Divine Destinations
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Galley Beach Restaurant
No matter how boisterous a wedding gets at Nantucket’s Galley Beach, there’s always that moment when all eyes take in the dazzling sunset over the bay. “The choreography of the evening revolves around the sun,” event planner Maureen Sullivan says of the nuptials that take place at this elegant restaurant (a former lunch shack now frequented by the likes of Robert De Niro and Catherine Zeta-Jones), which is literally a stone’s throw from the ocean’s edge. But the pièce de résistance comes at the end of the night for many couples: Barefoot, with his pants rolled up, a groom scoops up his bride and carries her, shoes dangling from her hand, through the surf to an awaiting Hinckley picnic boat while fireworks light up the sky behind them. “It gives me chills every time,” Sullivan says. 54 Jefferson Ave., Nantucket, 508-228-9641, galleybeach.net.Photograph by Claudia Kronenberg Photography
Chatham Bars Inn
Chatham Bars Inn, how do we love thee? Let us count the ways. One: We love the tranquility of a walk along Shore Road at dawn. Two: We love how your ocean breezes bring the smell of sea roses. Three: We love sharing gin and tonics on your covered veranda at sunset. Four: We love how we feel like a part of early-20th-century history when we walk through your lobby. Five: We love the couples’ massage at your luxurious new spa. We’re ready to commit to you on the beach, on your South Lawn croquet green, inside the Beach House Grill, or by the Boat House. Just say yes. 297 Shore Rd., Chatham, 508-945-0096, chathambarsinn.com.Photograph by Kevin McLain
Woodstock Inn and Resort
Cute New England towns aren’t hard to come by, but the most Currier and Ives of the bunch has got to be Woodstock, Vermont, with its covered bridge, steepled church, and town green. That’s the backdrop for a wedding at the Woodstock Inn—although your guests may never set foot outside now that the new $10 million spa has opened. Bridal parties can take over the Woodstock Suite, with its four massage tables, Japanese soaking tub, and Swedish shower, to prep for the evening’s festivities. Hold your reception either inside the historic inn or out back under a tent; a carriage ride through town with your groom before the party will complete the picture-perfect weekend. 14 The Green, Woodstock, VT, 800-448-7900, woodstockinn.com. Photograph courtesy of Woodstock Inn and resort
Dr. Daniel Fisher House
Weddings at the Dr. Daniel Fisher House on Martha’s Vineyard tend to be more formal than the typical island affair (read: ditch the flip-flops), what with the crystal chandeliers, silk drapery, Steinway grand piano, and marble fireplaces. But that doesn’t mean they’re any less festive. Located on a four-acre parcel of land that boasts gorgeous gardens, an orchard, and a pond, the 1840s Federal-style mansion in the middle of Edgartown is where longtime summer residents tie the knot (if not at their own seaside estates, that is). Celebrate under a tent off the bluestone patio, and when the property’s 9 o’clock curfew comes around, lead your guests down a candlelit path to Main Street to keep the party going. 99 Main St., Edgartown, 508-627-4440, mvpreservation.org/fisher.html.Photograph courtesy of Dr. Daniel Fisher House
Castle Hill Inn and Resort
Thinking Newport? Situated on a secluded 40-acre peninsula at the west end of Ocean Drive, Castle Hill Inn may not be the first place that comes to mind, but let it be the last: This Relais & Châteaux resort offers one of the most breathtaking views of Narragansett Bay, far from the hubbub of downtown. The inn’s gracious staff works overtime to make guests feel welcome, and the food, catered in-house by executive chef Jonathan Cambra, is (to put it mildly) out of this world. Receptions take place under a semi-permanent tent on the lawn, which leads to a steep cliff overlooking the water. Add a setting sun, and you’ve got perfection. 590 Ocean Dr., Newport, RI, 888-466-1355, castlehillinn.com.Photograph by Warren Jagger
Blantyre
We won’t discourage you from having a spring or summer wedding at Blantyre, but we will tell you that a few feet of snow makes this turn-of-the-century Relais & Châteaux country-house hotel in Lenox almost unbearably beautiful. “It’s a winter wonderland,” says owner Ann Fitzpatrick Brown. Host a “snow barbecue” rehearsal dinner at the ice rink—complete with a choice of eight different types of hot chocolate to take the chill off—and send guests to the spa the next day (by snowshoe, of course), where they can relax in the hot tub and watch the snow fall. Hold your ceremony beside a roaring fire in the main hall, and follow it up with a simply spectacular meal for up to 120 friends. Trust us: You won’t miss the summer sun. 16 Blantyre Rd., Lenox, 413-637-3556, blantyre.com.Photograph courtesy of Blantyre Estate
Willowdale Estate
A princess has yet to arrive at Willowdale in a pumpkin turned carriage, or flee at midnight and leave a glass slipper behind. But given the fairy-tale setting—a 1901 fieldstone mansion in the midst of a 700-acre park—it’s probably only a matter of time. The place isn’t all frou-frou and dreams-do-come-true, though, which is why it also appeals to knights in shining armor: The dark wood paneling, stained-glass windows, exposed beams, and mantels depicting battle scenes lend a decidedly clubby vibe to this Arts and Crafts manor 30 minutes north of Boston. Out back, wildflowers and butterflies thrive in the courtyard, where ceremonies and receptions can be held for up to 240. It really is happily ever after. 24 Asbury St., Topsfield, 978-887-8211, willowdaleestate.com.Photograph courtesy of Willowdale Estate
Omni Mount Washington Resort
Standing at the altar on the new green roof of the Omni Mount Washington Resort is like being cradled “in the palm of a higher being,” says Craig Clemmer, the hotel’s director of sales and marketing. Amen to that. Offering 360-degree views of the Presidential Range, Crawford Notch, and Waumbek and Rosebrook mountains, the rooftop features an abundance of indigenous plant life, including Labrador tea, moss campion, and the endangered three-toothed cinquefoil. All of this lends the adjacent Jewell Terrace, which can host up to 400 guests, a distinctively alpine feel. Fortunately, you won’t need hiking boots to get there. Route 302, Bretton Woods, NH, 603-278-1000, brettonwoods.com. Photograph courtesy of Mount Washington Resort
Inn by the Sea
Why did we put the Inn by the Sea on our list? Because the sweeping views of the Atlantic are utterly romantic, and the inn itself—which recently underwent a multimillion-dollar renovation—is environmentally friendly, from its LEED-certified spa to its farm-to-table dining and indigenous gardens. But the thing that captivated us most? The butterflies. Every year, monarchs come to feed on the milkweed that grows in abundance on the property, recently designated as a certified monarch way station because it sustains the insects’ migration and reproduction. Brides-to-be are even given a list of ways to make their celebration eco-friendly, like giving packets of milkweed seeds as favors. 40 Bowery Beach Rd., Cape Elizabeth, ME, 207-799-3134, innbythesea.com.Photograph courtesy of Inn by the sea
