You can married at the Castle in Berkeley Springs WV. They have an outside area which is nice. Phone#304-258-4000

Someone told me about his daughter's reception that was spectacular in Woods Hole overlooking the water. There should be several nice choices on the Cape if you do some research. There are also a couple of great choices in Newport RI.

are you interested in areas w/in a certain mile radius of PA or are you looking for destination wedding in Northeast as far up as RI, MA or further north? e getting married on their private beach below the cottages looking out over Breton Point - but don't know time of year you are looking into. I fyou want Boston, Hampshire House is nice and overlooks public garden - of course, therre are many others w/ water views from RI to Maine with different views, etc. If you let us know
1. approximate number of people
2. if you want country casual or mansion formal,
3.if you want your guests to have easy access to other things in the area -museums, places to walk/eat/w/out needing transport and easy to do w/out you having to organize or be a part of
4. how easy you want destination to be to get to for them - (ie; Martha's Vineyard is great, lovely old church there in Edgartown for service - (Religion being married in or jp?) - and they have lovely lower level for clam bake type dinner evening before and no guest could be bored in mv....
5. do you want ocean view, river, lake, near major airport city/ train - or mountain (Vt and Maine/ Acadia National Park, also have lovely options.

So I guess Northeast isn't narrow enough. You say outdoor wedding location in Northeast, but then say you are from PA - so do you only want locations in PA?

are you interested in areas w/in a certain mile radius of PA or are you looking for destination wedding in Northeast as far up as RI, MA or further north? If you let us know answer to this, plus
1. approximate number of people
2. if you want country casual or mansion formal,
3.if you want your guests to have easy access to other things in the area -museums, places to walk/eat/w/out needing transport and easy to do w/out you having to organize or be a part of (which is a major plus for Newport)
4. how easy you want destination to be to get to for them - (ie; Martha's Vineyard is great, lovely old church there in Edgartown for service - (Religion being married in or jp?) - and they have lovely lower level for clam bake type dinner evening before and no guest could be bored in mv....
5. do you want ocean view, river, lake, near major airport city/ train - or mountain (Vt and Maine/ Acadia National Park, also have lovely options.
AND, when would wedding be (ie; advance time for blocking rooms for guests, etc if it is destination wedding or sending out save the date cards to them w/ accomodation options.

So I guess Northeast isn't narrow enough. You say outdoor wedding location in Northeast, but then say you are from PA - so do you only want locations in PA? If you want info on RI/ Maine/ VT/ MA - city or country style post back and I can supply lots of possibilities

apologize first post got posted/ only meant to post second reply. First had been longer, as I was rambling about locations in Newport/ Maine and then decided to cut it and just ask the questions in case you were only interested in PA or not as far up north, so first post jumps to a weird sentence that was part of much larger info thatyou really might not even want or need. - sorry for the keyboard error

Wow! Thanks for the suggestions and getting me more focused

Originally thought of Martha's Vineyard but couldn't find any information on weddings there. An old church sounds perfect. Country casual or maybe mansion formal but not fussy. Simple, yet beautiful and classic. Number of people I'm not sure of, I'd guess between 20-30. Just immediate family really and a few close friends. Ocean, river, lake, garden, not set on a particular setting. Would like to be able to drive to the location from Pennsylvania, even if it required an overnight stay half way. Flying is not a problem for us, but for family and friends, it would be easier. And there is a chance that it would just be the two of us and our parents, or just us. We've always wanted to visit Martha's Vineyard. We are looking at the months of June (end of) July or beginning of August. I hear mv gets very busy.

Thanks so much!

What about Bar Harbor, ME. It has those beautiful carriage trails in Acadia National Park and the town is full of the summer homes/mansions of the wealthy families from the Vanderbilt era. There are many lovely B&B's in the area with a Victorian decor and the town itself is lovely. There are some beautiful oceanside resorts, too. The scenery is gorgeous.

Have a great day!
Julia

Was searching for locations in Martha's Vineyard and found the Beach Plum Inn. Any thoughts?

Thanks!

Here are some places you might consider and I think all have websites. The Inn by the Sea, Cape Elizabeth, Maine; The Black Point Inn, Prouts Neck, Maine; Wentworth-by-the-Sea, New Castle, NH; The Mount Washington, Bretton Woods, NH; the Mountain View Grand, Whitefield, NH; The Colony, Kennebunkport, ME; Wheatley in Lenox, MA.

Longfellow's Wayside Inn with the Mary-Martha Chapel http://www.wayside.org/occasions.html

or

Bradley Inn, Pemaquit Point, Maine http://www.bradleyinn.com/inn.htm

Just to confuse you some more, here are some interesting Rhode Island Locations:

www.thechanler.com
www.thecoastguardhouse.com
www.newportexperience.com (Both OceanCliff and Newport Regatta Club)
www.sakonnetwine.com

oops, part of my post was cut off:

www.stonehouseclub.com
in MA www.westportrivers.com

Saint Annes Epicopal Church on the water in Kennebunkport, Maine

St. Anne's doesn't open for summer services until the July 4th weekend. All these places probably book quickly. I'm finding that some brides are considering Monday weddings...it can be less expensive. And if you are having such a small event and such a lovely place, people will want to stay.

Thank you all for the suggestions! I'm excited to check them all out! They all sound great! I'm sure I'll be posting back with more questions.

Thanks again!

My cousin's daughter got married on Martha's Vineyard @ The Charlotte Inn. We visited MV right after the wedding and toured Charlotte Inn. It's a nice place but I had more fun at The Wauwinnet on Nantucket Island. We were there the year before we visited MV and had a lot more fun. There are some tremendous restaurants on Nantucket.

http://www.relaischateaux.com/charlotte

http://www.wauwinet.com/

Of course you and your guests will have to fly to either unless you take the ferry over which is quite long I think....several hours or so.........

Avella: Ok, so you still aren't sure of 20-30 or just you and parents or just you, which will make a big difference on what you choose. There is a lot to think about in planning a destination wedding that includes more than immediate family (ie, friends and guests) - too long to post here but includes how many of them you think would actually be able to attend before you booked a place; and doing it quickly if thinking a resort/destination/ travel place in northeast for june-august b/c yes things book quickly. For July events in Newport if I waited till Oct or Nov prior to the following summer I already experience less choices. (Had been an event planner for 15 yrs in MA/ RI/ new england area- mostly for corporations, but you know relatives and friends ...ended up doing weddings, etc for) until returning to school for another degree and a career change last year, so narrowing your search by defining your event is important earlier than later). However, I did maintain one account that entails for the past 13 years an annual 5 day event for a company which I always hold in Newport..

and yes, MV is very busy June thru Aug, but that is what makes it fun to be there if you can get rezzies in time for what you want. Especially if you plan on driving to Woodshole to take car ferry, those rezzies go fast and open first to pre registered users and then to general public, so in season it could mean no car ferry rezzie open on day you want, which means lugging your stuff on ferry w/out car or flying with your stuff; although you can usually send ahead a box to your destination. MV does have bus which stops all along spots on island so guests could use that to get around if they don't want to cab.

Beach Plum in is lovely, fabulous food and great views out to Menemsha Bay. Did my nieces wedding for 30 there two years ago. Advanatages and disadvantages to think of: Beach Plum is out a bit on island, a good drive (25-40 min) from most town locations such as Edgartown or Vineyard Haven area - it is alovely spot with beautiful accomodations. What they do for a wedding if you don't need entire dining area is separate you from the main dining room by 1/2 wall (which you can hide more by placing floral arrangements on). it is a quiet dining room so that is not a problem, or you can be outside under tent on patio weather permitting adn they will hold the option of moving you inside if necessary, but your music would still be outside under tent) there are noise/music levels and end time requirements out there as it is dry town and you can bring in your liquor, but party must end early, so if you want to party later, you would need to move elsewhere by transporting guests in van taxis. For niece we did wknd wedding early fall - guests stayed at edgartown (which means they transport themselves from ferry landings at either vineyard haven or oak bluffs to edgartown) and she provided transport tht nigth for pre wedding dinner and dancing at Lola's (fun place) - day of wedding guests were on their own, then transported by van/taxis unless they wanted to take their own to beach plum for wedding was at 5 before dining room opened overlooking view; followed by dinner in the smaller area dining room, and dancing on patio, guests transported back to edgartown and those who wanted to partied at local bars. Sunday guests on own for day/brunch or just getting their ferries or planes back home. SO, Beach Plum is lovely choice but requires some organization even if guests stay there, they will have to transport themselves to get to other areas of island. There are other options on mv : having everything in Edgartown (lovely old church) but depends on your religious requirements, jp, etc?
My other niece, four years ago, we did it all in Edgartown - pre wedding clambake at church hall (don't frown, lovely hall and we did the checked tablecloths, flowers in baskets, etc) and wedding at that church with reception next door with tent. but she had 100. We did not organize anything other than pre wedding night dinner and wedding, but gave guests welcome basket in their room with printed copies of local options, how to get there, etc and left it up to them for their free time.

There are also lovely hotels overlooking Edgartown harbor which might have possibilities for you. My only suggestion would be not to plan on wknd in Oak Bluffs, it does not lend itself to wedding, is crowded as ferry lands there, day ferry trips, etc and lots of little restaurants and shops that are not what I would want for a wedding destination. Guests might want to visit OB and see old carousel or walk thru gingerbread house village/ etc and there are a few more upscale restaurants like Sweet Life, but most for visiting prefer Edgartown.. Vineyard Haven is dry town, and just one small street with stores and a few restaurants. So Edgarrtown or up island to Beach Plum area, Outermost inn would be better locations.

Other options are restaurants that have separate rooms, and also if you go down to just you and your family, there are lovely homes to rent ( I have my favorites) and you could do that.
Other popular locations for ceremonies on MV include up at Aquinnah/Gay Head lighthouse and a great spot up there to stay is Outermost Inne. You could even probably have service in their back lawn off porch which is lovely ifyou don't want to walk up to lighthouse overlooking clay cliffs and then of course, weather is always an issue as you always need a back up plan if weather inclement, which is why a place like Beach Plum or Outermost which can offer you an inside/tent/porch option helps. But remember, there may be cost (most probably) for tent and you'd need to budget for that. But your guests would enjoy outermost, food, accomodations, moshup beach, lighthouse, etc. and one day do an excursion into edgartown or elsewhere. just some thoughts.
Newport: there is no such thing as mansion formal but not fussy ( the mansions are for the most part, ornate, marble, large function ballrooms, tented patios, magnificent but would swallow 25 people and what you would pay for rental (and many require also renting at least two employess, coat check, coat rack, chair types, etc and they are costly) and usually when I booked the mansions I was booking for 135-180. Except smaller tea house at one mansion, you can rent separately - you should look on newportmansions.org and check out the different sites they offer, man to talk to is Philip Pelletier. But if you are only talking 30 max, tens of thousands for a mansion seems silly, except maybe the tea house.

Also, Newport RI has Newport Yachting Center on America's Cup -www.newportyachtingcenter.com - they have two tents, one large (too large for any less than 200) and a new smaller tent with paving stone patio further down tucked in behind marina check in office, overlooking newport harbor with lovely draped ceiling tent and chandeliers.
THey use Blackstone Caterers which is one of the best in Newport. (Wendy).= but have other options as well. Person to talk to at Newport yachting center is Rich. Or Gail if Rich not available. Rich could also give you some other newport options as could gail b/c they have lived there for many years. you can look up site on the web and check it out.

Otherwise, my personal favorite is Castle Hill.(which is owned by same company that owns Newport yachting center, 128 bowens restaurant, blackstone which theyy recently bought, etc. but this group knows how to put on a function. They have separate area for weddings below main house, which includes overnight accomodations for bridal party - that leads out to tented area and patio overlooking newport harbor and bridge and great sunsets - they also have rental cottages aside from the main house rooms. they serve a magnificent sunday brunch by the way - I think 30 would get lost in that tent, last I booked it I had 125 and we had plenty of room.. I'm thinking they might work with you to have wedding under archway overlooking harbor and small dinner inside, or on beach in front of cottages (Breton Pnt) but you'd have to inquire. My experience is with events over 100. If you did Newport, your guests could see mansions on their "play day" or they could see many musuems, enjoy the Cliff Walk, the winery tour and tastings, shop at all the downtown wharts full of shops and restaurants, shop fancy Bellevue Ave, Newport Tennis Hall of Fame, they would not be at a loss for things to do and transport/shuttles/etc are available and easily accessible plus much to walk to if they stay near America's Cup area.
If you want casual, Newport Tennis hall of fame has lovely horseshoe shape veranda and you can serve there also and have music, but it would not be for late night dancing, etc - more an afternoon type quiet affair and I have fit 30-50 in that location.

My first thing to brides is pick your magic budget number, then the number of guests you want, (even if you need to ballpark who will actually attend; you know your friends, who really will take a wknd and drive or fly somewhere for a 2 or 3 day destination wedding) then your location, - b/c that makes all the difference if you are trying to accomodate off sight event possibilities for guests or not, even if you aren't organizing or transporting you will want them to have things they can do besides sit inside a hotel room on a rainy day.

Otherwise, many many options in downtown Boston (Hampshire House overlooking public garden accomodates smaller group upstairs), Maine (as mentioned Acadia Nat'l park but that is a longer drive for you) also beautiful areas in western mass for a wknd and vermont. I probably just confused you, but if you narrow things down or have other questions, post again. if you end up choosing either newport, MV , Nantucket, Boston, I could offer more on places, florists, entertainment, hotels, etc. good luck - esciting planning !!
Of course, if you love Buhl Mansion, and it means more guests can attend and that is what you want, then book it before someone else does !

Thanks for all the postings, and escargot, what detailed options!

I spent the afternoon on mvol and got lost there. Made a few calls and was given more to think about. A great thing. The Thorn Croft Inn exposed me to the idea of elopements, which I thought people only do in Vegas! What was I thinking!

I am now Catholic and was married before. After divorce went back to my childhood church to be confirmed. Catholic church informed me that they did not recognize my marriage because we were not married in a church by a priest, first wedding was in a local garden. Annullment wasn't necessary. So...that gives me yet another choice, go off and get married wherever we want by jp, then come home and have a family ceremony to make the marriage official with the church. Pleasing more my fiance and his family since this is his first marriage. Sounds all so complex, I know.

All the postings help tremendously with options. Escargot and others, what are your thoughts on elopements? Or is the idea something you just put together yourself? And then...what inns or b&bs would you recommend? I was explained that in this case, you arrange for a person to marry you, come to mv for a minimum 3-4 day stay, visit all the options for the marriage, and done. I guess like a weddingmoon but not all put together. Any thoughts?

" I was explained that in this case, you arrange for a person to marry you, come to mv for a minimum 3-4 day stay, visit all the options for the marriage, and done." - Avella, you can certainly do a trip to MV and see some of the spots, also the person to marry you, block some rooms, meet with florist, etc - all arrangements with appointments beforehand, this is what neice and I did. You can do it b/c we did it in 2 dys, I am on MV annually for month of August so we had it all planned out - and I;'m sure if you decide on MV and post as such (help w/ wedding on Martha's Vineyard) you will get suggestions from real "vineyarders" but yes, that is fine and mv is a good place to visit anyway - worse is you get a mini vacation if you change your mind while there. If that is what you decide, I would stay in Edgartown. Most to do there at night, all w/in walking distance and you can cab to other places at night easily in OB or VH. you can walk to all possibilities in edgartown, and then rent a car for one day and go up to Beach Plum/Outermost/ see lighthouse and walk Moshup beach which is always fun, and meet with florist, etc. As far as eloping, that is entirely up to you. My niece actually considered that for awhile. But being fiance's first wedding, I can understand his parents (and perhaps him) wanting at least his family there and option of other relatives and guests. Someone in our family once got married at distance w/ only immediate family, stayed there for honeymoon and then when they returned home another family member had a reception for them to satisfy the family/friends/show them off, etc. That was better than what one of my older siblings did which was elope and have neither parents there and they were disappointed. (so there was no question I was having the wedding w/ everyone but that was ok, I liked partying with a crowd at 26) Now as a mother I can understand that - the thougth of not being at my kids wedding would make me sad. But I wouldn't care if it was just immediate parents, and we didn't have a cast of thousands, or even twenty, but I would probably also like a house reception later at home to introduce/celebrate the good times !! Too many hard time in life not to celebrate the good times together. I would say elopment w/out any parents is entirely up to you and groom, but be honest with each other and considerate of parents. Maybe if that is what you decide, have simple ceremony with them somewhere (mv) and spend a few days with them and then let them move on and you stay for honeymoon or move on to nantucket since you are so close for honeymoon ( a ferry ride away). Or, perhaps if flights are easier for them, marry in Boston, stay a night and day or two prior at hotel with family and they go home and you go on to MV for honeymoon and stay a week ! at least ! keep us updated and any other question.

Such good advice! So much appreciated! Thank you.

How about another idea within 6 hours driving distance of Pittsburgh?

The Finger Lakes is a lovely area and we absolutely love The Mirbeau Inn in Skaneateles. The gardens were designed with Monet in mind and the dining is incredible. Charming French Country on the Lake.

They will arrange dinners and weddings for intimate or larger groups so it might well be an answer for a small family wedding. www.mirbeau.com

You could still plan a honeymoon after the celebration when you can escape on your own!

Hi

Another option within the 6 hour range is a wedding on the shores of the Chesapeake Bay.

Herrington Harbor Resort has a bayside wedding spot that is covered (in case of inclement weather) and is a lovely spot. They will do the catering and there's also a smaller Resort hotel on the premises.

The resort is 1/2 hour south of Annapolis and has become pretty well known in the Baltimore-Washington DC area for outdoor waterfront weddings. We've been to two weddings there and they were quite well done - any size also.

You can get some information at
410-741-5100.