written beside it. Forever memorializing their moment there. I love this!!!

TIME TO DANCE!

The Timber Hitch Farmhouse Wedding Photographer-129.jpg

This kid was nuts! He danced like this for hours, and I wish I knew where the source of that kind of energy is…

kid going crazy on the dance floor
Timber Hitch Farm at Sunset
sparkler exit
The Timber Hitch Farmhouse Wedding Photographer-143.jpg

Sometimes I like to mix up the way I shoot the dancing. Below I “dragged the shutter”. With a slow shutter speed and lights, I can freeze the subject while creating a blurry effect around them. A fun effect for party time!

dragging the shutter

A bridesmaid may have stolen my camera at one point….

The Timber Hitch Farmhouse Wedding Photographer-160.jpg
The Timber Hitch Farmhouse Wedding Photographer-161.jpg
The Timber Hitch Farmhouse Wedding Photographer-162.jpg

Thank you Jordan and Katelin!

-Vendors-
Photographer - James Flachsbart
Makeup- Makeup by Samantha Clark
Venue- The Timber Hitch Farmhouse
Cake- Got Cake? in Maine
Flowers- The Robin's Nest
Dress- Blush Bridal & Formal - Portland
Suit- The Henry's Bridal Boutique and Formal Wear
Catering- Trinity Catering
DJ or Band- DJ Hoss Live
Officiant – Tim Faulkner

Want see the rest of the photos or make orders? Click the link below to see the full album and make orders for a limited time! 
 

FULL WEDDING ALBUM LINK