Maine’s Billion-dollar Wedding Industry Crushed By Pandemic Restrictions

Rescheduling more than 125 weddings in the span of just a few months is a Herculean task, but for Fausto Pifferrer and Reuben Bell of Blue Elephant Events & Catering in Saco, that’s what had to happen this spring once the coronavirus pandemic struck, forcing the postponement or cancellation of nearly all large gatherings in Maine for 2020. The wedding industry has become a nearly billion-dollar part of Maine’s economy, supporting everything from venues, hotels and rental businesses, to caterers, photographers and DJs as Maine has become an increasingly popular destination wedding location.