Q: My fiancé and I want an intimate venue with accommodations on-site so that our guests can spend time together. What do you recommend?

One of our favorite wedding venues is the Stoney Hill Road House, located in Vineyard Haven behind the Island Alpaca farm. The property includes a beautiful house that sleeps twelve people and an adjacent boat barn that can seat up to 100 guests, plus stunning gardens and rolling lawns that are perfect for an outdoor ceremony.

We also love the Beach Plum Inn & Restaurant for its magnificent Menemsha water views and sunsets. The Beach Plum can host just about any size event, whether inside the intimate dining room or outside on the brick patio. The inn itself has five guest rooms in the main house and another five cottages on the property. If you have a larger wedding party, additional guests can stay at the adjacent sister property, the Menemsha Inn & Cottages.
Since we are Edgartown girls at heart, we love a downtown Edgartown wedding. L'etoile is another favorite, located on North Water Street. The outdoor garden patio is a great spot to exchange vows or host a small cocktail party or reception, and The Sydney, a boutique hotel, is located just upstairs.

Q: We’re working with a tight budget and want to get the most bang for our buck. What should we splurge on? Where should we look to find savings?
 
Ways to save money are different for every client. For some people, flowers are really important; for others it’s the band. One area we strongly recommend you don’t try to save money on is buying alcohol off-Island. By the time you buy everything you think you need, lug it to the Island, deliver to the reception site, and chill it, you might realize you forgot something or didn’t buy enough. It’s just not worth the hassle. We recommend Island Cocktail Company; they will take care of all the logistics for your desired beverage needs.

We also think you get the most bang for your buck when you hire an Island wedding planner (but you knew we’d say that). Island planners know all the vendors and can recommend the right match for your needs and budget. That alone is a huge savings – not only of money, but of time, too.
 
Q: How far in advance do we need to reserve a popular venue?

The earlier the better! If a couple really has their heart set on a specific wedding venue, we recommend securing that venue with a deposit up to a year and a half in advance. Some venues, like the Agricultural Hall in West Tisbury or St. Elizabeth's in Edgartown, book up almost two years in advance.

Q: We want to throw a casual welcome party to thank everyone. Do you have any venue and menu suggestions?

We love the Dr. Daniel Fisher House. The grounds are beautiful and centrally located in Edgartown, which is nice for guests who are staying in town and may be arriving late to the Island. Traditional clambakes are a great way to introduce guests to the culture of Martha’s Vineyard. Atria restaurant on Main Street in Edgartown has a diverse menu, a beautiful lawn, and a patio, plus lawn games, a tree swing, and a fire pit. Regardless of the venue, we like sending guests home with a trio of Chilmark Chocolates or some sweet treats from Val Cakes.

Each issue we invite an Island wedding professional to share his or her expertise. Kate Conde and Doriana Klumick are co-owners of Plan It Martha's Vineyard, which offers full, partial, and day-of-coordination wedding planning services. For more information, visit planitmv.com. Submit your questions to weddings@mvmagazine.com.