Eighteen months later, and these two still leave such a mark on my heart. I may not always be the best at keeping up with my blogging, but for these two and the special place their day holds in my memories - I owe it to them to reminisce. Their story is simply too adorable not to share, and it’s still so vivid in my mind.

Who doesn’t love a movie-worthy beginning? These two first fell in love years ago at summer camp. After all the time that passed and all the years they spent knowing each other, they finally stepped into the next chapter of their lives together as husband and wife and I had the privilege of playing a special role in bringing it all together.

They easily could have filled a large venue. In fact, their wedding was a two-part series. When you think about two amazing people who had known and loved each other for so long, the guest list was quite frankly endless. But keeping things small and meaningful was important to them. The plan was to host the day at Gillian’s family cottage.

Although the day began with an unexpected rainfall, you would never have known it inside. The girls were surrounded by music, their favorite sweets, and joyful conversations, soaking in the excitement that this day had finally arrived. For Gill and Sam, a first look was a must—not only did they want extra time to celebrate with their guests after the ceremony, but they also cherished the quiet, intimate moment to exchange their vows just the two of them…well, and their sweet pup Gus, who never strayed far from his parents.

For me, the absolute highlight was the sunset cruise. I was lucky enough to snag a seat and watch the two of them literally glide across the water—smiling, laughing, and completely lost in the joy of the moment. Earlier in the week, Sam had surprised Gill with a newly purchased classic wooden runabout. The final, perfect touch to her wedding-day dream of sailing into the sunset with the love of her life.

It’s couples like this, and families like theirs, that make cottage wedding planning so incredibly rewarding. The intimacy, the laughter, the natural beauty of the setting… A cottage wedding isn’t just a celebration; it’s a story, a memory, and a love that will linger long after the day is over.