Bridal Guide 2011 – Unique Venues

Off The Beaten Path: Unique venues for those couples looking for something a little different.

A wedding reception is a celebration of marriage and the first time you present yourselves as a couple. Whether your theme is roadhouse dance party, mercantile-chic, or meandering among the marshes, the Merrimack Valley offers unique opportunities to make your introduction a memorable one.

Winnekenni Castle sits above Kenoza Lake, just minutes from downtown Haverhill. Barely visible from the street, this impressive pocket castle is well worth a closer look. Originally built as a summer home by Dr. James R. Nichols, the exterior features multicolored rock walls. Photographers enjoy using the large oak doors and natural surroundings as backdrops. The interior is a blank slate on which you can put your own decorative stamp. The Winnekenni staff can connect you with a variety of service providers and event planners. Renting a day at Winnekenni Castle is surprisingly affordable. Up to 130 guests can be accommodated. For more information, go to www.Winnekenni.com or speak to Grace Marcoux.
Winnekenni Castle: 347 Kenoza Avenue   Haverhill, MA   (978) 521-1686.

A little bit of Napa Valley in New England, Zorvino Vineyards has quickly established its reputation as a popular wedding destination. Located on more than 80 wooded acres, the comfortably groomed landscape and rustic manor house provide a stunning backdrop for weddings of up to 250 people. The vineyard has a chef on premises that can work within your budget and your preferences to assure a meal worthy of the setting. For a very nominal fee, guests can sample the vineyard’s wines during a cocktail hour before the big meal. Wines of your choice served in charming tabletop wine barrels can accompany the meal. Great customer service is the mantra at Zorvino Vineyards and their professional staff offers flexible planning assistance and a guarantee that your wedding day, rain or shine, will be both luscious and personal. Visit www.Zorvino.com for more information.
Zorvino Vineyards: 226 Main Street   Sandown, NH   (603) 887-8463.

The Whistler House Museum of Art in Lowell envelops you like a warm vintage coat, with understated elegance, quality workmanship and perfect proportions. World famous artist James McNeill Whistler was born in this house, which for many years was home to various professionals employed by the Locks and Canals Corporation of Lowell. The city’s middle class eventually moved on to different neighborhoods, and Whistler’s house slipped into decline. Saved by the Lowell Art Association in 1908, the museum has been lovingly restored and maintained and now boasts a wonderful collection of American Art. Also on display are the works of Armenian born abstract expressionist Arshile Gorky. The Whistler House Museum is an unusual but popular location for stylish weddings and celebrations. The Parker Gallery, located behind the main house, provides extra space for larger weddings. The museum recently added a lovely Victorian garden that is complemented by a statue of Whistler by local sculptor Mico Kaufman. Up to 225 guests can enjoy themselves in this urban oasis. Museum Director Michael Lally helps couples put together their special day, and welcomes all inquiries at www.WhistlerHouse.org.
Whistler House Museum of Art: 243 Worthen Street   Lowell, MA   (978) 452-7641.

The acoustics at the Tupelo Music Hall in Londonderry, N.H., are legendary, so for the couple that wants to put their music front and center, this is an excellent choice for a wedding venue. At the Tupelo, you’ll have access to a state of the art sound system valued at well over $150,000. The hall is located in an old white farmhouse — not far from Route 93 — that features an ample but quaint front porch. The main room is intimate, but open beams on the ceiling give it an airy feel. Up to 100 guests can be seated comfortably and served by the caterer of your choice. You bring in the band of your choice and let the engineers at the Tupelo run the soundboard. Make sure you wear comfortable shoes, as you won’t want to sit this one out. For more information, go to www.TupeloHall.com or contact Scott Hayward.
Tupelo Music Hall: 2 Young Road   Londonderry, NH   (603) 437-5100.

If sylvan splendor is your fancy, look no further than Newburyport’s Maudslay Arts Center. Martha Brookes Hutcheson, one of the country’s first female landscape architects, designed the formal gardens and grounds surrounding what once was known as Maudesleigh estate. The grand house is now a memory and a barely visible foundation, but the grounds and the Maudslay Arts Center still possess a divinely faded elegance. The arts center is a nonprofit organization that operates within the 488 acres of Maudslay State Park. Best known as an outdoor performance venue, the Maudslay Arts Center has been a popular choice for brides and their photographers. A historic barn, a new outdoor dance floor, and a well-tended grass patio round out the picture nicely. The rental fees are budget-friendly at $1,750, and if you’re having difficulty whittling down your guest list, there’s no reason to worry. With an additional tent rental, you can invite up to 350 guests. For more information, go to www.MaudslayArtsCenter.org, or contact Nick Costello.
Maudslay Arts Center: 95 Curzon Mill Road   Newburyport, MA   (978) 857-0677.

South of Joppa Flats in Newburyport, the hangar at the Plum Island Aerodrome seems an unlikely choice for a wedding reception. However, for the couple with a vision, this simple metal shell can be dramatically dressed up. Perfect for aeronautics buffs or fans of natural beauty and sandy marshes, the Plum Island Aerodrome is a nonprofit working airport that leases the property from Historic New England. Located on the Plum Island Turnpike, the tiny airport is across the street from the Merrimack River, where the dunes meet the marshes. With one wedding under his belt, owner Steve Noyes is happy to shut down the airstrip for a day. Vows can be taken on the runway, with small aircraft providing the backdrop. Tom Rafferty of Periwinkles Catering in Ipswich, Mass., worked on the first wedding held at this location and said the facility, with a tent, can handle up to 120 guests. A well-seasoned pro, Rafferty was very comfortable working with the hangar, pointing out that a caterer is a “chef on wheels” and “drama can be resolved through careful planning.” Though you may not be the first couple to get hitched here, you won’t be the last. Visit www.PlumIslandAerodrome.org for more information.
Plum Island Aerodrome: 24 Plum Island Turnpike   Newburyport, MA   (978) 463-4222.