Well, not quite. But, state officials would love to lay stake to that claim—so much so that they devised a very unique contest to draw attention to the tiny state. Engaged couples had the chance to win a “free” wedding valued at more than $40,000 by submitting an online essay detailing their perfect Vermont wedding. The prizes were provided by local merchants. For example, a free cake from a local bakery, free flowers from local florists, a prenuptial agreement drawn up by a local attorney, teeth whitening by an area dentist… and the list goes on and on.
The idea was to drum up destination wedding business in Vermont. The state is already a popular place for couples looking to escape from the traditional “bride’s hometown” ceremony. In fact, according to the state Department of Health, of the 5,532 marriages held in Vermont in 2005, nearly one-third (1,723) were between out-of-state residents.
So why would a couple want to travel north to New England instead of south to a tropical island for a destination wedding? Vermont tourism officials say the state’s “remarkable scenic beauty” speaks for itself. If you are looking to tie the knot in a quaint little village surrounded by mountains and lakes—Vermont is where you want to be.
According to tourism officials, the state’s hottest wedding spots include: The Woodstock Inn and Resort in Woodstock, the Hartness House in Springfield and ski resorts in Stowe, Bolton and Killington. In addition, couples that marry at the White Rocks Inn in Wallingford can hold their reception in a big red barn that dates to 1888 and is listed on the National Register for Historic Places.
Bottom line: Vermont is home to more than just cow pastures. If you are looking for a unique place to host a destination wedding know that the state offers phenomenal venues, world-class floral designers, exceptional lighting companies, awesome event rental companies, amazingly talented cake designers, award-winning hairstylists, and acclaimed photographers.
For more information on other Vermont hot spots click here.
For more information on other tropical destination wedding locales consider these blogs:
Wedding Travel Nightmares (And Tips To Prevent Them From Happening To You)
Travel Tidbits-Weddings and Honeymoons