A Rustic Fall Barn Wedding in Maine

Scotsman Jeffrey Hope moved to the States to complete his medical residency, but once on duty in the Duke emergency room in North Carolina, work and love quickly mixed. In the beat of a heart, he fell for nurse Jayme Day. After a first date to a bluegrass concert, a love affair began between the pair. Two and a half years later, on October 26, 2013, the couple tied the knot with an evening rooted in family traditions. 

The couple's love of puns created a unique title for the celebration. Combining Jayme's maiden name, "Day," and Jeffrey's last name, "Hope," the theme "Our Day of Hope" was born and branded the wedding website, programs, and thank-you cards.

Jayme and Jeffrey chose to marry in Maine because they moved to the area months before the wedding. The couple planned the event with Maine Seasons Events, but incorporated their Carolina meeting ground into the celebration with moonshine drinks, a bluegrass band, and square dancing.

Square save-the-date cards hinted at some of the flowers to come on the big day.

To continue a childhood tradition of making Valentine's Day cards together, Jayme and her mother designed the save-the-dates and the stationery themselves, including a hand-painted bramble. "We enjoyed making them so much, we chose to either hand-stamp or handwrite every item in our wedding suite," Jayme said. "We mailed the invitations with vintage stamps, each symbolic in telling the story of us."

Jayme's mother, Suzanne Day, sketched a wedding-day timeline to keep guests on schedule. At the top of the timeline, the couple's two cats, Selah and Thor, were illustrated in Highland wear holding a banner announcing the celebration of the "Day of Hope," while their dog, Harper Jo, was pictured next to a bonfire wearing L.L. Bean Boots.

Jeffrey sported traditional Scottish attire for the ceremony, including a Scottish-made kilt, tweed kilt jacket, and waistcoat. The groom added a childhood memento to his ensemble -- a bow tie from his first middle school dance.

His bride glowed in an ephemeral gown by Jenny Packham, a beaded crown by Mignonne Handmade, silk tulle veil by Jean Gallagher, shawl by Crochet Butterfly, and shoes by Rachel Simpson.

Jayme's seasonal bouquet, designed by Flora Fauna, was made of thistle, dahlias, amaranth, seeded eucalyptus, calla lilies, and roses. The florist snuck edible chocolate cosmos into the bouquet for Jayme to enjoy preceremony.

The bridesmaids wore purple and magenta J.Crew dresses along with handmade shawls by Trendy Knitting to keep warm in the crisp autumn air.

Each bridesmaid carried a petite bouquet similar to Jayme's (with a mix of blooms like dahlias, ranunculus, roses, and lavender), and like the bride, wore a piece of Jayme's late grandmother's jewelry.

Jeffrey and his groomsmen donned traditional Scottish attire for the wedding festivities.

Jayme and Jeffrey exchanged vows at First Congregational Church in North Yarmouth, Maine.

Jayme walked to the ceremony with her mom, uncle, and bridesmaids. She explains the quiet, intimate moment as "a thoughtful decision loaded with symbolism of grounded humbleness and of being surrounded with love and support."

The wedding ceremony included a Celtic hand-fasting ceremony to honor the couple's Scottish and Irish heritages. The embroidered cloth from Strike Daekins Designs featured flowers, the newlywed's initials, and the wedding date. Jayme left extra space on the cloth with the intention that the couple's future children could embroider their own initials and wedding date on it.

Jayme's childhood priest and family friend officiated the wedding. Her bridesmaid, Tiffany, sang throughout the service, adding another heartfelt touch to the ceremony. Jayme's uncle escorted her down the aisle, and close friends read biblical passages. As the newlyweds exited the church, their guests tossed flower petals.

The groom's brothers played the bagpipes as they directed the newlyweds out of the church, with a parade leading guests across the street to an open-air cocktail hour at the The Barn on Walnut Hill.

Upon arrival to the reception at The Barn on Walnut Hill, guests enjoyed seasonal cocktails in the venue's alfresco kitchen: pumpkin old-fashioneds and cran-apple moonshine punch.

A sentimental illustration adorned a wall of the reception area. Flower girl Emma, (Jayme's best friend's daughter) drew a picture of the couple that represented her first interaction with Jeffrey. When first meeting Emma, Jeffrey was wearing a T-shirt with the Cookie Monster's face on it, and when he began impersonating the character, he instantly won Emma's heart.

On blank folded cards from Paper Source, Jayme stamped a signature "J&J" by Antiquaria on the front of the menu and handwrote the dinner selections on the inside.

The couple incorporated local eats into the decorations by creating edible centerpieces of bread, cheese, dried fruit, preserves, and honey. The tasty decor provided another vegetarian option for guests to enjoy. Fire Roasted Catering baked fresh bread, and Blue Hill Farms supplied the cheese and dairy.

Seasonal centerpieces adorned the tables at the reception. Flora Fauna designed loose arrangements that were placed atop the linen runners. The displays included thistle from Scotland and foraged leaves.

Assorted silver vessels held arrangements of roses, mini hydrangea, dahlias, and amaryllis.

The young Scottish boys found their place settings brimming with a multitude of toys, such as Slinkies, coloring books, dinosaurs, and NERF balls, to keep them entertained throughout the dinner. Jayme loaded the girls' table with candies, pastries, nail polishes, and crayons and covered the table with kraft paper. Throughout the evening, the girls presented the couple with illustrations of the bride and groom and of the wedding festivities.

Fire Roasted Catering roasted all menu selections on an open fire for the "farm-to-table" fete. Guests dined family-style on delectable courses, including an autumn salad with acorn, farro, beet, and field greens and cider vinaigrette; seasonal grilled vegetables; and local harvested lobsters in seaweed with herbed drawn butter. Children munched on gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches.

The caterers cooked apple crisp with fresh creme anglaise in skillets over the open fire. Fresh ingredients filled the tasty dessert: freshly picked heirloom apples and local dairy. Tea and coffee served in a mix of family heirloom china provided the finishing touch.

Jayme and Jeffrey hired a five-piece bluegrass band for their reception. The couple two-stepped to the Avett Brothers' "Swept Away," and then danced a country swing to Old Crow Medicine Show's "Wagon Wheel." Guests joined in by circling around the dancing couple with linked arms.

The tiered pumpkin cake was layered with blackberry puree, cream-cheese frosting, and fresh blackberries. Bright flowers and crisp greenery topped the confection.

Drawing inspiration from her childhood favorite movie, Jayme sported a thistle crown fashioned after Maid Marian from "Robin Hood Prince of Thieves" for the bonfire, which also commemorated her new role as a Scottish bride. She completed the getup with L.L. Bean Boots and an Irish hand-knit fisherman's cardigan.

The evening concluded with hot toddies and s'mores enjoyed bonfire-side. The couple led everyone in a sing-along accompanied by the bluegrass band. Later, the bagpipes joined the band as family and friends sang traditional Irish folk tunes.

Photography: Meredith Perdue

Locations: North Yarmouth Congregational Church and The Barn on Walnut Hill

Event Planning: Maine Seasons Events

Catering: Fire Roasted Catering

Flowers: Flora Fauna

Stationery: Antiquaria

Cake: Katie Made Bakery

Music: Joe Walsh [mandolin and vocals]; Erica Brown [fiddle and vocals]; The Stowaways; DJ Bob Wilson

Rentals: One Stop Event Rentals and Maine Seasons Event

Groom's Kilt: Bespoke by Janet Eagleton MBE & Sons Perth; vintage jacket and waistcoat by William Anderson and Sons Edinburgh

Groom's Shoes: Ducker & Sons  Oxford

Transportation: BoMar Trans