New Hampshire, the ninth state to join the union, is New England at its finest! Bordered by New York, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Maine, and Canada, the state is easily accessible to many. Filled with elegant resorts and charming inns, New Hampshire is a perfect site for a destination wedding.
Taking its name from the English town of Hampshire, New Hampshire is known as the Granite State, with much of the architecture reflecting its use. English gardens filled with purple lilacs, the state flower, pepper the 9,351 square miles of New Hampshire's spring landscape. White birch trees and purple finches add more color to the forests, inviting outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy camping, hunting, fishing, rafting, hiking, and canoeing. In winter, skiing, the state sport, is the activity embraced by its residents.
Many of the state's extraordinary resort hotels adapt to the seasons. Amazing golf courses are picturesque backdrops for spring and summer weddings, while New England fall colors offer unparalleled beauty for a fall wedding. Winter weddings are enhanced when held by the warm glow of a roaring fire in a magnificent granite hall, or at a ski lodge where sleighs, skiers and snowmobiles are always welcome sights.
With names like The Maplewood, The Balsams, and The Wentworth, grand resorts are as much a part of New Hampshire as the colonists that settled it. Any of the state's hotels and spa resorts can offer you a complete wedding package. If you are interested in an all-inclusive resort destination wedding, know how many people will be attending and what you would like to see at the event before you contact the property representative.
If your tastes lean toward a more intimate gathering, consider one of the many bed-and-breakfast inns throughout the state. Inns are privately owned, and nearly all of them offer wedding packages with special accommodations for the bride and groom.
Check internet sites to locate inns that pique your interest, then call the inns to get a feel for the owner and for whether or not their inn would be right for your wedding. Make a list of questions prior to calling, and if you do not get answers you are comfortable with, keep looking!
Other venues worthy of consideration include Dartmouth College, founded in 1769 and one of the oldest colleges in the United States, and Searles Castle, a 20-room castle built in 1915 in Windham. These are both exquisite sites for your nuptials.
There are seven regions within the state to investigate when planning your destination New Hampshire wedding. They include the following:
- Great North Woods
- White Mountains
- The Lakes region
- Dartmouth / Lake Sunapee
- Monadnock
- Merrimack
- Seacoast
Research each area carefully and answer the following questions to help guide you when planning your wedding. If you are confused or overwhelmed by the choices, contact a New Hampshire-based wedding planner for clarification and guidance.
- How many guests will be attending the wedding?
- How far will the guests have to travel, and is there adequate lodging for them at or near the wedding location?
- What time of year is best for your New Hampshire wedding?
- What tone do you want for your wedding? (Formal, casual, regal, country, etc.)
- Will the wedding venue also serve as the reception site?
- Are catering services, florists, hair stylists, and other necessities readily available?
- What kinds of activities are available to your guests prior to and following the wedding?
- What do you want to do for your honeymoon, and is it all in one location or do you need to rent a car?
The beauty and history of New Hampshire will inspire a unique destination wedding. With insights into your desires and a bit of thoughtful planning, your wedding will be the envy of all the colonists and then some!
