Nantucket Wedding

“I used to think a wedding was a simple affair. Boy and girl meet, they fall in love, he buys a ring, she buys a dress, they say I do. I was wrong. That’s getting married. A wedding is an entirely different proposition.”  

So said Steve Martin during his famed monologue in the movie “Father of the Bride.” Several lines from the movie were playing in my head this week as I stumbled upon two different Nantucket wedding scenes (rumor has it there were 35 weddings in total!) There’s something about a new bride adorned in her wedding gown, bright smile gracing her face, that stops traffic. This was the case outside St Mary’s recently as I made my way down to the post office. I joined the curious crowd of onlookers gathered on the sidewalk, spilling into the street, anxiously waiting the appearance of the bride and groom. We all oooed, awed and applauded in unison as the happy couple emerged and made their way down the steps – a group of friends, loved ones and strangers collectively wishing them a lifetime of happiness.

Nantucket is an easy place to experience romance – many ways and places to fall in love and celebrate life. Every beach offers its own allure where couples can stroll hand in hand at sunrise or sunset. For the athletic minded duos there are beautiful golf courses, several tennis courts and a number of bike paths for exploring the island. Virtually all of the restaurants advertise that “cozy table for 2” perfect for intimate dining. Post dinner, couples can meander up and down the quaint streets to admire the historic homes or slide onto a bench to gaze at the harbor.

A Nantucket wedding provides the perfect opportunity to share this beloved island with others. I remember when my colleague Carolyn and her husband Ben were married here. We flew in for the much-anticipated event along with dozens of their friends and family. It was one of those perfect September weekends with Mother Nature at the top of her game serving up several consecutive warm sunny days. Each event of the weekend outdid the one before, as a multitude of friends and loved ones gathered harborside for cocktails one night and on the lawn of the Sankaty Clubhouse the next. We traded stories with fellow guests about our favorite Nantucket experiences. Who caught the biggest fish, had the best golf shot or took their first midnight dip in the ocean. The events culminated with a collective clink of the champagne glasses in celebration of the beautiful bride, her dapper groom and their new life together. 9 years and 2 kids later the happy couple are still going strong and daily creating fresh memories. Nantucket provides the ideal backdrop for living happily ever after.

If you’re searching for a romantic getaway where new love can blossom or old love can be rekindled, look no further than this intimate island. If a wedding is on the horizon, Nantucket offers the scenery, amenities and services to create an event that will be forever embedded in the lives and hearts of wedding party and guests alike. Begin making plans now to make this faraway island your next romantic destination and come prepared to experience love.

I do.

Shellie Dunlap