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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.

Tradition on Maine's Coast

Built in 1887, the BAR HARBOR INN is a serene spot for a beautiful coastal wedding. Situated right on Frenchman Bay and bordered by a half-mile shore path, the inn is an idyllic spot for both large and small weddings.

For receptions of up to 150 guests, the famous Reading Room, the main dining room, is adorned with a grand crystal chandelier, antique touches, and bow windows with ocean views from all vantage points. The Porcupine Room, named for the island seen off the coast, accommodates smaller gatherings of 20 to 50 guests. Located just above the Reading Room, this smaller dining room offers traditional New England styling, bow windows overlooking the bay, and a balcony perfect for the cocktail hour. And for the bride and groom who want to exchange vows outdoors, there's no spot more beautiful than the inn's Bayview Lawn as it sweeps down to the bay.

Along with the scenery, what sets the Bar Harbor Inn apart is individualized service. From the first site visit to the day of the wedding, the bride and groom will feel taken care of as they customize their special day, including working with the inn's event coordinator on an individualized wedding cake.

Once the reception ends, guests have a number of options if they're not yet ready to call it a day. Enjoy a sunset cruise aboard the Margaret Todd, a classic four-masted schooner — or simply walk to the end of the inn's driveway and you'll find yourself in the midst of Bar Harbor's nightlife.

A Quintessential New England Wedding

For a unique, romantic, and elegant wedding filled with historic New England charm, THE RED LION INN is the perfect choice, located in the picturesque Berkshires village of Stockbridge, Massachusetts. The inn, originally founded in 1773 and rebuilt after a fire in 1897, specializes in smaller events that deserve extra attention and prides itself on its legendary hospitality and celebrated culinary staff.

In addition to the main building's antiques-filled gathering rooms for the ceremony and reception, the inn's courtyard and common areas are ideal for cocktail hour or a small reception. The property also includes eight distinctive guesthouses, including the old village firehouse and a former artist's studio-in-the woods, that offer a range of creative options for merriment, including kitchens, dining and living areas, and ample space for wedding guests to enjoy.

Secluded Country Wedding

Romance is in the air at this intimate inn located on 25 secluded acres of groomed gardens and rolling lawns. Located in historic Plainfield, New Hampshire, the HOME HILL INN'S 1818 Federal-style house is just right for a country wedding.

The inn hosts indoor weddings of up to 70 people and up to 200 people at tented receptions on the property's stately lawn. After exchanging vows in the gardens or on the lawn, enjoy the cocktail hour in the lounge or in the smaller of the two dining rooms. The reception may then move to a tent or the large dining room with its French doors leading onto a terrace.

One reason weddings are so special at the Home Hill Inn is the at-home feeling here. And the inn typically is reserved exclusively for your wedding, making it truly private and intimate.

Start Planning Now

The Balsams Grand Resort Hotel
www.thebalsams.com
LOCATION: Dixville Notch, NH
MAXIMUM CAPACITY: 230
APPROX. NUMBER OF WEDDINGS A YEAR: 16
CONTACT: Karen Ahrens, 800-255-0600

Mountain View Grand
www.mountainviewgrand.com
LOCATION: Whitefield, NH
MAXIMUM CAPACITY: 350
APPROX. NUMBER OF WEDDINGS A YEAR: 40
CONTACT: 603-837-0039

Bar Harbor Inn
www.barharborinn.com
LOCATION: Bar Harbor, ME
MAXIMUM CAPACITY: 175
APPROX. NUMBER OF WEDDINGS A YEAR: 30-35 (seasonal)
CONTACT: Dede Daigle, 800-350-3352

The Red Lion Inn
www.redlion.com
LOCATION: Stockbridge, MA
MAXIMUM CAPACITY: 100
CONTACT: Denise Albert, 413-298-1604

Home Hill Inn
www.homehillinn.com
LOCATION: Plainfield, NH
MAXIMUM CAPACITY: 200
APPROX. NUMBER OF WEDDINGS A YEAR: 12
CONTACT: Lloyd Gabourel, 603-675-6165