Featured Wedding Couple | Courtney & David

We have the distinct honor of hosting Courtney and David as our very first wedding couple here at The Preserve. June is filled with weddings, graduations, and family reunions here at The Preserve. The "wedding gods" were smiling down on us all when this couple found our venue. Their date of June 11th just happened to be our last remaining June date, and as you will read from their story, it was June 11th or bust! 

Why June 11th 2016? (from their wedding website) 

We would like to share with you why we chose Saturday, June 11th, 2016 for our special wedding date! Our apologies to friends and families for the late notice and quick planning.

This past Christmas, Dave received an incredibly special gift from his Grandmother. Dave opened the gift handed to him by Grammy, in the original box was the ring of Grammy's late husband Bob Holmes. Honored and in tears the ring slid perfectly onto the ring finger of Dave. The gold well-worn ring was inscribed "Merm to Bob 6-11-49 Forever".

With no particular date planned for Dave and Courtney, coincidently the date of June 11th, landed on a Saturday in 2016. Not only was receiving the ring a great honor but to share a wedding date with his grandparents is a tremendous way to have Papi apart of the upcoming wedding.

What made you choose The Preserve as your wedding venue? 

We chose the Preserve as our wedding venue because of the location and beautiful property. When Dave and I first started to hang out we loved to hike (Mt. Washington was our first hike together)! We love the thought of being close to the White Mountains and having a destination wedding weekend with all of our loved ones. It is a place that feels so far away yet driving distance for most.

What unique elements of your wedding and or the property of are you most excited about seeing come to life on the big day? 

The unique elements would include the emerging summer landscape. We have visions of the barn doors open and the property being flooded with dear friends and family.

How are you putting your "personal stamp" on your big day? 

Our personal stamp will include our 3 dogs who will be apart of the festivities and potentially finding a ceremony site with a mountainous view.

Your Wedding Weekend | Guest Experience

One of the most valuable and unique characteristics of The Preserve is that we offer you a full wedding weekend experience. Our sprawling estate is yours from Thursday - Sunday. Enjoy an early check in on Thursday to settle in and begin your wedding preparations; and take your time wrapping up your weekend of memories with a mid morning brunch before departure. So how do you create a memorable weekend for friends and family during your special weekend? We have some fantastic ideas for you that will keep your guests entertained and asking for more. 

A Wedding Flotilla

Enjoy a relaxing day floating down the crystal clear waters of the Saco River. It is the perfect place for river tubing! The Saco River averages 3 feet deep with some small rapids, lots of sandy beaches and some rope swings for the more adventurous. Pack a lunch and some afternoon beverages, and you have a whole day of fun and entertainment.

http://www.sacocanoerental.com

ZIP LINING 

Zip line over and through the trees! Indulge your sense of adventure right here in Chocorua, New Hampshire. Monkey Trunks offers adventure and fun for all ages and abilities. Groups and party discounts, so call ahead and make a reservation for your group.

 http://monkeytrunks.com

 

THE BARNSTORMERS THEATRE

If you are visiting us during the summer months, the Barnstormers is an absolute CAN'T MISS. Located in this quaint town center of Tamworth, the Barnstormers Theatre is one of the nations longest running professional theaters. During June, July, and August you can find true "gems" of live British and American theatre. 

http://www.barnstormerstheatre.org/

TAMWORTH LYCEUM & DISTILLERY

Shop local, eat local, sit back and listen to the smooth sounds of local musicians. The Lyceum never disappoints. Just a few steps away you will find Tamworth Distilling & Mercantile. Take a mixology class, learn to create infusions, or just snag some of their small batch gins for your special event weekend. 

http://www.tamworthlyceum.com/

http://www.tamworthdistilling.com/

WHITE GATES FARM

The local home of "wicked good food" White Gates Farm is an authentic farm to table experience. Their Farm-To-Table dinner and tour evenings feature a multi-course farm dinner experience showcasing 100% farm-fresh organic produce and meats, complemented by tours of the farm and its operations. They also boast a seasonal "cut your own" floral arrangement flower field, perfect for our wedding couples. 

http://www.whitegates-farm.com/

Love is in the air.

With Valentines Day just around the corner how fitting that we discovered some old time wedding photos here at The Preserve in the midst of our renovations. These incredible wedding photos are of the Hayford family, which was the very first family to run and own the property as a B&B. We hope you enjoy viewing these "antique" photos as much as we did. Some bridal inspiration maybe? 

Norah & John Hayford - Late 1800's

Raymond Guay & Mary Teresa Hayford - November 1950 

Bridal Inspiration Boards

First comes the proposal, next comes the Pinterest boards! Since the introduction of Pinterest, wedding planning has been taken to a whole new level of intensity. It has totally revolutionized the way couples plan their weddings. Pinterest is a wonderful tool to use as a spring board to start the planning and creative process. Often times brides become so overwhelmed with a plethora of unrelated images that it can be hard to focus in on their own "bridal style." So how does one determine their own unique style and start pulling all the elements together to tell their wedding day story? Say hello to the inspiration board. 

We recommend starting with good old fashioned scissors, glue, and paper. Start clipping only your "must have" and "absolutely love" images. Clearing the bridal clutter we call it. Think of your inspiration board as the chance to tell your unique story and put your vision on paper. Having a visual of each chapter of your story will help you create an overall cohesive and polished looked. Here are a few snapshots of just one of the inspiration boards we have been working on for one of our spring 2016 brides. 

January | New Beginnings

January! With it brings the excitement of a fresh start, a new year, endless possibilities. How fitting then that we announce the opening of New Hampshire's newest premier White Mountain wedding and event venue; The Preserve at Chocorua. We are excited to announce that our family has purchased this beautiful 26 acre estate in Tamworth, New Hampshire and have begun the process of rehabbing and restoring it to it's original splendor. It is our goal to provide guests with the most modern of conveniences while maintaining the historic charm of the property. We are eager to update you as we make improvements to the property. 

Hayford's in the Fields.