Martha's Vineyard :: The Perfect Place For a Dream Wedding

Martha's Vineyard is a beautiful destination for any wedding, gay or straight. While the island is partially known as a secluded getaway for the rich and famous, it also consists of many gorgeous inns, hotels, and other locations, making it a fabulous wedding getaway.

If you're looking to get married, here are some suggestions to help turn your dreams into reality!

Harbor View

The Harbor View Hotel & Resort, located in the delightful and picturesque Edgartown, was the first stop on my whirlwind tour of wedding destinations on the Vineyard. The main hotel overlooks-you guessed it- Edgartown Harbor , complete with a lighthouse. There are also numerous "captain's cottages" available as suites for the happy couple, or simply as a wonderful place to spend a few days. Or a week. Or two. It seems many people have trouble leaving the Vineyard!

The Harbor View also has numerous on-site locations for a wedding. Some decide to marry under the hotel's gazebo while others choose a lovely spacious area towards the back of the hotel for their ceremony. This "back yard" seats 300. While there you can swim in the heated pool, play tennis, golf, hike, go shopping, and more. The Harbor View is also home to The Coach House Restaurant which is considered one of the best restaurants on the island. The Harbor View is truly a stunning hotel for your dream ceremony.

The Grange Hall

One of the island's preservation trust sites is the The Grange Hallin West Tisbury. Built in 1859 by the Martha's Vineyard Agricultural Society, this "rustic and rural" site is another charming location for any ceremony. A 'post and beam' hall, it was completely restored in 1998 and makes for a lovely spot for any event. It is two stories high with a second floor theater, kitchen, and professional level sound and lighting equipment for any event. My fellow writers on this trip and I were treated to hot cider while marveling at the many gorgeous photos of all types of ceremonies on display at the Grange. The Grange can hold up to 150 guests plus a dance floor. Go to www.mvpreservation.org for more details about this historic site.

Lambert’s Cove Inn & Restaurant

Lambert's Cove Inn & Restaurantis a magical, breath-taking place for any ceremony. It is managed and owned by Scott J. Jones and I. Kell Hicklin, two men with over 30 years' experience in event planning who will undoubtedly turn your wedding into a romantic dream. A secluded spot with over seven acres, Lambert's Cove can accommodate both small and large weddings with seating for up to 350 people. The grounds are beautifully planted, complete with charming fountains, statues, and other lovely touches. Even the inn pool has a magical feel to it with a beautiful fountain spilling into the pool. The inn itself is beautifully and lovingly decorated, and there's a lovely restaurant that seats 90. Jones and Hicklin offer "all the resources needed for your special day." Visit www.lambertscoverinn.com for rates, wedding packages, menu options, and more about this hidden paradise.

Aquinnah Lighthouse

The stunning beauty of Martha's Vineyard continued to amaze as the tour stopped at the Aquinnah Lighthouse, truly "one of the most picturesque locations in New England." This beautiful lighthouse stands atop the 130-foot "multicolored" clay cliffs at Martha's Vineyard's Western shore. The view of the cliffs and ocean made for an incredible setting as my fellow writers and I witnessed a mock wedding ceremony which was a ton of fun with lots of laughter! Mist rolled in as the "ceremony" finished, so a few of my fellow writers and I quickly climbed to the top of the lighthouse for the spectacular view before it got any mistier. Personally, I could not stop taking photos here, although the same could be said of every location on the tour!

The flower arrangements and decorations that festooned and garnished the ceremony area were gorgeous with flowers in brilliant fall colors. And really cool was the maroon tulle, along with more beautiful flowers, that draped and decorated the lighthouse as well! These arrangements were courtesy of Tulle, the best place on the island to score an amazing dress. Visit www.marthasvineyardhistory.org for more information about the Aqinnah Lighthouse.

Beach Plum Inn

The next stop on the tour was the fabulous Beach Plum Inn, part of the Inns at Menemsha overlooking the Vineyard Sound and Menemsha Harbor. One of "the only places on the East Coast to watch the sun setting into the sea," the Inn consists of "seven acres of rolling lawns and vibrant gardens." There are five rooms in the Inn's lovely main house as well as six rooms in the Garden Cottages. The Beach Plum can accommodate 50 to 250 guests for any event. It contains a large and lovely dining room, passes to private beaches, a tennis court and gym, and "world class striper fishing" as well as "Championship Golf tee times" and perhaps most exciting (to me at least), a delightful wooded path to the Menemsha Beach and Harbor! The Beach Plum's menu is one of award-winning yumminess. There's even a wooden swing under a tree, one of many lovely spots for a picture. (I just had to swing on the swing myself!)

Old Whaling Church and Daniel Fisher House

The final stop on this wonderful tour brought us back to Edgartown as we visited the Old Whaling Churchand the Daniel Fisher House. The Old Whaling Church was built, not surprisingly, by whaling captains in 1843 as a Methodist church. The original lamps remain although no longer fueled by whale oil. Located "in the heart of Edgartown," this magnificent church is yet another wonderful location for a wedding and can accommodate up to 300 guests.

Located right next door to the Church is the Daniel Fisher House. Here the tour got to sample many delicious and beautiful wedding cakes, view many unique floral arrangements, photos, and wedding dresses, and enjoy the wonderful music of the Beetlebung Steel Band. (Call 508.627.3786 for scheduling and information about this steel drum band.) This building was built in 1840 for its "whaling magnate namesake" and is considered to be a wonderful setting for all sorts of events and ceremonies. The first floor consists of a "grand foyer and winding staircase" as well as "three parlor-size rooms and an elegant ballroom." The band played on the "semicircular" porch, and there is also a large lawn area, perfect for any event. The Daniel Fisher House holds 50 people without a tent, and 150 with a tent. Go to www.mvpreservation.org for more information about the Old Whaling Church and the Daniel Fisher House.

For All Your Planning Needs

Catering: Other creative vendors to consider when planning your fantastic Vineyard wedding: Cakes & Chocolate, , Murdick's Fudge at
508-627-8047, , Val Cakes at [email protected].

Justice of the Peace: John S. Alley: Justice of the Peace, can be contacted at [email protected]

Photographers: was the photographer on hand for this article. Other options include: , , .

Wedding Planner:

Transportation: , Vineyard Limousine.

Martha's Vineyard is a beautiful island filled with breathtaking locations for anyone's dream wedding. Massachusetts is also the only state in the union where any couple can marry, making the Vineyard all the more special. It is fantastic to realize that any couple, gay or straight, has the option of celebrating their love on one of the most stunning islands on the East Coast!