The Name on the Brick
On the last Sunday of September, one line of light sat on the brick chimney inside Zorvino’s hall: Mr. & Mrs. Gonzalez. Emily Arsenault and Adrian Gonzalez planned a fireside fall vineyard wedding, and on September 27, 2026, 114 guests watched three of the day’s biggest moments happen beneath that monogram at Zorvino Vineyards in Sandown, New Hampshire.
Emily and Adrian said their vows at the hearth. They came back to it for their first dance. In between, the day moved through two getting-ready suites, a patio beside the vines, a greenhouse under glass, and the tasting room bar. This post follows that loop: out from the fireplace and back again.
Two Suites, One Morning
Emily arrived at the bridal suite in the morning to a mimosa bar and a sandwich platter of chicken salad, Italian heroes, and grilled chicken wraps. Her four bridesmaids and two flower girls, Emma and Abby, filled the couches with champagne flutes in hand.
Adrian and his groomsmen took over the groomsmen suite at noon. The room comes with couches, a TV, and a gaming console, and the kitchen sent up flatbreads (two of them hot honey capicola), four orders of wings in buffalo, honey BBQ, sweet chili, and teriyaki, and two growlers of raspberry lime seltzer.
Her Father Saw Her First
Some moments belong to the people who were there first. Emily and Adrian chose not to share a first look with each other, so Emily gave that moment to her father.
In the afternoon, Roger Arsenault turned around and saw his daughter in her wedding gown for the first time. He had watched her grow up, and now he was seeing her on the day she would marry. Malvina of @malvinas_photography and her assistant photographed the reveal, so Emily and Roger will have those few minutes to look back on for the rest of their lives.
Later that evening, Roger would stand to give a toast to the couple. That afternoon, he had Emily to himself.
Adrian waited. He spent the hours before the ceremony with his groomsmen. He first saw Emily that day from the front of the fireplace as she walked toward him to say their vows
At the Hearth
Guests took their seats on wooden cross-back chairs facing the fireplace. Candles in glass hurricanes and taper holders lined the mantel over a eucalyptus garland, more candles glowed inside the firebox, and red and white rose petals marked the aisle. Zorvino offers two on-site ceremony settings, the outdoor gazebo and this indoor fireside space, so a couple marrying in late September can choose the warmth of the hearth without renting a tent or booking a second location.
Their friend Sebastian officiated. Emily and Adrian read their vows from their own vow books. Flower girls Emma and Abby and ring bearer Oliver came down the aisle ahead of four bridesmaids and five groomsmen. Alyssa stood as Maid of Honor, and Adrian had two best men, AJ and Gabrielle. Adrian’s grandparents, Bethzaida and Carlos, were there to see it.
Red Sangria on the Patio
Cocktail hour moved outdoors to the patio in the final weeks of its May-through-October season. The couple poured Red Sangria as their signature drink, alongside beer and wine for guests to enjoy. The wine came from Zorvino’s own estate, and the patio sits beside the vines with a bocce court and fire pits, so guests had room to spread out between a glass and a game.
Two stationary displays anchored the hour: Formaggi e Frutta, and the Tuscan Display with charcuterie, olives, spinach and artichoke dip, and fresh breads with dipping oils. Servers passed parmesan profiteroles, arancini, bacon-wrapped scallops with maple and black pepper, and steak frites.
Under Glass
While guests mingled, Emily and Adrian slipped into Zorvino’s greenhouse conservatory for portraits. The glass roof, strung with bulb lights, covers hanging pothos, split-leaf philodendron, a bed of red blooms, and a stone wall fountain. Having a greenhouse on the property gives a couple a lush backdrop in any weather without leaving the estate.
Emily’s bouquet from @fordflower carried the maroon of the day into the greenery: a deep red garden rose and plumes of burgundy astilbe set among blush roses, ivory roses, white anemones with dark centers, pink cosmos, green hydrangea, olive branches, and eucalyptus, tied with long ivory satin ribbon.
On the way back, the wedding party crowded into the tasting room with fists and bouquets in the air, under the chalkboard flight menu and the Zorvino Z made of wine corks.
Maroon and Gold
In the reception hall, maroon runners crossed ivory linens and maroon sashes hung from the backs of the cross-back chairs. Emily and Adrian brought in the personal pieces: a gold welcome sign, a seating chart with table cards, a gold sign guest book and card box, a memory table with photos, and bar signs. A lottery ticket waited at each place setting as the favor.
Back to the Fire
Introductions brought the couple back to where the day started. Their first dance took place directly in front of the fireplace, the Gonzalez monogram glowing on the brick above them and the wedding party lined up along the wall. The flower girls and ring bearer watched with glow sticks in hand.
DJ Joe Codorniz (@djjoecodorniz) of @getdowntonightentertainment kept the program moving: a photo dash, a thank-you from the couple to their guests, a bouquet dedication, and three toasts, from Emily’s father Roger, Maid of Honor Alyssa, and Best Man AJ.
The Bread They Asked For Again
Emily and Adrian chose Zorvino’s Reserva Wedding Package. At their tasting back in February, the fresh honey butter bread made an impression, and seven months later it arrived at every table.
Dinner opened with Caesar salad and mixed greens with sherry-balsamic dressing. Guests chose chicken piccata, slow-roasted prime rib with au jus, or butternut squash ravioli. Prime rib was the couple’s pick and the most-ordered plate in the room. The kitchen also tracked guests’ allergies and restrictions by name and table, from gluten-free and vegan plates to shellfish, tree nut, and beef allergies, so each meal reached the right seat.
Cake Beside the Fire
@chickadeehillcakes made a three-tier white buttercream cake with piped beading, burgundy and blush roses, and a gold “Mr & Mrs” script topper. It stood on a glass-topped barrel display filled with Zorvino wine corks, ringed with votives, a few steps from the fireplace. A coffee and tea buffet came with it, along with chocolate cookies the couple brought in.
After the cake cutting, Karen and Roger Arsenault, Annette Reels, and Anibel Gonzalez with Ivelisse joined the couple for a group parent dance, and the whole room gathered on the dance floor for a group photo.
Burgers After Dark
Later in the evening, the kitchen sent out cheeseburgers, hamburgers, bacon, special sauce, and garlic fries for all 114 guests. The dancing ran until the bar closed. Bryanna T, Zorvino’s content creator, captured the night for social along the way.
A Manchester Transit bus carried guests back to the Holiday Inn in Salem and the Fairfield Inn in Exeter. A car service took Emily and Adrian to Boston’s Seaport for the night.
Dream Vendor Team
| Role | Vendor |
|---|---|
| Venue | Zorvino Vineyards, Sandown, NH |
| Photography | @malvinas_photography Malvina’s Photography (Malvina + assistant) |
| Florals | @fordflower Ford Flowers |
| Wedding Cake | @chickadeehillcakes Chickadee Hill Cakes |
| DJ | @getdowntonightentertainment Get Down Tonight Entertainment, @djjoecodorniz DJ Joe Codorniz |
| Accommodations | Holiday Inn, Salem, NH; Fairfield Inn, Exeter, NH |
| Transportation | Manchester Transit |
Congratulations, Emily & Adrian!
To the couple who gave the first look to her father, read their vows from their own books, put a lottery ticket at every seat, and made sure the honey butter bread came back: thank you for spending your day at our fireplace. It was our honor to host you at Zorvino Vineyards!
Planning a fall celebration of your own? See how a Zorvino wedding comes together, review the Reserva and our other wedding packages, and browse more real weddings from the estate. When you want to stand at the hearth and walk through the greenhouse 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
