Charlotte Beers and William Beadleston had what she jokingly calls "the longest courtship in history." They met years ago at a party, and although the subject of marriage rarely arose, Beers says, "there was never any question in our minds that we would spend the rest of our lives together." When marriage was finally on the agenda, she had a month to plan, and it was just enough time to throw an intimate, romantic day in Seal Harbor, Maine. Charlotte and William exchange vows at the altar of St. Jude's Episcopal Church in Seal Harbor.

Gathered outside the church are, from left, Frannie Dittmer; Morgan Wheelock, who read a poem during the service; Darla Moore; Nicholai Beadleston, the groom's son and best man; Charlotte and William; Martha; Judith Wheelock; and Professor Martin Morad, a groomsman.

Martha inside the church, framed by fall flowers.

From left to right: Bridesmaids Frannie Dittmer, Darla Moore, and Judith Wheelock are a John Singer Sargent painting come to life.

Martha prepares to exchange overalls for taffeta.

The bride's bouquet of cream fall roses surrounded by barley.

William wears a boutonniere of hypericum berry and thistle.

Bridesmaid Memrie Lewis, left, with guest Sharon Patrick and Martha at Skylands.

Professor Morad arrives at Skylands in his 1950 Rover.

The bridesmaids' bouquets of terra-cotta roses, sedum, hypericum berry, thistle, and barley.

Flower girl Serena Blake shows off her bouquet of thistles.

Charlotte with her new stepson, Nicholai, and stepdaughters Natasha and Alexandra; William holds Serena. Charlotte's daughter, Lisa Boudreaux, was unable to attend because she was taking exams.

The bridal party arrives at Skylands in an open carriage known as a plantation sociable, used in the mid-nineteenth century by planters and their guests to tour Southern plantations. This contemporary one was provided by Charles Duell, a friend of the couple's and president of the Middleton Place Foundation in Charleston, South Carolina.

Charlotte leads her husband from the church to their waiting carriage. She is wearing a hand-crocheted floral headpiece. "As soon as I found the headpiece," she says, "I knew my wedding would be wonderful." A diamond star at the waist of her cashmere twin set sparkled "like fairy dust."