Planning a Wedding in New England

A wedding in New England is lovely at any time of year, whether choosing to marry during the majestically beautiful foliage season, the cool, white elegance of winter, the new greens and first flowers of spring, or the sunny warmth of summertime. Planning is key to creating a nuptial celebration that makes use of the natural year round beauty of the New England region. There are numerous locations perfect for an ideal wedding in New England, whether the occasion is planned to be formal or casual, large and elegant, or small and intimate.

Mountains and Forests

There's just something special about an outdoor wedding that takes place in a natural setting. Perhaps, for some, it is the spiritual element of making such meaningful vows before God and man in the midst of His breathtakingly beautiful creation. For others, it is the intimacy of simplicity, stepping away from commercialism and celebrating the most intimate, loving, true elements of life. Maybe it is the symbolism of making one of life's biggest commitments in the great expanse of nature. New England mountains and forests offer a wealth of locations suitable for a variety of wedding styles.

Among the notable sites is the Hersey Mountain Forest region, located in Belknap County of New Hampshire, and within range of resort areas that add convenience to planning a wedding in New England during any season. With 3,000 acres available for low-impact types of public use, 2,000 of which is reserved as forever wild, the Hersey Mountain Forest is home to a wide variety of wild life, including numerous species of birds, including the olive-sided flycatcher, golden-crowned kinglet, and the red-breasted nuthatch. Red and white oaks, white pine, red maple, and red spruce are among the trees of the forests, and there are also ferns and mosses. The well varied terrain offers a wide range of potential wedding sites.

Lakes and Rivers

The New England region is also home to many lakes and rivers, offering wonderful wedding site options for either formal or casual wedding arrangements. Winnisquam Lake and Pemigewasset River are just a couple of the choice locations for a waterside wedding in New England. Fall colors reflected in the waters make for stunningly beautiful autumn weddings. Lake and river cruises can be a wonderful complement to summer nuptials, whether chosen as a place for the actual exchange of vows or as a site for the reception afterward to celebrate the ceremony. The scents and sounds of spring, the gleam of winter snow, each New England season has its beauty and each offers a myriad of New England wedding possibilities and potentials.

In planning for these types of outside venues, it can be important to consider such things as the availability of lodging for guests, reception catering, florists and other services and supplies for the wedding. Choosing an outdoor venue near a resort or vacation area allows for a gorgeous natural setting with maximum convenience, all the makings for a perfectly memorable wedding celebration.

Achieving Just the Right Balance

Weddings, aside from the very simplest, take some degree of planning and do require the services of vendors, convenient lodging within a reasonable distance from the site of the ceremony. A natural setting can present certain logistical challenges to wedding planning in many regions. Planning a wedding in New England, however, offers certain advantages. The early settlements of the New England region were close together for safety, something that influenced development of the area. Unlike the west, where things are far more spread out, in New England things are much closer together and it is possible to find just the right balance of untouched natural beauty and conveniently close amenities.