Planning a Nantucket wedding: resources and vendors

So many people have heard of the tourist destination of Martha’s Vineyard, but I’m going to tell you all about one of my favorite places: Nantucket Island for weddings. a short ferry trip and an even shorter cessna ride from the continent lies a sand bar called Nantucket. Long ago, the little island was the world’s leading whaling port but when that industry came to a halt, many left the island. Local historic district commission ensures architectural preservation and development is done with the strictest care to preserve the history and character of the island. What makes they “grey lady” extra special is that most of the homes and buildings on island date back from before the civil war. Total time warp! Cobblestone streets and dirt roads dotted with white cedar shingle cottages… A picturesque harbor, shell-paved walks, lighthouses and expansive nature preserves and golf courses…. Oh I almost forgot: dolphins in the sunset at Madaket Beach…  All this makes “ACK” one of the most desirable places to live, vacation, and have a destination wedding.

As with many island towns, nantucket’s population soars in the summertime and has become a very popular location for destination weddings.

Nantucket isn’t as hectic as Martha’s Vineyard is in the summer, and is far less saturated with tourists. There’s no traffic lights on island and year round, its quite peaceful. If you get seasick from ferries and you can’t stomach the idea of hopping on a 10 passenger prop plane (and telling them your weight), you might be out of luck. If you do happen to make it on island, you can rent a car or bicycle easily. If you rent a scooter (not really a moped) do be careful because inexperienced riders on winding dirt roads not only annoy the locals but can be an unsafe combo.

As far as resources for Nantucket weddings, there are quite a lot, whether you choose to use island resources or bring your own from the mainland. As far as theme and decorating goes, there are blogs and wedding planners to help. Some popular elements Nantucket lightship baskets, sailor knots, star fish and seashells, hydrangeas, and a nautical / navy color theme are all very popular design ideas to add to a Nantucket event. When planning your island wedding, give yourself extra time and book far in advance since warm months on the island give way to wedding venues and accommodations, inns, and hotels booking up fast for your out of town guests. Since weather is unpredictable on Nantucket, always have a backup plan in store in case of inclement weather. One thing to note though is that so many mornings on Nantucket start out very grey just due to the fog rolling over the island and the clouds often pass for a sunny day.

On island there are a few popular areas for weddings including looking right in town and east over in Siasconset (also known simply as ‘Sconset). below you will find my not so big list of resources for Nantucket weddings

Ceremony Venues and Nantucket beach information