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Updated Oct 14, 2024The Maine Event: What The Knot Influencers Learned at Our Annual Wedding Retreat
Plus, get insider access to the planning secrets revealed during our escape to Kennebunkport.
In August 2025, on the cusp of wedding season—the magical time of year from September to November when the majority of weddings take place—we invited 12 influencers and their guests to join Destination: The Knot, our annual planning retreat. This year's event took place in Kennebunkport, Maine, where nostalgic summer camp vibes at Hidden Pond set the scene for a four-day wedding "bootcamp." Throughout the week, our attendees were immersed in workshops, master classes and interactive experiences designed to educate and inspire them during their planning journeys. But because we're not in the business of gatekeeping, we're pulling back the curtain on the best moments (and all the wedding planning tips revealed) from our trip. Meet our crew of influencers and get a glimpse at the creative, authentic and incredibly personalized weddings they're dreaming up…and let their nuptials inspire yours.
In this article:
- The Top Planning Tips Revealed at Destination: The Knot 2025
- The Knot Influencers of 2025
- How Can I Join The Knot Influencers?
- Destination The Knot 2025: Trip Pros and Partners
The Top Planning Tips Revealed at Destination: The Knot 2025
Over the span of four days, we curated an itinerary that was designed to bring each phase of the wedding planning experience to life. With members of The Knot team onsite, along with seasoned wedding pros from The Knot Vendor Marketplace, our guests had unlimited access to industry experts. Each activity was developed to inspire and educate while also celebrating all the magic (and the mayhem) that goes along with planning a wedding. Look back on our favorite highlights here.
Following an intimate happy hour and welcome dinner, the first full day of Destination: The Knot began with the Moodboard Mixer: an activity tailored to helping guests bring their wedding vision boards to life. We provided photos, textiles, dried florals and more for our influencers to curate physical manifestations of their wedding vibes and aesthetics. Beyond serving as a tactical craft project (and a cute take-home favor), the activity encouraged couples to define what they want their wedding day to look and feel like. In turn, they learned how curating a moodboard can help when booking and communicating with vendors—AKA the ones who are responsible for bringing said ideas to life.
FEATURED VIDEO FROM THE KNOT
While you can do the same activity at home with magazines (like ours, wink wink), you can also create a vision board with The Knot Favorites. While browsing our site, tap the heart icon on any Real Wedding photo, celebrity wedding image or planning article to save it to Your Favorites in your account. Doing so will create a digital lookbook that you can access at any time, meaning all the inspiration you need is right at your fingertips.
Another highlight of the trip was Blooms and Budgets. Led by wedding planner Sara Landon, our couples began by taking a quiz to understand their wedding budget personality type, from penny pincher to big-time splurger. Landon explained how to use The Knot Budget Advisor, our hyper-intuitive (and free) money tracking tool that helps keep track of your budget while also providing real estimates and breakdowns of what other couples in your area typically spend.
Then, we invited couples to arrange bouquets based on which areas of their budget mattered most to them. Each flower correlated to a different wedding vendor, so by building a bouquet based on their top priorities, guests could see a physical representation of how their budget should be allocated. For example, an influencer who had a bouquet bursting with orange marigolds meant they would invest more on rentals and decor, while someone with more sprigs of garden roses prioritized spending on entertainment.
Of course, we couldn't host a trip without talking about The Knot Invitations either. After enjoying a waterfront lunch (with plenty of lobster rolls, obvi), The Knot's Director of Merchandising and Product Development, Lauren Tofflemire, shared an in-depth masterclass answering common stationery FAQs, like how early to send save-the-dates, when invites should hit mailboxes and whether or not couples should still send thank-you cards. (Spoiler alert: The answer is yes.)
Our wedding influencers received folders stuffed with samples of different types of stationery available on The Knot, from pearlescent paper to trending templates beloved by real couples. Perhaps the best part is that this is one Destination: The Knot activity you can easily replicate at home. Personalize three free samples and see your own wedding details IRL with the code 3FREE before committing to your stationery design.
Before our trip came to a close, we couldn't send our guests off without a night to remember. (We are in the business of parties, after all.) Our final dinner brought all of the week's learnings together. Guests reflected on the planning hacks they learned over a three-course dinner highlighting local New England flavors, and our team gave a sneak preview at the top wedding trends of 2026. Each couple sliced into their own wedding cake, and a raucous dance party broke out before the main course was even served. Go ahead, favorite the photo of the splits—we know you want your reception to have the same energy.
The Knot Influencers of 2025
Who joined our coastal getaway to Kennebunkport? Meet The Knot influencer crew of 2025. Learn more about the to-be-weds and their wedding visions, and let their top takeaways influence your own planning journey.
Isabel and Tamera
Matching on a dating app may seem like the most modern way to fall in love, but what about meeting on Twitter? Such was the case for Tamera Wiemers and Isabel Cirilli, who connected through fan pages for singer Alessia Cara on the social networking app (now called X) in 2015. "We met in person at a music festival, and then a few months after that, we started dating," Cirilli recalls.
After dating long-distance for three years, they moved in together in New York before settling in Texas, where they currently reside. Cirilli proposed on a "glamping" trip in January 2025. As self-proclaimed introverts, the couple knew right away that they wanted to elope. "We just liked the intimacy of eloping and how intentional it feels to just be the two of us in that moment," Wiemers says. Since they say California feels like a "second home," their search for a venue led them to Catalina Island, a seaside city located 22 miles off the West Coast. The desire for a "peaceful" wedding underscored the importance of selecting the perfect destination. "We wanted to elope somewhere beautiful and in nature," Wiemers adds. "It just feels very us."
Their vision came to fruition on September 12, 2025, less than one month after Destination: The Knot wrapped. On the trip, the couple said they intend to celebrate their union by hosting a reception party in their hometown with a select group of guests. "We just want our closest friends and family to have dinner together," says Wiemers. "It'll have a very intimate vibe," adds Cirilli.
Logan and Joey
When it comes to romantic tropes, Logan Rae Hill and Joey Kurbanov are the definition of "friends-to-lovers." Kurbanov joined Hill's friend group when he moved to Los Angeles from Boston. While their relationship was strictly platonic for the first five years, when they both found themselves single, Hill realized she developed feelings for Kurbanov.
After nearly five years together, Kurbanov proposed. The fiancés immediately knew they wanted to host a destination wedding in Scotland. "His sister went to school out there," Hill says. "When we visited her for the first time, we just loved it." The bride-to-be later discovered that her family has Scottish roots, making the setting even more meaningful. The couple booked a castle for their big day, which they envision being "timeless," "classic" and "a little regal." "The castle itself is pretty gothic," Kurbanov explains, "so it's kind of moody but still inviting."
For the Nashville natives, a bustling bar and great entertainment are two essentials for the reception. "I'm biased, but as a musician I'd say a non-negotiable is proper live music," Kurbanov says. And while he swears that he won't get behind the DJ stand himself during the after-party, Hill has a different opinion: "You have to at one point!"
Lexi and Sabrina
Not long after Lexi Mercer and Sabrina Smith matched on Hinge in 2021, they shared their first date at a dog park. "We literally were inseparable ever since," Mercer recalls. "We never skipped a beat." The Raleigh, North Carolina dwellers dated for four years before Mercer proposed during a beach picnic in April 2025. Calling themselves "coastal girls," it only made sense to plan a wedding with seaside influence. "We're always at the beach," Mercer says. "It ties into our personalities and aesthetics."
As they began planning their 2026 destination wedding, memories from Italy, their first international trip together, inspired the venue selection. "We absolutely fell in love with it," Smith says. "It also elevated our relationship a lot. We really enjoyed traveling together, and it made us a lot closer. So we always came back to that." Giving their friends and family an unforgettable experience on the Amalfi Coast is the top priority for the couple. "We want it to be an experience," Mercer says. "We want everyone to have fun and vibe," says Smith.
With an emphasis on aesthetics, the fiancés plan on transforming their venue with suspended florals in the same hues as the colorful buildings that dot the Positano coastline. Fresh blooms aside, there is one other vendor that they say is an absolute must-have: "A great band that allows me to use the mic," Smith says. "I'm a bad singer, but I always have to do it."
Madeline and Eli
Madeline Johnson and Eli Eprem had been on each other's radars since they were in 10th grade. Although they didn't go to the same school, they were introduced by a mutual friend. They reconnected in 2020 and shared their first date on March 17. Agreeing that the pandemic accelerated their relationship, they moved in together three months later. Eprem proposed in November 2024. From the start, the fiancés knew they wanted two weddings: one in their backyard, and one in Italy.
Since they bonded over a shared love of food, great cuisine is essential for the dinner party they plan to host before the destination wedding. Considering they've been renovating their outdoor space—and the fact that they wanted to do the catering their way—they decided it was the perfect place to bring their friends and family together for a traditional Persian meal as a nod to Johnson's heritage before jetting off to Europe to tie the knot. "I want to go for French or English countryside garden vibes with white flowers and lavender roses," Johnson says of her vision. In fact, Eprem says that planting flowers for the occasion has become an intentional way to prepare their home for their marriage. "Somebody told us that for every flower that we plant for the wedding day, we'll watch it bloom again. It will continuously remind us of what we did on that day. We'll look back at that love that we built and what it's created."
After their wedding prelude, the couple plans to use their lodging abroad not only as their home away from home for the international festivities, but also as a place to experiment with authentic Italian cooking. "I really want to get an Airbnb that has a kitchen and go to the farmer's market and just cook fresh food the whole time," Johnson says.
Chiara and Bilaal
Bumble brought Chiara DeSantis and Bilaal Bhadelia together in April 2021, but the California natives suspect they'd long been orbiting each other's paths. "Orange County is like a bubble," DeSantis says. "So we ended up having a lot of mutual friends. He lived not far from where I was living. It was crazy."
With their sights set on a December 2026 wedding, the to-be-weds are planning an event that breaks the status quo. "A lot of people from California will do a summer or spring beach wedding, and we're trying to do the exact opposite," she says. To them, that means hosting their "eclectic" nuptials in the middle of winter.
The most important element of their big day is that it feels like an extension of their home. "We want to make it feel like our house, but in a wedding," DeSantis explains. To do so, they've been thrifting everything from the attire to the glassware to curate an aesthetic that's quirky, vintage and undeniably them. "Our wedding needs to be heavy on personality," she says.
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One way they'll do that is by incorporating their dogs, Moose and Mambo, through signature cocktails and custom signage. "They're not going to be at the wedding, because that would be chaos, but we need to incorporate them in some way," DeSantis says. "Our home is nothing without the dogs." Another must-have? In-N-Out burgers as a late-night snack, which is a special nod to their many almost-encounters. "Before we knew each other, we went to the same In-N-Out," DeSantis says. "That's definitely a non-negotiable."
Morgan and Owen
After being introduced by a professor while they were students at Penn State University, Morgan Nixon and Owen Rogers felt a connection…but life had other plans. After they graduated, she moved abroad to South Korea for two years before relocating back to the US. "I stayed in the back of her mind for a couple years," Rogers says. When she returned, they got back in touch and began dating in February 2015. Over the next decade, they juggled a long-distance relationship, a brief stint living in Japan and a grad school venture. "We basically grew up together," Nixon says.
Rogers proposed nearly ten years to the exact date they began dating. From the start, they knew they wanted to use their wedding as a way to honor their friends and family members. "Our guests can look forward to a community-oriented yet regal vibration somewhere in the South," Nixon teases. "It's about excellence, elevation and people coming together to celebrate us. In that celebration, we're creating the foundation for our future," Rogers says.
For the bride, the wedding is not only the kick-off to the marriage they're building together, but also a way to look back and thank those who supported them over the last decade. "We're bringing everyone from every era of our relationship together," she says. "It's the people who've been there and helped us stay together."
Kenna and Derek
When Kenna Kersevan moved across the US to a new city, she did what many other single transplants would do: She downloaded a dating app. "I'm a California girl. I moved to the Carolinas for grad school, and when I was there, I figured I might as well try to find my Southern gentleman," she says. Kersevan was drawn to one of Derek Bland's Hinge prompts that said he needed help making his home less "frat boy." Their love story unfolded from there. "Now that we have our own house together, I always remind him that he wanted this," she says.
The process of transforming their coastal home in Charleston, South Carolina, where they currently reside, has inadvertently inspired their September 2026 wedding. "We want everything to feel homey and comfortable," Kersevan says. She calls their vision "a family reunion vibe, but upscale." That's why they're toying with two settings: a domestic celebration close to home, or a celebration in a villa abroad. "We want to bring out the natural beauty of the venue itself," Bland says.
Regardless of where in the world they decide to get married, their intention is to host their loved ones for a weekend-long experience that immerses them in the city of their choice. "We want people to be relaxed and make it feel like a vacation, rather than a wedding," Bland says. They're already envisioning activities like boat charters and pool days that allow them to maximize quality time with their guests. "We really just want to lean into enjoying the time with our closest friends and family," Kersevan says. "We're keeping it small, and we really want to show out for them. We want them to truly have the time of their lives with us."
Iyanna and Alexander
After matching on Hinge in the fall of 2023, Iyanna McNeeley and her now-fiancé, Alexander Lewis, went on a three-hour-long walk along Lake Michigan for their first date. They made it official just over one month later. Their December 2024 engagement took McNeeley by complete surprise. "I do not remember anything he said," she recalls. "And I didn't think I would cry, but I was tearing up pretty good."
While they had their sights set on a 2025 wedding, a change of heart led them to uproot their vision. "We had original wedding plans, and they just didn't feel aligned with what I really wanted," McNeeley explains. "So we completely scrapped it somewhat recently, and now we're starting over."
It turned out to be the right decision. Now, they're dreaming up a January 2026 celebration they describe as a "classic, vintage and historic Chicago wedding." The most important task for the bride was finding the perfect venue to match her attire. "I have a very specific dress, so I want a Chicago historic building that fits the vibes," she explains. "I think that'll really set the intention."
Lewis' one wedding non-negotiable is ensuring that his wife-to-be sees her dream vision come to life…but he notes that having a great reception is essential too. "We want to really build out a fun after-party event for folks to let loose in Chicago," he says, naming "good music and good ambiance" as the keys to an unforgettable evening.
Samantha and Tag
Kismet is the best way to describe Samantha Dahn and Tag Williams' meet-cute. The dancers first crossed paths at a mutual friend's birthday party in May 2019. "We figured out we had the same birthday, which happened to be two days later," Dahn recalls. That week, Williams slid into her DMs to ask her to hang out, and she happily obliged. They dated for five years before Williams popped the question with a complex scavenger hunt that began in Los Angeles and ended in Minnesota, where she found him waiting on one knee. He says being apart until the very last moment was the only way he knew he could truly surprise Dahn. "She knows me," he says. "She was going to be like, 'Hey, you're breathing differently. What's going on?'"
As they began planning their October 5, 2025 nuptials, the fiancés quickly found that the wedding journey deepened their connection as a couple. "It's a good growing experience to get ready for being married," Williams says of navigating planning topics like finances and family dynamics. "You've got to be a team and come together and agree to work it out. It's a warmup for the rest of our lives."
Working as a team is something they've mastered both on and off the dance floor. When searching for the perfect California wedding venue, they were in agreement that the most important quality was finding a space that embraced the region's natural beauty. "We love to be outdoors," Dahn says. "We toyed with the idea of a beach or mountains. We just wanted to be outside in nature. That was our one non-negotiable."
They found that in a winery nestled in the foothills of Lake Tahoe. Their nuptials took place not long after our trip ended. And while the pair did dance the night away under the stars, they also surprised their guests with a few delightful treats, like a s'mores and hot cocoa bar. "It'll definitely be outdoorsy and cozy," Dahn said ahead of the big day. "We'll have bonfires and twinkle lights."
Hayden and Aaron
Sparks *and* darts flew at the birthday party where Hayden Cohen and Aaron Niles met in April 2022. "Who would have thought, me and you in a dart club?" Cohen says to his fiancé. "He asked to buy me a drink, and the rest is history. We've been together ever since." The Boston residents dated for just over three years before Niles popped the question with the help of Cohen's mother. "I had to do everything in a very short amount of time," Niles says of the proposal, which was followed by a surprise party with their loved ones. "I said I could do it later in the summer and his mom was like, 'No, we're doing it this next week.'"
Niles successfully pulled off the engagement over Memorial Day weekend. "We took our dog on a walk, and he proposed there," Cohen says. "It was incredible. He did such a good job."
With their September 2026 wedding on the horizon, the fiancés are planning an "elevated coastal garden party" in Newport, Rhode Island. While they originally considered some of the region's famed historic mansions as potential venues, a smaller, private home fit the bill. "The vibe there is just perfect," Cohen says. "It's coastal. It's cozy. It just felt like us. There's an informal nature to it where it feels like you're doing it at your own house."
They say the ability to completely tailor the event space is exactly what they needed in order to bring their vision to life. "We can really put our touch on every single thing, because it's a blank slate," Cohen adds. "It's a bit of a daunting task, but it's very fun…I'm just excited to have ourselves a little party."
Nadya and Issa
Nadya Okamoto attended Destination: The Knot with a very special wedding party member: her sister Issa, who's serving as the maid of honor. With less than a year until Okamoto's June 2026 wedding in Upstate New York, she used our interactive mood board sessions to narrow down the vision for their "classy and chic" summer nuptials. "I really thought my wedding taste was going to be less 'basic,' but the flower photos that I gravitated towards were a little bit more plain and white and green," she says before turning to her sister. "I have decided in this moment that some of my bridesmaids are gonna wear sage green, so you gotta get ready for that," she said.
When asked to finish the sentence, "Our ideal wedding guest leaves saying…" she answers, "... that was the most fun!" Music will play a large role on the big day, as she notes that one of the moments she's most excited for is having a choir perform during the ceremony. Her must-play song for the reception is ABBA's timeless classic "Super Trouper." To round out the weekend, Okamoto has tasked her MOH with hosting the farewell brunch. If the mood board is any indication, it'll be just as fabulous as the wedding day itself.
Eli and Sophie
Although Eli Rallo's fiancé wasn't able to join her on Destination: The Knot, she attended with a very important guest: one of her closest friends, Sophie Rader, who's also engaged. It was an extra-special opportunity for the brides-to-be, who met in grad school in 2021. While they have different visions for their wedding, they've bonded over their shared desire to plan experiences that'll wow their VIPs. "We want everyone to have fun," says Rallo.
Another thing they have in common are their moms, who have both helped make key wedding decisions throughout their daughters' planning journeys. "They know what they want, and they're executing," Rallo continues. "It's really nice that we both share fabulous mothers who are taking the lead for us."
The engaged besties have also served as a sounding board for each other when it comes to selecting the right vendors. Case in point: They hired the same band, which Rallo says was an essential part of her pro team. "I went to a wedding with this particular band, and it was the best band I've ever seen in my life," she recalls. Even though she didn't have a venue secured at the time, she called them the next day to reserve the entertainers for her date. Not long after, when Rallo and Rader were on a girls' trip together, Rader's planner recommended the exact same group. Rallo insisted she book them. "It's so fun that we get to watch our own band at each other's weddings. I'm pumped," she says. And while their reception playlists may not have the same exact vibe, there is one artist who will be a must-play at both: "Chappell Roan," they chant in unison.
How Can I Join The Knot Influencers?
Our team takes many considerations into account with our wedding influencer program. First, we arrive from the perspective that your engagement is worth celebrating (whether you're a micro or macro-influencer). Prerequisites can vary among content creators and social platforms, but a unified expression of love within an often public-facing relationship is the standard that our team typically upholds when selecting our partnerships.
For content creators who are currently engaged, planning a wedding, or itching to share more about their wedding planning experience, drop a note and any proposals to Influencers@theknotww.com. Our influencer packages are custom-tailored, so they can vary across deliverables. Please keep in mind that our team is unable to respond to every request, but will keep a watchful eye out for creators who are a fit. We send a warm-hearted congratulations to you on your engagement and love story, and appreciate your interest.
Destination The Knot 2025: Trip Pros and Partners
Host: The Knot | Host Venue: Hidden Pond | Photographer: Kir2Ben | Florist: Skillins Greenhouses and Florist | Rentals: Peak Rentals | Wedding Planner: Sara Landon | Videographer: Jordan Jeanty Studios | Hair and Makeup: LeJeune Artistry | DJ: Aull That Entertainment | Cakes: Big Fish Cake | Lobster Tour: Rugosa Lobster Tours
