The third testimonial in this series, here is Kim’s candid opinion of her wedding flowers, photographer, and lighting from her wedding at the The Wentworth Inn, Jackson
Flowers were done by the ever so talented Carrie of Dutch Bloemen Winkle…..enough said!! I had this vision of large centerpieces with dramatic tall branches, she blew it away….even surprised me with sparkly black branches that were an added glitz!
Which leads me to my great photographer Lea Morgan. She was the head of the show for my wedding. What a doll to work with. Very professional, and had a blast with my guests.
Lighting was provided by A&M Daniel out of Amherst, NH. We had the entire tent light up with pink LED’s. A small cost for a dramatic effect!
Following up to the previous post, here is Kim’s candid opinion of her wedding cake and The Wentworth Inn, Jackson
The Wentworth….not sure where to begin! Kathleen, the wedding coordinator became one of my best friends through the planning process! The best part is that our family was able to ‘take over’ the inn for the entire weekend! I recommend it to anyone getting married, an intimate setting, and an entire weekend to spend with your loved ones…not just one day! The staff, the food, the accommodations, top notch! Our suite had a private outdoor hottub with a flat screen tv!
Beth at Sugarmaker Bakery did our cake….not only was it beautiful, but everyone said one of the best tasting cakes they had at a wedding!
Hi Meg! Just finished watching our video and we LOVE it!!! Words cannot express how we are feeling right now! It is beautiful, emotional, fun, exciting, EVERYTHING! And the best part is we get to watch it forever!! We love the way you set it up – it’s literally perfect; the scenes, the music, the way it all fits, it’s all PERFECT! Seriously, you don’t need to change a thing I love it because it went by so fast, but I can see it all on the video and get parts that I missed. This is perfect, Meg. Thank you so so so SO much for this – it is beautiful! I love it Thanks! Andrea
September 19th was definitely a winner all around for weddings in New England! Kelly was at the Castle in the Clouds with Rachel + Zach and I was with Jamie + Joe at the White Mountain Hotel. I have to admit I’m not one to listen to top hits because when I’m driving I either have NPR or XM on talk radio. It’s always SO much fun to have a spur of the moment dance party in the edit studio when wedding music is playing! So… lets Party In The USA! Congrats to Rachel + Zach! I hope this isn’t the last party – two sisters to go Happy Honeymoon!
Rachel + Zach: 9/19/09 Castle In The Clouds Preview
Words can not express what my face must have looked like when I walked into the Methuen Music Hall on 9/12. It was literally jaw dropping. “They just don’t make buildings like this anymore”, Dave said. And it’s true! The plaster and wood work skills that went into crafting such an architectural masterpiece are almost forgotten trades. Sad, I know. The detail in the wood carvings, the intricacy of the ceiling molds – and that’s just the building, not to mention what’s inside it… ta da! ”The first concert organ in the country, it remains today one of the outstanding organs in America.” – mmmh.org website. You really must click over to read more on the history of the building and see all the details for yourself.
Andrea + Al’s wedding preview only shows a few clips, and can not bring to life what you truly feel when inside witnessing a wedding there. What an awesome choice for such a magical day. They celebrated after at the Atkinson Resort and Country Club. I can’t wait to edit the rest of the video – not just because of the Music Hall, but because of this fun loving couple
“I know I gushed before, but honestly, Dan and I are so happy with the finished product and I’m beyond happy we got a video. It’s perfect and you did an amazing job! (I had complete confidence in you though, after watching all the footage from your site!) What a lucky day it was that we were driving to the Eagle Mountain House (it wasn’t even an option for the venue, we had some extra time and I wanted to show it to Dan!) and on our way back there you were!”
Jill and Dan were married 6/27/09 at the Bethel Inn, in Bethel, Maine (see their preview here). Dan and I lived in the same dorm at UNH so he knew who I was when they spotted me filming a wedding in Jackson, NH last year, then found me online! I love how that happened!
Jill’s grandmother wrote a poem describing the engagement, that she recited during cocktail hour, and it set the stage for a great opening sequence that followed with sound bites from other family members, telling how their story unfolds.
“We showed some friends the video Friday night and they said they wished they had seen it before they got married (two years ago), they would have had one done too! I’m so glad that we have it. Thank you so much!!”
This is the end of the ceremony, through the receiving line and photo shoot, into cocktail hour. Couples choose the music, and this fit their personalities just perfect!
This is a sneak peak at Shawn + Kim Burke’s wedding at the Wentworth Inn, Jackson, NH. It was impossible to put the best moments into one minute. There were so many amazing things that happened pre-ceremony as Kim was getting ready, and we all know it was the most energetic and intense dance party on the planet!! Thanks to Ernie of LocoMotion DJ Productions. So, this is just a quick collage of some aspects of the day The rest…. Late August 2009 – stay tuned!
Kim 08.07.09 at 9:19 am
Meg, I adore it! I think I’ve watched it already 7 times and I plan to about 325 more!! You are simply amazing! I cannot express how much having this video (and more to come! ahhhhhh!!) mean to both Shawn and I. Thank you thank you thank you! Kim Tanya 08.07.09 at 7:31 am
This video is amazing..looks like something out of a movie…the beginning was the best “Thats the cutest dress ever, Shawn is going to die when he sees it” haha…I want a video like this for my wedding!! CONGRATS KIM AND SHAWN!!! Ernie Houle 08.07.09 at 7:26 am
I have to say that this was one of the best weddings ever. Congratulations to Shawn & Kimberly! Spread the word to family and friends so we can do this again and again!
Golf Inspiration from Bill Lee – yes, that is my pull cart and I’m proud of it. The older the gear the more fun you have on the course!
As a native of the Mount Washington Valley, it’s hard not to have a soft spot for any of our local venues. Last month photographer and friend Bill Lee (Portland, Intervale, Laguna Beach) made it at the 25th hour to a surprise birthday at the Eagle Mountain House Golf Course, for owner of the Moat Mountain Smokehouse and Brewing Company, Steve Johnson (great place for rehearsal dinners and catering!) I hadn’t hit the links in two years, but being back at the Eagle reminded me of so many reasons this venue is so perfect for so many reasons.
I’ll start with the most popular wedding season – summer and fall. Putting myself in the shoes of a guest: I drive up Rt 16 and enter picturesque Jackson Village through “Honeymoon Bridge”… stop for a quick photo because I’m so excited for the wedding, to be in such an amazing spot (and away from work for the weekend)! As I cruise the “loop” I pass a few cute and all “locally owned” restaurants/inns/general stores that peak my interest to explore later in the day. We make the turn on to Carter Notch Road right by another Grand Inn, The Wentworth. Up the hill we go past Jackson Falls, but I can’t help but strain my neck to see the rushing water display and yell “pull over! This is amazing!” Snap, snap, snap and we are back in the car to go another 1/4 mile up to the Eagle Mountain House. Upon arriving we find ample parking, no stress unload area, an outdoor heated pool, tennis, exercise room with hot tub and sauna, Tavern (for the celebratory arrival cocktail) a 9 hole Golf Course and 280 foot wrap-around grand verandah! I must be in heaven! Throw away the keys! Everything I need is right here – and Jackson Village is a 10 minute walk down Carter Notch… this is too easy!
My “scenario” is all too true. You can literally park your car on Friday afternoon and not start the engine until Sunday. The Eagle is perfect in too many ways. Ok, well, for the girls who want to leave the guys to golf while they go shopping, you may need to drive the car back to Jackson Village to haul up all your “finds” at places like the Ravenwood Curio Shoppe, Flossies General Store, J-Town Deli (and store), and don’t forget to stop in and load up on Dr. Hauschka and Jane Iredale at Debony’s new location, right NEXT to Honeymoon Bridge directly across from Flossies.
Summer/Fall tips: Even if you don’t golf, the Eagle is the place to go out and learn – the most friendly of courses, it’s the least intimidating course you will ever find and the most fun and scenic. Stroll back down to Jackson Falls (with cocktail in cooler! or book in hand) On hot summer days this is a must for cooling off. Always wanted to try horseback riding? Scenic Mountain Tours are offered at Black Mountain. Well worth it!
Winter: World Class Nordic Skiing right out the door – you can ski down to the Village, grab lunch and ski back up to the Eagle. Trails for every ability. Alpine skiing right around the corner at Black Mountain! Who wouldn’t want to reconnect with old friends at a wedding in the winter with cozy fireplaces to gather round
The following slide show are images not so much of the “wedding” itself, but of the grounds of the Eagle and the Carriage House that the summer receptions are in. You will be able to see the picture perfect third tee where some will opt to have their ceremony – in the shade (nice when its hot) and stunning views of the Mountains. You will also see photos of the Carriage House set up and images that show the size of the room, again not focusing on the people so much as giving you an idea of the venue….enjoy!
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 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.
Now is the time of year when newly engaged couples are combing the internet and browsing bridal magazines for the perfect venue to fit their occasion or personality. I try to feature different wedding vendors on my site throughout the year and Jackson, NH is one location I will be focusing on during the spring. Jackson boasts many activities each season and you can learn more about this quaint New England town here. Weather it’s a winter wedding complete with your own personal bride vs groom ski race at Jackson’s own Black Mountain Ski Area, or a summer pampering at nearby Debony Salon followed by a relaxing afternoon at Jackson Falls – golf, Nordic skiing, spas, hiking, shopping, and fine dining – something for every age in Jackson, NH.
The Wentworth is located right across the street from the Jackson Community Church, Reverend Pojen Lee presiding. The Wentworth has a wonderful new tent pad and is fully equipped for any New England day. Mother nature won’t have much luck throwing a wrench in your plans except maybe outdoor photos in scenic Jackson, but as a historic Inn, The Wentworth is filled with elegant architectural and design details that create stunning photo ops rain or shine. Jackson based photographer Brian Post of Brian Post Weddings, will attest that you don’t have to travel far from the hotel to get stunning imagery and risk missing your cocktail hour.
Tent enhancements can be designed and decorated with local services from Carrie Scribner, owner of Dutch Bloemen Winkel, Jackson’s premier wedding floral design studio with a reputation for high quality, ingenuity and personalized attention. (See her work in August Wedding Recap Clip below).
For more information on getting married at The Wentworth, contact Kathleen DeVitto, Sales Administrator at 800-637-0013
The clips featured below are aimed at giving you some insight into a wedding day at the Wentworth.
“Modern Bride” is one word that came to mind when I first saw Karly’s dress – the sash tied it all together, simply elegant! Seth is in a band, Sargent John, and they are both really savvy with music and chose some great tunes for their video. The opening song has a modern-hip feel but ends as Seth and Karly meet in the Mariah Room for their first look at each other, which was really cool because not a lot of people choose to do that. It definitely allows the bride and groom a more intimate time to take in the beauty of each other and have a few private words. It also eases the nerves of seeing each other just as you walk down the isle.
Ahhh – could this be for real? I just finished editing the last of 2008 videos! At least everyone will have a “proof” copy for x-mas! YEAH! For x-mas I’ll share a new release – here is a clip of the stunning Trombly wedding at Waukewan in October. I hope Allison, Dan and family enjoy watching, and I hope all my 2008 clients are able to “Relive the Moment… Share Your Story” during this joyous time Happy Holidays! MEG
Thank you to Kelly Cicero for helping me film this celebration!
Well it’s about time!!! I AM SO EXCITED about my day today! I will post later about an AMAZING wedding at Nestlenook (today, yes Tuesday!) complete with images! I arrived home only to find my video had properly converted on Exposure Room! WOOP WOOP! Check it out in HD! I’ve been mixing it up a bit depending on the feel of the video so some people get “end credits” and other it ends up in the beginning. You can also tell me your preference too! This is a sample from 10/4/08 at Church Landing. Here’s a big hug to Kate for putting up with all my emails today
TUESDAY PART 2: Elopement – now, no joke, this was the FIRST photo of the day I took of Lindsey and Jason, I was in AWE! They are beautiful, so easy going, so SO good in front of the camera, just absolute naturals! I can’t wait for you to see the rest!!
Less then 12 hours after I mailed out the biggest “Red Sox Theme Wedding” DVD ever (to Lori + David 8/23/08) I found myself at the biggest Yankees Theme wedding ever (10/25/08)! Don’t ever let these two couples meet! Here are the opening credits – and incase you are interested the font that looks like the Red Sox is called “BoSox”. Andree Kehn was their photographer and she has some great shots on her blog of the wedding as well. I’ll be posting more clips as they are uploaded. Chris Proulx did an awesome job filming this one which made it a blast to edit Lori and Dave hit a Grand Slam Home Run with the weather, their friends and family, details, and FUN! The wedding took place on Moosehead Lake, the ceremony on The Katahdin in the middle of the lake!
Molly and Matt Celebrated with an amazing theme wedding at the Mountain View Grand in June!
Hi Meg,
I was just thinking of you! I was in New York over the weekend, showing off the wedding video, and everyone was so impressed with it. My friend Christina said she felt like she was watching a Hollywood movie. Every time I watch the video, I am thrilled again with what an amazing job you did. I think I could watch it at least once a day every day!
Thanks again,
Molly (Oct 22, 2008)
Hi Meg,
Last night Matt and I were finally able to sit down and watch the wedding dvd, and I can’t even tell you how thrilled we are with everything. We loved every second of it – from start to finish. It’s so great to be able to relive the day after the fact. There were so many things that Matt and I didn’t even see because we were so overwhelmed with everything going on.
The only thing that we said we would change would be if the dvd could be even longer, because we enjoyed watching it so much. I couldn’t ask for anything better.
10/4/08: An unbelievable day at the Waukewan Golf Club. Although I won’t be editing this video for awhile, I couldn’t resist putting up an UNEDITED clip of the girls SURPRISE performance for Allison. More in coming weeks, now back to editing August Weddings!
This was the end of Jess and Dave’s wedding video. They chose “Come What May” as their highlight song, which had me reaching for the tissues! The expressions on Dave’s face, Dave’s mom’s expression as she walks down the isle, Jess dad’s comments at the end of the video – it all gave me goose bumps! A perfect summary of such a beautiful couple!
