Visit Martha Stewart Weddings Weddings Real Weddings A South-Meets-East Coast Nautical Maine Wedding By Shira Savada Shira Savada Shira is the former real weddings editor for Martha Stewart Weddings. Editorial Guidelines Updated on January 11, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Matt and Josh Jodi & Kurt Photography A Southerner and a Yankee walk into a bar. So began Matthew Mills and Joshua White's relationship, but it quickly became clear that their connection was no joke. After just two weeks, the Washington, D.C.-based duo—Tennessee-born Matt works at a law firm, Maryland-bred Josh for the Department of the Treasury—were a couple, even adopting a dog together. Seven years later, the pair invited 14 friends for a week in a rental house on Cape Cod, a region where Josh's family vacationed when he was a kid, for Josh's birthday. One evening Matt surprised him with a proposal, and their guests—including relatives who had come for dinner—with an engagement party. Fifteen months later, on October 11, 2014, the boys were back on the shore, this time at the Newagen Seaside Inn in Maine, to exchange vows in front of 108 loved ones. The wedding was a coastal affair, with a serene blue-and-white palette and a rehearsal dinner at a classic waterfront joint. But it also had a South-meets-East Coast theme, with everything from the foliage on the chuppah to the welcome bags honoring the grooms' upbringing. After a civil service that incorporated Jewish, Christian, and secular texts came cocktails and appetizers (including biscuits and Benton's country ham, cured in Matt's hometown). Then everyone stepped into a tent for a meal of roasted squash soup, fried green tomato caprese salad, and a surf and turf of smoked beef brisket and lobster rolls. Next came a dessert buffet of the grooms' favorite childhood treats, including black-and-white cookies for Josh and a hummingbird cake for Matt. The pair's first dance was to "Fools Rush In," made famous by Elvis Presley, which fit the speed of their romance and the event's theme (the King lived in Memphis). The dance floor stayed packed until around 10 p.m., when the band asked everyone to gather on the lawn, where the unsuspecting crowd was rewarded with fireworks over the ocean. "We wanted to end the wedding with something our guests would never forget," says Josh. They accomplished that, and—much as on the night they met—once again made sparks fly. 01 of 13 The Invitations Jodi & Kurt Photography The letterpressed suite, mailed using vintage stamps, included a postcard reproduction of a 1920s illustration of the venue as its RSVP card. 02 of 13 Welcome to Maine Jodi & Kurt Photography Almost all guests traveled from out of state—some even journeyed as far as Alaska, Israel, and Australia—for the destination wedding. Upon arrival, each received a box with water, blueberry-flavored salt water taffy (an homage to Maine), a MoonPie (made in Tennessee), Cape Cod potato chips, a personal note from the couple, a custom guide book for the weekend, and a hand-drawn map of Southport Island created by Laura Hooper. 03 of 13 Shalom Y'all! Jodi & Kurt Photography "Shalom,Y'all" signs welcomed guests in a nod to Josh's Jewish heritage and Matt's Southern roots. 04 of 13 The Wedding Party Jodi & Kurt Photography Groomsmen, "groomsmaids," and flower girls wore shades of blue, a color the pair chose to "convey a sense of calm," says Josh. As for the grooms, they sported ensembles from My.Suit. Get More Non-Traditional Wedding Party Ideas 05 of 13 Festive Socks Jodi & Kurt Photography Josh accessorized with lobster-covered J.Crew socks. "They were a gift from my mom, since the wedding was in Maine and all," he notes. 06 of 13 An Adorned Ceremony Structure Jodi & Kurt Photography Watershed Floral decorated the birch branch chuppah with magnolia leaves, hydrangeas, blackberry branches, and eucalyptus. See More Beautiful Chuppahs 07 of 13 Cities Far and Wide Jodi & Kurt Photography Many of the guests' resident cities were represented on the couple's wayfinder sign that was painted by the couple's calligrapher, Laura Hooper. 08 of 13 Double Duty Escort Cards Jodi & Kurt Photography Avid gardeners, the couple added calligraphed tags to seed packets, which doubled as escort cards and favors. See More Floral and Plant Favor Ideas 09 of 13 The Tent Setup Jodi & Kurt Photography Fourteen farm tables filled the tent, each set with centerpieces arranged in mercury glass vases, mint julep cups, and bud vases under glass cloches. Mostly in shades of blue and green, they included hydrangeas, dahlias, magnolia leaves, thistle, blackberry branches, African violets, and other assorted potted plants. "Three sides of the tent offered water views and the fourth overlooked the resort," event planner and designer Amber Karson of Karson Butler Events explains. "There was gorgeousness all around! And as Matt and Josh entertain all the time, they wanted the reception to feel like an amazing, elegant dinner party. So the tent was designed to reflect that goal." Get Tent Decorating Ideas 10 of 13 The Place Settings Jodi & Kurt Photography Guests' nicknames were written on a strip of linen and wrapped around a patterned napkin topped with a blue eryngium stem. See More Gorgeous Table Settings 11 of 13 A Dance Floor Decal Jodi & Kurt Photography Coordinates of the venue and a compass rose were applied to the dance floor. 12 of 13 Sweets Galore Jodi & Kurt Photography A dessert spread of childhood favorites, including red velvet whoopie pies, meant no waiting for the cake to be cut and more time for dancing. See More Red Velvet Wedding Desserts 13 of 13 Sources Jodi & Kurt Photography Location, catering, and desserts, Newagen Seaside InnEvent planning and design, Karson Butler EventsFlowers, Watershed FloralPhotography, Jodi and Kurt PhotographyOfficiant, Sally Bullard of A Maine WeddingStationery, Cheree Berry Paper for MintedDay-of paper goods, calligraphy, and wooden signage, Laura Hooper CalligraphyCake, European Bakery, Inc.Music, RipcordRentals, La Tavola Fine Linen; One Stop Event Rentals; Sperry Tents SeacoastGrooms' suits and groomsmen's jackets, My.SuitJosh's bow tie and Matt's tie, Robert TalbottJosh's shirt and suspenders, Brooks BrothersJosh's and Matt's shoes, Allen EdmondsJosh's watch and Matt's cuff links, CartierJosh's cuff links, Thomas PinkMatt's custom shirt, Wm. Fox & CoHair, Fred Hawck of Wicked SalonGroomsmaids' makeup, Sadie Barrera of Wicked SalonGroomsmen's pants and flower-girl dresses and cardigans, J.CrewGroomsmaids' dresses, BhldWedding rings, Blue NileOutdoor lighting, The Event Light ProsFireworks, Central Maine PyrotechnicsNautical compass decal, ZapoartSeed packets, Botanical InterestsBlack-and-white cookies and hamentashen, Sweets Melissa & Sons Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit