JonathanVanFleetandBillFonda
director:
ALICA JAMROG / SWEET GINGER PHOTOGRAPHY Ryan and Shelby Blais-Wallace got married at the Oxbow Campground in Deering on May 26, 2024.
Farm makes dreams come true
Four Winds Farm offers weddings from August through October
By JESSECA TIMMONS Monadnock Ledger Transcript
ManycoupleslookingtogetmarriedintheMonadnockregion,attractedbythearea’snaturalbeauty andstunningviews,dreamofan outdoorwedding,especiallyduring SeptemberandOctober.
IanSpencerofPeterborough’s FourWindsFarmweddingvenue hasadviceforcoupleswhowantan outdoorceremony:
“Weencouragepeopletoalways haveacontingencyplanforrainor ifit’scold,justincase,”Spencer said.“Youneverknowwithour NewEnglandweather;wejustencourageeveryonetobeprepared.”
FourWindsFarmisaworking farminPeterboroughwithviewsof theWapackRange.Theproperty includespastures,gardens,ahistoricbarn,anappleorchard,a shingle-stylehomeandforestprotectedbyconservationeasement.
A wedding setup near the main house at Four Winds Farm.
Thevenuehostseightweddingsa yearAugustthroughOctober,with tentsanddancefloorsprovidedby MonadnockTent.
Thefarmhasanunusualandculturedhistory.Spencer’sgreatgrandparents,MarieandGuyCurrier,boughtthepropertyandestablishedMariarden,asummerdance andtheatervenue,inthe1920s. MarieCurrierwasanaccomplished actress,andtheoriginalbarnonthe propertystillcontainsstagebackdropsandtheateritemsfromthe Mariardenera.Historicphotosat MariardenincludeBetteDavis,Paul RobesonandMarthaGraham.
Thecurrenthouseonthepropertywasbuiltanddesignedby Spencer’slatemotherandstepfather,architectsDuffyandRick Monahan.
Spencersaideachcouplewho choosesFourWindsFarmcreates theirownpersonalvisionforthe weddingoftheirdreams.
“Ijustopenthedoorandtell peoplethehistory,”Spencersaid.“A lotofcouplescomehereandjustfall inloveatfirstsight,thentheywander aroundandfindtheirownspecial placeandcreatetheirvision.”
ThebarnatFourWindsFarmis 40by60feetandcanseat125 peopleattablesincaseofinclement weather.Thefarmprovidestables andchairs.
“Weprovidethespace,and peoplecreatetheweddingthey want,”Spencersaid.
Spencerrecallsonebridewhohad herheartsetonacertainspotinthe appleorchardforherceremony.
“Whenthedayofwalk-through cameafewweeksbeforethewedding,wegotthereandourcows wereallstandingrightatthespot thebridehadpickedout!There werecowsandcowpiesandmudall overthespotwhereshewantedthe ceremonytobe,”Spencersaid.“No onehadeverpickedthatspotbefore;wedidnotrealizeshehadher
heartsetontheparticularspot.”
TheFourWindsFarmcrew sprangintoactiontomakethe bride’sdreamcometrue.
“Ourfarmermovedallthecows. Wecleaneditup,andweplanted rye,whichgrowsreallyquickly. Thenluckilywehadthreeweeksof dryweather,andwegottheground allrepaired,andbythetimetheday oftheweddingcame,itwasperfect. Ourfarmerevenmanagedtohave somebabycalvesinthebackground,”Spencersaid.
Spencer,whoisthefourthgenerationofhisfamilytoworkatFour WindsFarm,saidthejoyofholding weddingsonhisfamily’sproperty byfaroutweighsanystress.Heand histhreesiblingscurrentlymanage theweddingvenue.
Spencer,whoworkedinthefilm industryfor25years,saidstaginga weddingis“alittlebitlikeafilmset; thereisalwaysabunchofstuff goingonbehindthescenes.”
“Wereallydoenjoybeingpartof people’simportantday;itisreally funbeingpartoftheirjoy,”Spencer said.“Therearealwaysafewstressorsgoingintoit,ofcourse.Butin theend,nooneremembersthat; theyonlyrememberthejoyand howwonderfulitwas.Itisreally magicaltosharetheeventswith thesefamilies.”
ForinformationaboutFour WindsFarm,gotofourwindsfarmevents.com.
COURTESY FOUR WINDS FARM
A historic photo of a theater production at Mariarden.
COURTESY FOUR WINDS FARM
Thepasture atFourWinds Farmin Peterborough.
FOUR WINDSFROM PAGE 4
Cheers to cocktail options
By RACHEL WACHMAN Monitor staff
Whenmostpeoplepictureweddingbeverages,theytendtothink ofchampagnetoastsandopenbars. Asaweddingguest,youoftenfind thedrinkinyourhandtobeaconstantcompanionasthereception unfolds.Withcouplesleaninginto creativewaystopersonalizetheir celebratoryday,whatyoudrinkata weddingcansometimesbecome oneofthedetailsthatstickswith youlongpastthelate-nightdancing, multi-coursemealsandfancyoutfits.
EmilyKnowlton-Moffett,owner ofTheBrussel,aHopkinton-based customeventsandcateringcompanythatspecializesinweddings, saidthatshe’sobservedweddings growmoreauthenticandlesstrendbasedoverthecourseofhertime workingintheindustry.Drinks,as itturnsout,playalargeroleinthis.
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“It’soneofthethingsthatcarries overthemost,”shesaid.“There’s nobodywhohasasmuchguestinteractionasyourbartendersdo.So whateveryouchooseasyourdrink, that’sthethingthatyourguestsare goingtokeepseeingoverandover again.Andwhenitrepresentsthat connectiontothecouple,Ithink that’swhereyougetoneofthosereallymemorablepointsthatpeople willtakebackwiththem.”
Intheseveralyearsshehasbeen cateringweddings,Knowltonhas seencouplestakeanincreasingly personalapproachtothedrinks theychoosetoserve.Somepairs customizecocktailsormocktails basedonadrinktheytriedtogether whiletravelingorsharingaspecial moment.Otherschoosetoname signaturedrinksaftertheirpets, featuremonogrammedcocktailstirrersoroffersugar-basedgarnishes thatdissolveintoadesign.
Overtime,customizabledrink barshavegainedpopularity,with everythingfrommake-your-ownmargaritastoflavorsofapplecider. Thebeautyofthesebars,per
COURTESY TAYLOR HUME
The Barnat BullMeadow servesespresso martinisat wedding receptions.
100-ACRE WOOD WOOD WEDDINGS
Knowlton-Moffett,isthattheyoffer afunexperienceandallowpeople topickwhethertheywantalcohol includedorjustwanttosipsomethingtastyminusthebooze.
AttheBarnatBullMeadow,a Concordweddingvenue,wedding drinksmorphtomatchtheseason. WeddingsdirectorTaylorHume saysthebarnoftenserveswinter sangriasandcranberrymargaritas incoldermonthsbeforeshifting intootherflavoredmargaritasinthe spring,mojitoswithdifferent berriesinthesummerandautumnfilledapplesangrias,cidersand maplebourbonorchaispiceoldfashioneds.
“Evenifwegetcouplesfromout ofstate,theygearittowardswhat’s localtoNewHampshire,”Hume said.“Inthefall,peoplewillpick
A mimosa/champagne bar at a reception.
somethingheavyonapplecider, heavyonmaple.Inthesummer, somepeoplewilldodrinksthatare centeredmorearoundhoneyand gingerandthingsthatyoucanfind locallyaroundhere.Orablueberry mojitoifthey’refromtheMaine area,they’lltiethatin.Peopledotry tofindlocalingredientstoincorporateintotheirdrinksandtogiveit thatseasonalfeel,andalsogiveita bitofahomeyflavor.”
Drinkcolorsofferanotheropportunityforcouplestoexpressthemselvesorleanintosomethingcreativefortheirguests.KnowltonMoffettgrowsherownlavenderfor TheBrusselandusesittocreate lavendersyrupthatshemixeswith lemonade,limejuice–andalcohol, forthosewhochoose.Sheaddsin butterflypeaflowertocreatea strongpurplehue,andwhenitmingleswiththeacidinthelimejuice, producesablue-to-purplecolorchangingeffectthatdraws“oohs” and“ahhs”fromguests.
Otherdrinksthatgarnerpopularityatweddingsincludetwotimelessclassics:espressomartinisand aperolspritzes.Humeaddedthat sheoftenseescoupledoa“his”and “hers”drink,whichisalwaysafun waytopersonalizethebeverageexperience.
“Thecoupleshavesomuchcre-
COURTESAY EMILY KNOWLTON-MOFFETT
COURTESY EMILY KNOWLTON-MOFFETT
The Brussel,a Hopkinton-based catering company,creates lattesand caters eventssuch asweddings with their airstream trailer.
ativefreedomwhenitcomesto theirwedding,andthisisjustanotheraspectofthat,”Humesaid.
“Theycangetascreativeasthey’d likewhenitcomestochoosing drinksthataregoingtobeshowcasedattheirweddingandthesignagethattheychoosetoputatthe bar.It’sjustanotherwaytoreally showcasewhotheyareandwhere they’vecomefrom.”
RachelWachmancanbereachedat rwachman@cmonitor.com.
COCKTAILS FROM PAGE 10
Providing flowers for the big day
Bonnie Cutter Coll has been offering arrangements for more than 30 years
By DAVID ALLEN Monadnock Ledger Transcript
Yearsago,BonnieCollCutter’sfathersaid, “Provetomethere’saneedforit,”whenshe mentioneddesigningandcreatingflorals.
Aftermorethanthreedecadesofbringing colorandbeautytocountlessoccasions,Cutter seemstohaveprovidedproof.
Coll’sGardenCenter&FloristofJaffreyhas
beenfamily-ownedandpartofcelebrationsin theareafor52years.Itisknownwellbeyondthe Monadnockregion,havingbeennamed“Best FloristinNewHampshire”inWMUR.com’s Viewers’Choicepoll.
“Everyseasonandweddingplanisdifferent. Somebridesneedthingsdoneayearandahalfin advance,otherswithinashorterwindow,” Cuttersaid,havingseenalotofseasonsin35
yearsathercraft.“Wecurrentlyhavebookings twoyearsout.”
Stayinganddesigninglocallyhaveallowed Cuttertooffermorethan60“brideandgroom specialdays”tohelpcouplesplan.Shesaidshe feelsblessedthatthereare17localchurchesshe workswithandthatshe’shumbledtoworkwith mostlocalfuneralhomesaswell.Owingtolong-
COURTESY BONNIE COLL CUTTER
Pocket squares have become a lot more popular, according to Bonnie Coll Cutter.
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Photos by APM Photography
termplanningandbeingjoyful events,weddingsallowColl’sand Cuttertobeespeciallycreative.
Despiteablanketofwhiteoutside,Cuttersaidthatthemarketis soopenintermsofflowers,the seasondoesnotdictatechoices.
“InDecember,lilacsmightbea littlemoreexpensive,butyoucan getthem.InAugust,liliesofthe valleymaycostmore,butwecan usuallyprovidecomparableflowers intermsofcolorandshapeiffirst choicespresentchallenges,”she said.
Cutternotedthattherehavebeen somerecentchangesintastes.
“Forthelongesttime.people wantedmixedbouquets.Baby’s breathandgreeneryforattendants havebeenbigforsometime,butit seemslikewe’recomingoutof that,”shesaid.
Cutteralsosaidthatthesizeof weddingpartieshasdrivenmany choices.
“Rightnowitseemsthatthereare oftensixto12bouquetsrequiredin aweddingparty,andthishasmade morecost-effectivechoices–like
baby’sbreath–popular,”shesaid. Weddingsarenolongeradaylongaffairbuttakeupwholeweekends.Cutternowprovidesarrangementsformultipletablesatwelcomedinners,whereasyearsago, priortothebigday,theywouldjust beonecenterpieceprovidedatarehearsaldinner.
Herhorticulturebackgroundand experienceasagreenhousemanagerhaveservedherwell.In2022, theJaffreyChamberofCommerce namedherCitizenoftheYear.
Askedwhattipsshecouldofferto couplesandfamiliesplanningtheir weddings,shedoesn’thesitate.
“Clippicturesofandtakephotos ofwhatyouhaveinmindforaninitialmeetingwithaflorist.Tosimply saythatyou’dlikered,whiteand blueflowersisabitvague,”she said.
Cutteralsonotedthatmany peopledon’thaveananswerwhen sheasksaboutabudget.Tothisshe hasasimpleresponseforthem.
“Putyourdreamonpaper,”she said.
COURTESY BONNIE
big day, with the help of Coll’s Garden Center & Florist.
How to get a marriage license
By DAVID BROOKS Monitor staff
It’sprettystraightforwardto getamarriagecertificatein NewHampshireaslongas you’reatleast18yearsold,but youneedtogathertheright documentsfirst.
Marriagecertificatesareissuedby alltownandcityclerks.Thecost,set bythestate,is$50.Thecouplemust appeartogetherinpersonandcompleteamarriageapplicationworksheet,whichcan’tbetakenhomeor completedelsewhere.
Eachpersonmustpresentthefollowingoriginaldocuments–no photocopies:
■ Government-issuedphotoID (driver’slicense,non-driverI.D., U.S.passport).
■ Certifiedcopyofabirthcertificate.
■ Ifyou’vehadalegalname changesincebirth,acertifiedcopy ofthelegalnamechange.
■ Ifeitherpartywasmarriedpreviously,acertifiedcopyofthedocumentendingtheirmostrecentmar-
riageisrequired.
Documentswritteninlanguages otherthanEnglishrequireacertifiedtranslation.
Asfornames,eitherpersoncan keeptheirmiddleandlastnames, keeptheirmiddlenameandadopt thepartner’slastname,keeptheir middlenameandadoptahyphen
riagelicenseshouldbeissuedthe sameday.They’revalidfor90days andgoodforaweddingheldanywhereinthestate.
NewHampshireseesaround 90,000to100,000marriagesayear. Thatfigurehasfallenbyaquarterin thepastdecade,areflectionofnationaltrendsandthefactthatthe statepopulationisrelativelyoldand marriagesaremorecommonamong youngeradults.
ationcombinationofbothpeople’s fulllastnames(youcan’ttakebitsof eachlastnameandmashthemtogetherintoanentirelynewlast name)orchangetheirmiddlename totheirlastnamepriortomarriage
Incidentally,NewHampshire doesnotrecognizecommon-law marriages–wherepeoplehavelived togetherforalongperiodandconsiderthemselvesmarriedbutnever hadalegalceremony–withoneexception.Coupleswhohavelivedtogetherforatleastthreeyearsand areconsideredmarriedbythecommunitycanbenefitfrommarriage lawsintheeventofadeath,meaning thesurvivingpartnercanclaima shareofadeceasedpartner’sasset.
NewHampshiredoes,however, recognizecommon-lawmarriages fromotherstateswheretheyare legal,theclosestofwhichisRhode Island.
New Hampshire sees around 90,000 to 100,000 marriages a year.
CELEBRATING LOCAL LOVERS
ALICA JAMROG / SWEET GINGER PHOTOGRAPHY
Ashley and Matt Sienen got married at Mile Away Restaurant inMilford onSept.1,2024. “Welivedinthe samecondo complexandmet onenightwhenhewas walkingafriend's dog and I was taking the trash out,” Ashley said. “Hit it off and talked for aboutan hour. Started as friendsand went for walks and then fell in love.”
NickWard andNoahYeaw gotmarriedat TarbinGardens inFranklinand celebrated at Revival Kitchen and Bar in Concord on June 26, 2024.
SEE MORE ON PAGES 20 AND 22
NORA MCBURNETT AND CORY MACEACHERN / SOLARE WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY
Weddings are our passion, and we would be thrilled to contribute to the celebration you’ve been dreaming of. With our 5-star reviews and unwavering commitment to excellence, we promise to fulfill all your floral needs and exceed your expectations.
The freshest, highest quality flowers and plants available. Whether you’re looking for something specific or just want to explore our offerings, we’re here to provide beautiful and vibrant floral and gift solutions for any occasion.
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Offering custom fresh flower arrangements, silk flowers, loose bouquets, house plants, dish gardens, floor plants, holiday decorations, seasonal plants and an array of floral-related items.
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Our gift shop offers a curated selection of handcrafted items, unique keepsakes, and local artisan treasures. The perfect place to find one-of-a-kind gifts and indulge in a touch of local craftsmanship.
We offer daily delivery to Amherst, Bedford, Brookline, Hollis, Lyndeborough, Merrimack, Milford, Mont Vernon, Nashua, Wilton.
celebrating local lovers
We officially met with a dating app. However our first meeting/date was at a park in Manchester where Shelby, her dog (now our dog) Hemi and myself walked around a little lake just talking and getting to know one another. Shelby loved it when a couple of kids came up and asked if they could pet Hemi. Shelby thought it was really cute that I asked the kids if they wanted to give Hemi a doggie treat (because I had a few in my pocket). We even made plans for a second date the following day. We haven’t really gone a day without seeing each other since then.”
NORA MCBURNETT AND CORY MACEACHERN / SOLARE WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY
Katie and Brett Turgeon got married at the Barn at Bull Meadow in Concord on May 27, 2023.
RYAN BLAIS-WALLACE
ALICA JAMROG / SWEET GINGER PHOTOGRAPHY
Ryan and Shelby Blais-Wallace got married at the Oxbow Campground in Deering on May 26, 2024.
celebrating local lovers
“We met online in March of 2020. Because of the pandemic, we got to know each other very quickly – all there was to do was to take long walks and drives, watch movies and cook at home during those days. Within a couple of weeks of meeting each other, we traveled up to a sweet little cabin in North Conway, and this began our love of traveling together. We’ve been all over together –New England, Canada, Puerto Rico and Europe.”
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Samanthaand Ryan Massiegotmarried atthe Winthrop Carter House in Boscawen on Oct. 2, 2021.
CORY MACEACHERN / SOLARE WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY
NoraMcBurnett andLaurenShelby Douglasgot married atNew Hampshire Audubonin Concord on May 14, 2022.
REBECCA RICHARDSON
ALICA JAMROG / SWEET GINGER PHOTOGRAPHY
Rebeccaand TylerRichardsongot marriedat theJohnHay Estateat the Fells on Oct 12, 2024. Last January on a trip to one of their favorite places, Puerto Rico, Tyler knelt down on a beach and asked Rebecca to be his wife. The rest is history!
Hosted at Our Unique Venues Across NH or Catered at Your Special Place
The Common Man Family offers a variety of venues to perfectly suit your wedding celebration... a cozy Nest at Common Man Ashland, renovated Birch and Foster’s halls at our Inn in Plymouth, event spaces at Common Man Windham and Common Man Concord, a river-side ballroom at our Inn in Claremont, and The Barn on the Pemi, our restored 1860s event barn and ceremony greenhouse in Plymouth.
Planning a wedding at your place, in a meadow, at the lake? Our planners and chefs are happy to create a menu that best suits your needs and whims. Our professional event staff and chefs seamlessly transport, prepare, serve and tidy up.
Ashland — The Nest at The Common Man Restaurant
Claremont — The Common Man Inn & Restaurant
Concord — The Common Man Restaurant
Lakes Region — Lakehouse Boutique Catering
Plymouth — The Barn on the Pemi & Tiny Cabins
NEW! The Barn Food Truck
The Common Man Inn & Spa / The Lodge Windham — The Common Man Restaurant
Photo credits: Barry Alley Photography; Cassie Steele, Beloved Photography; Michael Cirelli Photography; Will & D Photography; A Photographic Memory; Ends of the Earth Innovations; Mobile Video & Photography; Mosaic Photography; and Allison Clarke Photography.