Issues → January/February 2010 → Travel →

Welcome to the Family: Yankee Weddings

Special Advertising Section: Distinctive settings for romantic and personal weddings

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Stately resorts or intimate inns. Country settings or oceanside. Snow-covered hills or sun-soaked gardens. Our region's variety of scenery makes for the perfect backdrop for a wedding to remember. Begin your planning with us as we take you on a tour of weddings in New England.

A Fairytale Wedding

At THE BALSAMS GRAND RESORT HOTEL in Dixville Notch, New Hampshire, the bride will experience a true fairytale wedding. The Balsams is a 150-year-old resort situated on 15,000 acres, with some of the most breathtaking views in the area, in part owing to the sheer 800-foot cliffs surrounding the property and a grand lawn sweeping down to pristine Lake Gloriette.

Opportunities abound for the bride and groom to create their own special experience. The Balsams has several different venues to suit any taste. The main ballroom is a popular choice for weddings with up to 160 guests, with its striking 1950s-era design and tiered seating levels flowing down to a small stage and spacious dance floor. And The Balsams' grand dining room is perfect for a larger reception of up to 230 guests. For smaller, more intimate weddings, brides have chosen the Hale Room or the Ballot Room (location of first-in-the-nation election voting).

And for those brides envisioning an outdoor wedding, the resort's striking view and expansive property lend themselves to a number of options, including cocktail hour on the deck on Lake Gloriette's shore, exchanging vows in one of the property's gazebos, a quaint ceremony in the circular flower garden, and a grand tented reception on the upper lawn with its view of the mountains.

The Balsams also makes for a great destination wedding no matter what the season. Play a round of golf on The Balsams' Top 100-rated golf course, hike on the property's 60-plus miles of trails, go whitewater rafting, spend a day on a private ski mountain, or just relax at the spa.

Magical Weddings in the Mountains

Overlooking the majestic White Mountains' Presidential Range, MOUNTAIN VIEW GRANDserves as the perfect setting for a wedding to remember.

Weddings are beautiful any time of the year at Mountain View Grand, but it's winter weddings that hold a special place in many hearts. During the day, brilliant sun reflects off the snow-covered grounds and mountain peaks, while in the evening the snow sparkles from the white lights adorning the trees. Inside, the bride and groom create lasting memories with their loved ones, while stone hearths and mugs of hot chocolate add to the cozy feeling.

During the warmer months, there are a number of beautiful settings to choose from, starting with the Grand Fountain Terrace and its gentle waterfall feeding into a stone riverbed and koi pond. For a more intimate wedding, the bride may prefer the Waterfall Terrace's more formal English garden. Both the Crystal Ballroom, with its distinctive crystal chandelier and hand-painted ceiling, and the Presidential Ballroom, with its expansive fireplace, offer elegant receptions.

As the big day approaches, the bride can relax because Mountain View Grand's professional team, including former Kennedy family executive chef Neil Connolly and French pastry chef Cedric Beguin, will make sure the event runs smoothly, letting the bride enjoy a day at the spa or a romantic sleigh or carriage ride.