When I first met Nicole and Nic and they told me they wanted a Harry Potter-themed wedding, I was excited. After asking a few more questions I found out what they really wanted was: A Harry Potter Wedding. I was giddy! Every last detail was planned with a magical swish and flick, and by the end I felt the same delight as Professor McGonagall when she declared: “I’ve always wanted to use that spell!”

The muggle-free ceremony was held in the charming garden at The Aerie at Eagle Landing, presided over by Melissa Coe with her invariable twinkle of mischief in her eye. Nicole and Nic took an unbreakable vow that “nothing will ever Sever-us apart!” and rings were exchanged. Love letters and potions (aka Nicole and Nic’s favourite bottles of hooch!) were sealed in a quidditch case, custom made for the occasion, to be opened on their first anniversary.

With the “mischief managed”, Nicole and Nic led their guests through the brick wall at Platform 9 ¾ to enjoy cocktails and hors d’oeuvres at The Three Broomsticks. Specialty cocktails included Nicole’s “Amortentia” (known to muggles as a blood orange sangria) and Nic’s “Peeve’s the Poltergeist” (or a Tom Collins for muggles). After pausing for a picture with Harry at the photo booth, guests found the way to their dinner tables thanks to the Sorting Hat, their escort cards on wands supplying the last magical accessory necessary!

Each table was named for a magical place (of course Nicole’s parents were seated at Gringotts!) and decorated with antique texts, plants you would expect to find in Professor Sprout’s Herbology class, crystals that Professor Trelawny would be proud of, and scales and beakers seemingly snatched from Snape’s Potions class! Guests were lavished with a dinner worthy of the Yule Ball and treated to a Honeydukes candy and dessert buffet, complete with chocolate frogs and fizzing whizzbees! A chocolate fountain offered the cure to the dementor’s kiss and a cauldron of butter beer bubbled gently on the bar.

No-one wanted the magical night to end, but as all good things must come to an end so too did the festivities. At eleven o’clock friends and family raised their wands and let sparks fly, and Nicole and Nic made a grand exit through the avenue of sparklers, bidding their guests good-bye. My heartiest congratulations again to Nicole and Nic! Your magical wedding will hold a special place in my heart. Always.

Big thanks to Portland Bride + Groom for the feature in their Winter/Spring 2018 issue!

Nicole + Nicolas