Elegant Maine Coast Wedding with a Disco Twist | October 2024 | Bar Harbor Club Wedding

Hemlock Ridge Designs
6 days ago
3 min read

When Jordan and Joey set out to plan their October 2024 wedding at the Bar Harbor Club in Bar Harbor, Maine, they knew they wanted to create something that felt true to them: fun, elevated, coastal, and reflective of their personalities. With a large majority of their guests traveling to Maine for a destination-style celebration, the couple leaned into showcasing the charm of New England in a way that felt intentional, cohesive, and uniquely them.

As the wedding signage and stationery designer, I worked closely with the couple to bring that vision to life. The entire design journey was collaborative and personal, with every detail crafted to enhance the guest experience while staying true to the couple’s story.

A Cohesive Coastal Maine Vision

The inspiration for many of the signage elements stemmed from the couple’s invitation suite created by Gus and Ruby Letterpress, which featured a wavy design motif that would go on to influence several custom day-of pieces that I created, from menus to welcome signage. To ensure continuity throughout the event, I also designed a hand-drawn pattern that we used on the menus and place cards that incorporated this wave element, styled to match the couple’s unique patterned linens.

While the weather on the day itself could have been better (classic New England!), the warmth and vibrancy of the décor brought everything to life. From soft matte colored acrylics to interactive, textured letterpress menus, every detail worked to create a cozy and stylish setting.

Innovative Materials & Custom Touches

Jordan and Joey’s signage suite pushed boundaries. Every element was custom, from the laser-cut acrylic to a bespoke welcome signage pillar crafted by a local carpenter. The standout piece? A show-stopping mirrored bar sign that incorporated disco ball inspired elements and, for the first time in Hemlock Ridge Design’s bar sign history, built-in LED backlighting. The dimensional design of the bar sign was both a technical and creative challenge, requiring thoughtful engineering so the light would reflect just right to play into the disco ball décor.

In addition to the bar signage, guests were surprised and delighted by interactive sliding menu and place card sets, featuring colored tassels that subtly indicated each guest’s meal choice. Small details like these added a personal, thoughtful layer to the overall experience.

Bringing the Bar Harbor Club Wedding Vibe to Life

Despite originally browsing Etsy for wedding signs and paper products, the couple realized they wanted something more intentional. I worked with them to create a cohesive brand for their day, designing everything from signage to paper goods that reflected their style while staying functional and weatherproof.

With themes like mirrored disco balls, waves, and a coastal Maine color palette, the design perfectly fused playful and elegant. A guest-favorite sign labeled "The Maine Event" made a particularly memorable impact and was widely photographed throughout the evening.

Designing for the Experience

Everything from the color palette to the floral installations blended seamlessly with our designs. The signage wasn’t intended to stand out individually, but instead to enhance the overall ambiance in a way that made the event feel effortlessly polished.

My philosophy with signage design is simple: it shouldn’t scream for attention. It should work with the other design elements to elevate the space. I ask my couples thoughtful questions to understand who they are and translate those answers into custom pieces that feel like an extension of their love story.

Looking Ahead

Jordan and Joey’s celebration is a perfect example of what can happen when couples trust in creative collaboration. The result? A wedding day that felt not only stunning but personal, thoughtful, and joyfully Maine.