Wedding ceremony on the Winthrop Estate Lawn, early summer

We are thinking about the upcoming summer weddings as the snow is melting and flowers are beginning to emerge.  Some couples are making their final menu choices, signing off on the floral designs, getting their welcome gift items, and drafting their programs, etc.  I like to focus the planning of the wedding on what type of environment and experience the couple wants to create for their friends and family.   Though there are many decisions to make and people to seat, the couple will remember the time with their friends and their families, not what color their napkins were. Still, most of the design and details they put time and money into do show up in their pictures or  videos or keepsakes, but we focus on creating an ideal environment for the guests to celebrate this couple and for all to enjoy, with a beautiful backdrop for their wedding memories.  Weddings are very special occasions, and we are looking forward to this summer and the celebrations at the Winthrop Estate!  photo by Scott Barrow.

Winthrop Estate Foyer, ready for the party

This foyer picture looks South, through the French doors to the verandah and Great Lawn. This room stays quite cool in the summer, and was lovely on hot days even before we added the a/c. The building is mostly a stone façade on the first floor, and this room does not get much passive solar hear and it is the coolest place in the whole house. I remember hanging out with friends in the foyer the first year we were at the estate, before we did any restoration, one summer evening marveling at the heat outside. Now the estate is fully air-conditioned and we revealed the wood floor you see here a few years ago. This space is very popular for mingling and socializing. It’s ready for you. Photo by Konrad Brattke

In the preparation and during a festive event, there is plenty of activity around the estate.  When things are busy, I never think about how quiet it can be here. Today as I walked around the mansion checking on things, I noticed the big, fragrant flower arrangements that remain from the party this past weekend. It’s funny to think that so many people were here and there was so much excitement and action,  and now the estate is completely quiet.  I can sit on the couch and hear my breath as I look at these flowers.