An intimate August wedding at an Airbnb, a goofy hibachi dinner, a sunset drive to a secret spot, and a groom who “can’t stand pictures”

“I felt so comfortable with you instantly and just knew you would show up and do your thing and I had not a worry about anything!!”

That’s what Melissa wrote to me a month after her wedding, and honestly, it’s the best compliment a wedding photographer can get. It’s also exactly how I hope every couple feels.

Meet Melissa & Patrick

Melissa reached out after seeing a comment I made in a Facebook group. They were planning a small wedding on fairly short notice, about 30 people total, at an Airbnb in Newry, Maine. No big production, no rigid timeline. Just the people they loved in a place that felt like theirs.

By her own description, it wasn’t “the typical wedding,” and that’s what I loved about it. Melissa had no shot list for me. She had one request: a few golden hour portraits. Patrick, who she’ll tell you is not a fan of pictures or attention, was happily along for the ride and mostly wanted to make her happy.

The Day

I arrived to a house full of happy chaos, so I jumped right in. Getting ready, family milling around, last-minute details. I didn’t hover or stage things. I just joined the fun and photographed what was already happening.

Golden Hour

As the evening started to soften, we left the Airbnb and drove to one of my secret sunset spots. It’s a place I save for moments like this. The light was perfect, and with just the two of them, Patrick relaxed completely. No stiff posing, just two people who clearly adore each other.

Melissa says those photos still leave her speechless. And Patrick? She told me that, after the golden hour photos, his happiness is what everyone talks about most. Hearing that means the world to me. Capturing someone who dreads the camera looking truly, openly happy is my favorite kind of challenge.

Dinner, Hibachi Style

Melissa and Patrick brought in a hibachi chef to cook for their guests, right outside at the Airbnb. He was goofy and fun, and he had everyone laughing the whole time. He even blew up some silly balloon hats for guests to wear. At one point, he squirted sake from a bottle while guests tried to catch it in their mouths. Picture a sizzling grill, 30 people gathered around, and nobody taking themselves too seriously.

It’s a great example of how a wedding doesn’t have to follow a script. Dinner became the entertainment, and it kept everyone together, which gave me the kind of candid moments I love to photograph.

What It’s Like to Work With Me

A lot of couples worry about what the process will feel like, so here’s how it looked for Melissa and Patrick:

  • Easy start: From the first message, her questions got clear answers, and the contract was simple to follow.
  • Steady communication: I sent reminder emails leading up to the wedding, so nothing slipped through the cracks.
  • No shot list needed: When a couple trusts me, I take their few must-haves and photograph the rest as it unfolds.
  • Quick gallery turnaround: Melissa got her gallery back fast, and I followed up afterward to make sure she was happy.

In Their Words

“I booked with Erin on fairly short notice for a small wedding. Her communication was on point and continued up to the day. She took the few ideas I had and captured them so perfectly – even better than I could have imagined. She arrived and jumped in immediately joining in on the chaos and blended in so well. She captured the true happiness in everyone so effortlessly. Took us to the perfect spot for some golden hour shots. My gallery was returned super fast and left me with the most perfect memories of our day.”
— Melissa, Google review

Planning a Small or Non-Traditional Wedding?

You don’t need a big venue, a long timeline, or a shot list to get photos you’ll treasure. If you’re dreaming of something small and relaxed in Maine, I’d love to hear about it.