Real Wedding: Megan & Robert
Ceremony Music: Maiden Vermont
Coordination: Megan Sontum
Invitations: Matthew Pauk
Makeup: Waterfalls Day Spa
Reception Site: Waybury Inn
Although sharing several mutual friends, Megan Sontum and Robert Liljedahl were introduced completely by chance. Their first meeting, as a matter of fact, was a result of "Find the Cutest Boy at the Bar," a game Megan and her friends were playing on that fateful evening. Megan initially spoke with one of Bob's friends, but had her eyes set on her future husband the whole time. Eventually, with the aid of some of Bob's pals, the two got to talking and finally, phone numbers were exchanged.
Living in Boston, the couple decided to have a picnic down by the Charles River. Friday nights were usually reserved to going out and being involved in all the hustle-bustle of the city, but this night was different for Megan and Bob. The two of them shared the private picnic and enjoyed some appetizers and wine before the "first course." When Bob asked Megan to grab the meal out of the bag, she didn't find their dinner, but rather a little box with a gorgeous ring in it. Down on one knee, Bob began "the sweetest proposal a girl could ask for."
With Megan hailing from Middlebury, VT and the two of them frequently skiing in the Green Mountain State, picking a location was fairly easy. Megan always dreamed of having a hometown wedding in the fall, and with her parents living close-by, her wish came true. Eventually they settled on having the ceremony at the Mead Chapel in Middlebury, and the reception at the nearby Waybury Inn in East Middlebury.
With a background in design, Megan opted for a color scheme of navy and burnt orange with a touch of green to go with the season. These colors were included in everything in the wedding, from the attire to the gift bags. They also elected to include a ski theme, as the sport had been a huge part of both their lives and the rehearsal dinner was held at a ski lodge where Megan had grown up. The cake topper depicted the bride and groom riding a chair lift, escort cards were made from lift tickets and the tables were named after their favorite ski runs, which were marked by handmade wooden ski signs crafted by Bob. In lieu of gifts, guests were asked to make donations to a local handicapped ski organization and instead of a guestbook, a pair of antique wooden skis were available to sign.
While all the wedding vendors were fantastic, including the in-house caterers and the floral designers, it was photographer Spencer Leonard who stole the show. Being fun to work with and having a great attitude, Leonard quickly became a friend to the Bride and Groom. He appeared to be everywhere at once and even "willingly" put his life at risk while walking backwards through traffic to shoot the procession through town.
Immediately following the "I dos," Megan's mother's singing group, Maiden Vermont, sang the same wedding song used in her parent's wedding. Her parents' toast was equally as special as it highlighted the importance of friends and family. With guests dancing from start to finish, the evening was concluded with the bride and groom crowd surfing, something Megan never expected to do in a wedding dress.
Megan and Bob suggest picking a theme that defines you as a couple. Being able to showcase a certain part of your personalities makes the wedding day all the more special. Also, taking care of all the planning well ahead of the wedding date allows extra time before the event to just relax and enjoy being together.