Bride Guide & Party Planner

Ceremony & Reception Sites

Beach Plum Inn and Restaurant

Kristin Burgess, 508-645-9454; www.beachpluminn.com; info@beachpluminn.com

You can't beat Menemsha for sunsets. Add that and fabulous cuisine to your wedding and you're at the Beach Plum Inn and Restaurant. With a capacity of 50 to 250 guests, the Inn can host your gala event either indoors or out. Ms. Burgess acts as on-site consultant and stays with you throughout your big day. Great food created by their award-winning chef complements the great views. Check out their web site for menus and details.

Black Dog Tall Ships

Jean Heffernan, 508-693-1699; www.theblackdogtallships.com; info@coastwisepacket.com

If your fairytale wedding involves billowing sails, sea shanties, and the rhythmic creak of wood-on-wood, think about marrying on one of the Black Dog's elegant tall ships. Anchored in Vineyard Haven Harbor, these two romantic ladies elicit oohs and aahs from passersby on Beach Road. In full sail, they are simply breathtaking.

Both ships offer catering and beverage service, or beverages can be brought in. Jean Heffernan can assist in all the planning and will supervise the loading of the boat when your supplies arrive. Arrange for a crewmember to play guitar or concertina. Your guests can help raise the sail or anchor, or just relax and enjoy the trip. Sea shanties at no extra charge.

Also, consider a day sail for a rehearsal dinner, a farewell party after the wedding, or to occupy your off-Island guests who are not involved in the rehearsal.

The Shenandoah is a 108-foot, square topsail wooden schooner with no auxiliary power. As such, your destination will be at the whim of the wind gods and the expertise of Captain Robert S. Douglas, who designed the boat. It can accommodate 35 guests for a day sail and 30 overnight.

The Alabama is a 90-foot, gaff-rigged wooden schooner with twin diesel engines. She was built in 1926 and can accommodate 49 guests for a day sail or 27 overnight.

Dr. Daniel Fisher House

M.V. Preservation Trust, Janet Heath, 508-627-4440, ext. 12; www.mvpreservation.org; info@mvpreservation.org

Perhaps the most elegant reception spot on the Island, Fisher House was built in 1840 for Dr. Daniel Fisher - a whaling oil mogul. It has since enjoyed many different incarnations, the most recent as a beautiful restoration of a period piece. Now it is used mostly for wedding receptions and other events.

A small wedding (up to 50) can be accommodated inside the house, with room for a sit-down dinner, a bar, and dancing for $2,500 (space only). Expand your guest list up to 150, and for $3,000 enjoy the house and the terrace with a rented tent (not included). Weddings of 250 to 300 can be accommodated in a tent on the expansive lawn for $5,000 (tent not included). And you get the house and terrace.

Worth it? Absolutely. There are fireplaces in every room, built-in bookcases, a commercially equipped kitchen, and a white-pillared porch with dark drapes - the perfect setting for those photos. A staff member will be at your beck-and-call for the entire event. And, the funds support the upkeep and restoration of Fisher House and other historic Island sites.

The ideal wedding is a ceremony at the neighboring Whaling Church (also overseen by the M.V. Preservation Trust) and a reception at the Fisher House. There are also many churches within walking distance.

Farm Neck Golf Club

Mia Rebello, 508-693-3057

Tie the knot at the first tee and kick off your marriage with a hearty swing. You don't even have to be a golf fan to appreciate the amenities of this Oak Bluffs venue. The outdoor wedding site teems with perennial flowers and beyond lie acres of lush green. Thirty to 200 of your closest friends and family will enjoy the personal touches the Golf Club's staff brings to your ceremony and/or reception. "Everyone who has a wedding here feels part of the family," Mia Rebello boasts. And, as on-site consultant and coordinator, she'll do the heavy lifting to make the planning of your wedding as stress-free as possible. Prices start at $65 per guest with an $800 fee for the tent, but packages are available.

First Congregational Church of West Tisbury

Rev. Tom Roan, 508-693-2842; www.wtcongregationalchurch.org

Simplicity rules at this quaint country church at the corner of State Road and Music Street in West Tisbury. This circa 1860 classic New England white clapboard church with requisite steeple is the stuff of old movies and little girls' dreams. This magnificent, quiet space seats about 140 guests and the adjoining event room can accommodate up to 50 guests for a small reception.

Check out the web site for terms and prices and call the hospitable Rev. Roan about a year in advance. He also performs ceremonies off-site.

Grange Hall

M.V. Preservation Trust, Janet Heath, 508-627-4440, ext. 12; www.mvpreservation.org; info@mvpreservation.org

For your rustic up-Island wedding, you can't find a better venue than the Grange Hall. Just up State Road from Alley's, slightly past historic Music Street, this West Tisbury post-and-beam barn will accommodate up to 150 of your nuptial celebrants. Enjoy cocktails on the porch. Show off those pre-wedding dance lessons on the antique wooden floor while your caterer wheels out your cake from the large commercially equipped kitchen. There's even a theater upstairs in case your outside ceremony gets weathered out.

The M.V. Preservation Trust charges $1,500 for use of the hall, an additional $250 for the theater, and there's always a staff member on-site - just in case. Book 6 to 12 months in advance.

Harbor View Hotel

Tom Williams, 508-627-6364/Jennifer Tareila, 508-627-6363; www.harborview.com

Head up North Water Street, past the historic white clapboard homes. Suddenly the Edgartown Lighthouse comes into view, then the imposing Harbor View Hotel, surrounded by expanses of cool green lawn. Now imagine exchanging vows in the gazebo section of the hotel's wrap-around porch. Could there be anything more idyllic?

Book your wedding at least a year in advance for a June, September, or October event at this popular venue. Then enjoy the luxury of on-site consultants and catering, a choice of event rooms that accommodate crowds up to and over 300, a highly professional staff, and quality food and beverages. You and your guests can stay at the hotel, a short walk from the sights and shops of Edgartown. See the web site for prices and other details.

Hot Tin Roof

Cory Cabral, 508-693-1137, ext. 12; www.hottinroof.com

Resplendent in three-dimensional Island-themed murals by Margot Datz, the Hot Tin Roof is the premier performance venue on Martha's Vineyard - which makes it ideal for large weddings (300 to 400 guests). There's a huge inside space, a large courtyard outside, a stage, a permanent dance floor, an excellent sound system, and parking galore. The atmosphere is not formal, but this hot spot is great for your casual sit-down or buffet reception.

Experienced event planner Cory Cabral will point you to the best Island resources for your wedding accoutrements and catering is available on-site.

Lambert's Cove Inn & Restaurant

Scott Jones, Kell Hicklin, 508-693-2298; www.lambertscoveinn.com; lambinn@gis.net

Book your wedding in this lovely English Country-style inn and enjoy your choice of beautiful sites for your nuptials. Walk down the Bridal Path lawn, lined with floral gardens. Exchange vows in the gazebo. Trade rings before the fireplace in the comfortably elegant library. Or hold your ceremony on the beach at Lambert's Cove and ride a horse and buggy back to your reception at the inn. The entire inn and its staff will be dedicated to you and your guests for a memory-building occasion. In fact, after 23 years of weddings at the inn, former brides and grooms are now returning to celebrate anniversaries. Package deals are available.

Lighthouses (Gay Head, East Chop, and Edgartown)

Ree Jutras-Kuser, 508-939-9155; ree@vineyard.net; www.marthasvineyardhistory.org

What could be more romantic than getting married in the shadow of one of the Island's historic lighthouses? Picture gentle ocean breezes, the hues and fragrance of lush beach roses, and fabulous water views. Just imagine the pictures! Although receptions are not allowed, each of the lighthouses offers a unique experience for the ceremony. Call Ree Jutras-Kuser for prices and details.

The Gay Head Lighthouse boasts the largest grounds of the three. Overlooking the Gay Head Cliffs in Aquinnah, there's plenty of room for chairs for your guests. You can exchange vows on the grounds, inside on the first floor, or on the catwalk at the top. The latter offers the smallest space - the bride and groom outside, and the officiant in the doorway.

The East Chop Lighthouse in Oak Bluffs allows ceremonies inside, but, again, the space is very limited. A small amount of parking is provided nearby, and the views of Nantucket Sound to the east and Vineyard Haven Harbor to the west are spectacular.

The Edgartown Lighthouse allows receptions on the grounds only. Since it's not fenced in like the other two, it's not as private. Parking is public and not too close by and chairs are not allowed on the grounds. That said, it's still a fabulous site for a ceremony. Set out on a small peninsula on Nantucket Sound and punctuated by rosa rugosa (beach roses), the romance and photo ops are worth a bit of inconvenience. Many couples arrange for their ceremony at the lighthouse and reception at the nearby Harbor View Hotel. It's walking distance, solves the parking problem, and is a great reception site to boot.

Mansion House

Doris Clark, 508-693-2200, ext. 106; www.mvmansionhouse.com; doris@mvmansionhouse.com

Your small wedding need not be any less elegant for size. The brand spanking new Mansion House Hotel, in the heart of Vineyard Haven is perfect for a small affair of 60 or so guests. The scenic cupola deck is available for ceremonies and the resident restaurant, Zephrus, will cater your reception with epicurean delights. Buffets start at $35 per person.

A real draw for a small wedding is the hotel's proximity to the shops and sites of Vineyard Haven - almost everything is within walking distance. The amenities of the hotel - pool, spa, shops, etc. - make it a fun weekend for guests and wedding party. In fact, according to on-site coordinator Doris Clark, many brides treat their bridesmaids and family females to a pre-wedding "Spa Party" - an all-day event, also catered by Zephrus. And, there are 32 rooms, including some suites, available for guests to stay in.

Old Whaling Church

M.V. Preservation Trust, Janet Heath, 508-627-4440, ext. 12; www.mvpreservation.org; info@mvpreservation.org

How much more luck can you put into a ceremony than when you exchange vows in a church that's accommodated weddings since 1843. That's a lot of happy couples. And, if light and music are large components of your ceremony, you're in for even more kismet.

The Old Whaling Church in Edgartown is gifted with a 15' x 28' stage, high ceilings and huge windows. It doubles as a performing arts space, so not only is it bright and airy on the gloomiest days, but the acoustics are phenomenal. As if that's not enough, there's a perfectly tuned Steinway grand piano on the stage and a newly restored pipe organ in the choir loft.

The church seats 500, but because of the center aisle and the configuration of the church, smaller crowds can be accommodated without it feeling sparse. A fee of $500 covers a two-hour ceremony, a one-hour rehearsal, and a greeter who will allow only guests to enter, keeping your ceremony as private as you'd like. Officiant not included.

Sailing Camp Park

Chuck Downing, 508-693-6777; chuckdowning7@yahoo.com

Another economical choice for your Island wedding is Sailing Camp Park. Owned by the Town of Oak Bluffs and managed by the MV Conservation Commission, it affords beautiful views of Lagoon Pond and a 50- x 30-foot function hall, complete with a large kitchen and stone fireplace.

Imagine exchanging vows atop a hill, overlooking the calm waters of the Lagoon, sailboats just visible in the distance. Afterwards, your guests gush about your wedding attire and the beauty of the ceremony while munching appetizers in an idyllic setting. Then you all proceed into the rustic Mainstay Building for dinner and dancing.

Sailing Camp Park is rather bare-bones. There's no on-site consultant (although Chuck Downing will be happy to make suggestions) and catering needs to be arranged with an outside source, but the natural beauty of this venue is well worth the effort.

Phone or e-mail Chuck for rates.

The Tabernacle

M.V. Camp Meeting Association, Bill McConnel/Donna Stewart, 508-693-0525

If you've ever been to Oak Bluffs's Methodist Campground, you can probably imagine how romantically quaint it would be to unite in the Tabernacle, surrounded by all those Hansel and Gretel cottages. When it's available, the Tabernacle can accommodate an absolutely huge wedding (it seats up to 2,000 for concerts) and reception. There are not a lot of amenities - use of a kitchen would have to be worked out with the nearby Methodist Church - but there's a large stage for a big orchestra and room for dancing.

Book this venue the moment the ring is on the engagement finger. Summer concerts and events take precedence, so availability is very limited. Enlist the aid of one of the Island's great event consultants for all the rest. It's kind of unwieldy to wed there, but there is the inimitable setting.

Union Chapel

M.V. Preservation Trust, Janet Heath, 508-627-4440, ext. 12; www.mvpreservation.org; info@mvpreservation.org

Imagine getting married, bathed in a golden light. The yellow stained glass of the Union Chapel's cupola casts a warm glow over the entire church interior. And, because the hand-caned chairs are freestanding, your ceremony venue can be configured to almost any layout. You can even get married in the round!

Union Chapel, at the top of Circuit Avenue in Oak Bluffs, was built as a "more worldly" (than the Methodists) interdenominational church in 1870. The acoustics are great, and a pipe organ and Steinway grand piano await your favorite musician for that all-important music.

A fee of $500 earns you a two-hour ceremony, a one-hour rehearsal, and the services of church sexton Richmond Greene (who also caned the chairs) to help out. The church will accommodate 200 guests on the floor and another 185 in the balcony. Reserve 6 to 12 months in advance. Officiant not included.

Wesley Hotel

Peter Martell, 508-693-6611; www.wesleyhotel.com

Whether your tastes are shaped by the recent turn of the century or the previous one, you'll find a charming, economical venue for a smaller wedding and reception at the Wesley Hotel. Centrally located right on the harbor in Oak Bluffs, the Wesley is a sweet Victorian lady with hospitality to spare. Get married on the front porch looking out over the harbor, in front of the fireplace near the piano in the genteel lobby, or exchange vows at one of the nearby beaches or churches and treat up to 60 guests to a warm, but economical, reception at the hotel.

Call to reserve at least six months in advance for a "high-season" wedding. Although there is no on-site catering or consultant, Peter Martell will be happy to provide recommendations.

Winnetu Resort

Michelle Gannon, 508-627-4747; www.winnetu.com; m.gannon@winnetu.com

South Beach just down the path? Catering by the exceptional Lure Restaurant? A ceremony with an ocean view? Holding your wedding and reception at Winnetu Resort? Brilliant!

Michelle Gannon will act as your guide from start to finish in arranging your wedding in this superbly scenic venue. Lure Restaurant will accommodate up to 150 guests for a sit-down dinner or move your reception outside to double that number. Guests can stay in their choice of 55 available suites with either kitchenettes or full-sized kitchens, and can walk Winnetu's own private path to South Beach.

Still not convinced? Check out their web site. Brilliant!