Town & Country

Melissa MacNeil and Rusty Chase’s September 2006 wedding felt a bit like a royal Celtic celebration on the edge of Ireland’s Cliffs of Moher or a Scottish gala in the ambling, windswept hills of the Highlands. It wasn’t just the verdant setting at Castle in the Clouds, perched 1,600 feet above Lake Winnepesaukee and ringed by New Hampshire’s White Mountains that conjured the comparisons, but also the couple’s strong Scottish and Irish heritage put on display. The groom and each father proudly wore their Scottish tartans in the form of their ties. Grandfather MacNeil read a heartfelt Irish blessing. And his final words served as cue for the spirited sounds of a lone bagpiper to conclude the ceremony. As evening set in, trolleys then moved the party down the mountainside and back into Meredith, a town that had as much special meaning for the couple as the allusions to the Old Country.

Flowers – The Bride's Favorites
Peonies, traditionally summer wedding flowers, were difficult to come by in September, but Melissa was determined to include her favorite flower in the bouquets. Thanks to a different growing season in the Southern Hemisphere, florist Lyndsey Loring tracked down a shipment from New Zealand. The plush, soft pink popped against the chocolate brown street-length Vera Wang bridesmaid dresses and Melissa’s white, strapless floor-length Marisa gown. The pink, white, and chocolate brown color scheme continued at the reception with pink hydrangeas in clear square vases adorning the tables.

The Venues – A Lake-Side Locale
The Chases settled in Meredith in 1640, making Rusty the 13th generation to grow up in town, and Melissa also lived in the area for three years. So they wanted to give guests a personal weekend tour of the area, which the Inns and Spa at Mill Falls delivered. The rehearsal dinner was held under a tent at The Chase House, where Rusty’s family’s restaurant once stood. Church Landing, with its sprawling lake views and golden exposed beams, offered the sense of rustic elegance the couple wanted for the reception. Sunday began with brunch at Lago, an Italian restaurant within Bay Point at Mill Falls, followed by a chartered boat tour of the lake.

Dance Lessons – Dance Steps
Even for Melissa, an event professional, planning her own wedding proved to be a second job. “Rusty and I took ballroom dance lessons with Arthur Murray in Manchester, New Hampshire. I highly recommend that couples take time way from the wedding planning like this to reconnect before the big day,” she advises. Not only was it a break from planning, but they learned something to use for their first dance and for years to come.

Seating Arrangements – One Big Family
Church Landing’s ballroom seats 220, but the guest count was 130, so Melissa decided to go with family-style seating at long tables to help fill the space. Though more difficult to set up, the seating arrangement is becoming more popular because it allows guests to get to know and celebrate with each other in closer proximity. The fact that she and Rusty only had five tables to assign people to didn’t hurt either.

A Lasting Memory - Music from the Heart
Using her experience as an event planner, Melissa kept one special detail a surprise for Rusty during the ceremony. “He really wanted a bagpiper, but I told him it was not in the budget,” says Melissa. When the first tranquil notes swirled up from around the corner at the end of Grandfather MacNeil’s Irish blessing, the moment simply overwhelmed Rusty. “I just burst into tears. It was the best part of the day, and I was so happy that it was a surprise,” recalls Rusty. “It was a detail that everyone commented on and will always remember.”