What a special moment it is when two friends realize they’re meant to be so much more. “We met at Babson College in 2008, we lived in the same dorm as freshman and were part of the same friend circle,” recalls Kelsey Kneeland of her budding relationship with Curtis Dulac. After convincing Curtis to be her partner for their school’s dance show, the pair grew closer than ever. “During the cast party after the Saturday show, I told Curtis, ‘I’ve had a crush on you since Wednesday,’ and he replied, ‘I’ve had a crush on you since Thursday,’” Kelsey gushes. Though the two wouldn’t actually date until two years later, it was a magical moment. “Ever since our first kiss in 2010, we’ve known it was meant to be,” she smiles.

Five years later, Curtis popped the question on Fourth of July Weekend in Maine. Though her parents were supposed to meet them for a boat trip, they claimed they were stuck in traffic, and the duo decided to brave the bay on their own. “As we made our way across the water, I thought that this might actually be great timing for a proposal, but knew that Curtis would never be so organized to pull off such an elaborate plan,” Kelsey laughs. As they neared the Portland Headlight, Curtis stopped the motor and began rummaging in the storage bins. “Suddenly aware of what might actually be happening, I looked toward the shore and saw a huge sheet being unfurled down the side of the rocks. Spray painted on the sheet were the words, ‘Kelsey, will you marry me?’” she muses. After her acceptance, the happy couple went to dinner and then back to the Dulac residence where both sets of parents – aware of the plan – had gathered to celebrate.

After 14 months of planning, weekly meetings, and plenty of visits from their home in Boston to Maine, the day had finally arrived. “We really had two venues – the church and the island. We had toured places up and down the coast of Maine, but quickly realized we wanted it to be local to where we spend our time there,” Kelsey notes. She donned a striking strapless trumpet gown with a low back for her stroll down the aisle. “It was really important to me to get married in a church. It just felt so significant and real to be in such a special and sacred place together with our loved ones,” she reveals. As her uncle is an Episcopal priest that had married her own parents, her choice of officiant was simple. Friends and family looked on as Kelsey and Curtis went through the traditional Greek crowning ceremony to honor the groom’s heritage. “We may not have gotten it exactly right given that my uncle is an Episcopal priest, but we tried and it was fun!” she tells.

Guests took a short drive and boarded a ferry to the newlyweds’ reception on a small island off the coast, followed closely by the wedding party. Upon their arrival, attendees could sense the bride’s vision for the space immediately. “I always knew I wanted hunter green to be the primary color. Not only is it my favorite hue, but I thought it would look good on all my girls, and would be a great accent to my red hair,” Kelsey explains. “It worked out perfectly that our boathouse venue was painted white with dark green trim, not to mention the pine trees lining the coast were an exact match.” The couple used a map of the island as inspiration for their creative escort card display and seating chart, which allowed guests to “find their island,” or their seats.

Rustic tablescapes filled the room, bedecked with soft ivory linens, long verdant table runners, and planter boxes brimming with the signature green foliage with small hints of white and burgundy, all resting underneath a fixture of fairy lights. Revelers enjoyed a gourmet menu that concluded with five different wedding cakes, the center of which displayed a custom cake topper that read “Two to Tango” as a nod to the bride and groom’s love story. “Those that know me best know that I thrive in the details, and that everything has some sort of significance,” Kelsey shares. “From the monogrammed napkins to the photo booth back drop, the homemade pillows in our lounge, the ribbon ties on our napkins, the signage, our seating chart – I think guests knew how much I had put into making our personalities and style shine through.” She adds that guest experience was incredibly important to the pair. “Our day was a little unconventional and we wanted everyone to focus on having fun!”