What They Brought From Home
Dylan Smith and Joanna Courter arrived at Zorvino Vineyards with their own maple syrup and honey syrup, one for each of their signature cocktails. Their October vineyard wedding on Saturday, October 3, 2026 brought 124 guests to Sandown, New Hampshire, as the maples around the vineyard turned gold.
Maple went into her drink and honey into his. Sam Adams OctoberFest waited in the groomsmen suite. Apples and cider vinaigrette dressed the salad, and warm apple cider doughnuts closed the night. The couple also brought the pieces that made the reception hall theirs: their seating chart, table numbers, card box, and guest book signs.
Two Suites, One Bucket of OctoberFest
Joanna and her bridesmaids started the day in the bridal suite with a mimosa bar, sparkling juice, and a lunch of grilled chicken Caesar wraps, grilled chicken wraps, BLTs, and mezze vegetarian wraps. The suite has a private bathroom, a room with two salon chairs, and a lounge with space for all nine bridesmaids.
Dylan and his groomsmen arrived at the groomsmen suite at noon to couches, a TV, a gaming console, and a bucket of Sam Adams OctoberFest. The kitchen sent up flatbreads: two hot honey, a meat lovers, a veggie, and a margherita. The honey showed up early.
Among the Hydrangeas
Dylan and Joanna saw each other for the first time that day on the Zorvino grounds, hours before the ceremony. They met in the garden, where pink hydrangeas bloomed against maples just beginning to turn. Photographers Christian Mederia and Thais Miller captured the embrace and the quiet minutes after it.
Because the first look happened on the estate, the couple and their wedding party had their first portraits finished before anyone left for the church.
Vows in Derry
The ceremony took place at Calvary Bible Church in Derry. Nine bridesmaids and nine groomsmen stood with the couple, along with one flower girl. Rachel served as Maid of Honor and Suzanne as Matron of Honor. Dylan had two best men, Justin and Seth.
Three generations came to see it. Joanna’s parents, Dan and Jody, and her grandmother Ruthie were there, along with Dylan’s parents, Christina and Jonathan, his grandparents Linda and Larry, and his grandmother Margaret.
After the ceremony, guests stayed on at the church for lawn games while the newlyweds headed back to Zorvino ahead of them.
Back Through the Vines
With the guests still in Derry, Dylan, Joanna, and their wedding party had the estate to themselves for an hour of portraits. They walked the gravel paths between the vineyard rows, where the grape leaves hung low over the trellis wires and an old stone wall ran through the woods behind them.
The bridesmaids wore floor-length gowns in a range of shades from dusty rose to mauve to plum, and carried ivory rose bouquets. Joanna carried mauve and café au lait roses with ivory roses and eucalyptus.
Zorvino sits on 80 wooded acres, so vineyard rows, garden beds, and woodland stone walls all sit within a short walk of the reception hall. A couple can move from one setting to the next without a second location or a car.
Maple and Honey on the Patio
Guests arrived from the church to a canvas welcome banner standing under a maple beside the vines: “Welcome to the wedding of Dylan and Joanna, 3 October 2026. Thank you for celebrating with us!”
Cocktail hour took place on the outdoor patio beside the vines, in the last month of its May-through-October season. The open bar poured the couple’s two signature drinks, each made with the syrup they brought:
Hers: the Maple Manhattan, with Maker’s Mark, sweet vermouth, maple syrup, a dash of Angostura, and a cherry
His: the Gold Rush, with Basil Hayden, lemon juice, honey syrup, and a lemon garnish
The mocktail was a Blueberry Italian Soda.
The Tuscan grazing table held Italian cured meats with crostini, imported and domestic cheeses, spinach dip with pita chips, crudités with Boursin dip, seasonal fruit with honey vinaigrette, marinated mushrooms, and mixed olives. Servers passed beef skewers with soy, lime honey, and sesame, arancini, coconut chicken with chili lime chutney, and bacon-wrapped scallops glazed with maple. Even the passed bites carried the couple’s two flavors.
The patio’s bocce court and fire pits give guests something to do between drinks, and two of the youngest guests took over the bocce court in their suits.
Rose Gold Under the Timber
Inside, string lights crossed beneath the skylights and timber beams, and a lit rail ran along the loft above the dance floor. Ivory and black linens dressed the tables, set with wooden cross-back chairs and rose gold chargers. Nicole Britton Designs built the centerpieces in blush and ivory on wood slabs, each with two votive candles and one of the couple’s own table numbers.
Sheer drapery hung from the posts, and the couple’s custom monogram marked the room. A wine barrel held their signs, beside their card box and seating chart.
Five Toasts and a Blessing
Nick Kafajelias of @getdowntonightentertainment introduced the wedding party and the couple, and the evening opened with the parent dances and Dylan and Joanna’s first dance. Five toasts and speeches followed, along with a champagne toast for the room. Joanna’s father, Dan, closed the program with a blessing before dinner.
The couple asked Nick to bring games to the night, a scavenger hunt among them.
Harvest at the Table
Dylan and Joanna chose Zorvino’s Reserva Wedding Package. Dinner opened with a harvest salad of candied pecans, apples, goat cheese, and craisins with cider vinaigrette. Guests chose herb-stuffed chicken with white wine and parsley oil, prime rib with au jus, butternut squash ravioli, or a vegan stuffed pepper, each served with mashed potatoes, asparagus, and fresh bread. The couple chose the prime rib. Kids got chicken fingers and fries.
Zorvino’s in-house kitchen tracked every dietary need by table, from gluten-free and dairy-free plates to vegan and pescatarian meals, so each dish reached the right seat.
Cake, Then Cider
@chickadeehillcakes made the wedding dessert, served with a coffee and tea station. After the cake cutting, the whole room gathered on the dance floor for a group photo, and the dancing started.
Later in the evening, the kitchen rolled out a cider doughnut station for all 124 guests: plain, sugar, and cinnamon sugar apple cider doughnuts with warm apple cider. The maple and honey started the night, and the cider finished it.
Guests stayed at the Holiday Inn in Salem, NH.
Dream Vendor Team
| Venue | Zorvino Vineyards, Sandown, NH |
|---|---|
| Ceremony | Calvary Bible Church, Derry, NH |
| Photography | Christian Mederia and Thais Miller Photography |
| Videography | Hindsight Wedding Films |
| Centerpieces | @brittondesignsflowers Nicole Britton Designs |
| Wedding Cake | @chickadeehillcakes Chickadee Hill Cakes |
| DJ | @getdowntonightentertainment Get Down Tonight Entertainment, Nick Kafajelias |
| Accommodations | Holiday Inn, Salem, NH |
Planning Notes from Dylan & Joanna’s Wedding
Can you have a church ceremony and a reception at Zorvino Vineyards?
Yes! Dylan and Joanna married at Calvary Bible Church in Derry and held their reception at Zorvino. They still used both getting-ready suites and took their first look photos on the estate before the ceremony.
Can couples bring ingredients for their signature cocktails?
Dylan and Joanna did. They brought their own maple syrup for the Maple Manhattan and honey syrup for the Gold Rush, and the bar made both drinks with them.
When is the outdoor patio cocktail hour available?
May through October, weather permitting. The patio sits beside the vines with a bocce court and fire pits.
What late-night snacks can a fall wedding serve?
Dylan and Joanna chose apple cider doughnuts in plain, sugar, and cinnamon sugar with warm apple cider for every guest.
What do the getting-ready suites include?
The bridal suite has a private bathroom, a room with two salon chairs, and a large lounge, and opens at 9:00 AM. The groomsmen suite has couches, a TV, and a gaming console, and opens at noon. Both offer food and beverage service.
Can you do a first look before an off-site ceremony?
Yes! Dylan and Joanna took their first look and early portraits on the Zorvino grounds, then left for the church.
Congratulations, Dylan & Joanna!
To the couple who brought their own maple and honey, said their vows in Derry, and ended the night with cider doughnuts for 124 guests: thank you for coming back to the vineyard to celebrate. It was our honor to host you at Zorvino Vineyards!
Planning an October date of your own? See how a Zorvino wedding comes together, review the Reserva and our other wedding packages, and read more real wedding stories from the estate. When you want to walk the vineyard rows and stand on the patio yourself, book a venue tour.
Learn About Weddings at Zorvino Vineyards
Zorvino Vineyards | 226 Main Street, Sandown, NH 03873 | (603) 887-8463
zorvino.com/weddings | Instagram: @zorvinovineyards
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