My new go-to is yoga. Too much hiking and not enough stretching, not to mention crouching over my keyboard, brings on unaccustomed pains. The breathing, poses and mental habits of yoga rejuvenate me. Even practiced in a drafty community rec center, yoga loosens my muscles and expands my mind.
The language is part of it. I do not mean Sanskrit, the ancient language the first yogis spoke. I mean the word patterns and translations used by my American teachers, each of whom brings their own style and experience to class. They all emphasize that practicing yoga is a personal journey. There are modifications for different bodies and room for different degrees of challenge on different days. After all, it seems, “Leg” and “Hip” and our other body parts are esteemed colleagues. It’s OK, I’m told, if “Back Body” wants to just drape in “Child’s Pose” for an hour.
The descriptive names of yoga’s poses and flows just tickle me. “Downward Dog” and “Cow-and-Cat” are well-known, the stuff of birthday card jokes. But what about “Seated Half-Fish“ or “Revolved Chair’’? I have to wonder if these sound as funny in the original. My teachers actually do refer to the final pose, lying prone on the mat in silence for a few minutes, in Sanskrit. I imagine that’s because we Americans aren’t very comfortable with death and “savasana” means “corpse.” Although there is a practice known as laughter yoga, and various animal-accompanied classes are guaranteed to make one smile (think yoga with goat, butterfly, kitten), I’m not in one of those classes. I giggle as quietly as possible at the imagery of my teachers’ words.
Physical movement is only one of the eight limbs of yoga. Breathing control, behavioral self-restraints and disciplines, withdrawal of the senses, concentration and meditation are others, culminating in liberation. A significant and growing body of research backs up what dedicated yogis have always known about the emotional and mental as well as physical benefits. Yoga reduces anxiety and depression and strengthens parts of the brain important for memory, attention, awareness, thought and language.
The pandemic has caused significant mental health challenges, particularly among younger adults, racial and ethnic minorities, essential workers and unpaid adult caregivers. Experts surveyed by the Pew Research Center predict that some of the worst stressors — economic inequality, misinformation and “tele-everything” — will persist in the new normal. At the very least, life will remain unpredictable. We can ease ourselves into position to handle it, and help others, by stretching our bodies and minds. When my hip joints are screaming as I criss-cross my legs, my teacher says, “Breathe. Sit up tall. Allow the change.” Ever so slowly my pain, thoughts, and feelings do change.
Many communities have ponds or outdoor rinks for ice skating, stick practice and pond hockey. Town- and city-maintained ponds are free to use, making it a fun outdoor activity that doesn’t cost a thing if you already have skates – and a hockey stick, if you want to play, which longtime hockey player and Black Ice Pond Hockey Association Board President Daniel Luker says can totally change your on-ice experience.
“Get a buddy, show up, bring a stick and a couple pucks … and get out there and you’ll automatically start playing hockey,” Luker said. “Once you start skating and once you pick up a stick, it’s a whole different ball game. … Once you pick up a stick, you can’t help but play, and you’ll chase the puck forever.”
Whether you want to give pond hockey a try or would rather just free skate, here are a few local rinks to check out. The open/closed status of the rinks can change from day to day depending on temperatures. Call or check the city’s or town’s website or social media for the most recent information.
• Amherst Middle School Rink, 14 Cross Road, Amherst, 673-6248, amherstnh.myrec.com. When open, hours are daily from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
• Beaver Meadow Pond at Beaver Meadow Golf Course, 1 Beaver Meadow Drive, Concord, 225-8690, concordnh.gov. When open, hours are daily from dawn until dusk.
• Bow Town Pond, next to the Bow Community Center, 3 Bow Center Road, Bow, 223-3920, bow-nh.com.
• Brown Memorial Field, 740 Swanzey Road, Swanzey, 352-4614, find it on Facebook. When open, hours are daily from dawn until dusk.
• Davis Lane Rinks, Davis Lane, Amherst, 673-6248, amherstnh.myrec.com. When open, hours are daily from 10 a.m. to dusk.
• Dorrs Pond, adjacent to Livingston Park, 56 Hooksett Road, Manchester, 624-6444, manchesternh.gov. When open, hours are daily from dawn to dusk.
• Four Corners, behind Holman Stadium, Sargent Avenue, Nashua, 589-3370, nashuanh.gov. When open, hours are daily from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and 6 to 10 p.m. for general skating, and before 11 a.m. and between 4:30 and 6 p.m. for hockey.
• Hood Park at 4 Rollins St., Derry, 432-6136, derrynh.org. When open, hours are daily from dawn until dusk.
• Ice Skating Rink at Watson Park, 441 Daniel Webster Hwy., Merrimack, 882-1046, merrimackparksandrec.org/watson-park. When open, hours are daily from dawn to 9 p.m.
• Jeff Morin Fields at Roby Park, 126 Spit Brook Road, Nashua, 589-3370, nashuanh.gov. When open, hours are daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. for general skating, and from 8 to 10 p.m. for hockey.
• Kimball Lake, 47 Kimball Lake Road, Hopkinton, 746-8263, hopkintonrec.com. When open, hours are daily from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
• Riverside Ice Rink 223 Route 103, Warner, 491-9019, facebook.com/riversideicerink. When open, hours are daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. For more information and to find out whether it’s currently open for skating, visit the Facebook page.
• Rollins Park at 33 Bow St., Concord, 225-8690, concordnh.gov. When open, hours are daily from dawn until dusk.
• Shepard Park, 418 Nashua St., Milford, 249-0625, facebook.com/milfordrecdept. When open, hours are daily from dawn to 9:30 p.m.
• White Park, 1 White St., Concord, 225-8690, concordnh.gov. When open, skating hours are daily from dawn until dusk. The Merrimack Lodge offers skate rentals for $5. Lodge hours vary; find it on Facebook for the most up-to-date hours.
Puddle Duck Pond
Puddle Duck Pond
This outdoor rink at Strawbery Banke in Portsmouth is another option for those who want a better chance of getting on the ice even if weather conditions haven’t been great.
“Ice is maintained with a refrigeration system and Zamboni, which helps the rink remain open in warmer air temperatures,” Veronica Lester of Strawbery Banke Museum said via email. “Unless the ice is deemed unsafe for skating, Labrie Family Skate at Puddle Dock Pond is open in rain, snow and sunshine. Opening and closing calls are made day-of by rink operations staff.”
The rink is open daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Admission costs $12 for skaters age 5 and up. Skate rentals are available for $6, and skate sharpening is available for $7.
Coinciding with the Black Ice Pond Hockey Tournament is the fourth annual Concord NH Winter Festival on Saturday, Jan. 29. There will be indoor and outdoor festivities for all ages, including shopping, food, entertainment, tours and more.
“There are not a lot of family-friendly events this time of year, and that is what makes this event special,” said Jessica Martin, Executive Director of Intown Concord, which organizes the Winter Festival in partnership with The Hotel Concord.
Ice carvers will demonstrate their craft and compete in a live ice carving competition during the Winter Festival. Courtesy photo.
The highlight of the event is the live ice carving competition featuring “New England’s best ice carvers,” Martin said. It’s free and open to the public on the Statehouse lawn from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The ice carvers will also be there on Friday, Jan. 28, the day before the festival, doing live ice carving demonstrations from 3 to 9 p.m.
“This year we have seven carvers participating in the competition, which is the most we have had to-date,” Martin said, adding that the carvings will remain on display at the Statehouse for the week following the festival.
Main Street restaurants and retail shops will be open for a Winter Shopping Stroll; Red River Theatres will have a matinee screening of the animated family film Smallfoot (2018, PG) at 10 a.m. (tickets cost $5); and the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center will run games and interactive activities starting at 10:30 a.m.
Guided tours of the inside of the Statehouse will be offered, starting every 30 minutes from noon to 3:30 p.m. The tour lasts around 45 minutes and will include opportunities to see the Hall of Flags, which has more than 100 battle flags on display from the Civil War, World War I, World War II and the Vietnam War; the House of Representatives chamber and Senate chambers, which have national significance as the oldest continuously used legislative chambers in the U.S.; the Governor and Executive Council chambers and more.
“There are more than 200 portraits to view as you tour the building,” Martin said, “and it’s always fun to see the Visitor Center’s First in the Nation Primary display and Bicentennial dioramas.”
The Winter Festival Stage, which will be set up on South Main Street next to O Steaks and Seafood restaurant, will be a hotspot of activity, including an ice bar, complimentary hot cocoa, s’mores toasting and more. The stage will feature a variety of live entertainment, starting with a dance party with DJ Darren Roy at 11 a.m., followed by storyteller Ade Shields (11:30 to 11:45 a.m., and 1:35 to 1:50 p.m.), local singer-songwriter Jasmine Mann (11:50 a.m. to 12:05 p.m., and 1:15 to 1:30 p.m.), New England folk-rock band The Penniless Jacks (12:20 to 12:50 p.m., and 2:10 to 2:40 p.m.) and family-friendly drag performer ChiChi Marvel (1 to 1:10 p.m., and 1:55 to 2:05 p.m.)
A free shuttle service will be available, running between the Statehouse, the Hotel Concord, the Holiday Inn and the Black Ice Hockey Tournament at White Park throughout the day.
Martin said attendees should continue practicing Covid safety — masks are not required but are strongly encouraged for indoor activities — and should have no difficulty staying spread out.
“This outdoor festival will offer people the space they need to socially distance themselves,” she said.
Concord NH Winter Festival
Where: Main Street, Concord When: Saturday, Jan. 29. Most activities will run from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Ice carving demonstrations will take place on Friday, Jan. 28, from 3 to 9 p.m. Cost: Admission is free. Certain activities may have a fee. More info: Visit intownconcord.org or call 226-2150.
Featured photo: Photo courtesy of Black Ice Pond Hockey Association.
Black Ice Pond Hockey Tournament is (almost definitely) happening
The recent cold means the annual Black Ice Pond Hockey Tournament will likely take place as scheduled this weekend, with youth games kicking things off on Thursday, Jan. 27, and plenty of other games on the roster — along with concessions, family activities, public skating and fireworks — through Sunday, Jan. 30.
“In recent years we’ve been challenged by global warming,” said Dan Luker, Black Ice Pond Hockey Association Board president. “We hope for below-zero temps at night, and a perfect day for us is 20 degrees during the day.”
Photo Courtesy of Black Ice Pond Hockey Association
The weekend is a tribute to the capital city’s place in hockey history. Luker said the first organized hockey game in the U.S. took place at St. Paul’s School in Concord, and the games being played at the tournament harken back to that old-school style.
“It’s the way the game was played to begin with — no refs, no goalies, 4 on 4,” Luker said. “It’s all about just skating and moving the puck. It’s a different feel.”
The tournament started 11 years ago, when Capital City Hockey League retirees decided they wanted to keep the game alive, for themselves and for younger generations.
“We all grew up playing hockey in the rinks, in the open air,” Luker said. “It brings you back.”
As the years have gone on, the Black Ice Pond Hockey Association has tried to reinvigorate the board by encouraging younger people to join. And the tournament has gone from all adult games to having a full night of youth hockey.
“Part of the goal is to infect [younger players] with the outdoor enthusiasm,” he said. “We’re psyched to have the kids play … [and] the kids love to be a part of it.”
Luker said there will be about 80 adult teams with more than 500 players taking the ice, which includes women’s teams and rec league teams, competitive players and players whose good skating days are well behind them.
“There are people who shouldn’t be skating out there who are having a blast,” Luker said.
Along with the games, there will be open skating time, concessions, a warming tent and family games throughout the weekend, and Friday night will feature fireworks.
“It’s the middle of winter, and there’s not much else going on in Concord,” Luker said. “People drift down and come and watch. … [It’s] something to do on a Saturday afternoon.”
Black Ice Pond Hockey Tournament
Where: White Park, Concord When: Thursday, Jan. 27, through Sunday, Jan. 20
Schedule of events
Thursday Heated spectator tent with family games and concessions open from 5 to 8 p.m. Youth pond hockey games with Concord Capitals, NE Wildcats, NH Avalanche, NH Junior Monarchs from 6 to 8 p.m.
Friday Concessions open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Black Ice Pond Hockey games from 9 a.m. to 8:20 p.m. Heated spectator tent with family games from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Public skate on White Park Pond Rinks & RBC Rinks 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Ice sculpture at noon Bonfires start at 5 p.m. Concord Youth Hockey from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Dynomites & NH JR Monarchs practice on White Park Pond Rinks & RBC Rinks at 7:15 p.m. Atlas Fireworks show
Saturday Concessions open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Black Ice Pond Hockey games from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Heated Spectator Tent open with family interactive games from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Youth Hockey Shinny Tournament on White Park Pond Rinks & RBC Rinks 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Concord Area Transit Shuttle Bus Winterfest Shuttle runs from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Bonfires start at 3 p.m.
Sunday Concessions open from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Black Ice Pond Hockey games from 9 a.m. to noon
Featured photo: Photo courtesy of Black Ice Pond Hockey Association.
After a long break since releasing 2015’s Oceans, Mindset X is readying Humanz— the band’s first album with guitarist Lucian Davidson. The son of bassist and keyboard player Paul Davidson, he joined in 2018, and his presence is noticeable on the new disc’s first song.
“For The Love Of War” is a hefty, toothsome number that recalls early Black Sabbath and proto Metallica; the single will drop on Feb. 22. Ahead of that, the Manchester quartet will celebrate a milestone on Jan. 29 at Angel City Music Hall.
“Eighteen years together,” singer, guitarist and primary songwriter Steve Haidaichuk said by phone recently. “It feels like we’re 22 again — just a little more achy.”
The new addition has refreshed the group.
“We fell in that prog-rock niche over maybe the past 10 years,” Haidaichuk said. “Lucian’s background is a lot more metal, so it brings our aggressiveness to the forefront. Not to say that I’m not a metal guy, but, like, I dabble. … Lucien grew up on the big metal bands.”
“We were looking to add more to the sound of Mindset X,” Paul Davidson said. “A guitar player seemed to be the natural of what we’re looking for, which actually was great — it brings Steve to the front of the stage, instead of hanging back with us. So he’s more of a front man now.”
While Oceans was a concept album featuring a primary character, Humanz has other ambitions.
“It kind of ties back to the square root of what we are as a species,” Haidaichuk said.
“It’s almost like part two, but it takes it in a little different angle,” Paul Davidson said, adding that the new effort reflects the many challenges of the recent past — lockdowns, dread and endlessness. “You’re caught in a box for so long; you just want to break out of it, just let it all go.”
“I think every soul has probably written about their time in Covid-town,” Haidaichuk said. “This really isn’t about that, but it did make me reflect on the way society handled it, from an outsider looking in perspective [of] us as a species; really seeing our good points and our bad points.”
Keeping with the math-themed title of Humanz, the release of “For The Love Of War” on 2-22-22 will be followed by a video of the song two weeks later, with a “two by two” cycle repeating every other week until the full record is out.
“When we first started doing this, we released too much music over the course of a year, then as we got farther down the line as a band we released too little,” Haidaichuk said. “I think we learned from both of those experiences what kind of works and what doesn’t. … Some people still like CDs, and some people don’t even own a CD player anymore.”
They’re excited to perform at Angel City, one of their home city’s newest venues.
“It’s a classic club and for Manchester to have one of these, I think it’s about time,” Paul Davidson said. “Especially because you’re limited when you’re playing original music as well … it’ll be nice to have almost like a welcoming show.”
They’ll play two sets, featuring new songs mixed with old favorites, occasionally reworked. Haidaichuk stressed that their aim is to shake things up and remove expectations.
“At the end of the day, we’ve always taken the music side of us extremely seriously; we like to write things that we feel mean something, and maybe make a statement or two,” he said. “But on the flip side of tha t… we want you to have fun while we get you to think; that’s pretty much what Mindset X has always been.”
Mindset X w/ The Graniteers
When: Saturday, Jan. 29, 7 p.m. Where: Angel City Music Hall, 179 Elm St., Manchester Tickets: $10 at the door, 21+
A new local business venture is proving that a simple russet potato twice baked with butter and salt is a great vessel for all kinds of flavor profiles, from broccoli and cheddar to a poutine potato with cheese curds and gravy to a Mexican-inspired “PoTaco.”
Brandon Rainer and Lauren Lefebvre, owners and founders of The Potato Concept. Courtesy photo.
The Potato Concept was founded by Lauren Lefebvre and Brandon Rainer. The Manchester couple sold their first loaded spuds at the Made in New England Expo last month and will next appear at Great North Aleworks for a pop-up event on Saturday, Jan. 29.
“The versatility behind a potato was very attractive to us,” Lefebvre said of coming up with the idea for The Potato Concept. “It’s also accommodating to all dietary restrictions or needs, whether you’re plant-based or vegan or dairy- or gluten-free. … There’s something for everyone, and the toppings that we put on them are really what make each individual recipe unique.”
Each potato is hollowed out before it’s filled and topped with your desired flavor option. Licensed through Creative Chef Kitchens in Derry, The Potato Concept will often have specially curated menus depending on where you find it. A pop-up they hosted at Rockingham Brewing Co. in mid-December, for instance, featured a beef stew option cooked with the brewery’s Belly of the Beast bacon imperial stout. At the Great North Aleworks event on Jan. 29, you can order a broccoli cheddar loaded potato with an amber lager cheese.
“It’s not an idea that has to stay with a brewpub, but if we were to pop up anywhere, we can kind of collaborate with a different product or atmosphere that we’re catering to,” Lefebvre said.
The Ginger Sweet (Sweet potato blended with brown sugar and butter, topped with marshmallows and gingersnap cookie crumbles). Photo courtesy of The Potato Concept.
Other menu options include the Classic, with lettuce, tomato, chives, sour cream; a Loaded Classic option that adds bacon and cheddar cheese; and the Buff Potato, which features Buffalo chicken, Gorgonzola cheese, sour cream, celery and scallions. The “PoTaco,” meanwhile, has lettuce, tomato, sour cream and cheese, and can be made with either Angus or vegan beef.
Lefebvre and Rainer also continue to experiment with different flavors, trying out recipes like a cheesy spinach and artichoke potato; a barbecue pork potato with coleslaw, pickled red cabbage and fresh corn; and the “Ginger Sweet,” featuring a sweet potato that’s blended with brown sugar and butter and topped with marshmallows and gingersnap cookies. They’ve also created a few breakfast-themed potatoes, like bacon or sausage potatoes with scrambled eggs and cheese, and a corned beef hash potato with steamed asparagus and hollandaise sauce.
A catering menu offers all of these and more, along with the ability to design your own creations, right down to the potato itself, the protein and more than a dozen toppings. Their ultimate goal, Rainer said, is for The Potato Concept to eventually evolve into a traveling box truck.
The Potato Concept
When: Saturday, Jan. 29, 2 to 7 p.m. Where: Great North Aleworks, 1050 Holt Ave., No. 14, Manchester More info: Visit thepotatoconcept.com, find them on Facebook and Instagram, or email them at [email protected]
Featured photo: The Buff Potato (Buffalo chicken, Gorgonzola cheese, celery, sour cream and scallions). Photo courtesy of The Potato Concept.
For this year’s annual wedding guide, we’re giving you 26 cool ideas to make your big day the best day! Doughnut walls, bold bouquets, Insta-worthy photo ops — there’s something for every couple’s tastes this wedding season.
The wedding dress
Practical accents
One of the newest trends that Helen Dionne of A Day to Remember Bridal Boutique has seen in their newest dresses is detachable sleeves made of sheer lace. “We’ve just got them in over the past couple weeks,” Dionne said. “It’s a good option for people who like the look of sleeves but don’t want to wear them the whole time.” They can be worn for a fancier look during the ceremony, for example, and then removed for comfort when the bride hits the dance floor later on. Another practical addition to dresses over the past few years has been the addition of pockets, Dione said, with brides appreciating the space to stash their phone and other small items.
A wedding gown with detachable sleeves; photo courtesy of A Day to Remember Bridal Boutique.
Sparkles and slits
For a different look from the waist down, some of the newest gowns have slits. “That has been really well-received by customers,” Dionne said. Another option is a sparkly tulle underlay, “so it’s not-in-your face bling but it’s just enough sparkle,” Dionne said.
A touch of color
Dionne said that most wedding dresses aren’t available in pure white anymore. “If you want an all-white gown, it’s going to be ivory,” she said. “More often than not these gowns are ordered with some kind of color, [like a] champagne underlay with an ivory overlay with ivory lace. Adding champagne and pink champagne elements is an option, and some dresses come in darker shades like sand. Dionne said white doesn’t look good on most people because it’s harsh, and the ivories today are light enough that most people would think that they are the traditional white. And for the brides who really want to stand out, they can go for a bigger splash of color. “We had a gal who [bought] a pink — like, really pink — wedding dress,” Dionne said.
Have it your way
A lot of dress features are customizable, so if you love a dress that doesn’t have that sparkly underlay, you might be able to add it, or a dress that has a slit might be available without it. Scoop necklines are coming back, Dionne said, but right now many dresses still have the deep plunging V neckline that has been popular for the past few years. While scoop necklines start to work their way back into fashion, “some designers will offer the dress in two ways [and] charge for a raised neckline,” Dionne said. Designers are also offering two train lengths, with shorter trains being popular lately for the simpler kinds of weddings that have become more prevalent in the past couple years but cathedral length still being a draw for brides who really want to make a statement.
Flowers & decor
Big colors
Wedding planner Samantha Sheehy of The Perfect Match Weddings based in Manchester said that when it comes to floral decorations, muted greens are starting to take a backseat to bolder options. “In the past couple years, greenery has been super popular [but] the trend is kind of starting to shift back to big blooms, big color,” she said. That goes for the bouquets as well. “I think people are moving away from the very rounded ball-looking bouquets [in favor of] cascading bouquets with lots of color,” she said.
Sustainable everything
It is possible to have fancy decor while cutting down on waste — something that Sheehy said has been a bigger priority for many of today’s brides and grooms. “I’ve seen a lot of people go toward silk or wooden flowers,” Sheehy said. They’re being used for table arrangements, pieces for the arbor and up and down pews or aisles.” Some brides who want a bouquet with real flowers are repurposing them, preserving them by having them framed or turned into things like coasters or ring dishes, Sheehy said. Renting decor rather than buying it and throwing it away is another option, she said.
Upscale lighting
One fairly simple way to elevate any wedding, but especially a more informal backyard or barn wedding, is to add lighting. Sheehy said she’s been seeing lighting vendors providing more upscale lighting installations, including fairy lights and bistro lights.
Photo ops
Arrive in style
Antique car. Photo by Courtney Reynolds Photography + Double H Photo.
Antique cars and vans have replaced limos for some couples, allowing for a more casual arrival and better photo ops, Sheehy said. “People really don’t do limos anymore,” Sheehy said. “They’re either driving themselves or renting [antique vehicles].” She’s also seen couples renting school buses to use for guest transportation from the hotel to the wedding venue.
The big reveal
Having “first looks” with the wedding party is another trend that brides have been adding to the big day to get some good photos. “A lot of brides like to do a reveal to their wedding party or family members if they aren’t doing a first look with their future spouse — meaning seeing each other before the ceremony,” Sheehy said.
Sendoffs
One of the latest trends is making the “sendoff” for the bride and groom extra special with things like sparklers, confetti and goodbye tunnels. “They are a lot of fun,” Sheehy said. “Younger couples want to incorporate some things they can share on social media.” She’s seen couples do “mock sendoffs” so they can get the best photos while their photographer is still there and then go back to the party, rather than waiting until the end and risking not having good photos and missing any guests who might not stay for the whole celebration.
The big day
Scaling back
“Covid impacted guest lists, changing what the [traditional wedding] looks like,” Sheehy said. “A lot of couples are scaling back to smaller events.” She said that even last summer, when Covid numbers were lower and more weddings were able to happen, people were still enjoying the feel of a more intimate event. Suddenly it was OK for couples not to invite estranged relatives or friends of friends or anyone on their parents’ guest wish lists.
Tossing traditions
What’s a wedding without the chicken dance? A perfectly good one, according to all the couples who are passing on some of the most traditional parts of a wedding. “The bouquet toss, the garter toss, the dance [with a parent] — there’s no reason to force it,” Sheehy said. Families don’t have to sit on one side of the aisle or the other, and wedding favors are not required: “They just get thrown away,” Sheehy said. “They’re the most commonly left behind item at weddings.” And yes, you can have the chicken dance if you want it, but a lot of couples are prioritizing what they want over what is expected. “They’re making sure the music played is reflective of the genres they like and the artists they like,” Sheehy said, whether that means working up a playlist with a DJ before the big day or bringing in live music.
Making it last
Though many wedding ceremonies are getting smaller, some couples are spreading out their nuptial celebrations over a whole weekend. According to Sheehy, this might include a welcome dinner or welcome drinks with a small guest count the night before the event. Then there’s the wedding day itself, and that could be followed by a sendoff brunch the next day. “It’s another opportunity to get [to spend] time with people,” she said.
— Meghan Siegler
Venues
Barn
If you want the beauty of a natural setting without sacrificing the amenities of an indoor space, a barn venue could fit the bill for your wedding.
Timber Hill Farm. Photo by True Presence Photography.
“Many [barn venues] come with gorgeous colonial farm backdrops … [and may] include a farm stay for the bridal party,” said Isaac Howe, general manager at Timber Hill Farm in Gilford.
Though barns are a popular venue for weddings with a rustic aesthetic, their simplicity makes them versatile enough to accommodate a variety of styles.
“Rustic, boho chic, modern, vintage or glam —none of it feels out of place in a barn,” said Eric Stephens, co-owner of The Barn at Bull Meadow in Concord.
If you’re looking for a formal venue, don’t rule out a barn; with the right lighting, drapery and decor, a barn can be as casual or as formal as you want.
“Most barns would likely cater to a more casual couple,” said The Barn at Bull Meadow co-owner Jenn Stephens. “However, some barns certainly have the potential to be transformed into elegant venues, with a little designer touch or a couple with a lot of ambition.”
Brewery
Couples who have a shared interest in beer or brewing and are open to nontraditional wedding venues could consider getting married at a local brewery that is available for private events.
“Breweries, at their heart, are manufacturing facilities,” said Jenni Share, co-founder and CEO of To Share Brewing Co. in Manchester. “Every brewery is different, but most taprooms will have a casual vibe … [in] a relaxed, industrial atmosphere with lots of stainless steel tanks and great beer.”
Many breweries offer add-on services for weddings held at their facilities and work with couples to customize their experience.
“A couple can get married on the steps of the brewhouse, have cocktail hour in the beer garden, and [have] the reception in the taproom with free pinball and shuffleboard,” Share said, adding that the brewery can also assist couples in creating a unique one-off wedding brew. “The day will really stand out for the couple and their guests.”
Mountaintop
A mountaintop venue may appeal to nature-lovers and couples seeking a quiet, remote location far from the hustle and bustle of their daily lives.
“Being outside [in] the peace and serenity of nature while celebrating such a special day allows the couple [and] guests to really take a breath and … enjoy the moment fully,” said Heidi Glavin, assistant general manager at Purity Spring Resort in Madison. “[It] offers [them] time to just slow down … and enjoy everything around them without noise or the confines of a building.”
Some couples choose a mountaintop venue because they share a passion for skiing, or because skiing played a part in their love story.
“They want to celebrate that piece of their relationship,” Glavin said, “riding the chairlift to the top of the mountain, where they walk down the aisle and join together in marriage.”
The biggest selling point for getting married on a mountain is the “incredible views of surrounding mountains, lakes and valleys,” Glavin said, and couples may want to consider the scenery of the changing season when setting the date for their wedding. It comes as no surprise, she said, that mountaintop weddings are often held in the fall.
“The spectacular New Hampshire foliage is a huge draw,” Glavin said. “The colors and air during the fall foliage [here] are unlike anywhere else.”
Restaurant
For a budget-friendly indoor venue, consider a local restaurant with a function room. Restaurants that host weddings are typically equipped to oversee multiple aspects of a wedding, which could include the food, bar, furniture and room setup, decor, dishware and table setup, cake and cake-cutting, dance floor and DJ or live music.
“A restaurant comes with many advantages over other wedding venues,” said Mike Kirouac, owner of XO Bistro in Manchester. “First and foremost is the flexibility. … We’ve seen very relaxed and casual weddings to formal weddings. … You can rent the room for the whole day or half [a day], or you can have just the reception here. The options are really endless.”
Tamra Burke, function manager at The Red Blazer in Concord, said that if food is one of your top priorities, a restaurant could be the perfect venue for you.
“Folks that book a restaurant for their wedding reception typically think of the food first [and] what they want to serve their guests,” Burke said. “They book their favorite restaurant; we hear that a lot.”
Historic sites and landmarks
New Hampshire is home to all kinds of historic sites and landmarks that can serve as unique wedding venues.
“Because of the range of styles at historic venues, [couples] can find something that fits their personalities and their vision for the day,” said Susanna Crampton, public relations officer for Historic New England.
Rae Easter, marketing and development coordinator at Canterbury Shaker Village, said there is a variety of reasons that couples choose to get married at historic venues: they have a love and respect for history and culture; the site holds personal significance or nostalgia for them; or they believe in the mission of the venue’s affiliated nonprofit or organization.
“A historic space … that aligns with [the couples’] values [can] make the day even more special,” Easter said. “By having your wedding at that historic or landmark venue, you’re supporting [its] organization through that connection.”
The biggest appeal of historic venues, Easter said, is that they promise couples a wedding that is truly one of a kind.
“They provide an atmosphere you won’t find anywhere else,” she said. “They can make your event feel like a destination wedding, even if you’re getting married in your own hometown.”
Oceanside
At Seacoast venues like the Seacoast Science Center, couples can say their “I do”s by the ocean while still enjoying all the amenities of a traditional wedding.
“The Center allows for the best parts of an oceanside wedding,” Seacoast Science Center event coordinator Hollie Dutton said. “[It has] an amazing outside tent for eating and dancing, plus comfortable places inside to gather and have quiet conversations while viewing ocean life.”
Oceanside weddings offer a unique sensory experience and stunning views, Dutton said, which change every hour with the coming and going of the tides and the colors of the sky.
“The couples and their guests hear the sounds of waves and watch the sailboats go by,” she said, “or see Isles of Shoals off in the distance during their ceremony and wedding photos on the rocks with the ocean waves behind.”
— Angie Sykeny
Food
Food trucks
Hiring a food truck as your primary wedding caterer isn’t just a casual alternative to a traditional dinner — it’s also a great way to get fresh hot food served directly out the window to your plate.
Windham chef Adam Wactowski of the Walking Gourmet food truck has had so much business lately with private events, including weddings, that he hasn’t been open to the public nearly as often as before. He said the overall ability to create personalized menus from a food truck is among the biggest draws for couples looking to serve something a little different for their guests.
“I have a few menus that I have in place that people can choose, so I have a taco menu, a burger menu and a barbecue menu, and then a steak and chicken menu if they’d want to go with more of a plated dinner,” Wactowski said. “For weddings, a lot of people seem to like the tacos.”
Doug Loranger of Ranger’s BBQ, based in Nashua, said he has noticed a significant increase in wedding inquiries over the last couple of years, particularly since the start of the pandemic.
“We have gone outside the barbecue realm in some cases,” he said. “I think one of the reasons why people like to go with a food truck is because there’s usually so much variety.”
Doughnut walls
A doughnut wall is exactly what it sounds like — a wall filled with doughnuts of all colors and flavors hanging from pegs. Not all doughnut walls are created equal, said Stacy Lamountain of City Moose Catering in Nashua, but they’re always a hit around a reception’s dessert table.
Doughnut wall. Photo courtesy of City Moose Catering.
“It’s one of those things that has become such an exciting experience for people,” she said. “You have this big board you put on a table and people are watching you putting out the doughnuts and getting excited about each flavor that comes out. … Then, you literally have to hold the guests back from attacking it before the bride and groom can see it or before the photographer can take a picture of it. Everyone wants to get a picture of the doughnut wall first.”
City Moose’s doughnut wall is custom-made from walnut wood by Lamountain’s sister, with pegs that are long enough to fit up to four doughnuts on each.
“You put them up there, they are displayed beautifully and then the guests can help themselves at their leisure to take them right off and enjoy,” she said. “We’ve even done a doughnut wall that had heat lamps on each side for apple cider doughnuts, so you get them all nice and warm.”
Macaroni and cheese bars
If you want to serve a buffet at your wedding reception that’s a little untraditional, a macaroni and cheese bar can offer countless flavor variations. Amanda Storace of Moments to Remember, based in New Boston, has macaroni and cheese bars planned at five weddings this year alone, and has worked with businesses like The Common Man and Mac-n-Choose (formerly the Mr. Mac’s locations in Tyngsboro and Westford, Mass.) to coordinate different serving options.
“People want to put a new spin on something other than a plated meal, and a mac and cheese bar is an easy way to do that,” Storace said. “I did a wedding last year that had a mac and cheese bar. The guests got little martini glasses, and they got a mac and cheese base and a bunch of stuff they could add to it, so things like bacon, chicken, barbecue sauce [and] pulled pork.”
Grazing tables and charcuterie boards
A custom grazing table is already all about putting together an edible work of art. So if you’re building one for your wedding, there are all kinds of ways to make it even more creative.
“Rather than have it be just a flat table full of cheese and crackers, we like to give our grazing tables height and dimension,” Lamountain said. “We have them on three tiers and so they look all elegant and elevated. … Our grazing tables are customizable too, so you can have your cheese, your crackers, your fruits, your vegetables and any other fun stuff that you want.”
One of City Moose’s most popular grazing table items, Lamountain added, is not a food you’re typically likely to find on a cheese board with fruits, vegetables and crackers.
“When you think of weddings, you don’t think of chips and dip,” she said, “but I can’t even tell you how many gallons and bucketloads of our house fried chips that we make every single wedding season. We put them right there with your cheese and crackers and they come with a traditional onion dip. We make that the same way you do at home for any family gathering. … Usually people also have those at their cocktail hour for appetizers.”
Breakfast for dinner
There’s no rule that says breakfast should only be served the morning after the reception — in fact, Lamountain said City Moose has catered several breakfast or brunch-themed weddings.
“Breakfast … lends itself much better to a buffet rather than a plated-style meal,” she said. “You can do all the things that we all love for breakfast, so a buffet full of scrambled eggs, thick cut bacon, homefries, [and] maybe some apple-stuffed French toast. … We’ve also done chicken and waffles too, so that’s something for people who want to have that option to feel like a little more of a full lunch or dinner than just breakfast. It’s very untraditional for a wedding menu meal, but a super crowd-pleaser.”
Cookie molds
From cupcakes and cake pops to cannolis or whoopie pies, there are all kinds of ways to get creative beyond the traditional wedding desserts. Liz George of Newmarket is the owner of Golden Swan Sweets — in addition to creating wedding and smaller celebration cakes, about four years ago George started working with ceramic cookie molds in various designs, which were originally created by Lucy Natkiel of Brown Bag Designs in Hill.
George has collected dozens of cookie molds, including around 15 heart or flower molds that make great additions to a dessert table at a wedding or bridal shower. Each one starts out as a plain butter cookie that is individually hand-pressed, baked and painted with a luster dust, or a decorating powder usually mixed with alcohol or an extract, turning it into a work of art.
“Most of the molds are very large, creating cookies that are about 6 inches tall,” George said. “I do have smaller ‘cut-apart’ cookie molds as well.”
Ordering and information on her cookie molds is available at her website, goldenswansweets.com, or through her Facebook page @goldenswansweets.
Bartenders for hire
On the Rocks Bartending. Courtesy photo.
If you want help creating a signature cocktail for your big day or a custom beverage menu for your wedding guests, a professional bartending service can help with all that and more.
Amanda Thomas is a seasoned bartender and the owner of On the Rocks Bartending and Event Services, a mobile bar business based in Nashua. While it doesn’t hold a liquor license to sell, On the Rocks is fully insured and certified and works with clients to help them stay within their drink budget, even lending a hand in writing their shopping lists.
“They provide the liquor and we provide the service, basically,” Thomas said. “So that saves the couple a huge amount of money, because they can buy whatever they want, [and] they can return the liquor within 30 days if it’s unopened and unused, and get their money back.”
In addition to working with couples on creating special cocktails for the occasion, some of Thomas’s services include a draft system that can tap up to four kegs of beer or spiked seltzer without any refrigeration, a feature that especially comes in handy for ceremonies in the middle of fields or in open areas. She also recently introduced a 1985 vintage Kingston horse trailer that has been converted into a mobile bar for use at weddings.
“I would say that more than 50 percent of the weddings in New Hampshire are either at a barn or outdoors in a backyard, and so the horse trailer just fits in perfectly with that aesthetic that people are looking for,” she said. “It’s booked for probably at least 30 weddings this year already.”
— Matt Ingersoll
Featured photo: A sparkler sendoff. Photo by Meghan Kannan Photography.
