Introduction
Some couples get engaged after a few years together. Shawn and Chuck had eighteen.
Eighteen years of building a life, of knowing each other in every season, of choosing the same person every single day — and on June 7, 2026, they made it official. At Zorvino Vineyards in Sandown, New Hampshire, surrounded by 112 family members and friends, they had the celebration that love like theirs deserves.
It was a Sunday in early June. The vineyards were lush, the patio was open, and the afternoon light fell across it all like something out of a dream.
Shawn & Chuck | June 7, 2026 — Zorvino Vineyards, Sandown, NH |
The Setting: Zorvino in Early Summer
June at Zorvino Vineyards is the vineyard at its most alive. The 80 acres are in full leaf, the outdoor patio hums with warm air, and the gazebo overlooking the vineyard rows offers one of the most beautiful ceremony backdrops in all of New England.
Shawn and Chuck used the full property — venue, gazebo, and outdoor patio — for a day that moved seamlessly from the intimacy of the First Look to the energy of a reception that kept everyone on their feet until the very end.
Their ceremony took place at the gazebo, with the vineyard stretching out behind them. Cocktail hour followed immediately on the outdoor patio — bocce ball, fire pits, and a patio full of people who were already celebrating.
The First Look: 18 Years, and Still
Shawn and Chuck shared their First Look — a private moment just for the two of them, with a golf cart available to move across the grounds for portraits. After 18 years together, you might think the First Look would be easy. Anyone who has seen one knows it never is. It is always, somehow, the most real moment of the day.
Paul Streeter of NU View Photography was there for all of it — and the Zorvino grounds gave him everything: the gazebo, the vineyard rows, the birch trees, the weeping willows, the open sky.
A Zorvino content creator, Carrie, was also on-site for eight full hours — capturing the behind-the-scenes, the details, and the candid moments that photography alone can’t always catch.
Fun Fact: First Look moments allow couples and bridal parties to be more present during the celebration — sharing these private memories before guests arrive, so the ceremony feels like pure joy rather than nerves.
The Ceremony: Officiated by a Friend
At the gazebo overlooking the vineyard, Kristen O’Connell — a friend — officiated the ceremony. Like many weddings here, there is something irreplaceable about being married by someone who has genuinely been there — who speaks about your relationship from the inside, not from a script.
Walking down the aisle: nephew Braxton, age 4, as ring bearer — and Chuck’s grandmother Kathleen, known as Kathy, as flower girl. Two generations bookending the procession, and one of the most joyful, unforgettable entrances a ceremony can have.
The wedding party was five on each side — and for dinner, Shawn and Chuck chose to sit at the family table rather than a Sweetheart Table. After 18 years, family is the whole point.
The Details: Navy, Off White & Eighteen Years of Photos
The aesthetic Shawn and Chuck brought to Zorvino was refined and deeply personal — navy blue, off white, weeping willow, and birch — colors that felt natural against the June greens of the vineyard.
@fordflower created centerpieces and greenery arrangements with boutonnieres that anchored the room in natural warmth. And on each table: their own table numbers — not numbers at all, but photographs marking years of their relationship together. Table 1 might have been year one. Table 18, the year they finally said I do. It is the kind of detail that stops guests in their tracks and tells a whole story before the first dance.
An “Adventure” sign greeted guests as part of the display — a word that captures 18 years of a shared life better than most.
The Welcome & The Feast
Guests moved from the ceremony directly to the outdoor patio cocktail hour — open beer and wine, bocce ball, fire pits, and the Tuscan Grazing Table: Italian cured meats with crostini, imported and domestic cheeses, spinach dip, crudités with Boursin, seasonal fruit, marinated mushrooms, and mixed olives.
Passed hors d’oeuvres made their way through the crowd:
- Arancini with marinara, spinach, and parmesan
- Beef Skewer with soy, lime honey, and sesame (GF/DF)
- Curried Chicken Lettuce Wraps with crispy shallots and Aleppo pepper (DF)
- Scallops Wrapped in Bacon
Dinner opened with the Harvest Salad — oak lettuce, goat cheese, candied pecans, and cider vinaigrette — before guests chose between Chicken Piccata with lemon, butter, and capers (Shawn’s choice), Prime Rib au jus (Chuck’s choice), or Butternut Squash Ravioli with sage brown butter and cranberry walnut gremolata for vegetarians.
And the late-night surprise that had the room cheering:
Fried Chicken & Biscuits — classic fried chicken, buttermilk biscuits, hot sauce, and honey. Served to 112 guests who had been dancing for hours and were absolutely ready for it.
The Cake: Chickadee Hill Cakes
@chickadeehillcakes created cupcakes and cake pops with a cutting cake — served alongside a coffee and tea station. One sweet note: a carrot cupcake was set aside for Shawn’s mother, Celina — because the best hospitality is in the specifics.
The Music: DJ Jimmy Tucci
DJ Jimmy Tucci — a friend — kept the energy exactly right from introductions through the final dance. From the First Dance and toasts and speeches through cake cutting, group photo, and a dance floor that didn’t quit until the bar closed — Jimmy knew this crowd, because he is this crowd. That makes all the difference.
The Details That Made It Theirs
- Table numbers as a photo timeline — each table marked by a photograph from a year in their 18-year relationship
- Chuck’s grandmother Kathleen as flower girl — the most joyful, beloved procession moment of the day
- Weeping willow and birch woven through the navy and off-white aesthetic — rooted, natural, timeless
- Fried chicken and biscuits at 8:15 PM — the late-night snack that matched the mood perfectly
- A carrot cupcake for Shawn’s mom — because every person at the table matters
- Bocce ball and fire pits on the cocktail hour patio — because the best parties have something for everyone
- 🎥 Zorvino’s own content creator, Carrie, on-site for 8 hours capturing every behind-the-scenes moment
The Dream Vendor Team
| Role | Vendor |
|---|---|
| Photography | NU View Photography — Paul Streeter |
| Content Creator | Zorvino Vineyards — Carrie |
| Florals | @fordflower |
| Cake & Cupcakes | @chickadeehillcakes |
| Venue | Zorvino Vineyards, Sandown, NH |
Congratulations, Shawn & Chuck!
To the couple who waited eighteen years — and proved that when you already know, you can afford to take your time.
You did it exactly right. It was our honor to be part of your special day. Thank you for choosing Zorvino Vineyards!
Learn About Weddings at Zorvino Vineyards
Zorvino Vineyards | 226 Main Street, Sandown, NH 03873 | (603) 887-8463 🌐 zorvino.com/weddings | Instagram: @zorvinovineyards
