In lieu of a receiving line, the couple personally visited all their guests’ tables, delivering homemade cookies as is the tradition in Allie’s family.

June, the traditional month for brides and all that is wedding white, was not a consideration as they planned their special day.

Allie said, “I didn’t want a typical wedding in bridal season. We live in Maine; it’s beautiful here in the winter and Nick loves the snow. Besides, I wanted to honeymoon somewhere warm when it was cold here.”

The January 26, 2013 snowflake, winter wonderland-themed wedding took six months to plan. There were invitations with silver-embossed snowflakes and “Save the Date” snowflake magnets with a photo of Allie and Nick throwing snowballs in an artificial snow shower staged by wedding photographer, Jill Piper.

Allie said, “What we didn’t realize until afterward was that we were barefoot in the picture. We never thought to bring boots.” Oops!

Planning a winter wedding in Maine can be precarious.

The couple wanted snow, but the week before their big day weather reports predicted a storm and January ushered in the flu. Illness did keep some guests home.

However, Maine, like a well-mannered guest, dressed herself gently in a mantle of white and, on the eve of January 25th, delivered her wedding gift, a light dusting of snow for a sparkling landscape.

Dressing in style for the weather

The next day, Allie slipped into her sleeveless taffeta gown with a sweetheart neckline despite the frigid temperature, her embroidered bodice of crystals, pearls, and metallic detailing echoing the crystallized world outside.

In her upswept hair, she wore a crystal snowflake comb and her shoulders, like those of her attendants, were draped in a white fur stole fashioned by her mother.

Outside, the berry-hued attendant gowns popped next to winter’s blanket of white. The bride, flowergirl, and bridesmaids lifted their skirts for one photo to reveal feet clad in Ugg boots, the bride’s were fur-lined.

Beautiful scene at the church and reception

At the church, the setting was serene. The altar was simply appointed with white flowers and pews were marked with white velvet bows accented with silver snowflakes. No additional sparkle was necessary as Allie and Nick exchanged their vows to become husband and wife.

The Riverwatch Hilton Garden Inn hosted the reception and, to Allie’s surprise, added their own snowflake-themed decorations to compliment hers. Tables were scattered with artificial snow and designated with rhinestone markers.

The room was accented by blue up-lighting; a white wedding cake with snowflake detailing and an ice cream bar highlighted the menu.

In do-it-yourself fashion, Allie created centerpieces from clear, glass vessels filled with white twinkle lights and white silk flowers sprayed with glitter. Each arrangement was banded with a berry-colored ribbon affixed by a snowflake accent.

As a guest book, the couple purchased an old-fashioned sled that Nick refinished. Engraved with “The Roberges,” the sled was displayed at the entrance to the reception room and signed by their guests. It now serves as a winter decoration as well as a wedding keepsake.

Capture the special moments

Their photographer played a key role in capturing their snowflake theme through pictures. Piper photographed the couple outside through a paper snowflake cutout placed over her camera lens, propped a frame in the snow and created a wintery portrait within a portrait.

One of her photographs captured the newlyweds facing one another with the snow-capped Great Falls of the Androscoggin River as their backdrop.

By lucky or divine coincidence, the wall graffiti from across the river “Hope” and “Love” appeared between Allie and Nick, defining the moment as though it had been planned.

The favorite shot of the bride, however, was a close-up of the couple sharing a newly-married kiss. Above them were the clouds, full with the promise of snow and edged in all the shades of winter – slate blue, icy gray, white, yellow and charcoal. All around them floated Allie’s sheer veil, rippling in a slight breeze, enveloping them in a frosting of shadow and light.

Allie smiled at the photograph capturing that perfect winter moment.

“Then we were off to Jamaica. And the best thing was when we returned there was snow on the ground and Nick got to go snowmobiling. We had the best of both worlds.”

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