An elegant mansion. A working vineyard. An historic hotel. A venue’s design, geography, purpose, and history speak volumes about the power of place. Here are three examples.
Lauren enters with her dad
The Lord Thompson Manor: Dreams Come True
The historic Lord Thompson Manor in Thompson, CT, is known for its romance, aristocratic grace, service, and exquisite attention to detail.
Bride Groom and bridal party pretty in blue
Wedding rituals included a handfasting and parental blessing with bread
Earlier this year, I was honored to officiate for Lauren and Brian. Their ceremony was held in the Manor’s garden. The box elder, stone walls and statuary speak of stability and history. A petal strewn path and chandeliers hanging from the wrought iron gazebo and from the limbs of stately trees affirm that the fairy tale wedding comes true here. I suspect husband and wife owners, Andrew and Jackie, have a magic wand.
Feel the enchantment.
Newlyweds in vineyard silhouette
The Saltwater Farm Vineyard: Hard Work and Harvest
http://www.saltwaterfarmvineyard.com
To welcome family and friends to a recent ceremony at the Saltwater Farm Vineyard in Stonington, CT, I wrote these words: “The seasonal rhythm of a vineyard has a romance all its own. June shows the promise of the harvest to come. It will require hard work, patience and careful tending to the new growth. Not unlike a marriage. Today, we celebrate the hard work, patience, careful tending – and romance – that brought Julie and Andrew to this joyful milestone.”
Wedding cake and centerpieces next to wine barrels
Grapes after an unexpected frost
Vineyards are all about fertility and celebration. Vineyards evoke the beauty the seasons and the powerful changes they bring. Knowing all can be lost with a harsh storm or unexpected frost, vineyards remind us to care for what we have. Married owners Michael and Merrily know first-hand how hard work can produce award-winning results.
Feel the power.
The Hawthorne Hotel: Truth and Triumph
Steve and Michael tied the knot in Salem, MA
Before marriage equality was the law of the land, Michael and Steve flew from California to Massachusetts to tie the knot in the historic Hawthorne Hotel in the heart of Salem, MA.
Newlyweds Michael & Steve in snowy Salem MA
As a whole, New England evokes history, the fight for freedom, and the birth of our democracy. The history of Salem, home of the infamous Witch Trials in 1692-93, includes the shame of false accusation, persecution, and death. As gay men, Michael and Steve had once been the victims of persecution and injustice. I kept that in mind as I crafted their ceremony. Their photos, taken by Mike Skerry of Derby Studios, capture the celebration of commitment, equality, and the ability of love to change the world.
CT Officiant Zita Christian with newlyweds in Salem, MA
Feel the transformation.
Your Venue
What’s your ideal venue? The bank of a river? The shore of a beach? A backyard or a barn? A converted lace factory? Someplace formal? Casual? Wild?
If you’ve made your choice, I’d love to know what you selected and why.
If you haven’t yet chosen a venue, what’s the feeling you want for yourselves and for your guests? Let me know. I’ll share your thoughts on “Weddings with Zita” http://youtube.com/zitatvnetwork Perhaps someone in the viewing audience can help you find the perfect place.
Send an email to Zita@MoonRiverRituals.com
