We’re a small crew with a shared love of coastal Maine, thoughtful hospitality, and creating something a little out of the ordinary. Get to know the small team that brings your lobster boat elopement to life.
A Little About the Crew
CAPTAIN ETHAN
Ethan, your captain and a third-generation fisherman, grew up fishing the waters around Fort Popham. He's known these waters since he was old enough to carry his own tackle box. He spent two decades building and operating his own charter business, taking locals and visitors out on fishing excursions, before establishing and operating the Seguin Island Ferry, a 30-passenger ferry bringing guests to the island's historic lighthouse.
These days, Ethan spends nearly all his time lobstering, taking a break during the coldest winter months to trade his foul-weather gear for a computer and tackle tax season. A Master Maine Guide and US Coast Guard 100-ton captain, he brings a wealth of experience on the water and a deep appreciation for the history and stories of this coastline. With Ethan at the helm, you'll experience coastal Maine through the eyes of someone who has spent a lifetime on these waters.
OFFICIANT & HOST
MARIANNE VOLD
Originally from Norway, Marianne is an officiant, a storyteller at heart, and an adventurer who has been traveling the world since she was two. Across seven continents, she has met people whose stories have deepened her appreciation for the many ways we find and celebrate love. From villagers in love in the Vietnamese countryside to an engaged couple stationed at a research base in Antarctica, these encounters have shaped her belief that every relationship has a story worth telling.
At Just Banded, Marianne brings that belief to life. She spends weeks getting to know each couple, thoughtfully weaving the details, quirks, and meaningful moments of their relationship into a ceremony that feels entirely their own. Her care for the couples she works with goes far beyond the wedding day. She becomes a trusted guide, a steadfast advocate, and, for many, a lifelong friend. Alongside creating deeply personal ceremonies, Marianne is an exceptional host, going above and beyond to ensure couples and their guests feel welcomed, comfortable, and genuinely cared for at every step of the journey. Her warmth, dedication, and wholehearted investment in every couple are an invaluable part of what makes Just Banded so special. This is more than an elopement; it’s the beginning of a relationship with someone who will always be rooting for your love.
FLORIST & FIRST MATE
LINDSAY DEBERY
Growing up surrounded by the woods and waters of Maine, Lindsay spent her summers sailing along the state’s midcoast, developing a deep appreciation for the natural world and the beauty of the Maine coast. With a background in graphic design and native plants, she brings a thoughtful eye for detail and a strong sense of place to the Just Banded experience. She created and maintains the visual brand of Just Banded and, through her wedding floral business, Eldebery Floral, designs the seasonal florals for each elopement. Working with flowers from her own garden and floral farms across Maine, and turning to trusted New England wholesalers only when needed, she draws inspiration from the coastal landscape to create arrangements that feel natural, effortless, and connected to their surroundings.
Alongside Marianne, Lindsay welcomes and hosts each couple and their guests, making sure everyone feels comfortable, well cared for, and able to fully enjoy their time on the water. Through her design sensibility and attention to the little details, she helps create elopements that feel personal, memorable, and distinctly Maine.
RUWAI TAHUPARAE
OFFICIANT & HOST
Born and raised in Aotearoa New Zealand, Ruwai brings warmth, playfulness, depth, and a touch of the sacred to your truly unforgettable lobster-boat wedding.
In 2022, she followed love across the world, marrying her Beloved in a one-of-a-kind Maine celebration of their own—and promptly falling for the trees, fungi, and the good people of her adopted home.
As your marriage celebrant, Ruwai is excited to help you craft the ceremony that makes your hearts sing as one. Drawing on a lifetime of consciously creating through the power of words, her intention is to leave you filled with mana—the Māori understanding of life force, inner strength, dignity, and spiritual sparkle—and to drop a steady anchor for your marriage in meaning, connection, and shared intention.
