One Square Print at a Time
Meghan McDonnell and Alex Ventresca skipped the pen-and-paper guest book. On September 26, 2026, they set out a Polaroid camera instead, and their 102 guests at Zorvino Vineyards in Sandown, New Hampshire, left behind instant photos of the night. Meghan and Alex planned a mauve and navy vineyard wedding, and their planning notes put the palette in six words: mauve for the girls, navy for the guys.
@nuview_photography covered six hours of the day. The guests filled in the rest, one square print at a time. This post follows the day in the order those prints would stack up: the suites, the hearth, the patio, the greenhouse, the tables, and the dance floor.
Saturday Morning in the Suites
The wedding weekend started Friday with a rehearsal. Saturday morning, Meghan and her bridesmaids settled into the bridal suite with a mimosa bar. Alex and his groomsmen took over the groomsmen suite at noon. Separate suites on the estate gave each side its own space to get ready.
The couple chose not to see each other before the ceremony. Alex’s first look at Meghan came from the front of the room.
Aunt Katie at the Hearth
Meghan and Alex married at Zorvino’s indoor fireside ceremony space. Guests sat on wooden cross-back chairs facing the brick fireplace, where candles in glass hurricanes and tapers lined the mantel above a eucalyptus garland. String lights crossed the timber beams overhead.
Alex’s aunt, Katie Harris, officiated. Six bridesmaids and six groomsmen stood on either side of the couple. Meghan’s best friend Isabella stood as Maid of Honor, and Alex’s brother Zach stood as Best Man. Both sets of grandparents had seats in the front rows: Jane and Mike for Meghan, Anna and Peter for Alex.
The wedding cake stood at the edge of the ceremony on a glass-topped wine barrel, ringed with votives, so it was in the room for the vows before anyone cut into it.
Zorvino offers two ceremony settings on the property: the outdoor gazebo overlooking the vineyard and this fireside room. A couple marrying in late September can choose the hearth without booking a tent or a second location.
Mauve for the Girls, Navy for the Guys
The bridesmaids wore mauve satin with a copper sheen, each cut a little differently: cowl necks, flutter sleeves, square necklines, and one-shoulder styles. The groomsmen wore navy with ties that matched the bridesmaids. Under the string lights of the patio pergola, the two colors set off Meghan’s satin gown, which finished in an oversized bow at the back and a long train.
The bouquets from @fordflower pulled the palette into the flowers: ivory and toffee roses, deep red blooms, burgundy astilbe, and eucalyptus.
Jameson on the Patio
Cocktail hour moved outside to the patio beside the vines, where the bocce court and fire pits give guests something to do between conversations. The patio is open for cocktail hours from May through October, and Meghan and Alex caught it in the final month of the season.
The couple poured two signature drinks: Jameson and ginger, and a vodka soda with elderflower. Both enjoyed a full open bar that stayed open for four and a half hours, included in the Grand Cru package. A 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 coconut chicken with chili lime chutney, beef skewers with soy and sesame, bacon-wrapped scallops with maple, arancini, and meatballs with marinara.
Portraits in the Conservatory
Meghan and Alex stepped into Zorvino’s greenhouse conservatory for portraits. Water beaded on the glass roof overhead while string lights lit the hanging pothos, split-leaf philodendron, snake plants, and a bed of red geraniums along the stone wall. A greenhouse on the property gives couples a covered, green backdrop in any weather without leaving the estate.
The Flowers Moved to the Fireplace
Ford Flowers designed the bouquets, boutonnieres, and floral sprays. Meghan and Alex sat for dinner in front of the same fireplace where they said their vows, with the Ventresca monogram still lit on the chimney above them.
The finished arrangement ran the length of the table and spilled over the edge: green and dusty-pink hydrangea, rust chrysanthemums, burgundy dahlias and snapdragons, toffee and blush roses, cream stock, rosemary sprigs, and eucalyptus. A mauve chiffon runner draped to the floor, and a floating candle sat beside two champagne flutes garnished with strawberries.
Tables in Mauve and Gold
Mauve scrunch runners from Perfect Party Linens crossed every guest table. Each place setting had a gold charger and a chocolate favor on the napkin. Ford Flowers centerpieces sat on wood slabs with two votive candles and the couple’s own table numbers. Gold foil coasters finished the tables, and sheer drapery framed the dance floor beneath the timber loft.
Meghan and Alex brought in the personal pieces: a seating chart with photos and candles, their own bar sign, a wine barrel card box, and the Polaroid camera.
Two Speeches and a Filet
Introductions led straight into the first dance under the string lights, with guests standing around the edge of the floor and phones raised. Zach gave the Best Man speech and Isabella gave the Maid of Honor speech.
Meghan and Alex chose Zorvino’s Grand Cru Wedding Package. Dinner opened with Caesar salad and herbed croutons. Guests chose filet with garlic parsley butter and demi-glace, stuffed chicken with herb stuffing and white wine, or butternut squash ravioli. The couple ordered the filet, and so did 76 of their 102 guests. The kitchen tracked seven guests’ allergies and restrictions by name and table, from tree nut and pineapple allergies to a dairy-free plate, and switched to latex-free gloves for two guests with a latex allergy.
During dinner, Meghan and Alex visited each table with their photographer to thank their guests in person.
Two Flavors for the Grandparents
Chickadee Hill Cakes made a three-tier cake in textured ivory buttercream with two flavors inside, finished with blush stock, burgundy dahlias, ivory roses, and peach chrysanthemums. It sat on a glass-topped barrel display filled with Zorvino wine corks. Staff served the parents and grandparents at a cake station, and a coffee and tea station came with it. Espresso Dave ran his specialty drink cart for two hours of lattes and cappuccinos.
After the cake cutting, Meghan and Alex did a special dance with their parents: Eileen and Kevin Curtin, Mike McDonnell and Tina, and Diane and Marco. Then the whole room gathered for a group photo.
Flatbreads and the Last Song
Later in the night, the kitchen sent out flatbread boards for all guests: margherita, vegetable, and meat, plus a dairy-free version with sauce and vegetables. DJ Nick Mascioli (@dj_nickm) of @getdowntonightentertainment kept the dance floor full until the end of the night.
A Manchester Transit bus carried guests back to the Holiday Inn. The Polaroids stayed with Meghan and Alex.
Dream Vendor Team
| Role | Vendor |
|---|---|
| Venue | Zorvino Vineyards |
| Photography | @nuview_photography Nu View Photography, Paul Streeter |
| Florals | @fordflower Ford Flowers |
| Wedding Cake | @chickadeehillcakes Chickadee Hill Cakes |
| DJ | @getdowntonightentertainment Get Down Tonight Entertainment, @dj_nickm DJ Nick Mascioli |
| Espresso | Espresso Dave |
| Linens | Perfect Party Linens |
| Accommodations | Holiday Inn |
| Transportation | Manchester Transit |
Congratulations, Meghan & Alex!
To the couple who asked an aunt to marry them, sent the ceremony flowers to the sweetheart table, gave the grandparents the first slices of cake, and handed their guests a Polaroid camera: thank you for celebrating with us. It was our honor to host you at Zorvino Vineyards.
Planning your own fall wedding? See how a Zorvino wedding comes together, compare the Grand Cru and our other wedding packages, and read more real weddings from the estate. When you want to see the hearth, the patio, and the greenhouse in person, 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
