Some of the choices that make up that competition range from destination weddings and backyard betrothals to extreme sport nuptials and themed matrimony. More than just an attempt to outdo someone else, ceremonies are becoming more and more inclusive of the couple’s identities both as individuals and together.

For the guests, weddings can be nearly as memorable a day to them as to the happy couple. Nearly gone are the days of sending an RSVP out of obligation; friends and families have come to expect a surprise moment or two, and look forward to being part of an exciting celebration of unity.

Even if an idea has been used before, there are several ways for a bridal couple to use it in their own special day. Decide on a budget, a date, and a location, and the rest is what makes up matrimonial magic.

On July 27, 2012, Karla Good, of Auburn, and Joseph St. Peter, of Presque Isle, exchanged their vows on Squapan Lake near Presque Isle. What was their idea of the perfect day? Close family and friends gathering together in a location that holds many fond memories for the couple. But just having their ceremony in a much-loved place wasn’t enough for this couple. They wanted the day to be etched in the memories of family and friends, so they created a couple of unforgettable moments to ensure maximum imprint.

“My parents bought that camp when I was two, and it has been the one constant in my life,” said Good. “It’s a very special place.”

There is a trestle that goes over a part of Squapan Lake, and it was here that St. Peter proposed to Good. St. Peter recalled he was nervous about proposing there as a thunderstorm was brewing in the distance and the trestle ties were difficult to navigate in the dark.

When Good told her mother that she and St. Peter were considering having the wedding at the camp her response set the tone for their special day.

“She said, ‘Why don’t you get married on the trestle and you can take the plunge’,” said Good. “Figuratively and literally.”

Good and St. Pierre liked the idea so much that they decided to center their day around that concept. The location proved to be a beautiful backdrop for the wedding, St. Peter said. It also provided the means to play a practical joke on guests, as well as serve as a stage for the “grand finale.”

The planning for this wedding was significantly less than with a traditional ceremony, said Good. Because the facility they were utilizing for the reception was limited, they found a way to keep dinner simple. It was here that the reception was held, prior to the ceremony, complete with a bean hole supper. This traditional meal consists of 30-inch-deep holes that act like an oven once a fire is lit and the bean pots are lowered in.

“We did things a little backwards. We had guests arrive at 5 p.m. at a place we call The Landing,” said Good.

Camp neighbors made sure the lawn was mowed and Good said when she mentioned making a potato salad for the reception, another neighbor took charge and had it done before she could lift a hand. One neighbor had a regular group of young girls at the camp throughout the summer and when they heard about the wedding, they were beyond excited. People wanted to be a part of this day, she recalled.

“They could not wait; they became the servers,” explained Good. “The whole function appeared to be catered and you wouldn’t have known it wasn’t.”

“It was a nice sense of community, I mean it really was,” said St. Peter. “It was simple and it was a nice sunny day.”

As the sun began to set, family and friends boarded boats and set off for the trestle. The bridal party, including Good’s “forever stepdaughter,” made their way to that location. Miranda Martin became an ordained minister specifically to officiate the ceremony, just one of the special moments the day had in store.

“We walked down to the trestle, and the guests went on a short tour of the lake,” said Good.

“We had Karla’s son, Chase, set up to hand me the ring,” said St. Peter. “Unbeknownst to our guests, we had given him a fake ring. He tripped dropped the ring into the water.”

The couple laughs when they recall the looks of horror on the faces of their guests below as the joke played out.

“My girlfriend says that every wedding should start with a scare before the vows,” said Good. “Her boyfriend was so emotional through it that he was planning their wedding right then and there.”

The wedding drew passing boats to the area, as the bridal party gathered on the trestle. Good and St. Peter originally planned to take the plunge with her son and his daughter, but the kids grew impatient as they prepared to jump and decided to jump in first. Once the wedding party, including the bride and groom had made the leap, people began jumping out of the boats into the water to be part of the celebration.

“It was more beautiful than I had anticipated,” said Good. “I was very pleased and appreciative of everyone’s efforts.”

The not-so-typical elements for this couple did not stop with their wedding ceremony. The two live in separate towns to limit the traveling for each of their children. St. Peter said that although miles separate the two, he believes that they communicate far more than some couples who live under the same roof every day of the week. And Good agreed that they don’t face many issues other couples face because they have a strong and rooted relationship. Enduring the time apart is difficult at times, but their love for one another and their children makes it all worth that particular sacrifice.

“Karla is a teacher and her summer sanctuary is the camp, which is where we spend a lot of our time,” said St. Peter.

Their advice to couples planning a wedding? Make sure it comes from the heart, and write your own rulebook. The two admit that even though they weren’t sure things would come together the way they envisioned, they just had faith that it would all be right in the end.

“Our vows came from a spiritual, genuine place,” St. Peter explained. “We had the people we love the most come to share it with us, and I think that’s what made it work.”

Something else the couple agrees on is that they and all who attended the wedding will remember the day for years to come.