Of all Maine’s beautiful wedding locations, one stands out for protecting the landscapes that make our state so attractive. The Wells Reserve at Laudholm is a treasured spot on the seacoast between Ogunquit and the Kennebunks, where every wedding supports coastal science, education, and conservation. Couples that book the Wells Reserve help ensure a promising future for the people and places they love.

Once Laudholm Farm, the most progressive saltwater farm in York County, today’s Wells Reserve occupies 2,250 forever-preserved acres of rolling fields, forest, salt marsh, and beach, just 90 minutes from Boston and easily accessed from I-95. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the pastoral main campus includes a century-old barn, which can seat 150 guests, and a stately Visitor Center with a wraparound porch perfect for wedding photos. The fire code compliant facilities also include restrooms, a kitchen, and staging areas for caterers and the wedding party. Larger parties can erect a tent to host up to 250 guests.

The flexibility of the site puts each couple’s individual style at the forefront, whether it’s formal or casual, a DIY affair, or one fully coordinated by a wedding planner (there are no preferred vendors, but the reserve is happy to make recommendations). Wells Reserve weddings have included: beach ceremonies; wood-fired pizza ovens; alpacas and llamas greeting guests; an outdoor dance floor under the stars; and “man caves” in the barn, complete with TVs tuned to college football. “It’s a blank canvas,” says Nik Charov, president of Laudholm Trust, the nonprofit partner of the Wells Reserve. “Three daughters from one family had their weddings here, and each one was still different. This place offers unlimited possibilities.”

Wedding reservations at the Wells Reserve are for a full weekend, allowing couples, their families, and guests plenty of time to enjoy the spacious grounds, strolling down to the wild beach, exploring the trails, or playing games on the expansive lawns. Overnight accommodations abound in nearby Wells and Kennebunk.

“We love introducing people to our beautiful site and our mission. We hope newlyweds will come back with kids, even grandkids, in the years to come,” says Charov.

The Trust gives each couple a membership to the reserve and a subscription to its newsletter so they can see how their rental fee continues to support the reserve’s environmental mission. “We offer beauty and flexibility with the opportunity to do good. Isn’t that a perfect marriage?”

To learn more visit wellsreserve.org/wedddings