Alex + Leah’s Ocean Gateway Wedding

Cheers to Alex and Leah for their beautiful wedding at the always amazing Ocean Gateway in Portland, Maine. I love a coastal Maine wedding, especially at Ocean Gateway. Alex and Leah are an amazing couple and were so much fun to be around!

Chinese Wedding Traditions

The day started with the soon-to-be bride and groom getting ready with all their finishing touches. Alex’s mom helped pin his boutonniere. He wore a tie that was made of the same fabric as Leah’s dress, which was cute! Leah’s veil belonged to her friend Becky, adding a sentimental touch. Following Chinese tradition, Leah wore a stunning red dress, which was also hand-made. They wanted to stick with primary colors as their theme for the wedding—red, blue, and yellow—which created a vibrant atmosphere for the day.

First Look

After the couple was ready, they met at the Arch Bridge in Deering Oaks Park for their first look. The lush greenery of the park provided a picturesque setting for this intimate moment. I captured some photos of the family and also as they opened the Maine postcards they had written to each other, filled with heartfelt messages.

Narrow Gauge Railway

One of the coolest parts of the wedding was their unique transportation—the Narrow Gauge Railway. Known for turning into the Polar Express in the winter for kids, they rented it out for their special day. They knew the conductor even though they aren’t from Maine! The train took them from Ocean Gateway to Fish Point on the Eastern Promenade, where they got married in the park. The overcast day made Leah pop in her dress, and the couple looked happy as ever as they said their “I do’s”.

Ocean Gateway Reception

After the ceremony, the newlyweds and all their loved ones got back onto the train to head to Ocean Gateway for the reception. Instead of flowers, they used fruit as their centerpiece, which not only looked cool but also tied in perfectly with their primary colors theme. They encouraged their guests to take the fruit home as favors, which was a unique and practical idea. They did have some florals, the gorgeous peonies were from Leah’s aunt’s flower farm. The night continued with Leah’s family singing a song—they call themselves “The Cole Family Singers” and only appear at major family occasions, which was a fun and heartfelt highlight. They also had a video game station for the kids, which kept them busy and allowed the adults to have a great time on the dance floor!

What a perfect day for an amazing couple! I wish nothing but love for Alex and Leah and am so happy I was able to be part of their big day!