This year we will be celebrating a historic event here at French's Point. Two of our very own will be married on February 9th, 2008: Property Owner/ CEO Jessika (Jesse) Brooks and Shoreline Lobster Bakes Bake Master Frederick (Fred) Brewer. Who better to feature as our RWM Couple for 2008?! Not often does the event planner/facility owner plan her own wedding amongst the 30-40 others to take place over the course of the year. We think you will enjoy the unusual perspective of watching Jesse and Fred plan their day from the inside-out. It is sure to entertain.

About Jesse | About Fred | How They Met | The Engagement

The 2008 Real Weddings Maine couple: Jesse & Fred

About Jesse

Jesse is a graduate of University of Rochester, NY. After college Jesse lived in Rhode Island and eventually Florida where she worked as an event planner with caterers in the Orlando area. In 2001 she moved back to Maine to begin work on the new business ventures at French’s Point. Jesse founded Thistle Industries, LLC the management company of French's Point when the Brooks Family purchased the property from the previous owners. In 2003 The Farm at French's Point reopened after major restoration and expansions to the estate as a weekly rental property/accommodations facility. In 2005 she began work restoring The Retreat at French’s Point (her historic estate cottage used for destination weddings, conferences, and events) which opened in 2006. Jesse manages both businesses/properties and acts as the site event planner at The Retreat. Jesse loves working on the property she played on as a child and knows how lucky she is to work along-side her family in a place the calls home. She is the mother of two beautiful young golden retrievers that she shares with Fred. Her constant companions...Addison (10 months) and Schoodic (20 months).

About Fred

Fred is a graduate of Bentley College in MA. He was certified as an accountant in 2002 and now works as a CPA in Bath, Maine for his father's business William Brewer CPA's. Fred grew up and lives in Damariscotta, Maine. He is a volunteer on the Damariscotta Fire Department and is very involved in fundraising for this organization. His focus has been fire prevention and education amongst children. Fred also owns and maintains a historic Main Street commercial building in Damariscotta that he purchased three years ago from his father. Fred is also actively involved in the operations at French's Point, where he keeps the businesses books, helps with landscaping, assists with event set up, and helps keep Jesse pointed in the right direction. He is also the Bake Master of Shoreline Lobster Bake Company, French’s Point on site caterer. Fred began learning the traditional pit bake method in the 1980's from his father. He is the proud father of their golden retrievers Addison and Schoodic.

How They Met...

As most people probably know the months of January through April 15th are hectic to say the very least for accountants and CPAs. The same is true of the months of April through then end of October for wedding/event planners. This schedule conflict made it highly unlikely that Fred and Jesse would ever cross paths. In 2005, Jesse was working away on The Retreat and its restorations. They celebrated a ground breaking ceremony for the addition on this property in May of that year. Jesse's cousin Kim and her then-boyfriend Joe from Damariscotta attended the event. Kim had mentioned previously that one of Joe’s friends would be a perfect match for Jesse. Jesse was a bit absorbed in the construction and the beginning of the season at The Farm and was not very open to Kim's urging. However, she eventually said, "Sure, give him my number."

Newly refreshed from the conclusion of tax season, Fred had rejoined the human race. A couple of weeks later Fred called Jesse. She was a bit surprised. On the other end of the phone was this fairly thick Maine coastal accent. Kim had told Jesse that Fred liked to have fun (during the months of May-December), he was an accountant who was also a volunteer on the local fire department. Jesse had red-neck visions in her head as she listened to him chatter away on the other end of the line, but he was funny, and sweet, and attentive, and persistent. Over the course of two weeks, they chatted almost nightly. They came to find they had a great deal in common...and just as about as much made them very different. They decided to meet when Fred had an audit scheduled at a nearby town. He drove to The Retreat where Jesse awaited. She was a bit surprised at the sparks that flew right away. She rambled on as she gave him a very quick tour of The Retreat. They went to dinner and made easy conversation but they were both nervous. By the end of the evening, they still chatted almost endlessly. When he left that night, they knew something more was to come.

That following weekend...it did. Fred had invited Jesse to visit Damariscotta for a motorcycle ride on his 2004 Harley. It was a bright Spring day. When Jesse pulled into Fred’s driveway, it was all over for her. There he stood in his jeans, t-shirt and motorcycle boots. When she met him he was in a suit and tie. He looked completely different but adorable either way. Jesse had never been on a motorcycle before. She was a bit nervous. And beyond that, she had to hang on to this man she hardly knew, or fall off. They took a long ride out to Pemaquid Point Light House and sat on the rocks. They watched the waves and the sun and smiled and there they had their first kiss...fireworks and all in the bright of the day.

The Engagement

After 2 years of dating (or in the world of Jesse and Fred, working on joint projects in lieu of dating) Jesse and Fred began discussing their plans for the future. Fred had become so much a part of French's Point in the time they had been dating. Both are very independent but they had learned to rely on each others strengths to balance each other out...not normally an easy task for two people that pride themselves on their independence. But it came easily with them.

On November 17, 2007 Fred awoke and decided "Today is the day". They had chatted about their future together when they awoke that morning. He had secretly taken Jesse’s father out for dinner to ask for her hand, and he had wisely shown her mother the ring knowing she would want to be involved as well. Jesse was watching the television and relaxing. Fred let the dogs outside to get them out of the way and came back in. He got down on the floor next to Jesse to talk to her (she thought). Then he held out the ring and said with a nervous look on his face "Will you marry me?" Jesse was surprised, but not at all surprised at the same time. She knew it was right and her heart leapt. She said "yes" and smiled and they hugged and kissed and called family and friends. Later that day they went to visit their friends Chris and Cyndi Smith (the photographers for their wedding) and their friend Owen Dyer (the cake maker for their wedding) and had a amazing tasting with him. It was a fun and memorable start to the whole planning process.