Weddings in the Rangeley Lakes Region

Rangeley Region Lake Cruises offers Wedding Cruise Packages during the summer months.

Weddings by the Season

The Rangeley Lakes Region and its dazzlilng scenery will most likely be the focal point for your special day no matter if your wedding is framed by fall colors or kissed by the powdery breath of snow. Besides each other of course. Each season does have its charms. In fall, as mentioned, Mother Nature pulls out all the stops. Hardwood trees like the maples and aspens change from greens to reds, golds and yellows that rival the sunset. Day or night your wedding is blessed by Her palette.

Winter weddings are usually indoors but a number of wedding venues offer sites with stunning views of the lake, mountains and forests. Bundle up and head outside long enough for a few photos or combine your wedding with an impromptu ski trip. Spring welcomes new life and once again Mother Nature pulls out that paintbrush. Exchange vows in a lakeside meadow blessed with wildflowers and serenaded by colorful songbirds signaling their approval. In summer the days are long and the nights warm, perfect for that lakeside sunset wedding ceremony and outdoor reception. Dance the night away and welcome the sunrise, which at this time of year also comes pretty early.

No matter what time of year you choose for your Maine wedding, chances are the heavens will be filled with stars and that big yellow moon will be shining down in all its glory. The remoteness of the Rangeley Lakes Region makes those stars seem even closer. On your wedding night, look up, pick out your own special star and make a wish. Mother Nature would approve.

Photographers

It wasn’t until the advent of flashbulbs and easy loading film rolls that photographing the actual wedding became the thing to do. Prior to World War II the bride and groom would typically go to a studio to have their formal wedding portrait taken. Today wedding memories are captured on digital cameras and can be shared worldwide via the wonders of cyberspace. If you’re looking for something a little more classic, Portrait Studios can give you a special studio portrait to help you remember your big day. In the Rangeley Lakes Region photographers will immortalize your wedding day, no matter if it’s on the banks of a quiet lake or fronting the aisle in a historic church. The key is to book your photographer as soon as possible, particularly if you have a Saturday wedding date. Tami McGarvey Photography has been creatively immortalizing weddings in the Rangeley area since 1986. Terri Rae White is another local favorite.

All Things Floral

No matter the wedding venue you’ll want to dress up your event with Mother Nature’s blossoms. Sunrise View Farm is one place to start, offering custom floral arrangements, bridal bouquets, arbors and fragrantly scented potted flowers and plants for your special day. Floral designs for both indoor and outdoor venues are available. Sandy River Greens, in the heart of Rangeley, also offers its creatively designed Wildcraft Weddings & Celebrations.

Churches for Your Special Day

You’ll have no shortage of places in Rangeley to say “I do.” Reeds Mill Church, also known as “The Little Church in the Wildwood” is one historic option. Built in 1892 the church, located in Phillips, is surrounded by trees and greenery and can accommodate wedding parties of up to 100 people. Another historic option is the Union Log Church dating back to 1916 and as the name implies, built entirely of logs. Located in Oquossoc, in 1984 the church was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The vintage brick red and white Our Lady of the Lakes Catholic Church is also in Oquossoc but closer to the water. St. Luke’s Catholic Church, the Rangeley Free Baptist Church, the Rangeley Congregational Church and Church of the Good Shepherd are all in or close to the Rangeley town core.

Wedding and Reception Venues

Celebrate your wedding with the slopes of Saddleback Mountain as a backdrop. The Saddleback Lodge in all its rustic post and beam splendor is a spacious indoor alternative that can accommodate up to 250 people and a perfect setting for a winter wedding. The dining room at Bald Mountain Camps overlooks Mooselookmeguntic Lake, a sunset-perfect venue for your reception. Bald Mountain also does offsite catering and rents out tents, tables and chairs. The Gingerbread House Restaurant in Oquossoc offers a garden room for wedding receptions and also does offsite catering.

Loon Lodge with its lakeside setting is perfect for both weddings and receptions. The company offers year-round wedding packages, some including lodging for the wedding party and guests. In summer exchange your vows overlooking the lake in an outdoor area able to accommodate large wedding parties. In the winter the ceremony comes inside but is no less grand. Who knows, you may even decide to tie the knot in white wedding furs within steps of Rangeley Lake.

Another lakeside option is the Rangeley Inn, a historic country property that dates back to 1877. Weddings are held by the lake, in the century old lobby or in the elegant reception room. The entire property may be rented out with enough advance notice. The Country Club Inn, also lakeside, hosts weddings for up to 60 people. If you are looking for a more intimate wedding venue, the North Country Inn Bed & Breakfast is also lakeside and surrounded by trees and open green space. An official justice of the peace is already onsite.

The Kawanhee Inn sits on the shore of Webb Lake near Mt. Blue State Park. Weddings are offered lakeside, a stunning setting framed by mountains and stately pines. Larger parties are welcome to use the rustically historic main lodge. A fixture in the Rangeley Lakes Region since the 1930s, you and your guests may opt to spend a night or two in a main lodge guestroom or a quiet lakeside cabin. Wedding packages include a Sunset Buffet option and a Timeless Wedding Package that includes a suite for your wedding night. Celebrate your new lives together while sipping Dom Perignon Champagne and sampling decadent chocolates.

Exchange vows on the Bridal Bridge at the Sugarloaf Resort. Indoor options include the Bell Interfaith Chapel or one of several function rooms. Catered receptions may also be held inside or out and range from flavorful hors d’oeuvres to formal gourmet affairs. The onsite wedding planner can help with your wedding plans from beginning to end.

Wedding Music

To add some musicality to your special day, try the Gull Pond Music Studios. Susan and Victor Borko, both professional musicians, bring their talents in classical guitar, voice, piano and flute to weddings and other special events.

The Oquossoc Lady – Arrive at Your Wedding in Style

Rangeley Region Lake Cruises offers you the chance to arrive at your wedding aboard the “Oquossoc Lady.” Imagine motoring across the water dressed in white, escorted by the one doing the honor of walking you down the aisle. At the end of the ceremony you board the boat once more with your new spouse for a celebratory cruise for two. Perhaps you’ll sail off into the sunset, or maybe you’ll just take a quick ride to your reception venue. The Oquossoc Lady can handle up to eight people. Thrill your guests and arrange for back to back mini-cruises for those wanting that “Oh So Maine” experience.

Maine’s Rangeley Lakes Region & Franklin County Directory Listings: