- Block Island Family Vacation

Transcription

Wedding
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A Block
Island
A Publication of
Block Island Wedding
1
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The Sullivan House is renowned for spectacular views and seaside
elegance. We welcome you for...
Vacations & Romantic Getaways
Weddings, Rehearsals & Private Parties
Corporate Dinner Parties and Retreats
Oceanside Rental Houses on Location
Featured in _t UxÄÄt
BRIDE &
Conde Nast's BRIDES
Local Magazine
(401) 466-5020
www.TheSullivanHouse.com
Table of Contents
4
Getting the Biggest Bang for Your Wedding Bucks:
How to plan an inexpensive Block Island wedding
By Chris Barrett
10
Tips for Island Brides
12
Block Island Brides and Grooms: A Pictorial
16
In 1892 a New Family Formed on a Cold
Winter Night
By Robert Downie
18
A Wedding Story: Dan and Rosemary Millea
By Fran Migliaccio
19
Your Wedding Hair:
Sound advice from island stylists
By Fran Migliaccio
20
Selecting a Shutterbug:
Choosing the right photographer for your wedding
By Ian Lang
22
A Wedding Story:
That year a summer girl met an island boy
By Fran Migliaccio
24
The Many Flavors of Block Island
Wedding Gifts and Favors
By Ian Lang
26
Champagne Tastes on a Beer Budget
By George M. Taber
30
Picking the Petals:
Selecting the right flowers for your wedding
By Ian Lang
32
From This Day Forward
By Gloria Redlich
35
Advertiser Index
Front cover photo courtesy John Fuller Photography. Photo at left courtesy Rose Schaller Photography.
1
A Dream Come True
An island wedding could be in your future
O
ur family knows all about Block Island weddings. We’ve had
three of them.
In 1965 - long before Block Island became a place for a destination wedding - my brother Neil, and his fiancée Marja were married
at the Old Harbor Baptist Church. There were about 30 guests.
In 1989 my brother Duncan - in full military uniform - and his
fiancée Donna were married at the West Side Baptist Church and
drove to their reception in a horse- drawn carriage. There were 60
guests.
In June of 2006, Neil and Marja’s daughter Kari married John
Morra on a bluff overlooking Dorry’s Cove, under an arbor made of
driftwood. There were more than 100 people.
All of these weddings were relatively informal affairs. However,
one thing we learned over the years is that no matter how simple or
small, weddings on Block Island require an extra measure of planning and a bit more coordination than a ceremony on the mainland.
But then, as my family and hundreds of others have learned, there is
simply nothing like a Block Island wedding. It’s worth all the effort.
In 1965, you were on your own if you scheduled a ceremony
here. Now there are many businesses and services to make the job
easier. This issue of A Block Island Wedding is full of practical information. The advertisers provide everything you need: wedding gifts,
favors, flowers, music and entertainment, photographers, catering,
transportation, accommodations and finally, the honeymoon suite.
All the essentials to plan the perfect day.
You’ll also find news about past island weddings: in the winter
of 1892, in the 1970s and within the last few years.
Does a wedding on Block Island seem like an impossible dream
– beyond your budget? It need not be.
In this issue of A Block Island Wedding we explore ways to control
costs and interview experts who conclude that an island wedding
need not be any more expensive than a mainland ceremony.
So read this issue of A Block Island Wedding and think again.
Your dream could come true.
Photo courtesy Neil Lang
A Block Island Wedding is an annual publication of The Block Island Times, which was
founded in 1970. The Publisher is Manisses, Inc. and the publications include The Block
Island Times (52 issues per year), The Block Island Summer Times (4 issues per year),
Block Dining (annual) and the House and Garden (two issues).
Block Island Wedding 2008
Publishers ...............................................................Fraser Lang/ Betty Rawls Lang
Editor ....................................................................................................................Ian Lang
Production Manager .................................................................................John Barry
Contributors ...........................................Ian Lang, Fraser Lang, Fran Migliaccio,
Chris Barrett, Gloria Redlich,
Robert Downie, George Taber
P.O. Box 278. One Ocean Avenue, Block Island, Rhode Island 02807
www.blockislandtimes.comsmail@blockislandtimes.com
sFAX
This publication does not assume any responsibility for an error
in an advertisement. We will correct any errors in reporting.
Copy Editor .....................................................Ian Lang, Jean Taber, Chris Barrett
Advertising ................................................... Betty Rawls Lang, Shane Howrigan
Advertising Design .............George Donnelly, Christopher Izzo, John Barry
Copyright 2008 by Manisses, Inc.
2
©2007
JOHN FULLER
Your very special day…
Our very special place.
YOUR “SPECIAL OCCASION” DESTINATION
Weddings, rehearsal dinners, Sunday breakfasts.
We’ll make sure your special occasion is truly special.
Wedding Planning, Reservations & Information
800-626-4773 s 401-466-2421
3
Getting the biggest
for your
wedding
Bang
Bucks
How to plan an inexpensive Block Island wedding
By Chris Barrett
ontrary to popular belief you don’t need to be a millionaire to
hold a wedding on Block Island. With ocean-view hotels and
classy restaurants it’s easy to falsely conclude that one needs to travel
with wads of cash to wed on the island.
“That’s a big misconception, Block Island weddings are
really no more expensive than mainland weddings,” says Elizabeth
Connor, operations manager at the Hotel Manissses and 1661
Inn.
Connor says that meal and facilities prices are comparable to
the mainland. It’s the peripherals like ferry tickets and hotel rooms
that can pinch the pocketbook here. Still, taking a few simple steps
can save the happy couple and their guests hundreds or even thousands of dollars.
C
Planning ahead
Your mother always told you that doing your homework would
pay off in the end. Planning a wedding is no different. Deciding the
budget and number of guests beforehand can narrow the options
quickly and put everyone on the same page.
“One of the best bets to
save money is if you have
a daytime wedding,”
says Danielle Dziok,
catering manager for
the Spring House.
On the island there are only a handful of locations that can
hold more than 170 people and they tend to book quickly. Connor
recommends booking a wedding at least six to 12 months in
advance to secure the desired date and provide plenty of time to
iron out the details.
The planning stage is also a great time to pick the brains of
locals. Jared and Jessica Brown learned that asking their photogra4
Photo courtesy John Fuller Photography
pher for advice helped them find locals that could do the job for less
than someone from the mainland.
“Everybody always knows somebody who knows somebody,”
said Jess, who married on the island last year.
Kathy Baptista, innkeeper of the Narragansett Inn agrees.
“Listen to people that perform ceremonies here,” she said. “They
have done weddings on the island many times and they have a lot
of good ideas about how to save money.”
While planning ahead is key if you want your wedding on a
certain date, waiting can also help reduce the cost if you are willing
to be flexible. According to Sean Kivlehan, owner of The Sullivan
House, if you wait until closer to the date of your wedding “something might pop, and you can get a location for a lower rate if a
particular day is not taken.”
Schedule
Most people think Block Island is only open in the summer.
While most businesses close between Columbus Day and Memorial
Day, nothing requires couples to wed during the height of summer.
Holding a wedding on the edges of the summer or even during the
spring or fall can save significant money as hotels lower their rates
dramatically.
Knowing this the Browns held their wedding on October 20
on Crescent Beach. At first the groom was skeptical but the chance
to stay within the couple’s $15,000 budget was too good to pass
up.
Jessica researched historical weather patterns and picked up the
phone. She found a caterer offering lobster dinner for $70 a head
and the photographer, the hairdresser and a house rental agency all
offering steep discounts.
“I would say it definitely works to pull on the heartstrings of
people in the area,” Jessica said. “Since it is the off-season a lot of
people are happy to just have something to pay the utilities.”
And although it rained in the morning, the skies cleared up
by the 3:30 p.m. wedding and the couple wed on a picture-perfect
beach right on budget.
As an added bonus, guests left touting bags of goods from local
shops that were hosting end-of-the-season sales.
“Everybody came back saying, ‘Look at all I got for $50!,’” Jared
said.
Getting here
Ferries leave from Point Judith, R.I., New London, Conn. and
Montauk, Long Island. One-way ferry tickets run about $14 from
Point Judith, $22 from New London and $40 from Montauk. Only
the New London ferry offers group rates for parties of 25 or more.
Also know that the Point Judith Ferry is the only ferry that
continued on next page
5
America. Short of a chartered boat or plane,
guests here after the last ferry leaves are here
to stay.
“One of the best bets to save money
is if you have a daytime wedding,” says
Danielle Dziok, catering manager for the
Spring House Hotel.
A daytime wedding allows guests to
come and go without the expense of staying
in a hotel room that can start at more than
$250 a night. And as an added bonus it
means less time for the aunts to continue
that fight that started more than a decade
ago.
Photo courtesy Jessica and Chris Willi
takes vehicles and it can cost more than $100 to bring one over.
Better to park the car at home and take a taxi. (You’ll also find most
hotels are in easy walking distance of downtown.)
Flying is also an option. New England Airlines runs regular
flights from Westerly, R.I. with a one-way ride costing about $50.
One could also ask a friend with a boat for a ride, but with the
rising cost of fuel it might be cheaper to let someone else do the
sailing or flying.
Wedding in a day?
# .
# .
0
0
There are no bridges that connect Block Island to the rest of
Location, location, location
Renting a hotel to hold the ceremony
could cost a pretty penny. Hold it in one of the island’s public parks,
beaches or on the breath-taking Mohegan Bluffs and it won’t cost
you a dime. The town allows weddings in public areas without a
permit or fee as long as wedding guests do not block public access
to the space or consume alcohol.
If you’re looking for an outdoor wedding on one of the many
expansive lawns of a private residence or hotel, be aware tents are
not as inexpensive as they seem, costing as much as $5,000.
“It’s not just a tent when you talk about having a tent wedding,” Dziok says.
Accommodations
for your special event
ranging from
inns, cottages, suites and apartments
Everything but the Wedding...
Harborside Inn
...Rehearsal dinners, cocktail parties,
brunches, small receptions and
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For all your wedding events, come to the
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www.blockislandhotels.com
401-466-2901/800-225-2449
Along with the tent comes the dance floor, lights, a stage for
the band and possibly a generator to power it all. The Browns
learned there are different types of tents and it’s best to ask around
for quotes.
If you choose a more traditional hotel, know that their packages might be different but their prices come out similar.
“I think that at the end of the day it’s all relatively similar,”
Connor says. “It’s usually just about making a connection with the
bride or the groom.”
Kivlehan stresses that if you are looking to host an affordable
wedding the most important thing is to ask, and to be flexible. “If
you want to have a wedding on Block Island we can make it happen as long as you are willing to work with us,” he said. “You just
need to be realistic about what you are looking for and be willing
to talk about it.”
Food & Drink
The bills for a wedding reception start adding up long before
dinner. An open bar and cocktail hour runs up the tab almost
as fast as that troublesome uncle drinks. One option is to simply
shorten the time of cocktail hour while ensuring enough time for
wedding photographs and an opportunity for the couple to mingle
with the guests.
Dziok suggests couples looking to trim bar costs skip the open
bar and serve just wine, beer and soft drinks that still keep guests
spirited with a lower cost. Either way, most facilities on the island
charge per consumption, not by head, so consider how much the
family drinks when forming the budget.
Brad Marthens, owner of the Atlantic Inn, says that one way to
reduce the cost of the wedding is to change the type of champagne
you use for the toast. “Many people just take a sip and put it down
so consider a less expensive variety or have just the bride and groom
drink champagne,” Marthens says. “By just doing this your savings
on a 200-guest wedding could be $1,500 or more.”
Holding the cocktail hour during the day can also help.
Connor says guests tend to drink less between noon and six than six
and midnight. In fact, nothing says the whole meal cannot be done
during the day as a delicious – and less expensive – brunch.
“You can really stretch your dollar by doing something during
the day,” Connor says.
But if you have your heart set on a sunset dinner Steve Filippi,
president of Ballard’s Inn, said couples should know their budget
and their guests’ expectations before they meet with management.
“They need to know exactly what they want. Do they want
lobster dinner? Do they want steak?” Filippi said. “Then they have
to look at their clientele and if they want a more causal setting
or an elegant one and obviously the more causal one will be less
expensive.”
Filippi also cautioned couples to look for hidden facility or
service fees that could add up in the end. While Ballard’s factors in
those costs into the per-person charge that can range from $15 to
$75, many island businesses do not..
Block Island Wedding Flowers
by Claire McQueeny
(401) 466-2921
www.blockislandweddingflowers.com
Remember The Day With
Block Island Blue Pottery
Non-lead Glazes
Bridal Registry
Wedding & Anniversary Gifts!
Dodge Street ❖ Block Island
466-2945 ❖ arrow2clay@aol.com
7
If you’re looking to hold your reception at a hotel, read the
details carefully. Some hotels require the booking of rooms along
with the reception, otherwise they will charge a facilities fee.
Of course nothing says a wedding reception must take place at
a restaurant or hotel. Block Island provides plenty of caterers.
“The main cost in our catering is labor. So if you have buffet
dinner that probably will be less expensive than if you have a sitdown served dinner,” says Linda Spak, co-owner of Celebrations
Catering. “It can be just as elegant and just as special as you want it
to be but you’re saving money.”
But the devil’s in the details. All caterers need access to running
water and most need electricity and would prefer an oven to heat up
those tasty appetizers. There’s even the issue of lighting. Remember
that once the dinner is over the caterer still needs to clean up, and
it’s preferable if they can see.
Spak recalled one of her first events where the staff served a
lobster dinner and by the end night fell. With no lights in the tent,
the caterers needed to improvise.
“We were cleaning up a full lobster dinner from eight tables in
the dark with flashlights in our mouths,” she said with a laugh.
Now Spak is happy to help couples find a place to rent lighting
and put them in touch with businesses that can help with other
aspects of the wedding. And after the wedding is all over, Spak and
her company will happily provide a catered post-wedding brunch.
She can even arrange for a drop off of food that requires no serving
staff “and people can really save money with that.”
Flowers
ISLAND INNS
The Inns That Let You Be With Your Friends
The Barrington Inn
at New Harbor
The Inn at Block Island
at Old Harbor
The cost of flowers is based primarily on quantity and the size
of the floral arrangement. Not surprisingly, larger arrangements
with more flowers than foliage cost more. Couples can lower the
cost by choosing local, in-season flowers and trading fancy vases for
more causal mason jars.
“If a couple is flexible on the types of flowers or the exact colors
then it’s possible to do things in a much more economical way,” says
Suzanne Nolter, owner of Blazing Star Farm on the island.
Baptista, said that when having your wedding outdoors you
can reduce the number of flowers. “The guests will be focused
on the view,” Baptista said. “Any flowers you do have should be
understated.”
Claire McQueeny of Block Island Wedding Flowers agrees.
“You don’t need to guild the lilly,” she said, noting that given the
natural beauty of the island sometimes less is really more.
Do-it-yourself DJ
Two charming Inns at distinct and convenient
locations. Both Inns have private baths, TV, and
A/C; some with private decks and views.
Accommodations for children & pets available.
Ask about our discounts for multiple room reservations.
877-324-4667 • 401-466-5524
info@theinnatblockisland.com • www.theinnatblockisland.com
Innkeepers: Caren and John Kempf
8
There are just a handful of DJs on the island. Hiring one from
off-island will rack up a transportation, meal and lodging bill. It’s
best to stay local or scrap the DJ altogether in favor of an iPod.
The Browns couldn’t find a DJ within their budget so they
spent the weeks prior to the wedding creating a custom playlist.
They hooked up the iPod to their friend’s speakers and created an
instant DJ with no cost.
“It worked great,” Jared said. “By the end of the night people
were just plugging in their own iPods.”
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW!
U Marriage license
To legally wed in the state of Rhode Island couples must
obtain a marriage license. Rhode Island residents can go to
their hometown to receive a license. (If both the groom and
bride are residents the state asks that the license be secured in the bride’s hometown.) Out of state residents must
secure the license from the town they plan to marry in. On
Block Island the couples should contact the town clerk at
New Shoreham Town Hall (401) 466-3200. The fee is $24
and bride and groom must present a certified copy of their
birth certificate as well as proof that any previous marriages
have ended. The license is good for three months after the
issue date.
!" ◆ Outdoor Music
Town ordinances require outdoor music at reasonable levels and generally limit it to before 9 p.m. The town requests
that an individual be designated to monitor the noise level of
the music being played.
◆ Large event
If you plan to celebrate your event with more than 100
people, you may need a special event license. Contact the
town clerk at New Shoreham Town Hall (401) 466-3200 well
ahead of the date.
◆ Elected officials to perform civil ceremonies:
Second Warden Ray Torrey (401) 466-5691
◆ Local officiants to perform religious ceremonies:
American Baptist: Harbor Baptist Church, Rev. Lynne
Holden (401) 466-5940
The original BLOCK ISLAND
Hook Bracelet is here!
TM
Episcopalian: St. Ann’s by the Sea, Father Daniel Barker
(401) 466-2269
Jewish: Cantor Elliot Taubman, Sons and Daughters of
Ruth (401) 466-2861
Roman Catholic: St. Andrew’s Church, Rev. Joseph Protano (401) 466-5519
Christian Non-denominational:
Barbara MacDougall (401) 466-2929
Johno Sisto (401) 466-8986
◆ Other officiants to perform civil ceremonies:
Richard Kyte (401) 568-6875 or rkyte1@cox.net
Michael Lenihan (401) 596-4794
◆ Block Island Chamber of Commerce
For information call (800) 383-2474 or (401) 466-2982 or
www.blockislandchamber.com
◆ Block Island Tourism Council
(401) 466-5200 or www.blockislandinfo.com
www.blockislandgolddiggers.com
9
Tips for
IslandBrides
Getting married on Block Island is a truly
unique experience, but it does require some extra
planning. Not only do plans need to take into
account plane and ferry schedules, but the lack of
certain services mean that you must be prepared
in advance to make sure your wedding goes off
without a hitch. Here are a few pieces of advice
you might want to heed to make sure your wedding is a success.
Get out the word
“Save the date” notices are a must
for island weddings, because your guests
will need more time to plan than the time
between the ceremony and sending out
invitations. Go a step forward and set up
a website ahead of time to help guests plan
their trips. Include info on hotels, travel
and recreational activities. This is a good
place to let people know dress codes and
other things they may need to know, such as
what type of weather to expect since, as any
Islander knows, it’s often different than the
mainland.
To church or not to church?
For some people, of course, there’s no
question about whether they will marry in a
church. But keep in mind that Block Island
has one Episcopal, one Catholic and one
Baptist church – so couples of each faith
have only one option, and may find dates are
therefore limited.
Getting from Here to There
Remember it is likely that most of
your wedding guests won’t have cars on the
island and car rentals are extremely
limited. So if your ceremony and
reception are in different places, hire
a bus or fleet of taxis to ferry your
guests around. A couple of possibilities, McAloon’s Taxi or Mig’s
Rigs, since both have plenty of
experience ferrying wedding parties around the island.
Daytrippers
han, Sullivan
sy Sean Kivle
Photo courte
10
House
If you’d like your guests to
be able to come to your wedding
without having to book a hotel
room, an evening ceremony is
out. Daytime ceremonies allow
you to time the reception so
that people can catch the last
ferry back to Point Judith,
R.I., New London, Conn. or
Montauk, N.Y., without feeling like they’re missing out
on all the fun.
tesy Sean
Photo cour
Kivlehan,
use
Sullivan Ho
Funky sites for the rehearsal dinner – or other Wedding
Activities
A Block Island wedding is different,
and what better way to highlight that difference than a rehearsal dinner in an unusual
location. Maybe a clambake on the beach,
or just a simple meal of burgers or hot dogs
on the grill at a location overlooking the
water fits your style. Or maybe instead you
would like to book some time on the Ruling
Passion, a 45-foot trimaran sailing boat, on
which your guests can enjoy wine and cheese
with a view as the boat sails around the
island. Looking for a do-it-yourself option
instead? How about a cookout on the beach
– just don’t forget to get a permit.
The bottom line
It may be the last thing you want to
think about as you’re planning your wedding, but portable toilets are a must for private reception sites, since most island homes
are on septic systems that will be overloaded
by a large party. To avoid being stuck with a
huge bill for pumping out your angry landlord’s septic tank, hire toilets from Block
Island Party Rental.
Clothes
Make sure the groom and his men try on their rental tuxedoes
before getting on the boat with them, because once they’re on the
island, swapping out too-short pants or finding a tie that fits will no
longer be a simple matter.
Come Home To
Block Island
Tenting it
There is a saying on Block Island “that if you don’t like the
weather, wait a minute.” While this can be a great thing if you are
hoping that an overcast day turns into a perfect beach-day it can get a
little trickier when it comes to holding outdoor events on the island.
As a result a lot of couples decide to rent a tent since, as another
famous saying goes, “it is better to be safe than sorry.”
Tent rental services are available on the island, at competitive
prices through Block Island Party Rental and Antonio’s Tents, both
of which also offer tables, chairs and floors for rent, or off-island
at Newport Tent, a family-owned and operated business which has
been providing tents, dance floors, and other rental services to brides
and grooms both on the island and throughout the state for more
than 30 years.
Stress Relief
Planning a wedding can be a stressful experience. But to help
you – and the bridal party – deal with stress caused by the upcoming
nuptials you might want to think about visiting the talented professionals at Koru Eco Spa, Indigo Hair Studio and Day Spa or Pelle
Nuda. Whether it is a facial, a manicure, or a massage they can help
relieve your anxiety before the big day.
When it comes to a Block Island house rental choose from over 100
homes, cottages and condos ranging from one to seven bedrooms.
Make your selection at our new website featuring interior photos,
pricing and weekly availability. Call for reservations.
Gail P. Ballard Hall, Principal Broker
401-466-8883 www.blockislandproperty.com
11
Photo courtesy Rose Schaller Photography
Block Island
Brides & Grooms
We put out a call for your Block Island
wedding pictures, your treasured memories. You answered with photos of weddings from all over the island – on our
beaches, in our churches, on our docks,
overlooking our vistas. We thank you
for all your submissions and proudly
present them over the next four pages.
Photo courtesy Sean Kivlehan (Sullivan House) John Fuller Photography
Photo courtesy Alice Jacobs Photography
12
Photo courtesy Alicia and Paul Miro
Photo courtesy John and Bridget Capobianco
Photo courtesy New England Wedding Images
Photo courtesy Kris and Greg Petersen
Photo courtesy Block Island Wedding Flowers
Photo courtesy Jessica and Chris Willi
BlockIslandGourmet.com
Weddings ¤ Rehearsals Private Parties ¤ Rentals
Featured in _t UxÄÄt
BRIDE &
Conde Nast's BRIDES Local Magazine
Preparing for your special day should be fun and exciting.
With Block Island Gourmet as your partner, every detail of your event
will be carefully planned and beautifully executed...so you can enjoy
the experience.
Dear Block Island Gourmet,
We have heard, multiple times, that ours was the best wedding people
had ever been to. Our guests could not stop raving about the food,
from the rehearsal dinner, wedding and brunch, everything was
delicious, and the service was impeccable!
Meghan & Brian
Five Star Catering & Event Planning
Tent and Party Rentals & Wedding Cake Design
www.BlockIslandGourmet.com ¤ (401) 466-5672
13
Eylandt Antiques
466-9888
Open Wed. - Sun., 11am – 3pm, or by appointment
Inside Payne’s Harbor View Inn
Ocean Avenue at Beach Avenue
East Greenwich
Bridals
264 Main St.
East Greenwich, RI
866.361.1865
www.eastgreenwichbridal.com
Photo courtesy Cindy Wilson Photography
Mon. 12pm-5pm
Tues,Weds,Thurs. 11am-8pm
Fri, Sat. 11am-5pm
Sun. by appoinment only
Alice Jacob
PHOTOGRAPHER
Weddings
Gala Occasions
Fine Art Portfolio
(201) 281-1944
PO Box 992
Block Island, RI 02807
info@alicejacob.com
www.alicejacob.com
14
Photo courtesy Sean Kivlehan, Sullivan House (Linda Berg)
The Perfect Gift
For Your Bridesmaids
available on island at
M’ C
Dodge St., 10-6
(Next to Red Bird Liquor)
401 466-2882
Water St. 10-8
Under Harborside,
401 466-7944
15
In 1892
A New Family Formed
“Another magnificent and fashionable
wedding came off on Tuesday evening of
last week. The happy participants were Miss
Nellie Smith, daughter of Mrs. Elizabeth
Smith, and Jeremiah M. Littlefield, Jr., both
of this town.
The happy event took place at the home
of the bride, and a large concourse of invited
friends and relatives were present to witness
on a cold Winter night
L. photo courtesy Robert Downie; R. photo courtesy Edith Littlefield Blane
by Robert Downie
On December 20, 1892, a new family was created on the island when 21-yearold Nellie Smith married 25-year-old Jerry
Littlefield during a cold evening with a “twisting northwest wind.”
A reporter for Cooley’s Weekly of Norwich,
Conn. that attended the wedding 116 years
ago described it this way:
The home where 21-year-old Nellie Smith married 25-year-old Jerry Littlefield on December 20,
1892.
the happy ceremony and take part in the
festivities which followed.
The home of Mrs. Smith had been
elegantly decorated, and when the curtain
of night closed about the handsome cottage the many lamps made
the interior the
wonder and admiration of all who beheld it.
La Bella Rose
Wedding Flowers
Professional and creative
floral designs for your
wedding or special event.
Jamie Rose
PO Box E
Block Island, RI 02807
Ph. 401-499-2035 Fax 401-466-2053
labellarose@gmail.com
labellarose.com
Nellie Smith Littlefield in 1892 at the time of her
wedding.
The lights sent forth from every window
sparkling rays on the snow clad hills of Block
Island, and the stars too shed their brilliant
December lustre o’er this gay and festive
assembly.
!"#$% & '(() "# %*
+)$,)( - - & ")# ./ 16
Photo courtesy Robert Downie
the afternoon, and the evening, though cold an imported suit of electric blue silk, trimmed
with plush, same shade, and steel passemenand breezy, was clear.
No one thought of cold, snow or the terie, with white satin front and white chiffon
twisting northwest wind which was blow- lace at the neck and sleeves. Her floral decoing. Some no doubt would have braved rations were wondrous, composed of white
the storms of Siberia rather than miss this pinks, white rose buds and smilax.
The presents were numerous, costly and
gorgeous display of matrimonial splendor.
All seemed to keenly realize that this was an useful. There was tableware, chamber furnishing, handsome pictures and knick- knacks, in
event not liable to soon occur again.
Early in the evening the cottage was both silver and gold. A magnificent wedding
thronged with guests dressed expressly for supper was served ... May this worthy pair
this special event. The gentlemen were in have many years of joy and happiness.”
evening dress and ladies elegantly attired for
the occasion ... At
F
W W for t un
8 o’clock sharp the
ed h h
din ol e
nuptial party entered
gP e
ar
the northwest parlor
ty
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Sail
away
aboard
our
and took their sta45-foot trimaran
tion on a chenille
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rug in the centre
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of the room, Miss
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Celebrating
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while playing a wedof Sailing Fun!
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The bride was
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Jeremiah Littlefield in 1907, as pictured in a newspaper photo after becoming a hero saving lives
when the passenger steamer Larchmont sank.
During the night of December 19, and
the day following a furious north wind had
been blowing, accompanied by a blinding
storm of snow, which, however, cleared off in
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17
A Wedding Story
Dan & Rosemary Millea
by Fran Migliaccio
Dan and Rosemary Millea married on November 10, 1973 at the
site of the former Ocean View Hotel, which burned to the ground in
July 1966. Dan worked at the grand hotel as a teenager and secured
permission from the owners to hold his wedding there.
About 50 people attended the sunrise wedding with some guests
pitching tents onsite so as not to miss the sunrise.
in 1973.
llea at their wedding
Dan and Rosemary Mi
er and
Millea family; The cov
Photo courtesy of the
their wedfor
n
tio
wedding invita
inside of the Milleas’
w Hotel.
Vie
of the former Ocean
ding on the grounds
Photos courtesy Dan
The wedding invitation was
hand drawn and lettered by
Bo Sweeney of Block Island.
and Rosemary Millea
Musi
c from a Golden Flute
John Curran, flutist
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WEDDING FLOWERS
Ned Phillips Jr. & Co.
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Water Street, Block Island 401-466-5161
18
Linda Spak
401-466-5440
860-921-7034
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FLY THE ISLAND’S WEDDING FLAG
Bride and groom’s names and wedding date are embroidered in red
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YOUR WEDDING HAIR: SOUND
ADVICE FROM ISLAND STYLISTS
Styling
Because of the island wind, wear your hair up. Look
through magazines and on the Internet ahead of time
to get a sense of straight or curly, up or down, and
bring your suggestions to your “run-through” appointment before the wedding. In fact, you might even want
to try out a few options beforehand to see what you
like. Remember that thanks to the powers of photography your wedding hairstyle is forever so choose a
classic look that won’t embarrass you when you pull
out your photo album years from now.
C
ery detail for your specia
v
e
r
l da
ove
y
Planning advice
Book your hair appointment months in advance, since
the hair stylists often start taking reservations for the
summer in January. Decide whether you want just
your hair done, or the hair of all your bridesmaids as
well. The amount of money you spend hinges on this
central question. If you book the hair appointments for
all your bridesmaids, be prepared to pay for all of them.
Nail advice
Get your nails done a day or two before the wedding, not the day of. Everything takes longer to dry
on a moist island, including your nails. The most
common nails for a wedding? French manicures.
Makeup advice
Be willing to wear a little more makeup than you usually
do so that your face won’t look washed-out in pictures.
But keep the makeup simple and mainly around your
eyes, lips and cheeks. Use a very sheer foundation, or
no foundation at all. Don’t get a facial just before your
wedding, or else your skin might break out.
Attitude
Remember this is a celebration and no matter what
the weather is on your special day a Block Island wedding is always beautiful.
The tips on hairstyling were compiled from interviews with Jaymie Hazard of
Indigo Hair Salon, Mark Koch of Mark’s Beachcomber and Hair Design and
Jean Waggoner of Guys and Gals Hair Salon.
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19
Selecting
A Shutterbug
Choosing the right photographer for your wedding
by Ian Lang
egardless of whether your wedding is
a formal affair at one of the island’s
churches or a more casual ceremony on the
beach, your wedding will be over before you
know it. But if you hire the right photographer to capture your special day you can be
sure that the memories of your wedding will
be preserved in a way that both you, and
perhaps future children and grandchildren,
will enjoy for years to come.
Hiring the “right” person for this important role takes a tremendous amount of
legwork. While your overall budget should
always be considered when choosing your
photographer, this is not an area where
you want to let cost be the only factor in
your decision. Instead look at references,
interview prospective photographers, and
always look at their previous work to ensure
that their style fits your vision for your wedding day.
Perhaps most important, you need to
make sure that you and your photographer
get along. Think about it. You are going to
be spending a lot of time with him or her
throughout the course of the day. The photographer will be there when you get ready
for the ceremony; when you walk down the
aisle; when you exchange your rings; and
when you share that first kiss! So spend
some time with prospective photographers
and make sure you choose somebody who
will add to the enjoyment of your special
day, and not somebody you find difficult or
hard to get along with.
They say that past performance is an
indicator of future success and nowhere is
this more true than when hiring a wedding
photographer. Ask friends who have recently
married who they used and whether they
were pleased. Ask potential photographers
to show you their past work to see if you are
comfortable with their style and the quality
of their prints. The feedback you get from
your friends as well as your own feelings
about the quality of work can, when taken
together, help you choose the perfect person
to capture your wedding.
Having your wedding on Block Island
also adds another layer of challenges to
finding the right person. Not only does the
individual have to be available on the island
for your wedding, but he or she should also
be familiar with the island and know the
best places for the perfect shot. You might
even want to ask them if they have examples
of previous weddings they have shot at the
site of your ceremony.
Once you have found somebody you
are comfortable with you need to decide
what photographs you want the photographer to take.
20
Photo courtesy Cindy Wilson Photography
Photo courtesy Ros
R
Photo courtesy Robin Langsdorf Photography
e Schaller Photogr
aphy
The first group is the formal shots.
These include posed pictures of both the
bride and groom as well as pictures of the
wedding party. Oftentimes these will be the
pictures you use for your formal wedding
portrait as well as the photograph you send
to the local newspaper for your wedding
announcement.
The second group of photographs is
taken during the ceremony and the reception. Here careful planning and communication with your photographer are essential.
You need to tell the photographer whom
you want captured on film. Many couples
want pictures of their parents, siblings, a
favorite uncle or aunt and friends.
You also want to make sure you get
photographs of particular moments in the
ceremony and reception including the ring
exchange, your first kiss, the procession
and recession, cutting the cake and many
others.
The final piece of the puzzle is making
sure that you know exactly what is included
in the wedding package. Does the price
include albums or enlargements or is the
quote just for the photographer’s time? If
you make sure you know what is included
beforehand you will eliminate a potential
problem after the wedding.
The photographs you get of your wedding day will serve as a permanent reminder
of that momentous occasion. By doing your
legwork early, looking at a variety of different photographers, and then making your
decision you can ensure that your photographer will enhance your memories of your
wedding.
Photo courtesy Ken Missbrenner Photography
21
A Wedding Story
That year a summer girl met an island boy
by Fran Migliaccio
The Block Island wedding, 37 years ago, of a longtime
summer island resident and a young island man, was “very
casual, very laid back,” said Debbie Howarth, who was the
happy bride of Frederick John Howarth on October 2,
1971.
“It was all very ordinary,” she said. “I put on my jeans
and went to meet the people who were arriving on the boat
that morning. Of course, we timed the wedding with an eye
to the boat schedule.”
As often happens, the island weather had
its vagaries. The weather started out dark and
stormy but just five minutes before the 1 p.m.
ceremony the sun came out and stayed out
most of the afternoon.
The happy couple headed to St. Andrew
Church on Chapel Street and wed before a
crowd of 200 guests, including the groom’s
seven brothers and sisters and extensive network
Photos courtesy Fred
erick and Debbie How
arth
of island friends. Unlike today where
weddings are common at the grand
hotels and many beaches, in 1971
WEDDINGS.
weddings were rare.
REUNIONS.
“Back then nobody got married
FAMILY VACATIONS.
here unless they had a connection
with the island,” Debbie said. “There
EVENTS.
WEDDINGS. REUNIONS. FAMILY VACATIONS. EVENTS
were no destination weddings on
Block Island. Fred and I got married
here because we were going to make
our home on the island.”
With little open during October
the couple held the reception at
Yellow Kittens, a local pub.
“I can’t remember everything
we had, but it was a buffet, and we
had wine, beer, champagne,” Debbie
recalled. “Tables were set up around
the perimeter on the inside, and
some people sat outside and ate on
the grass. It was relaxing, low-key and
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tied long into the night before heading home the next day on
boats charting rough waters as a nor’easter approached.
But the quirks of holding a wedding on the island were
nothing new to Debbie, who came to the island at age 13 with
her parents. Debbie served as a waitress at the Spring House
Hotel before becoming a cocktail waitress at The Oar restaurant
in 1969. In 1970, Debbie took a job at Smuggler’s Cove, where
she met Fred.
“He was a bar customer,” she said, “and we just started
talking.”
In 1971 the two were engaged and moved to Milford,
N.H. where Debbie was working at the time. The two returned
to Block Island in early 1972 after Debbie’s company found a
replacement for her.
The rest is island history. In 1977, Debbie and Fred
opened Finn’s restaurant, in the downstairs portion of the
building where Fred’s parents, Rita and Ernie Sherman, had
started Ernie’s restaurant in the late 1950s.
The Howarths’ two children, Jason and Jessy, worked in
the restaurant from an early age, washing dishes and doing prep
work. The family lived for 10 years in an apartment above the
restaurant, which is now the restaurant office. Eventually, the
Howarths built their current home off Spring Street.
Finn’s, an Old Harbor landmark restaurant noted for
the quality of its fresh fish, celebrated its 30th anniversary last
year. It is now operated by third-generation restaurateur Jason
Howarth.
Photos, clockwise from top: The Howarth wedding party;
Frederick and Debbie Howarth cut their wedding cake on
October 2, 1971; Bride Debbie Boas walks up the aisle at St.
Andrew Church on the arm of her father, Norman Boas.
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23
The Many Flavors
of Block Island wedding gifts&Favors
By Ian Lang
Having a wedding on Block Island is a
unique experience. And what better way to
demonstrate that uniqueness than buying
your wedding favors – or purchasing a gift
for the bride and groom – at one of Block
Island’s many stores.
Eyelandt Antiques, located in the lobby
of Payne’s Harborview Inn, offers a wide
variety of sterling silver items that would
make a perfect gift, including a shell covered
in sterling silver that features a map of Block
Island on it.
If jewelry is what you had in mind then
look no further than the two on-island jewelers, both of whom have many rings, pendants
and bracelets to choose from. At Jennifer’s
Jewelry, located on Water Street under the
National Hotel and on Dodge Street, you
might want to pick up one of her classic Block
Island bracelets, which come in either sterling
silver or two-tone 14kt yellow gold and feature
a pendant of Block Island. For men Jennifer’s
carries the new “in-look” in men’s jewelry the
Rev Line, or you could opt for a money clip
with an image of Block Island on it.
Ila
MannerSchulman, owner of
Golddiggers (located
on Chapel Street), can
custom design jewelry
for you and even offers
engravings while you
wait. A couple of her
Island-themed works
include the original
Block Island Hook
Bracelet, which features
the distinctive shape of
the island as well as 10
wraps of 14 karat gold
signifying the 10 square
miles the island offers,
and her Beach in the
Bottle charms, which
allow you to take a little
bit of the ocean, sand
and island air encased
in glass with you when
you leave.
For Block Islandthemed clothing stop in
at Mahoney’s Clothier
on Water Street for its
collection of T-shirts,
polo shirts, fleeces, hats
and sweatshirts featur-
24
ing the Block Island logo. And if you are worried that you are underdressed for the big day
you could always pick up one of Mahoney’s
famous Block Island ties which are the perfect
addition to any wedding outfit.
Block Island Blue Pottery, located on
Dodge Street, has a wide selection of dishes,
bowls and other pottery items that will serve
as a perfect reminder of your special day, and
even offers a bridal-gift registry. As a special
wedding favor you might want to think about
purchasing Block Island Blue Pottery’s own
Block Island Tile that comes in the shape of
the island.
If a visual record of the island is what
you had in mind then a visit to Malcolm
Greenaway’s Photo Gallery should be in
your future. In addition to many outstanding photographs, Greenaway has published
“Block Island, Rhode Island’s Jewel,” a book
highlighting the natural beauty of the island,
and a perfect wedding favor. As those in the
know say, “you can’t go home without it.”
Spring Street Gallery is a great place to
stop if you are looking for artwork to decorate
the couple’s home. Artwork is done by island
artists and will serve as a permanent reminder
of the special times the couple has shared on
Block Island.
For those looking to take home a taste
of the island, Littlefield Bee Farm might do
the trick. Selling either online at www.blockislandhoney.com or at the Farmers Market,
Littlefield Bee Farm offers a variety of homemade honey, beeswax candles, and, a personal
favorite, jars of honey mustard.
Also selling its wares at the Block Island
Farmers Market is Island Mist Natural Bath
and Body which is the island’s only make of
handmade, all-natural bath and body products including lotions, salt scrubs, and face
masks.
With so many options, you’re sure to
find the perfect gift.
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25
Champagne
tastes on aBeer Budget
By George M. Taber
A wedding is the one time in your life when you’ll probably
want to serve champagne. Whether you’re toasting a World Series
championship or a job promotion or a wedding, champagne makes
the moment that much more festive and special. There is nothing
like the sparkle of it to celebrate the beginning of a wonderful new
life together.
But there is one problem: the cost. Technically real champagne
has to be made in the Champagne region of northern France.
Only producers in that region have the right to call their product
Champagne. Winemakers around the world may be using exactly
the same grapes and working them in exactly the same way, bubbles
and all, but they have to call their product by another name, sparkling wine.
Now the true wine snobs will tell you that nothing is a substitute for real Champagne, but these days the real stuff can easily
run you $50 a bottle and more, plus you’ll need a lot of bottles to
celebrate the wedding. So it’s a cost that you can’t easily ignore.
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401-596-6160
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You’re probably going to have several events around a wedding, and you may want to consider having real Champagne at
some events such as the toasts before the wedding cake is cut. But
then you could have less expensive alternatives for other events like
the wedding rehearsal dinner. That way you can have your bubbles
without breaking the budget and putting the newlyweds into debt
from the beginning of their life together.
Fortunately for all of those like me who like to have sparkling
wine for even the most routine events such as the end of a perfect
day at the beach, sparkling wine producers have gotten a lot better at
their craft in just the past few years. There are now sparkling wines
on the market selling for a fraction of the cost of Champagne that
even a wine expert would be able to tell the difference.
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The best alternative for the real thing is sparkling wine made in
California by the same French companies making the high-priced
stuff. All the big champagne houses have now been producing
sparkling wine in California for two or three decades. This is made
in exactly the same way as they do in Champagne, but it sells for
less than half the price of the same product imported from France.
Take your pick from among some very famous Champagne houses:
Chandon, Mumm, Taitinger, Roederer. All of those companies
now make products in California that sell at about $20 a bottle.
You’ll find them easily in wine stores. If you don’t believe me about
how good they are, just buy a bottle and try it out one night. I think
you’ll be pleasantly surprised.
A second less expensive alternative is Crémant from France.
Since other French areas outside of Champagne wanted to make
bubbly wine, the French came up with a new name for the same
product made in other regions. It’s called Crémant. Again these
sparkling wines are made from the same grapes and use the same
process as real Champagne. Some of the most popular ones come
from Alsace and will probably run you about $15. They also come
from Burgundy, the Loire, and Bordeaux, and they are an attractive
alternative to expensive Champagne.
A third possibility is Italian Prosecco. Again similar grapes,
similar process, but the price is only a fraction of what you’d pay
for real Champagne. Prosecco has been one of the hottest products
on the Italian wine scene in recent years because these wines are so
good and they have made sparkling wines something you can drink
routinely. There are several on the market selling for about $15.
A fourth possibility is Spanish Cava. This is made by a slightly
different process, although I won’t bore you with the explanation
of the difference between this and real Champagne or the other
sparkling wines. Freixenet, pronounced “fresh-eh-net,” has enjoyed
a huge success with its distinctive black bottles of this bubbly. But
there are many other brands, usually selling for about $10 a bottle.
Picking the Right Style
Now a few words about the style of sparkling wine to serve.
Don’t be intimidated by the names on the bottle that are designed
to help you select one that suits your tastes based on the amount of
sugar. In the days when the Czars of Russia were the biggest buyers
of real Champagne, they preferred sweet drinks, so that’s what they
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got. Americans tend to not like sweet wines, so I suggest sticking
to ones that have little or no sweetness. Going from dry to sweet,
sparkling wines are classified as extra brut, brut, extra dry, sec and
demi-sec. By the time you get to demi-sec, you’ve got a fairly sweet
wine. I wouldn’t recommend that for a big group.
And then there’s rosé sparkling wine. It’s all a matter of taste
and the image that you’re trying to get across. Some people think
rosé Champagne is the ultimate in excitement. I personally don’t
like it, although I must admit to having one bottle of it in my wine
cellar. The color comes simply from how long the winemaker left
the juice in contact with the red grape skins. You can have dry rosé
or sweet rosé.
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Try Before you Buy
My final recommendation is that the prospective bride and
groom try some of the alternatives to true Champagne that I’ve
recommended to see which, if any, they like. You may have a real
Champagne taste, and you should stick with it. But at the same time
you might discover that a French bubbly from California tastes just
as good to you. Or maybe you’ll like a Spanish Cava. So before you
make the final decision, try out some of the alternatives. If nothing
else, you’ll have a fun evening together.
If it’s of any interest, when my wife and I were married I asked
my future father-in-law to serve California sparkling wine at the
wedding because I had grown up in California and felt some loyalty
to the state. The wedding was a great success, and the marriage has
held together. So I guess a California sparkling wine will fit the
bill.
George M. Taber, a Block Island resident, has written two books on
wine: Judgment of Paris and To Cork or Not to Cork. He is currently
working on a third one.
This column is sponsored by the Wine Store. www.thewinestoreri.
com.
28
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Surfing
Block Island?
On island or off, if you’re looking for news and information
about Block Island, there is no better spot to surf to than the
Block Island Times online. At www.blockislandtimes.com,
you can catch all the local news and upcoming events, find
out the weather, see the menus of all your favorite restaurants, download special editions of the newspaper and even
find out if the ferries are currently running.
It’s all the news about the island that you love.
Surf’s up!!!
8055 Times Wedding
Online and in print.
7/15/08
5:03 PM
Page 1
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29
Picking
the Petals
Selecting the right flowers for your wedding
By Ian Lang
Choosing the right flowers is one of the
most important aspects of your wedding.
The color, style, and smell of the flowers
you pick will go a long way toward creating the atmosphere for your ceremony and
reception. Whether you are thinking about
a bridal bouquet, a centerpiece at the reception, or a display that will frame the altar,
here are some things to keep in mind as you
make your decisions.
Selecting a florist
and setup fees included.
Choosing the right flowers
By deciding to get married on Block
Island you have already chosen a unique
place to have your wedding, so we recommend not being tied down by other people’s
tradition when choosing the right flowers
for your special occasion. While your florist
will have some ideas of her own, you should
come to the table with an idea of what you
want.
One place to get ideas is to look through
magazines like this one, other wedding magazines or even on the Internet. There you
will see what others have done and can start
to gain a feel for what you want.
In terms of choosing the bridal bouquet, as well as any other flowers that might
go in the bride’s hair or in her hairpiece,
it is important to first choose your wedPhoto courtesy New
While some couples will forgo a florist,
instead relying on their own thoughts and
the advice of friends, many will retain the
services of a professional when it comes to
this aspect of the wedding planning. This is
especially true on Block Island, where getting flowers to the ceremony often requires
a trip on the ferry or a flight from Westerly,
R.I.
When looking for the right florist there
are a number of things that you should
remember. First you need to know whether
the florists overall philosophy matches your
own. Does a particular florist like a minimal
look, a more traditional feel, or something
that is more modern? Ask to see examples
of the florist’s past work, whether it is the
arrangements themselves or pictures of past
weddings they have done. This will give you
an idea of how his or her effort will look at
your wedding and will help confirm whether
it is the right fit for you. Another thing to
consider is whether the florist has ever done
a wedding at the site of your reception or
ceremony.
In addition to the design aspects of
the florist’s work make sure you ask what
flower packages are offered and exactly what
is included in the price. For example is the
price just for the flowers or are the delivery
England Wedding
Images
30
Block Island Weddings
F
*ÀÌÀ>ÌÃÊÉÊ>Þ
Special Events
John Fuller Photography
(401) 855-9555
*"ÊÝÊ£{än]ÊVÊÃ>`]Ê,ÊäÓnäÇÊUÊÜÜÜ°vÕiÀ«Ì}À>«Þ°V
Both photos courtesy La Bella Rose
ding dress. Your florist should also see
the dress itself, or at least a picture of
it, so she can determine whether the
bouquet matches the color and style of
the dress.
In addition to the color of flower
you choose you might also wish to
consider the meaning of the flower.
For example, red roses stand for true
love, calla lilies represent beauty and red tulips often signify
an avowal of love.
Of course you might also want to think about flowers that mean
something to you. Maybe you choose flowers that represent the place
where you met, or flowers that grow in a place that is special to the
two of you.
Consider what flowers you will need. At most ceremonies you
will need personal flowers for the bride and groom as well as the
wedding party and certain family members. You will also need to
select flowers for the ceremony itself such as arrangements for the
arches, aisles and altar. Of course flowers for the reception site are
also needed, with your centerpieces being the most obvious example
of this type of flower arrangement.
While this seems like a lot to consider, at the end of the day
the most important advice we can give is to just trust your gut. If the
florist feels right, if you like his or her past work, and if the flowers
look the way you want them to then just go with it.
VÊÃ>`ÊUÊ iÜ«ÀÌÊUÊ,`iÊÃ>`
,
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Block Island’s only on-island,
one-stop wedding entertainment service
{£Î®ÊÎÇ{n£äÓÊUÊÜÜÜ°Ã>`Üi``}`°V
http://kenmissbrenner.com/weddings
31
From this day
Forward...
You’ll be in my heart, You’ll be in my
heart, From this day on — now and
forever more.
- Phil Collins
by Gloria Redlich
It is a moment that seems to eclipse
every other one that has gone before it — it
is marriage — when two people move toward
each other in a gesture of trust that alters
everything that comes after it. Is it any wonder then that individuals so drawn to each
other seek to cast their own magical spell
upon that moment and on that day which
is so invested with their shared faith in the
future?
Though tradition plays a large role in
most wedding services, contemporary couples
often wish to add their own distinct touch
and flavor to their marriage ceremonies, particularly with the introduction of readings,
lyrics and symbols.
To assist them, and supplement a
vast library of books and pamphlets on the
subject, is an extensive electronic industry through which those interested may
32
Photo courtesy La
Bella Rose
tap everything from religious traditions and
ancient folklore to extemporaneous verses
and modern day lyrics.
Found under such titles as
WeddingsWeddings.Com and the Wedding
Ceremonies eBook are guides and indexes to
a personalized wedding. According to “The
Everything Wedding Vows Book,” planning
a wedding “can be a hard and thankless
task, but writing your vows shouldn’t have
to be … Forget about seating arrangements,
bridesmaids dresses and color schemes. No
need to worry about the caterer, photographer and all the money you’ll have to
spend. As one of the best things in life,
wedding vows are absolutely free!”
Most wedding manuals begin with
the advice, as illustrated in the first step
of www.theknot.com’s list of “20 tips for
Writing Your Own Wedding Vows,”
“Make sure your officiant will accept personalized vows.”
Traditional vows
The site notes that usually in Catholic
and Episcopal congregations the emphasis is
on traditional vows. Typically,
in these and many Protestant
denominations the basic
vows include a statement of
the couple’s commitment
to each other within the
parameters of their faith.
Cited as basic to
Protestant wedding vows
is a familiar pledge made
by each of the partners to
“take” the other “to be my
wedded wife/husband, to
have and to hold, from
this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer,
for poorer, in sickness
and in health, to love
and to cherish, till death
do us part, according to
Photo cour
tesy John an
d Bridget Ca
pobianco
God’s holy ordinance; and thereto I pledge thee my
faith/ or pledge my self to you/ or plight thee
my troth.”
In the Catholic version, a variation of
the above avowal is expressed in questions
that the priest puts to the couple. The couple
then gives consent before God and the
Church, pledging, “I take you to be my wife/
husband. I promise to be true to you in good
times and bad, in sickness and health. I will
love and honor you all the days of my life.”
In accepting a ring, the respondent
might say, “I take this ring as a sign of my love
and faithfulness, in the name of the Father,
of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”
However, much is left to the priest or
minister’s discretion, and today clergy of
most faiths will work with couples wishing to
tailor their vows.
Is there room for whimsical?
So, if you do decide to write your own
vows, where do you begin? According to the
knot.com it is important to make a plan, create an outline, find your voice, and establish
a tone. The latter may be anywhere from formal and serious to whimsical and tongue-in-cheek or any combination of the above.
Children’s author Shel Silverstein casts his vote for whimsy in
the following rhyme:
I will not play at tug o’ war,
I’d rather play at hug o’ war,
Where everyone hugs instead of tugs,
Where everyone giggles and rolls on the rug,
Where everyone kisses and everyone grins,
And everyone cuddles and everyone wins.
In order to find out what to say — the substance of the vows —
theknot.com tells each partner to answer 20 questions.
Among these are the following: What were your reactions to
each other on first meeting? Identify the moment you realized you
were first in love. How has life changed since you came together?
Which part of the “traditional vows” resonate with you?
It is in the answers to the questions that couples begin to see how
they may weave their individual experiences and emotions into their
wedding service. And many bridal couples inevitably look to poetry
and song for the words with which to do so.
Just ‘I love you’
When asked recently about his wedding vows, Lenny was unsure.
Four years ago he and his bride Naomi stood on a New Hampshire
mountain top in the fullness of autumn’s splendor and vowed to
become husband and wife.
“I don’t know, he said, “Perhaps I was the kind of person who
didn’t know the right words, didn’t know more than just ‘I love you.’
I didn’t have the ability to find the fancy words in poetry and stuff.”
Unaware of the elegance of his simple statement, he added
that he and his bride and her son Ethan incorporated a unique and
moving symbol into their marriage ceremony. They brought with
them three jars of different colored sands, which each of them held.
First they separately poured a bit of their sand into a large container.
Next they simultaneously poured the sands together, symbolizing the
inextricable linking of their lives from that moment on — a moment
in which they became a family.
A common thread
What then is the common thread, the theme knitting all the rituals, songs and “poetry and stuff” together? In response, theknot.com
points out that though traditions vary around the world, the message
is unsurprisingly the same: love.
But how to express this all-consuming emotion in ways that
inspire? In one of his love poems, 13th century Persian poet Rumi
addresses the beloved directly, “From the beginning of my life I have
been looking for your face … Today I have found you … You have
breathed new life into me.”
And 19th century poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning enumerates
the ways one can love in the very familiar “How do I love thee?” The
speaker in her poem says, “How do I love thee? Let me count the
ways. … I love thee to the level of every day’s most quiet need, by sun
and candlelight … I love thee with a passion put to use. In my old
Block Island’s air service
for 37 years.
Enjoy unlimited free parking when you fly
to Block Island with New England Airlines
from Westerly Airport.
l
l
ll
ll
l
33
griefs, and with my childhood’s faith. … I love thee with the breath,
smiles tears, of all my life!”
The centuries have apparently not altered the power of love
to transform the ordinary nor the intensity of feeling, as we hear in
Elton John’s lyrics, “An enchanted moment and it sees me through /
It’s enough for this restless warrior just to be with you. / And can you
feel the love tonight? / It is where we are.”
In speaking of that self-same love, Shakespeare writes, “But love
is blind and lovers cannot see the pretty follies that themselves commit.” Such blindness may come indeed from the unwillingness of
the smitten two to allow anyone else into the magic circle they draw
around themselves. This romantic isolationism is reflected in the
1934 ballad “I Only Have Eyes for You.”
Among the many artists recording the piece, Frank Sinatra
makes that point emphatically as he belts out: “Are the stars out
tonight? / I don’t know if it’s cloudy or bright / Cause I only have eyes
for you, dear / And the moon may be high / But I can’t see a thing
in the sky cause I only have eyes for you.”
Toward a definition of love
Author and poet Diane Ackerman, expresses astonishment at
our repeated efforts to contain and define love. She says, “Love. What
a small word we use for an idea so immense and powerful. It has
altered the flow of history … kindled works of art, cheered the forlorn
… fuelled national scandals … and made mincemeat of kings.”
She adds, “How can love’s spaciousness be conveyed in the narrow confines of one syllable? Love is an ancient delirium, a desire
34
older than civilization, with taproots spreading into deep and mysterious days. The heart is a living museum. In each of its galleries …
preserved forever … are our moments of loving and being loved.”
Though customs vary from nation to nation and faith to faith,
there seem to emerge certain underlying themes: the couple not only
unites with a spouse but with the family of the spouse as well. And
the ceremony takes place in the presence of family and friends, who
stand as witnesses to the promises made.
In Japan, it is the families who face each other, as the bride and
groom exchange their vows. At Pakistani weddings, vows are not spoken until the third day of the celebrations. Within several branches of
Russian Orthodoxy, “a couple’s vows take the form of silent prayer, in
which they promise to be loyal and loving.”
In the quiet simplicity of a Quaker marriage ceremony, the vows
may read as follows: “In the presence of God and these our friends,
I take thee to be my husband/wife, promising with Divine assistance
to be unto thee a loving and faithful wife/husband so long as we both
shall live.”
Traditionally the Islamic bride and groom do not speak vows but
rather listen to their imam, who speaks to them about their responsibilities to each other and Allah. Three times they are asked whether
they accept each other in marriage, in accord with their wedding
contract, which they then sign sealing their marriage.
An Apache wedding blessing reads: “Now you will feel no rain
/ For each of you will be shelter to the other. / Now you will feel no
cold / For each of you will be the warmth to the other.” The couple
are enjoined to “Go now to your dwelling-place / To enter into the
days of your togetherness. / And may your days be good and long
upon the Earth.”
In traditional Jewish wedding ceremonies, there is generally no
exchange of vows, with “the covenant … said to be implicit in the ritual.” The actual structure of the ceremony varies to some degree within
Orthodox, Conservative and Reform synagogues, and the marriage is
“customarily sealed when the groom places a ring on his bride’s finger
and says, ‘Behold, you are consecrated to me with this ring according
to the laws of Moses and Israel.’” Today, many Jewish couples decide
on a double-ring ceremony and exchange spoken vows.
In making the decision to customize their own wedding ceremonies then, couples today will find they have a series of nearly endless
resources — from traditional religious liturgy and classic poetry to
popular lyrics and movie themes.
For those of you fortunate enough to live through the two heartstopping moments— falling in love and then solemnizing the occasion
with wedding rites — the hardest part may be finding the right words
with which to transform your love story into your vows.
Take heart then for in the words of Disney’s Beauty and the
Beast, “it is a tale as old as time, a song as old as rhyme.” Many people
have gone before you — lived and laughed and loved — and written it
all down. You have only to pore through volumes of poetry and reams
of musical scores, listen to CD’s of your favorite love songs, hold hands
and dance around the kitchen, and it will all just come to you.
Advertiser Index
PAGE
ADVERTISERS
WEBSITE
MAIN PHONE NUMBER
ACCOMMODATIONS
9
1661 Inn
www.blockislandresorts.com
401-466-2063
Back Cover
Atlantic Inn
www.atlanticinn.com
401-466-5883
11
Ballard Hall Real Estate
www.blockislandproperty.com
401-466-8883
23
Ballard’s Inn
www.ballardsinn.com
401-466-2231
18
Bellevue House
www.blockislandbedandbreakfast.com
401-466-2912
6
Block Island Reservations
www.blockislandreservations.com
401-466-2605/800-825-6254
22
Blue Dory Inn
www.thebluedoryinn.com
401-466-5891/800-992-7290
16
Hannah’s Hideaway
www.offshorepropertylimited.com/hannahsbeachhouse.htm
3
Hotel Manisses
8
Hygeia House
www.hygeiahouse.com
8
Island Inns
www.theinnatblockisland.com
22
Lynn’s Way
www.lynnsway.com
17
Narragansett Inn
6
National Hotel
www.blockislandhotels.com
29
Rose Farm Inn
www.rosefarminn.com
28
Seacrest Inn
www.seacrestinnbi.com
401-466-5446
800-626-4773/401-466-2421
401-466-9616
877-324-4667/401-466-5524
401-487-2298
401-466-2626
401-466-2901/800-225-2449
401-466-2034
401-466-2882
Inside Back Cover Spring House Hotel
www.springhousehotel.com
800-234-9263/401-466-5844
Inside Front Cover Sullivan House
www.thesullivanhouse.com
401-466-5020
27
401-466-2369
Summer Hill B&B
BANQUET/CATERING SERVICES
5
Beachead/Catering by Norman and Kimberly
www.thebeachead.com
13
Block Island Gourmet
www.blockislandgourmet.com
18
Celebrations Catering
401-466-2249
401-466-5672
401-466-5053/401-466-5440/860-921-7034
FLOWERS
18
Blazing Star Farm
401-466-5797
7
Block Island Wedding Flowers
16
La Bella Rose
401-499-2035
18
Ned Phillips Jr. & Co.
401-466-5161
www.blockislandweddingflowers.com
401-466-2921
LIQUOR/WINE
26
The Wine Store
www.thewinestoreri.com
401-596-6160
MUSIC
19
Coastline Entertainment
www.blockislanddj.com
401-527-1004
31
Island Wedding Entertainment
www.islandweddingdj.com
413-374-8102
18
Jason Roseman
www.jasonroseman.com
866-826-7731
18
Music from a Golden Flute
www.flutecenterofri.com
401-943-8295
PHOTOGRAPHERS/VIDEO
14
Alice Jacob Photography
www.alicejacob.com
201-281-1944
28
Cindy Horovitz Wilson Photography
www.cindywilsonphoto.com
401-714-4039
31
John Fuller Photography
www.jfullerphotography.com
401-855-9555
31
Ken Missbrenner
www.kenmissbrenner.com
646-573-8248
18
New England Wedding Images
www.blockislandimages.com
508-679-1677
27
Robin B. Langsdorf Photography
www.robinlangsdorf.com
917-855-1797
16
Rose Schaller Photography
www.roseschallerphoto.com
401-824-9172
35
PAGE
ADVERTISERS
WEBSITE
MAIN PHONE NUMBER
TRANSPORTATION
29
Block Island Express
www.goblockisland.com
860-444-4624/401-466-2212
34
Interstate Navigation
www.blockislandferry.com
401-466-2261/401-783-7996
28
McAloon’s Taxi
28
Mig’s Rig
www.migsrigtaxi.com
33
New England Airlines
www.block-island.com/nea
401-741-1410
401-480-0493
800-243-2460/401-596-2460/401-466-5881
WEDDING DRESSES
14
East Greenwich Bridals
www.eastgreenwichbridal.com
866-361-1865
WEDDING GIFTS
19
A Block Island Embroidery & Flag & Co.
401-466-2137
7
401-466-2945
14
Eylandt Antiques
401-466-9888
5, 9, 14, 19
Golddiggers
www.blockislandgolddiggers.com
401-466-2611
19
Island Mist Natural Bath & Body
www.islandmistnaturalproducts.com
401-466-5563
15
Jennifer’s Jewelry
www.jennifersjewelrybi.com
401-466-2744/401-466-7944
27
Littlefield Bee Farm
www.blockislandhoney.com
401-466-5364
15
Mahoney’s Clothier
27
Malcolm Greenaway Gallery
23
Pelle Nuda
29
Spring Street Gallery
401-466-8616
www.malcolmgreenaway.com
401-466-5331/800-840-5331
401-466-5252
www.springstreetgallery.org
401-466-5374
www.coastline-weddings.com
401-527-1004
WEDDING PLANNERS
25
Coastline Weddings
WEDDING/RECEPTION SITES
9
1661 Inn
401-466-2063
23
Ballard’s Inn
www.ballardsinn.com
401-466-2231
21
Captain Nick’s
www.captainnicks.com
401-466-5670
3
Hotel Manisses
22
Lynn’s Way
www.lynnsway.com
17
Narragansett Inn
29
Rose Farm Inn
www.rosefarminn.com
17
Ruling Passion Sailing Charters
www.rulingpassion.com
800-626-4773/401-466-2421
401-487-2298
401-466-2626
401-466-2034
401-741-1926
Inside Back Cover Spring House Hotel
www.springhousehotel.com
800-234-9263/401-466-5844
Inside Front Cover Sullivan House
www.thesullivanhouse.com
401-466-5020
27
401-466-2369
Summer Hill B&B
RENTALS
19
Antonio’s Tent Rentals
401-466-5305
25
Block Island Party Rentals
www.blockislandpartyrentals.com
401-466-5672
28
Newport Tent Company
www.newporttent.com
401-683-9160
HAIR DESIGN AND SPAS
36
18
Guys and Gals Hairstyling Salons
401-783-5175/401-788-3552
31
Indigo Hair Salon
www.indigodayspa.com
401-466-5290
11
Koru Eco Spa
www.koruecospa.com
401-466-2308
19
Mark’s BeachComber Hair Design
401-466-5100
The Island’s Oldest Oceanfront Hotel and Resort
Where your event
becomes the event!
Plan your wedding
or special event with us...
Offering a full line of catering
services from small to large.
s.OFEEEVENTPLANNING
s%NTERTAINMENTCONSULTING
Contact David Houseman
Information & Reservations
ssSPRINGHOUSEHOTELCOM
Your Block Island experience would not be complete without a visit.
Wedding photos by John Fuller

- Block Island Family Vacation

Transcription

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