Meghan & Alex's How to Train Your Dragon Wedding at Estate at Seven Elms | Lebanon, Maine Wedding Photographer
Some couples have a theme.
Meghan and Alex have a lifestyle.
If you've ever wondered what happens when two people become completely obsessed with How to Train Your Dragon and somehow make it classy enough to fit into one of the prettiest wedding venues in southern Maine... this is your answer.
Their wedding at Estate at Seven Elms in Lebanon, Maine was packed with personality, happy tears, handmade details, and enough dragon references to make Toothless proud.
How Meghan & Alex Met
Their story starts in a pretty unexpected way.
Meghan was in graduate school in North Carolina with one of Alex's friends. Coincidentally, both Meghan and Alex were going through breakups around the same time. Their mutual friend eventually got tired of being everyone's unofficial therapist and decided the two sad people should just talk to each other instead.
So... they did.
A lot.
Through Skype.
What started as two people helping each other through rough breakups slowly turned into something much bigger, eventually leading them all the way to their wedding day in Maine.
The Proposal
The proposal was perfectly "them."
They had already decided they wanted to get engaged and planned the ring together, so Alex found another way to surprise Meghan. He proposed quietly at home with just the two of them... and, of course, their cats.
After soaking in the moment privately, they made their public announcement in front of Alex's high school students. (He's a teacher, so I'm sure his classroom got a lot more interesting that day.)
A Beautiful Morning at Estate at Seven Elms
When I arrived at Estate at Seven Elms, the barn already looked incredible.
Every table was perfectly decorated with handmade potted plants created by one of the bridesmaids and beautiful dried floral centerpieces that Meghan, Alex, and their wedding party had put together themselves. It was one of those weddings where you could tell everyone had poured a little piece of themselves into the day.
Upstairs, the girls had completely taken over the bridal suite. Instead of hiring a glam squad, everyone was helping each other with hair and makeup, taking turns steaming dresses, and keeping the flower girls entertained with coloring books. It felt relaxed, cozy, and honestly just like hanging out with friends.
Downstairs, things were... exactly what you'd expect from a room full of guys.
There was plenty of tie tying, plenty of jokes, a few emotional moments, and absolutely zero shortage of chaos.
The Greatest First Look I've Ever Seen
I've photographed a lot of first looks.
I've seen fake mustaches.
I've seen groomsmen dressed up in ballgowns.
But Meghan may have officially won.
Before Alex turned around, Meghan walked up wearing a full Night Fury onesie over her wedding dress.
Yep.
She tapped him on the shoulder, and when he turned around, he completely lost it laughing.
It was absolutely perfect.
Only after getting the laughs out of the way did she unzip the onesie to reveal her wedding dress, and that's when the tears started.
The How to Train Your Dragon theme wasn't just a tiny detail sprinkled throughout the day. It was everywhere. Dragons decorated the reception tables. Their matching sneakers featured dragon artwork. Even their wedding rings carried the theme. If you're going to commit to something, commit all the way, and these two absolutely did.
Private Vows Before the Ceremony
After their first look, they stepped away for private vows.
These are always some of my favorite moments to photograph because nobody is performing for a crowd. It's just two people saying everything they've been waiting to say.
There were lots of smiles.
Lots of tears.
And a few moments where neither one could get through a sentence without laughing.
Those are always my favorite kinds of vows.
A Heartfelt Ceremony
After finishing family portraits, everyone gathered for the ceremony.
One of the most meaningful parts was having Alex's father officiate. He kept things heartfelt, personal, and just the right length.
Then came one final surprise.
Just when Meghan thought the ring exchange was over, Alex pulled out another ring he had secretly planned without telling her. Needless to say, she was completely caught off guard.
I love when couples still manage to surprise each other on a day they've spent months planning.
Actually Enjoying Cocktail Hour
Because Meghan and Alex chose to do a first look, private vows, and family portraits before the ceremony, they were able to spend cocktail hour doing something most couples never get enough time to do...
Actually enjoy it.
Instead of disappearing for portraits, they wandered through cocktail hour talking with guests, hugging family members, thanking everyone for making the trip, and simply soaking in the day.
That's one of the biggest reasons I love first looks. They give couples more time to actually experience their wedding instead of feeling like it flies by.
A Reception That Was Completely Them
Rather than making a grand entrance into the reception, Meghan and Alex started the evening with gratitude.
They welcomed everyone themselves, thanked guests for coming, and introduced every member of their wedding party while recognizing everything they'd done to help make the day happen.
It was such a thoughtful way to kick off the celebration.
The reception had all the classic moments….a beautiful first dance and some unforgettable parent dances, but there were plenty of personal twists, too.
Meghan's dad wasn't exactly interested in slow dancing. He spent most of the song spinning and whipping her around the dance floor while everyone laughed.
Alex and his mom ended their dance with the classic Peanuts dance, which kicked off the open dance floor.
Instead of rushing everyone onto a packed dance floor for the rest of the evening, guests relaxed with puzzles, played Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots, chatted, laughed, and simply enjoyed being together.
It fit these two perfectly.
Ending the Day
As the reception settled into the evening, we slipped outside one last time for sunset portraits.
There's always something special about those final photos. The timeline is finished, the nerves are gone, and couples finally get a chance to breathe.
You could see it on both of their faces.
They were married.
The planning was over.
Now they simply got to enjoy being husband and wife.
Meghan and Alex created a wedding that never tried to be trendy or fit anyone else's expectations. Every part of the day reflected exactly who they are, from dragons and matching sneakers to heartfelt vows and Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots.
Honestly... that's what makes a wedding unforgettable.
Meghan and Alex, thank you for trusting me to tell your story. Spending the day with you, your families, and your wonderfully goofy group of friends was an absolute blast. I'm incredibly grateful I got to be the one documenting it all.
