I went to a beautiful and unique wedding on Saturday.

9 years ago

The daughter of one of my best friends got married over the weekend, and the reception was held in big, rustic lodge on a private lake where the family has a couple of houses. The weather was perfect.

The bride and groom, high school sweethearts presently living in Europe, arrived at the reception in a canoe! (You can tell she grew up on this lake.) Her mother read a toast, which was repeated by the guests, and then everyone toasted the couple with cider in flutes rimmed with edible gold glitter.

This trio (the bassist was a close friend of my daughter Jill's) played for cocktails and dinner. Another band played traditional folk music for dancing after dinner.

The lodge was transformed for the occasion. Even the very old trophy animals on the walls were decked out with feathers, bow ties, etc.

The ceiling dazzled with tiny gold lights and white feathers dipped in gold glitter.

The perfect setting.

Imagine being surrounded with the heady scent of pine.

And here's the bride and groom. The wedding photographer took a much more beautiful photo of them. I can pose insects better than I can pose people. LOL

The wedding was actually a 3-day event. I skipped the BBQ Friday night, but came back to the lodge on Sunday for a fabulous brunch. It was an all-around lovely event--the perfect combination of elegance, creativity, and lighthearted fun.

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Comments (25)

ellendi
9 years ago
Thanks for sharing.
glenda_al
9 years ago
Looks like a fantastic wedding event and a memorable one!

Very creative!
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joaniepoanie
9 years ago
What a beautiful setting!
Jasdip
9 years ago
Very unique and beautiful!!! Gorgeous setting, and I loved the way the lodge was decorated.
socks
9 years ago
I love weddings which have a lot of personal touches, and this one certainly did. Very nice!
dedtired
9 years ago
Gorgeous setting and creative decorations. They were lucky to get such good weather. Does the bride have a flannel shirt tied around her neck?? Not sure what to say about that (except I don't like it). The rest of her outfit is amazing. They must be a very creative couple. Love the edible gold on the rims. Clever. I'm so happy you enjoyed yourself.
stacey_mb
9 years ago
Very charming and what a beautiful location! It looks as though the weather cooperated for the wedding too. Thank you for sharing this lovely event with us.
chisue
9 years ago
What a fun, elegant and joyous wedding celebration! You go to the best "do's"! Thanks for capturing the beauty to share with us.
nicole__
9 years ago
What a gorgeous setting! Loved looking at the pics!
alisande
Original Author
9 years ago
The bride had tied on the flannel shirt to wear later, although it never got cool enough to need it. My fault for taking the picture when I did, although she's an artist (as is her mom), and I find the addition of a tartan to be amusing. Plus I think she always looks gorgeous no matter what. The pro's portrait was sans flannel. ;-)
sylviatexas1
9 years ago
too cool!

The bride looks strikingly (I think) like the Sixth Countess of Carnarvon.
clubm
9 years ago
Very nice!!
gardenspice
9 years ago
Thank you for sharing, Alisande. I love to see people choose a personal and unique celebration - those are the very best occasions and really memorable.
pudgeder
9 years ago
how beautiful!
It is an event people will always remember. Thank you for sharing.
sheilajoyce_gw
9 years ago
What a gorgeous venue. I love the gilded feathers and twinkle lights. So festive!
lydia1959
9 years ago
Thanks for sharing... very interesting and beautiful!!!
workoutlady
9 years ago
Very nice. I love her flowers.
lucillle
9 years ago
A beautiful couple and what an awesome wedding!!!
sylviatexas1
9 years ago
Here's a link to an illustration of Catherine, the 6th Countess;
haircut & bone structure remind me of your beautiful bride.

Here is a link that might be useful: Countess Catherine
party_music50
9 years ago
Beautiful!!! and sounds like a fantastic celebration. I love her flowers too -- and think the bride and groom pose with her flannel shirt was absolutely perfect! :)
maire_cate
9 years ago
ooh- edible gold glitter, that's a new one for me.

What a wonderful place for a wedding - there must be a wealth of family memories tied to that lake and now they're making new ones. I really like the lodge - warm and rustic and you can't ever wrong with twinkle lights. Who paddled the canoe?

By any chance was this Silver Lake near Dingman's? My son has close friends who own a home there. And it sounds very similar - private community and lake, wonderful old lodge, families spending the summers there every year.
alisande
Original Author
9 years ago
Thanks, everyone, for all the nice comments!

Maire_Cate, it wasn't Silver Lake. This one is in Wayne County. I missed seeing the newlyweds arrive in the canoe, but I didn't miss it by much, and I saw the groom holding a paddle, so I'm guessing he took the helm. (Does a canoe have a helm? LOL)
jemdandy
9 years ago
Wow! That was a lovely affair.
alisande
Original Author
9 years ago
Sylvia, I don't see a resemblance in their faces, although I agree that the bride's look is similarly regal. And the nose might match! But I found this interesting too: Before you sent that link, I looked up the 6th Countess and then that family line, and to me, the current Earl bears a slight resemblance to the bride's late father.
alisande
Original Author
9 years ago
Oops! I just saw some more wedding pictures. They both paddled the canoe.