The Sunday River Wedding of Dan and Colleen
“Danny and I have been going up to Newry, ME for years. One trip up, we went to North Peak at Sunday River and saw a wedding being set up. The setting was so beautiful that we decided then and there that when we got married, we would have our reception at the top of the mountain… We went with a rustic/woodsy theme. We had lots of wood slices, burlap and mason jars that decorated the tables. Our cake was made to look like a birch tree with our initials carved into it.” Colleen & Dan
A Wedding at Sunday River is always an adventure, but Colleen and Dan’s day? It was pure Maine magic from beginning to end. If you’ve ever dreamed of mixing mountain views, heartfelt emotion, and a reception at the top of a peak (accessed by ski lift!), this one’s going to steal your heart.
Before we get into the moments, let’s set the scene: Sunday River Weddings in Newry, Maine offer one of the most scenic backdrops anywhere in the state, and we paired that with timeless charm at the historic Artist’s Covered Bridge in Bethel, ME. As a Maine wedding photographer, I love when a wedding day blends natural beauty, personal meaning, and a couple with a great sense of humor — and that was exactly the vibe with Colleen and Dan.
Morning Prep at the Grand Summit Hotel
Colleen and Dan chose the Grand Summit Hotel at Sunday River for their morning preparations — a perfect home base for a Sunday River Wedding. The mountain views, warm wood interiors, and relaxed energy made it the ideal spot for Colleen to slip into her Pronuttia gown, surrounded by friends and quiet excitement.
Colleen, an oncology nurse at Mass General, carries a calm, grounding presence you instantly feel. Dan, a Boston firefighter, brings warmth, steady confidence, and just enough mischievous humor to keep everyone laughing. Together? They’re the kind of couple that makes photographing a Newry, Maine wedding a total joy.
“I’m an oncology nurse at Mass General Hospital. Getting dressed up and having makeup on is a rare thing considering I spend most of my time in scrubs.” — Colleen
The Groom
“Danny and the groomsmen wore charcoal grey suits from Jos. A. Bank. The ties were yellow and cobalt blue plaid from Brooks Brothers. All the boys had special lapel pins to match their personalities.” — Colleen
The First Look
“I can’t say enough about the first look with Focus Photography. I was so nervous waiting in the grass for Danny to tap me on the shoulder. It was such an incredible feeling to see my soon to be husband standing there looking so handsome. I started crying a little bit because I was so excited and overcome with emotion. I would absolutely recommend doing a first glance to any other bride and groom.” — Colleen
Instead of a big reveal, Colleen and Dan chose a quiet, private first look in the shaded gardens just outside the hotel. No audience, no distractions — just the two of them breathing together before the whirlwind of the day. These are the moments I live for as a Sunday River wedding photographer: the soft light, the mountain air, and a couple completely wrapped up in each other.
“We did pictures out on the terrace behind the Grand Summit Hotel. It was kind of hot and sunny but a beautiful spot for group pictures.” – Colleen
“Danny and I don’t really love having our picture taken. We were both incredibly nervous going into taking our romantic session photos but after the first few clicks of the camera, we loosened up a bit and started to enjoy ourselves. Pictures on the wedding day were so much easier and we knew exactly what to expect. I don’t think either of us would ever consider a career in modeling but we are definitely more comfortable in front of a camera now!” –Colleen
The Bridal Party
The Ceremony at the Artists’ Bridge
Their Wedding at Artist’s Covered Bridge was truly unforgettable. This historic, all-wooden bridge in Bethel, ME is one of the area’s most iconic ceremony spots for Maine weddings, and the warm timbers and filtered natural light made an incredible setting.
Rev. Ellie Andrews officiated, Dan’s brother Pat offered a heartfelt reading, and Colleen and Dan incorporated a beautiful wine-and-letters box ritual — a moment full of intention and connection.
A special place setting honored Colleen’s mother, a lovely tribute that brought emotion into the space in the most meaningful way.
“It was so exciting seeing all of our family and friends waiting on the bridge for the ceremony to start. I had already seen Colleen so I wasn’t nervous at all.” — Dan
“Our dog Lucy walked down the aisle with our friend Justin. My brother Pat read a poem titled “how falling in love is like owning a dog”. I loved this poem and really felt like it was perfect for having a dog in the wedding.” Colleen
After the ceremony, we wandered around Bethel for portraits — the quiet roads, the bridge, the open fields — all giving us that classic Maine wedding photographer aesthetic. But the real showstopper came later: taking the ski lift up the mountain for photos at the summit.
If you’re considering a Wedding at Sunday River, this is the moment you imagine — sweeping views, golden light, and the feeling of being on top of the world in every sense.
“Danny and I met 6 years ago at the Purple Shamrock in Boston. I was having drinks with my BFF and maid of honor, Laura, and Danny was out with some Coast Guard buddies. Really long story short, a few drinks led to a long distance relationship and now a happy marriage. ” — Colleen
Reception at the Summit Lodge
“Danny and I have been going up to Newry, ME for years. One trip up, we went to North Peak at Sunday River and saw a wedding being set up. The setting was so beautiful that we decided then and there that when we got married, we would have our reception at the top of the mountain. We could not have asked for more perfect weather to highlight the gorgeous views from the top of North Peak. It was so fun making our grand entrance by riding up on the chair lift!” — Colleen
Guests rode the chairlift to the top for the Sunday River Wedding Reception, which is already one of the most unique ways to kick off a party. Cocktails were on the terrace until 5:30, overlooking endless mountain ridges.
Dan — who is apparently capable of anything — crafted the wooden décor pieces himself. It added such a personal touch and fit the rustic-meets-elegant mountain vibe perfectly.
Introductions and toasts happened before dinner; the plated meal was relaxed and intimate. Cake cutting was intentionally low-key, and the dances happened after the meal — all timed to keep things simple and heartfelt.
“Danny and I aren’t the best dancers so we were a little nervous to dance in front of everyone. My dad and I danced to my parents wedding song. My dad and I shared a very special moment during this dance together. Danny and his mom busted out some moves for their dance together. It was fun to watch.” — Colleen
Around 8pm, the sunset painted the sky in every shade of orange and pink. We stepped outside for photos that truly felt like a postcard from a mountaintop. As a Sunday River wedding photographer, these are the moments that make me want to photograph here every weekend.
Dancing continued until about 9pm, with music from The Time Pilots keeping the celebration full of energy.
Huge credit goes to Sunday River’s coordinator, Laura Scheidegger, who kept everything running smoothly and made the day feel effortless.
“One of the best moments of the wedding was when the Time Pilots had Danny and I play with them. Danny got on the microphone while I rocked out with the guitar. I’m really hoping the speaker for the guitar wasn’t on!” — Colleen
“All of our guests and family members loved Will and Lucia of Focus Photography. They were so fun and kept everyone laughing during the group photos. Will had some great photo ideas and Lucia really kept the day moving.” — Colleen
“Thank you to everyone who joined us up in Newry, ME to celebrate this special day with us. We had so much fun and feel so loved by all of you!” — Colleen and Dan
From the heartfelt ceremony at the covered bridge to the mountaintop reception with handcrafted décor, this Wedding at Sunday River was the perfect blend of natural beauty, meaningful details, and the kind of love that’s easy to photograph.
Colleen and Dan — thank you for bringing so much heart, humor, and joy to every moment.
I hope you enjoyed our favorite images from the day, and if you’re planning your own Sunday River Wedding, I’d love to chat and help you plan photography you’ll absolutely love.
