MV Preservation Trust Offers Choice of Wedding Sites
BY K. B. BENNETT
Three popular wedding sites on the Island are also landmarks preserved
by the Martha's Vineyard Preservation Trust. They
are the Grange Hall in West Tisbury, and the Dr. Daniel Fisher House and Old Whaling
Church, both in Edgartown.
The vitality of wedding events keep these
buildings alive, as well as afford the preservation trust a means of
restoring and maintaining the history of the Vineyard.
The Grange Hall is the most
informal of the three and is located on
State Road in West Tisbury,
just south of Alley's General Store. The
hall is charming and airy, boasting two floors, each of which can be
booked separately. Parking space is plentiful.
The first floor includes an open room for food service and dancing, as
well as restrooms, a coatroom and a caterer's kitchen. It can
accommodate up to 150 people for a sitdown meal and 200 for a standing
reception. The second floor is an open theatre area with a stage and a
small, residentially equipped kitchen. Its capacity is 125 persons.
Both areas may be used until 10 p.m., but any music must end by 9
p.m., and is limited to what is considered appropriate within the
surroundings. The renting party is solely responsible for the
liabilities involved in the purchase and service of liquor, and must
ensure that alcohol is not served to minors, removed from the
premises, nor sold at a cash bar.
The Dr. Daniel Fisher House
is a grand home on Main street in the
heart of Edgartown's historic district. Silk curtains and plate glass
frame the elegant first floor of rooms, which are available for rent.
A second floor powder room and adjacent grounds supplement the space
available on the first floor. The Fisher House can handle up to 100
people for a seated dinner and up to 125 for a standing reception.
Tent installation on the terrace or grounds increases the capacity to
250. Time constraints and details concerning the distribution of
alcohol are in line with those at the Grange Hall.
The Old Whaling Church is
located next to the Fisher House, offering
couples and their guests an opportunity to locate accommodations and
wedding events within steps of one another. Weddings at this landmark
church can seat 500 persons. There is also a room in the church
available for parties from 120 to 150 people.
Janet Heath, director of special events for the Preservation Trust,
schedules about 75 wedding events during the high season, and
recommends that couples considering a Vineyard wedding start planning
at least 12 to 18 months in advance.
Save the Date newsletters are the rule, and are generally sent out
eight to 10 months in advance. Couples planning a wedding on Martha's
Vineyard should expect about 90 per cent of their invitations to be
accepted; a much higher percentage than for weddings conducted
off-Island. Themes are currently in vogue for rehearsal dinners;
clambakes and barbecues are popular and casual, and are often followed
with formal receptions.
Veteran wedding planners have also found it helpful to provide guests and off-Island service providers with a guide to the Island. The Best Read Guide to Martha's Vineyard, published in seven editions throughout the year, includes maps, activities, and information about the Island, and can be ordered in bulk through their website at mvbestreadguide.com.
Also on the internet is the Vineyard Gazette site, mvgazette.com, which offers transportation information, maps, lodging and dining guides, weather conditions and other helpful links that are perfect for wedding guests.
Originally published January 26, 2001
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