SITE: VERONIQUE
ADDRESS: 20 Chapel St., Brookline, MA 02446
WEB SITE: www.longwoodevents.com
GATHER HERE: Veronique dates back to the 1920s, blending European elements such as gargoyles and stained glass windows with elegant details including luxurious fabrics and large windows to let in natural light.
EVENT AREAS: With floor-to-ceiling windows and mahogany beams, the ballroom measures 2,900 square feet. The club can accommodate 250 guests reception-style under its gold-leaf-patterned ceiling; a balcony with a skylight overlooks the room.
BEYOND BOUQUETS: The site offers full audiovisual capabilities and private suites for the wedding party.
TIMELESS THEMES: Baroque-themed weddings are common at Veronique, as wedding groups build on the venue's atmosphere. The romantic setting can be accentuated with such luxurious decor elements as candelabras, heavy silk table linen, draped fabric and lush floral.
SITE: ALYSON'S APPLE ORCHARD
ADDRESS: 57 Alyson's Lane, Walpole, NH 03608
WEB SITE: www.alysonsorchard.com
GATHER HERE: Set in the Connecticut River Valley, this pastoral setting offers a working orchard and activities including boating, swimming and fishing.
EVENT AREAS: The 500-acre property has three outdoor locations or “points of view,” which range from 4,000 square feet to 20,000 square feet. Weddings can take place in the Orchard Room, which overlooks a pond and features a cathedral-style ceiling, a heated floor and air conditioning. Measuring 3,840 square feet, the room can hold 350 people for a reception.
BEYOND BOUQUETS: The site offers lodging for 40 guests.
TIMELESS THEMES: Keying on the natural elements of the orchard, past themes for weddings include “apple blossoms” and “fall foliage.”
SITE: FERNIE CASTLE HOTEL
ADDRESS: Letham, by Cupar, Fife, KY15 7RU Scotland
WEB SITE: www.ferniecastle.demon.co.uk
GATHER HERE: Suits of armor and open fireplaces add to the medieval character of this 450-year-old castle, located on 17 acres of woodland.
EVENT AREAS: The Balfour Suite, which overlooks a loch, can accommodate 140 guests for weddings; the smaller Great Hall and Georgian Room hold 100 and 40 people, respectively, for cocktails.
BEYOND BOUQUETS: The castle has been expanded over the years and now serves as a 20-room hotel. A whimsical Treehouse Suite, perched in six sycamore trees, includes a flat-screen TV, three balconies and a king-size bed.
TIMELESS THEMES: While formal weddings with a string quartet have taken place at Fernie Castle, ceremonies incorporating the castle's unique history can include bagpipers, dancers and themed menus.
