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Weddings

Our {Surprise!} Wedding Story

July 13, 2015July 16, 2015 Kelley 11 comments

Surprise Lake Sunapee, NH Wedding

Today is our second anniversary. Two years!! Part of me feels like we got married yesterday, and part of me feels like it’s been much longer–but in a good way. So much has happened!

I started this blog after we got married and haven’t shared much about our wedding, so I thought today would be a great day to share some details with you guys!

Surprise Lake Sunapee, NH Wedding

Surprise Lake Sunapee, NH Wedding

Two years ago, Dan and I threw a surprise wedding on Lake Sunapee in Sunapee, New Hampshire. We both love Lake Sunapee so much and actually lived on the lake for a year after college, so it was the perfect place for us to get married. We rented an amazing lake house near the base of Mount Sunapee with an awesome dock and back lawn to host a small gathering with family and a couple of close friends.

Surprise Lake Sunapee, NH Wedding

To pull off the surprise, Dan and I disguised the event as a BBQ engagement party. We told guests to dress casually and bring their swimming suits.

Our siblings were in on the secret and helped so much with planning and making sure everything went smoothly, but our parents thought they were at our lake-side engagement party. Right before the ceremony, we invited them and our siblings to the top floor of the house to let them in on the secret…

Surprise Lake Sunapee, NH Wedding

Surprise Lake Sunapee, NH Wedding

This photo cracks me up! Dan’s parents, Deb and John, were so surprised!

Surprise Lake Sunapee, NH Wedding

Surprise Lake Sunapee, NH Wedding

My dad telling me he “knew something was up the whole time.” Haha!

Surprise Lake Sunapee, NH Wedding

After the mini reveal, Meg, Dan’s sister, officiated a short and sweet ceremony in front of our loved ones. With Lake Sunapee in the background, it was exactly what we wanted.

Surprise Lake Sunapee, NH Wedding

Surprise Lake Sunapee, NH Wedding

Surprise Lake Sunapee, NH Wedding

After the ceremony, we grilled lunch, swam, and enjoyed hanging out by the lake.

Surprise Lake Sunapee, NH Wedding

Surprise Lake Sunapee, NH Wedding

Surprise Lake Sunapee, NH Wedding

Surprise Lake Sunapee, NH Wedding
Surprise Lake Sunapee, NH Wedding

Surprise Lake Sunapee, NH Wedding

Meg and our brother-in-law, Pat, surprised us with this incredible cake and cupcake pyramid from Eat Cake in Newburyport, MA. So good!

Surprise Lake Sunapee, NH Wedding

Surprise Lake Sunapee, NH Wedding

Surprise Lake Sunapee, NH Wedding

My mom makes the prettiest bouquets, and I knew I wanted her to make my wedding bouquet. But, under the circumstances, that was a challenge. A week before the wedding, I asked her to make a few bouquets that could sit on the tables during the party. That way, I thought, I could use one of her bouquets without telling her she was making my wedding bouquet. It worked out perfectly!

Surprise Lake Sunapee, NH Wedding

This amazing succulent wreath was made by Kristin and delivered by boat the morning of our wedding.

Surprise Lake Sunapee, NH Wedding

Our guests loved the “photo booth.” I bought a Fujifilm Instax Mini 25 and lots of film and set up the photo booth in the corner of the porch.

Surprise Lake Sunapee, NH Wedding

It was such a perfect day!

 

(Our wonderful photos are by Meg Hamilton.)

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11 comments

  1. Gram says:
    July 13, 2015 at 3:01 pm

    Love this, wish I could replay the event. It was such a grand time. The event was so Dan and Kelley. Love ya, Happy Second.

    Reply
    1. Kelley says:
      July 15, 2015 at 12:53 pm

      Me too, Gram! I’d do it all over again in a heart beat :) Love you! xo

      Reply
  2. Alexa says:
    July 13, 2015 at 4:27 pm

    This just made me tear up in the middle of a work day. You two are so lovely! What a special celebration. <3

    Reply
    1. Kelley says:
      July 15, 2015 at 12:52 pm

      Thanks so much, Alexa! Park date soon? xxoo

      Reply
  3. Aunt Cin says:
    July 14, 2015 at 11:15 am

    What an amazing day. Glad we could all be a part of it. Love and miss ya both every day. Very proud of all your accomplishments. Xxxxxxoooooooo

    Reply
    1. Kelley says:
      July 15, 2015 at 12:55 pm

      Thanks, Aunt Cin! Miss you! xx

      Reply
  4. Roberta says:
    July 14, 2015 at 4:18 pm

    Happy Anniversary. What a lovely wedding. I’m glad I had this chance to see the pictures of your special day. BTW. I read Dan’s, Danno’s, farm book to my grand daughter Charlotte Gray. What a wonderful surprise to learn that “Danno” is your husband Kelly. Small world. Lots of love to you both.

    Reply
    1. Kelley says:
      July 15, 2015 at 12:59 pm

      Thanks so much, Roberta! I hope you’re doing well. It’s been a long, long time since I last saw you! And, yes, such a small world. I hope Charlotte Gray enjoyed Dan’s book :) xx

      Reply
  5. Erin says:
    July 14, 2015 at 11:30 pm

    Happy anniversary, Kelley and Dan. It looks like you had an amazing day. Xoxoxo

    Reply
    1. Kelley says:
      July 15, 2015 at 12:56 pm

      Thanks, Erin! x

      Reply
  6. Roxi says:
    July 20, 2015 at 12:15 pm

    Just starting following your blog! I love this post and your casual approach to a wedding. Thanks for sharing. -Roxi

    Reply

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Kelley MacDonald

Kelley MacDonald

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