When choosing a destination for your wedding, it is always important to consider how you and your fiancé best connect. In other words, what mutual hobbies do you have, or places that mean something to both of you. In the case of Steph and Spencer, it was their love for hiking and breathing in the mountain air that led them to choose the white mountains of New Hampshire for their nuptials.

“We always knew we wanted to get married in the mountains: we are both hikers and we love spending time together outdoors,” Steph explains. 

After deciding on New Hampshire, the couple visited several venues and found their perfect match in Mountain View Grand Resort & Spa. “The ceremony location, with its intimate garden and beautiful backdrop, was something we didn’t find elsewhere,” the two say.

They knew, however, that it would be difficult for some extended friends and family to make the journey. So, they made sure to give people nearly a year’s notice to give guests plenty of time to budget and plan travel. 

Steph and Spencer relied on budgeting spreadsheets, checklists, advice columns and real wedding testimonials to aid in the planning process. Having a carefully crafted system helped the couple achieve their goal to have a wedding weekend as stress-free as possible. Less stress allowed space for creative projects, one of which would benefit not only the couple’s guests, but the surrounding mountain community.

“We assembled welcome bags featuring handmade New Hampshire goods for our hotel guests, including pine-scented candles from Wolfboro Candle Company, Claytons Way Farm handmade soaps, Ben’s Maple Syrup, and local maple taffy, among other things,” the bride says. “We aimed to minimize our environmental footprint with our wedding favors and gifts, so everything we gave away was edible or biodegradable”

The couple kept costs down by driving to the destination, making the event adults-only and having a smaller guest list than if they’d the wedding at home. “In the end, we were incredibly grateful to those who spent the time and resources to be with us, and we loved having an intimate and special celebration with our closest friends and family by our side,” the couple says. 

Takeaways Steph and Spencer want anyone looking to have a destination wedding to know:

• destination venues book up quickly, book early

• get your preferred vendors lined up as soon as you can

• arrive a day or two before the ceremony to settle in and relish in the weekend ahead

• If you’re not hiring a planner, divide and conquer tasks amongst the two of you

If you and your honey love the idea of enjoying some brisk mountain air, you might consider the White Mountains of New Hampshire too. Just don’t forget your jacket!