Celebrating an untraditional first year of our untraditional marriage | Victoria Hugo-Vidal

Maine Couple Marks First Anniversary with Family, Farm, and New Home

Portland, ME – A Maine couple marked their first anniversary with a blend of family tradition and outdoor adventure, celebrating two separate ceremonies and a day of local exploration.

Victoria Hugo‑Vidal, a columnist for The Maine Press Herald, and her husband, Bo, had their legal wedding ceremony on November 12, 2024, at Portland City Hall. The civil marriage was followed a year later, on August 15, 2025, when the couple held a second ceremony surrounded by friends, family and a priest.

The couple’s first anniversary of the civil ceremony came just a month after the birth of their son, a timing that made the celebration feel almost instantaneous. “We were on the couch, turning to one another, and one of us asked, ‘What day is it?’ The other said, ‘Saturday.’ ‘Are you sure?’ ‘I think so?’ And then the realization hit – ‘Oh hey, we’ve been married for a year.’ ‘Yay.’” The pair said.

Rather than a traditional honeymoon, the new parents spent the first year of marriage dealing with the challenges of a newborn and moving into a new house. “We didn’t have a honeymoon so much as we had a Navy SEAL Hell Week,” Hugo‑Vidal reflected. “Having a baby and moving into a new house in your first year of marriage is kind of like saying you’re going to start working out and then immediately entering an Ironman.”

To honor their anniversary, the couple opted for a modest day trip, buoyed by the support of Hugo‑Vidal’s brother and mother, who babysat their son. Although a longer road trip was postponed due to a bout of illness, the day was filled with local attractions.

Their first stop was Wolfes Neck Farm, a state park that welcomed them with pine trees overlooking the seaside. “We had a lovely stroll under the pines by the seaside,” said Hugo‑Vidal. She praised the park’s amenities, especially the “top‑notch” bathrooms. “Thanks, rangers,” she added, noting that even routine park duties were appreciated.

Lunch came at Isabella’s Café, a local eatery known for its Pepto‑Bismol‑pink décor. The café’s pesto turkey sandwich was highlighted as “almost cured” her post‑delivery fatigue. “It definitely gave me enough strength to carry on our shopping excursion,” she said.

Following lunch, the couple investigated winter sports gear. Bo, who loved skiing as a child, was eager to incorporate cross‑country skiing into their upcoming winter plans. Their first stop, the L.L.Bean Bike, Boat and Ski store, did not carry the equipment they sought. Instead, they gathered price estimates at Arlberg’s, a specialty ski shop on the outskirts of Lewiston.

The day concluded with a visit to 83 & Co., a Lewiston shop famed for its eclectic, “witchy” inventory. Hugo‑Vidal and Bo chose to purchase art for their home together, opting for a shared gift rather than exchanging traditional presents. “We’ve decided for our anniversary we will buy something together, rather than getting each other gifts,” she explained.

Hugo‑Vidal described her spouse’s many contributions to their life. “She’s so smart and funny and pretty and always doing home improvement projects around the house,” she said. The wife taught herself to reglaze a vintage glass window and painted the front door fire‑engine red at the writer’s request. She also ensures “emergency snacks” are stocked and supplies nicknames for the family’s children and pets.

The couple’s home includes a dog named Karma, who Hugo‑Vidal notes is not officially a pet. She says, “She makes sure Karma gets a poop in the morning every morning even though Karma isn’t even technically her dog.”

Beyond the lighthearted details, Hugo‑Vidal highlighted the emotional support her wife offered during a difficult time. “She pulled me through three months of postpartum depression when I was barely a functioning human,” she said. She also recalls a kitchen mishap: “She didn’t even get that mad at me when I burned carrots on the bottom of a $200 cooking pot. (In my defense, I did not realize pots could cost that much money.)”

The anniversary was a reminder to Hugo‑Vidal of the joy and challenges of marriage. “It’s also just fun. The best part of being married to my wife is getting to hang out with her every day, making stupid fart jokes and singing little made‑up songs about our dogs and our kid,” she concluded.

Hugo‑Vidal’s column reflects the couple’s blend of personal milestones with everyday life in Maine, offering readers a glimpse into how new parents navigate the first year of marriage while celebrating the simple moments that make the journey worthwhile.