Guests traveled from all over the world for this destination wedding at Church Landing on Lake Winnipesaukee 5/22/09. An amazing day from the weather, setting, entertainment and more. Ladd Hill Gardens did a tremendous job with the ceremony details complimenting the new Sperry Tent and setting in an elegant yet natural way. The couple has significant ties to the lake so the location was fitting. They executed with ease many traditions throughout the day I had never seen, including special gifts from a “fairy godmother”, delivery of a special horseshoe, a log cutting ceremony and more!
This is the wedding video “open” leading up to the ceremony.
Genna + Rusty: Church Landing - May 22, 2009 View in HD
Ellie and Hannu were the picture perfect couple for my first official Jewell Terrace Ceremony at the Mount Washington Resort. Hannu’s family is from Finland, and some people were unable to make the trip, so I did edit the ceremony so his family could see it soon after the event. This was just a modified package with coverage starting as guests arrive ending as guests mingle down for cocktail hour. The video clip below is just the final recap of the actual ceremony video. If you are getting married locally, that is something I can provide if I’m not already booked. Similar to my elopement packages, the pricing is by the hour for JUST the ceremony. Email me for the full ceremony video link and more details.
Don’t you love the flowers? Call Carrie at The Dutch Bloemen Winkel to consult about your celebration today. To see wedding photos from this stunning celebration email photographer Anne Skidmore, and visit her site. Ellie, Carrie, and mom, were styled by Debony Salon, both hair and makeup - radiant! The JP was Kim Steward and she has a wonderful site for planning your ceremony, here!
Elopements in New Hampshire are exciting! Why? Because there is so much to do, and so many great venues, and vendors to choose from. I’m always jazzed to get that email or call from a prospective couple looking to make plans to privately tie the knot. They may be choosing the White Mountains because it’s a place they have always been coming, or they are just looking for something nice, affordable, and easy to get to. Whatever the reason our local Mount Washington Valley Chamber of Commerce and Jackson Chamber websites are a huge help listing both Inn’s, B+B’s, and restaurants. 80% of the time it’s just the couple and maybe two or four close friends and family, so you want to make sure you celebrate in style and find a dining establishment that will fit your needs and personality. After you comb over some of our local resources, don’t hesitate to email or call me for recommendations. As a true native, I’ve dined most everywhere in town, and can recommend places to stay based on your style, taste, and budget. What amenities are important to you? If you have never been here, and tell me you are thinking of staying at “x” but would love mountain views, I could recommend “y” because they have better views and easy access to “a,b,c” things you may like to do. It can’t hurt to ask a local
One such venue is The Snowvillage Inn. Located in overly quaint Snowville, NH, truly an enchanting 18 room country inn with sweeping views of the Presidential Mountain Range. I was lucky enough to photo and video Carlie + Rob’s private elopement on June 6, and I was just back at The Snowvillage Inn for the wedding of Dawn+Shawn on June 20 (100+ pp). Stay tuned for video of the Snowvillage grounds in late July.
JP: Victoria Murphy, from the Brookhirst Farm Bed & Breakfast officiated the ceremony for Carlie + Rob, and Dawn + Shawn opened the famous “Little White Church” in Eaton with Kate Soule presiding. Ruthie’s in Conway did flowers for both.
If you are looking for something totally unique to do with your wedding party and guests, two words… Canopy Tour! Yes, even in the winter! It’s not always cold during the day! ‘08 Couple Jess and Dave did it last winter and raved about it, so I had to test her out myself. It’s so much fun (see accompanying clip below), and I can just imagine how incredible the views are with the leaves off the trees - a totally different experience in the winter! A bonding experience for your wedding party, and if some of your attendants are from different chapters in your life - it gives everyone a chance to know each other.
Unique idea #2 could take place at any NH ski resort that will accommodate. March ‘09 couple Leah and Erik hosted a fun ski race at Black Mountain (reception at Whitney’s Inn) for their guests complete with vintage ski attire. You can award prizes in goofy categories, and for those non-skiers, offer complimentary “winter warmers” with a splash of schnapps! Winter isn’t a time to show off your tan or great new hair style, so you might as well throw a hat on and have fun
Unique idea #3 take um Tubing! Cranmore Mountain has an over the top belly rolling fun zone with multiple lanes. If you get here a few days before the ceremony, go with some friends, it’s a memory you won’t forget. Cranmore is also fully set up to host weddings year round! Consider it as an affordable alternative to some of the larger all inclusive venues. Local Inns, B+B’s, hotels are within walking or a short drive. *Cranmore now offering winter-like tubing in the summer!
The sky is the limit no matter what the season. Just ask me and I can provide you with ideas - this was just scratching the surface! I’m native to the area, so ask me about any activity, vendor, etc, and I can give you an honest report.
So without further ado! Winter Specials! I love winter, and love filming people doing fun activities, so for any winter wedding package you can choose either one hour of activity coverage or one hour of rehearsal dinner coverage - free! We can do a fun video of you and your friends skiing, sledding, you name it! OR if you want to take me on the Canopy Tour with you - I will cover that as well! (usually 3.5 hrs, but you have to pay for me to go). It will be edited down to a highlight video and included on your final DVD’s. Don’t wait, two February Weekends already taken!
Part 2 of 3: I filmed two weddings in February at the Mount Washington Resort just two weeks apart, both with different start times. Emily + Wes (2/7/09) chose the ultimate hour for that week, 5pm. When she walked around the veranda of the hotel into the center doors of the Conservatory the deep blue sky painted such a mystical winter backdrop. It was beyond ideal (see sample Conservatory video). They went for a sleigh ride after the ceremony and then did photos outside under the hotel entrance and on the front veranda (inside formals were done too). In contrast, Kristina + Rahm (2/21/09) opted for a 4pm start time. Most of their guests (as you can learn from the Highlight Clip in the previous post) went skiing, dog sledding, and still had time to get ready - remember with high speed quads, what used to be a full day of skiing, can be accomplished in a half day no sweat. They wanted to be able to take photos outside with the sweeping mountain vistas, so they still had a good half hour of daylight/twilight before night set in.
Both ways work great, it just depends on your preference, what the hotel can accommodate, and what look and feel you are going for. Emily + Wes love candles and the romance of winter. They had a lot of ambient light and candle light surround them for the ceremony. Kristina and Rahm were in the conservatory during a time where the natural light from outside poured in so it really lit up the room in a different way. Why is this important to know? The sun goes down a bit early because it ends up behind the mountains a lot faster then if you were down South, and can mean an additional loss daylight. Have a look at the Conservatory Sample, to see the difference and figure out what time works best for you
Check back for Part 3 and announcements on winter specials!
Mt. Washington Hotel Conservatory - Ceremony Sample By Meghan Simone View in HD
Winter Weddings at the Mount Washington Resort View in HD
Part 1 of 3: It that time of the year where all winter couples are starting to solidify vendors for their snow time celebrations. Just in the last week I’ve had 4 calls on January and February weddings, so I thought a formal post would be in order. Winter in the White Mountains is visually spectacular. Snow covered peaks, sleigh-rides, skiing, and of course cozy fireplaces to sip warm hot toddies! What is great about the Mount Washington Resort is that it’s truly a one stop destination wedding experience for you and your guests. Flights into Manchester or Boston allow for easy travel up Rt 93 (cross over on Rt 3 and a few miles down on Rt 302). Once in scenic Bretton Woods, NH your lodging options include the Hotel, the Bretton Arms Inn, The Lodge, and The Townhomes. Depending on your group size, or if you are making your way to the wedding to also reunite with old friends, the different options cater to that. There are on site dining options from Fabyan’s Station, on slope affair at the “Taco Quad”, Lucy Crawfords Food Court, and the Slopeside Restaurant & Pub, or the hotel dining rooms, and Bretton Arms dining room. The best thing is… once you arrive in Bretton Woods, you don’t have to start your car until you are ready to leave. They have shuttle buses on property to take you to and from the hotel and inn, over to the Nordic Center and Ski Area! Did I mention the limitless options for Apres fun? Drinks in “The Cave”, hot-chocolate and Baileys by the grand fireplace, marvel at the views from the conservatory and get lounge service for light snacks and drinks! Don’t forget to invite me!
A few things to recommend for your guests: No equipment needed, rentals available for everything!
Nordic Skiing and Snowshoeing on property is world class.
Alpine Skiing at Bretton Woods with terrain for all abilities.
Dog Sledding! When in your life will you get the opportunity to do this?
Snowmobile Tours! So much fun, and most people don’t get a chance to cover that many miles while in town. A great way to see a wide variety of vantage points and scenery.
Sleigh rides with Champagne Toast - for guests, or for you at your wedding (like in the clip below). Weather depending I believe they run all day long.
The brand new Canopy Tour, which opened last year, is a HUGE hit and so much fun in the winter according to ‘08 Mt. Washington Resort couple Jess & Dave. Check out the video clip I made flying through the trees last week on the tour! (separate post on this coming soon).
Stay tuned for more tips and video clips on winter weddings- Why timing is everything in the winter! Part 2 on Wednesday!
Sleigh Rides allow time for your guests to mingle into Cocktail Hour - but for you to have a private moment together after the ceremony.
Emily + Wes: Cocktail Hour and Sleigh Ride By Meghan Simone View in HD
The Publick House in Sturbridge, MA was a huge surprise! Built in 1771, its 18th-century ambiance is elegant and rustic, while providing 20th-century comforts. Cocktail hour was in “The Barn” and the reception took place in Paige Hall. The food was out of this world and the service was beyond attentive. Seeing that it was a destination wedding for most guests, the property was big enough and offered a variety of room rates and styles. Of course I had to hit up the on site bakery in the morning, and will publicly proclaim that they have some of the best cookies (chocolate chip truffles!) I have EVER had. Irresistible things come out of their Yankee ovens!
Marianne was my college roommate and Tom grew up in my town. I didn’t meet Marianne until we were at UNH but I soon found out she had been spending her summers minutes down the road from me at Camp Tohkomeupog. We actually had quite a few mutual friends, and it was suprising we hadn’t crossed paths sooner. After college Marianne moved to Boston and I hooked her up with my elementary school friend Megan and they became roommates. It was through Megan she met Tom. Now you can hear the rest of the story…. (Stay Tuned for Part 2)
This past Saturday I was at the Mount Washington Resort to film the wedding of Juli + John. During dinner, the light was just perfect, so I was scooting around getting some scenic shots of the new Presidential Wing to use in the final video. It was my first time shooting in the new wing, as it just opened a few months ago. While I was exploring I couldn’t help but get a few shots of the rooms! The decor and design are perfect for the setting. The windows frame the breathtaking Presidential Mountain Range, the colors very in tune with the nature around. Being a native of the area and hating to see so much “change”, I was skeptical of what they were doing with such a large addition. I can honestly say you can’t quite see the addition from the road so it hasn’t altered the view from Rt 302 any, and when you get down into it, really, it’s stunning! It flows seamlessly from the original hotel. Juli + John had their wedding in the Conservatory, but you can also get married in the new Jewell roof top terrace. Kudos to the designers and owners for preserving the integrity of such a landmark property. I can’t wait to edit the wedding!
*Landscaping still in progress
This is a long awaited blog post from my sister Mia’s wedding, July 19, 2008 at The Castle in the Clouds, Moultonborough, NH. For starters, Friday night we had the rehearsal dinner on the Winnie Bell* and after the girls went back to the Gunstock Suite at Church Landing. The Castle does not have on site lodging, so guests were spread out around the surrounding area. What an amazing experience to be a guest at Church Landing! It was a dream come true, seeing that every time I film a wedding there I am always itching to swim in the lake, use the indoor-outdoor pool and cozy up with good company on the oversized chairs and pillow puffed beds! We did a little hot tubbing before retiring up to the room for the night. The weather was looking good - your typical July summer day.
The Castle’s wedding coordinator, Jessica Keefe was a huge help the day of. She knew exactly what Mia wanted to do with the room, so as we got ready off site, she orchestrated the vendors and by the time we arrived Mia was in awe with nothing left to do or worry about. If you haven’t been to the Castle, it’s a spectacular turn-of-the-century 16-room Arts & Crafts mansion on a pristine 5500-acre mountaintop estate overlooking Lake Winnipesaukee. Typically the wedding ceremony takes place up at “The Castle” and guests Trolley up from the Carriage House (see clip 2).
Clip 1: The focus on this video clip is to show you as much of the grounds at the Castle as possible. It starts as my dad is wrapping up his speech so you can see the upper level banquet room in The Carriage House (Mia did a long table setting they do have rounds). It shows various parts of the grounds and also the bridal room where the wedding party can escape to freshen up. The DJ is DJ Matt Spofford (see my vendor list)
Clip 2: You must Trolley up to The Castle Garden for the ceremony. If a typical July shower has you worried, I recommend getting guests up to the Castle anyway, because chances are it’s going to pass in minutes like it did for Mia and John. I must say a passing shower in July is not uncommon, so be patient and the staff, with the help of a few groomsmen can have the seats dried off and guests seated in less then 5 minutes. It was perfect, and The Castle did an amazing job keeping people worry free about the weather.
As the ceremony starts you are introduced to the magic of The Castle Garden. Spectacular sweeping 180+ degree views, romantic, elegant, lush gardens, and white padded chairs all add to the elegance of the surroundings. The Carriage House boasts beautiful views of Lake Winnipesaukee and the Belknap Mountains of the Lakes Region! The banquet room area includes spacious lounge, bridal room, coat room and private rest rooms for event guests.
*A added bonus: For anyone planning a wedding around Lake Winnipesaukee, I can say from experience a boat cruise on the Winnie Bell is a must for your guests (at least list it as an option for them to do on their own time while in town). This is ideal for showing guests parts of the lake you may have summered on, and just the magnificant scenery of the Lakes Region and White Mountains of New Hampshire.
Sarah and Jesse were married by Kim Steward “Kim The JP” at The Stonehurst Manor on May 9th. I don’t do many photo bookings for full size weddings (as I prefer to recommend one of the many great photographers on my vendor list) but for local couples and by word of mouth I may do a few each year (in addition to my elopement photo services, which I do a lot of).
I just wanted to do a quick vendor profile on the Stonehurst because it’s really an amazing spot with one stop access to everything “wedding”. You have the Manor house itself you can house guests and the wedding party in, but on the grounds are also large condos you can rent out. They have a beautiful new(er) ceremony site (see the giant chess board pattern below) with sweeping views up to Mount Washington (just in the clouds on this day). They have a permanent tent floor with access right off the main dining room and if mother nature doesn’t cooperate, a multi room indoor dining area and parlor for cocktail hour is classic vintage wedding elegance at it’s best! (I don’t have photos of that because their wedding was all under the tent so visit the Stonehurst Website). The side grounds include a gazebo, chairs and tables, and plenty of space for kids to run around. Of course the best thing is that the Moat Mountain Smokehouse and Brewing Company and Maestros are right across the street (yes, you can walk there) and are perfect spots for rehearsal dinners. Your guests can pull into town on Friday night and not have to start their engine until Sunday morning if they choose! Another major perk of choosing Stonehurst … they have the best Martini menu in the White Mountains! Images featured are not to show off the wedding couple, but to show you the grounds.
