Getting Married in Vermont

Having your wedding in Vermont is the experience of a lifetime. Vermont business are known for their excellent customer service and commitment to making you happy. Summer weddings in Vermont are often the perfect mix of warmth and soft breezes, while you get treated to some spectacular landscaping. A fall wedding in Vermont almost needs no extra decorations...the colorful leaves are spectacular enough all on their own. And, of course, what would a winter wedding be without tons of snow and places to ski! Vermont has some of the best skiing and nearly anywhere you stay is only a short drive from the slopes. Incorporate local products into your wedding and your guests will be treated to an original and beautiful event as only Vermont can produce. Use our links to start your planning process today!

Future Bridal Shows

While there aren't any more Vermont bridal shows until after the holidays, you can register now and get a head start.

January 21, 2007
at the Holiday Inn Rutland/Killington Rutland, VT
RutlandBridalShow.com

In many cases, pre-registered brides are eligible for their own special grand prize. Check out the links for more information on upcoming Vermont Bridal Shows featuring some of Vermont's top wedding vendors!

The Linen Shop at Occasions, Rochester, Vermont

The Linen Shop at Occasions introduces additional sheer tablecloth options.
Whether brides travel to Vermont for the mountain views, the rustic properties or the cows themselves, they wouldn’t come if Vermont didn’t have style. The wedding industry, like the state, is about style. From Burlington to Manchester, from banquet halls to barns, The Linen Shop at Occasions has a finger on the pulse of Vermont wedding table fashion. Once again, the state’s premier specialty linen provider is expanding their inventory to fit the tastes of this year’s brides.
You may be familiar with our new selection of jewel tones sewn in the shiny, fun and popular fabric known as Topaz. In addition to the new brightly colored options, The Linen Shop also purchased a selection of sheer overlays from Putzy and Barbara, of Bondville, Vt. Owners Barbara Little and Putzy Pinto specialized in sheer fabrics and we are pleased to offer more than a dozen options of that variety.
Our previous selection included a floor-length sheer, which gives any shade or pattern shine and elegance. Our white and green vine pattern accented with a pale green satin border was popular last year. One of our most interesting sheers –the green with pink embroidered flowers - looks great over white, green or pink. The pride of our sheer collection, our 100% cotton organza, comes in a pleated pattern, or with a ribbon casing. These clothes are magical. Over bright, pale or dark colors, they can look delicate or sophisticated. As a testament to their versatility, we’ve even rented these clothes with hot pink underclothes. And you thought fuchsia lacked style.
Those are the old favorites, now bring in the new guys! We have plain white, ivory, checks, stripes, star patterns, lace and more. Our new clothes range in size from 72” squares to 85” squares, they were made as overlays for five and six foot tables, and they look great on either rounds or squares. There’s a white cloth, checked with ultra sheer and semi-sheer squares. Over red, on a square table, the result is fancy and sleek but the look has a hint of “picnic.”
The new striped sheer is the fancier cousin of the once popular Imperial Stripe. It’s a white sheer cloth, broken by two inch strips of satin. Over white it’s superb, and if there are stripes or colors elsewhere in your scheme, it could be the perfect highlight. The new inventory also includes a funky star pattern perfect for a New Years Eve party and a sheer scattered with leaf outlines.
The leaves are faint, but just cute enough for a fall-themed event. They’ll look great over pumpkin and gold cloths, the white napkins tied with coordinated ribbon.
As you may know, The Linen Shop already stocks an impressive collection of colors, textured fabrics, stripes and floral designs. The new colors and sheers will improve our selection and create more combination possibilities. If your event is casual or elegant; if your colors are earthy or bright; if your look is shiny, or flat; The Linen Shop at Occasions offers table dressings that will fit the style of your event precisely. For additional information, or to request samples, please contact Hallie or Connie from The Linen Shop at Occasions – linens@occasionsvt.com or 802.767.3272

Brandon, Vermont Announces Wedding Sweepstakes

Small New England Town Bands Together to Donate Entire Wedding

BRANDON, VT.- The small New England town of Brandon, Vermont announced today that it will present one lucky couple with an entire complimentary wedding to be held in Brandon. The sweepstakes has officially launched this November in honor of the “rock” season (the time of year when majority of people get engaged). To enter, any couple may visit the Brandon website at www.brandonisforbrides.com and complete an application and short essay.

The entire wedding will be paid for in full, including the bride’s dress, wedding cake and flowers, plus much more. Also included are a fully catered rehearsal dinner, wedding reception and farewell brunch. The sweepstakes will close to the public on Valentine’s Day, with a winner announced by mid- April.

One of the weekend venues will be Brandon’s prestigious Lilac Inn, named by wedding expert Kathryn Loving as one of the top 100 places to get married in the U.S. in Loving’s new book entitled, 100 Best Wedding Destinations.

“This is not only a great opportunity for Brandon, but for the entire state of Vermont to get on the map,” said Lilac Inn owner Doug Sawyer. “Vermont has always specialized in destination weddings and Brandon presents a chance to represent this memorable experience in its finest. We promise that when people come to Brandon, they are going to fall in love.”

The town of Brandon is attempting something that no other town has ever achieved. They are not simply giving away a wedding, but the town’s entire business community has bonded together in order to achieve the best results. No person in the town will be left out as all parts of the wedding will come directly donated from Brandon.

“We are so excited that everyone in the town wants to be a part of this wedding,” said Sawyer. “Never before has an event like this been done and we are completely dedicated to making it a dream come true for the winner.”

The charming village of Brandon presents the most picturesque setting with its white-steeple church and variety of art, antiques, bookstores and restaurants stretching along its main street. And in addition to romantic country inns and bed-and-breakfasts, guests can truly enjoy all that Vermont has to offer in one stop. Surrounded by the Green Mountains, and not far from Lake Champlain or Killington Ski Resort, Brandon is easily accessible for all recreation opportunities. Brandon is also located only 15 minutes south of Middlebury, known for its prestigious college bars, high class restaurants and extensive shopping.

Brandon truly is a town unlike any other. With almost 250 buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places and two world renowned European chefs located in town, Brandon’s charm greets visitors from the time they step into it. And with destination weddings costing over $50, 000 today, Brandon’s give-a-way is no small feat.

Burlington Bridal Show

Still need more wedding information for your Vermont Wedding? Check out this year's Burlington, Vermont fall bridal show being hosted for the first time by the Wyndham Burlington. Pre-register at the link, spend the day meeting Vermont's Wedding professionals and get a chance to win great prizes, including a honeymoon! This may be the last bridal show of the year in Vermont...don't miss out!

Lake George Area Bridal Show

For those near the Lake George Area (not too far for Rutland and towns to the West), many Vermont wedding vendors will be attending the Lake George Bridal Show at the Georgian Resort (located on Route 9 north) on November 12th. It's a great chance to win prizes and even a honeymoon!

What Do You Need to Get Married in Vermont?

Here is a link to a great PDF that details the rules and laws for getting married in Vermont: Health Vermont.

Here is some information on having a Civil Union from the Vermont Secretary of State's website:
In order to be joined in civil union the couple must complete the following 3 steps:

· Obtain civil union license from town clerk. Vermont residents must get a civil union license from the town clerk of the town where either party resides. Nonresidents may go to any town clerk in the state to obtain a civil union license. It is not necessary for both parties to be present to obtain the license as only one signature is required on the application form. A $23.00 fee must be paid to the town clerk.

· Solemnize the civil union. After obtaining the license, the couple must have the civil union solemnized by an official authorized to certify a civil union. A Vermont judge, Vermont justice of the peace or member of the Vermont clergy, or a clergy person from another state who has been granted permission by a Vermont probate judge may certify a civil union. The civil union may be solemnized anywhere in the state but must occur within sixty days of the issuance of the license by the town clerk. If the certification is delayed for more than sixty days a new license must be obtained.

· Return the certified license to the town clerk. The official who has solemnized the union must fill out and sign a portion of the civil union license. Within ten days of the certification, the official who certifies the union must return it to the town clerk who issued it. If the official delays returning the certification beyond the tenth day, the official may be penalized, but the civil union will still be valid. 18 V.S.A. § 5131.

Unique Wedding Favors

Looking for something a little different for your wedding favors? Why not get a plantable wedding favor. Each is embedded with wildflower seeds and comes in 6 different colors. Prices start at just .70 each! Shown left, the Plantable Christmas Tree Wedding favor, perfect for winter or holiday weddings. Hearts, Butterflies, Cakes, bookmarks and more are available! Orders over $200 get free shipping. Plantable invitations available as well.
Visit Favors by the Seasonfor more information (click on "winter").

Perfectly Planned Weddings

Your wedding day is a festive celebration of your love for each other. Leave the hassles of planning to us.

Kristie Hayward, owner of Perfectly Planned Weddings in Rutland, has been privately planning weddings and other events for several years. Recently, with much encouragement, she has decided to share her knowledge and expertise in the wedding industry with all couples who are seeking help in planning their very special day. "Trying to plan a wedding without a planner is like going to court without a lawyer," is a comparison that Kristie commonly makes.

Wedding planners used to be hired only for high end weddings, but that is no longer the case. At PPW you can choose from simply a "Day of Services Package" to "The Ultimate Package", all reasonably priced. All packages are customized to fit the specific needs in creating a perfect and unique wedding for each perfect and unique couple.

At PPW we will be working with you every step of the way assuring your complete satisfaction and approval of each and every detail. Call today to meet with one of our coordinators for your free, no obligation consultation. Let us show you what we can do to help you have the wedding of your dreams and still keeping you within your budget.

Visit us on the web at www.weddingsbykristie.com for a preview, and then give us a call or email. We are very excited to help you with your wedding.

Vermont Bridal Shows

The next upcoming bridal show, sponsored by the Vermont Wedding Association will be October 22nd, 2006 at the Killington Grand Resort Hotel. For more information, or to pre-register, follow the link. Get a chance to talk with some of Vermont's finest wedding professionals, as well as a chance to win a honeymoon with Breezes resorts!

Custom Wedding Invitations

"Custom invitations" is a phrase you'll see bandied about quite a bit on the internet. But what is a custom invitation? Is a custom invitation going to cost a fortune? The answers are easy: a custom invitation is a design created just for you, it isn't a stock invitation design with personalized wording. Yes, it could cost you a fortune, but it doesn't have to. Making informed choices and really considering what you need as well as what you want will help you save money. There are other little tricks and tips that we will be happy to share with you during the invitation-creation process (say that 5 times fast!). Here at Lasso'd Moon Designs, we truly love the process of creating and want nothing more than to help create your dream invitation. We'll help you stay within your budget, get the wow(!) factor you deserve, and can even help you coordinate your design through your wedding. Creating a custom invitation is a lengthier process ( learn more about it in our FAQ section). If you are short on time, we recommend shopping through our Carlson Craft, Regency or Tru outlets, who can usually print within 24 hours of receiving your order.

Browse, daydream and feel free to contact us with any questions you might have. We're always open on the internet and if you are local to the Brandon, Rutland or Middlebury, Vermont areas, we would be happy to meet with you in person!

Vermont: Third Most Popular Destination Wedding Site

With over 6,000 weddings and civil unions, Vermont is quickly becoming one of the nation’s leading destination spots for beautiful weddings (Vermont currently ranks 3rd in destination weddings, behind Nevada and Hawaii). Nearly 1/3 of all the ceremonies performed in Vermont were out of state couples. What is it about Vermont that makes the state such a popular destination?

Vermont is home to some of the nation’s best ski spots, as well as beautiful and unique reception sites. Get married during the fall, and your guests will get treated to spectacular fall foliage. Vermont is an ideal escape from the hustle of city life.

Getting married in Vermont is easy as well! As long as you are 18-years-old (and not closely related) you can obtain a license from any town clerk (though in-state resident’s must obtain a license from the town in which they reside). The license is good for 60 days and requires no blood tests or waiting periods. You will probably need a copy of your birth certificate. A copy of your wedding certificate will be available to you for a $7.00 fee. You cannot obtain a license by mail, and cannot be married by proxy. For more information, click on the following link: Vermont Marriage Licenses.

Whether you are looking for upscale and trendy or a unique outdoor experience, Vermont has everything to offer the bride and groom-to-be. But remember, each destination only has 4-5 weekends a month and dates book quickly. Contact your venue of choice as soon as you can to insure you can get married in the place of your dreams.