Sweet Spots
Martha’s Vineyard
The Coast is Clear: A prime lookout from Aquinnah Cliffs. Photograph by Bob Gothard.
Martha’s Vineyard may teem with celebrities-think Bill Clinton, Jake Gyllenhaal, Diane Sawyer-but its bucolic roads, farmers’ markets, and white-sand beaches exude a distinctly chilled-out vibe. You won’t find any mega-resorts here; shingled homes are set back from the road, and strict zoning codes hold them to just one or two stories (translation: uninterrupted vistas of horse farms and grassy dunes). And thanks to a medley of wealthy summer folks, year-round residents, and Cape Cod day-trippers, the island seamlessly blends the highbrow and the unfussy-good news for the bride who wants to pair her $5,000 wedding gown with flip-flops. For a dose of urban sophistication, spoil your guests with a rehearsal dinner at Edgartown’s Atria. With a fusion menu based on what’s fresh, local, and organic, the eatery will satisfy the snootiest foodie. On the wedding day, shuttle guests from the Inn at Blueberry Hill, a 25-room hotel on 56 wooded acres in Chilmark, to a postcard-ready ceremony at the cliff-topping Aquinnah Lighthouse. Or take your vows (or just photos) on the beach below. When the knot’s been tied, walk over to a reception at the historic Vanderhoop Homestead. Its views of Moshup Beach are something everyone, celebrity or not, can enjoy. -Rachel Levitt
Venues: The Inn at Blueberry Hill, 508-645-3322, blueberryinn.com; Menemsha Inn and Cottages, 508-645-2521, menemshainn.com; Aquinnah Lighthouse, 508-627-4441, mvmuseum.org; Vanderhoop Homestead, 508-645-2304, vanderhoophomestead.org.
Rehearsal Dinner: Atria, 508-627-5850, atriamv.com.
Local Planner: Lynn Buckmaster-Irwin, Weddings on the Vineyard, 508-696-7658, vineyardweddings.com.
Photographers: Bob Gothard, 305-439-1383, photosonthevineyard.com; Joe Mikos Photography, 508-696-6262, mikosphotography.com.