A Late-Summer Celebration at Cunningham Farm
East Coast Soul joined Anna & Gabe at the gorgeous Cunningham Farm in New Gloucester, Maine for a warm and lively August celebration. This property is one of our favorite venues in Maine — a mix of rustic barns, rolling fields, and an easygoing atmosphere that fits our style perfectly. Their day blended heartfelt moments, relaxed outdoor vibes, and a big, bright dance party to cap off the night.
Preparation & Arrival
We began coordinating with Anna & Gabe and their planner, Christina from Pinch Me Planning, well ahead of the wedding. Cunningham Farm is a working property with multiple structures, separate ceremony and cocktail hour sites, long power runs, and detailed load-in logistics — all things we like to iron out before the big day. The Dairy Barn served as our central hub for sound, staging, and the evening’s main performance.
Load-in started at 12:15pm, followed by rhythm section arrival at 2:15 and horns/vocalists at 2:45. We ran a full soundcheck between 3:00 and 3:30, confirming monitors, mic levels, and the evening’s formal dance cues. With barns, fields, generators, and a large amount of vendor activity, early organization was key — and everything moved smoothly into place.
Ceremony
Anna & Gabe’s ceremony took place outdoors, surrounded by tall trees and wide-open sky. Music was handled by three family members who performed on acoustic guitars, creating a personal, intimate feel. ECS provided sound reinforcement — microphones, speakers, and power — including working with the venue’s long-distance power plan from the barn to the ceremony site.
The recessional kicked off with a recording of Redbone’s “Come and Get Your Love”, which fit the moment perfectly as guests cheered and the couple made their way back down the aisle.
Cocktail Hour
Cocktail hour took place on the grassy lawn beside the Hay Barn, where guests enjoyed a relaxed acoustic duo — guitar and sax — playing instrumental arrangements of classic rock, soul, and folk. Think Fleetwood Mac, Crosby Stills & Nash, Otis Redding, and Stevie Wonder. The combination of the natural setting and familiar tunes created an easy, comfortable start to the evening.
Introductions & First Dance
At 6:10, the party moved into the Dairy Barn for introductions. We vamped the intro of “You’re All I Need to Get By” as Anna & Gabe were welcomed for the first time as husband and wife — loud, upbeat, and full of energy.
The song transitioned right into their first dance, which we performed live. Shortened slightly to keep the moment focused, it was a great way to ease the room into the celebration ahead.
Parent Dances
Next came the parent dances, both performed live by the band:
- Bride/Father Dance: The Beatles — In My Life (shortened to ~2 minutes)
- Groom/Mother Dance: Martha Reeves & The Vandellas — Dancing in the Street (shortened)
Both were fun, upbeat choices that fit the couple’s personalities and set the tone for the dance floor to open shortly after.
Short Dance Set
Before dinner began, we launched into a quick 20-minute dance set — enough to get people moving early while still keeping the timeline on track. With this crowd, it didn’t take long for the floor to fill.
Welcome Toast & Dinner
At 6:40, Anna’s father, Jeff, offered a welcome toast, followed by food stations opening in the Hay Barn. Dinner was casual, social, and intentionally short — a great fit for a crowd eager to get back to celebrating.
During dinner, guests enjoyed curated recorded playlists from ECS, keeping the mood warm without overshadowing conversation. Toasts resumed at 7:20 with speeches from the Best Man and Matron of Honor.
Anna & Gabe also shared their own heartfelt thank-you before we transitioned into the main dance set.
Main Dance Performance
The full dance set kicked off around 7:35, and the Dairy Barn was packed from the start. Anna & Gabe’s must-plays and request list leaned contemporary, upbeat, and early-2000s nostalgic — a perfect combination for their group of family and friends.
Highlights included:
- Shout / Hey Jude Finale — planned closer-style moment
- Dua Lipa — “Levitating”
- Kygo & Whitney Houston — “Higher Love”
- Valerie
- 2000s/2010s throwbacks
The couple had one very special request: ending the night with “All I Want for Christmas Is You” by Mariah Carey. Anna is an enormous Christmas fan, and despite it being a warm August night, the room absolutely came alive for this one.
The venue has a strict 10:00pm cutoff, so we kept a tight schedule and delivered a high-energy finale that matched the vibe of the entire day.
Final Thoughts
Anna & Gabe’s wedding at Cunningham Farm was joyful, personal, and full of great energy from start to finish. Between the thoughtful ceremony music, relaxed cocktail hour, and a dance floor that never let up, the day felt like a true reflection of them. We were thrilled to be a part of it.
Huge congratulations to Anna & Gabe — thank you for letting East Coast Soul be part of your celebration!
