Wedding Ideas and Observations

Photo by Channing Johnson

We have been fortunate enough to play live acoustic music (bluegrass, swing, roots music, old time) at numerous weddings throughout New England. We thought it would be cool to write a post sharing some tips for nuptials planning for their special day.

In case you were wondering, roots music is a great option for weddings and heck – even anniversary parties! Have a look at this slide show prepared by our photographer friend Liz Linder showing how elegant, beautiful and memorable an event can be.

Another photographer we have had the pleasure of meeting and would highly recommend is Channing Johnson. Check out Channing’s Website to see some of his unique and beautiful work.

If you’re looking to hire a band (and came across this post),you are probably pretty far along in your planning. You may even have a tentative date and location. If you are still undecided on a location, here are a few that we have performed at and would recommend in New England:

Connecticut – There is a public garden in Hartford that we performed at called The Elizabeth Park Rose Garden. It is the oldest municipally operated rose garden in the country. It is a two and a half acre garden which has about 800 varieties of roses that amount to 15,000 plants. Very beautiful spot!

Maine and the Coast – We recently performed at a wedding reception that was held at Clay Hill Farm Cape Neddick/York, Maine . The farm is an upscale restaurant and venue on eleven private acres of colorful gardens, lavish lawns and protected woodlands. It is just two miles from quaint downtown Ogunquit village.

The Stone Mountain Arts center is a great rustic venue. The main hall is restored post and beam barn that includes a stage. Throughout the year, the Arts Center features national folk music acts. There are fishing/hunting lodges in the surrounding are that can host your out-of-town guests.

Massachusetts and the Cape -
The Overbrook House in Buzzard’s Bay is a great venue for a wedding celebration. The house is a 1920′s charming 8-bedroom farmhouse with 60-foot swimming pool and 24′x50′ dance hall. Sunny and spacious, with lawns, playing fields, 22 acres of surrounding woods, and a neighboring organic farm. The property is available for family vacations, weddings, or business retreats.

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Camp Kiwanee in Hanson, MA has several areas to fit every need. From the Needles Lodge, with its striking view of Maquan Pond and a capacity of 200 people, to our outdoor picnic areas, we can make your next event an occasion to remember. If you’re planning a wedding, corporate party or any number of other events, Camp Kiwanee could be just the right place.

We recently performed at a wedding celebration a the Nashoba Winery in Bolton, MA. It was a beautiful spot and the staff their were fantastic! Some of the folks there mentioned that the facility just was awarded the distinction of being one of the top ten outdoor wedding venues in the state of Massachusetts.

Thompson Island is a great location for a wedding – they have full service catering and everything else you could want. And speaking of islands Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard are incredible locations

New Hampshire -
Whitney’s Inn at Jackson has been one of New Hampshire’s premier destination resorts since the 1840s, welcoming both couples and families with its charming guestrooms, superb dining in the rustic Shovel Handle Pub, its beautifully maintained grounds, and proximity to next door neighbor, Black Mountain Ski Resort. This venue is amazing and is highly recommended!

Rhode Island - Hammersmith Farm is an incredible venue. It was the summer headquarters of JFK during his administration and the childhood home of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. Also the Kinney Bungalow is a beautiful spot situated on a working farm in Narragansett.

Western, Mass / Berkshires / New York – The Mount Lebanon Shaker Village is venue shown in this Liz Linder slide show. It is located very close to the New York/Massachusetts border and the location is breathtaking. There’s even a church on premises!

Hampshire College is also a great setting for an Autumn/Indian Summer wedding. The “big red barn” can accommodate groups for an indoor reception.

NEW! – Wedding Planning Tips – NEW!

We recently performed at a wedding for a woman who’s occupation was an Event Planner for a non-profit. She created an excellent map and vendor wedding timeline in Word format. These documents were very helpful for us and the caterer on the big day!