Rockland: Maine's Best Kept Secret for A Wedding Destination
By Norm Goldman
In 2004 Rockland Maine celebrated its 150th anniversary, yet very few in the
past would have ever considered it to be a place for a vacation, let alone a
romantic getaway experience or wedding destination.
Perhaps, this is a draw back to the time when visitors would experience the
unpleasant whiffs emanating from the SeaPro fish-rendering plant. In fact, it
was not uncommon to hear the jingle: “Camden by the Sea, Rockland by the
Smell.”
All has now changed in Rockland as SeaPro, along with the town’s two sardine-
packing and other fish processing plants, have departed along with their odors.
There is now a handsome harbor- front with a walking trail extending over four-
miles connecting several points of interest as Snow Marine Park, Harbor Park,
where the annual Maine Lobster Festival is held, Rockland Fish Pier, Coast
Guard Pier, Maine State Ferry Service Terminal, North End wharves, Marie H.
Reed Memorial Park and the Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse.
The latter two are often venues for some spectacular wedding ceremonies.
It is also home to The Historic Inns Of Rockland, a consortium of six
independently owned inns that are dedicated to historical preservation, as well
as providing their guests with a memorable experience within a locale that has
reinvented itself as a mecca for the arts and outdoor activities.
In addition, three of these inns, LimeRock Inn, Berry Manor Inn and Captain
Lindsey House have created a sub-consortium that inter-change and leverage
their facilities offering a combined wedding venue that take full advantage of
their unique attributes.
As all are in walking distance of one another, you can avail yourself of anyone
of them for the rehearsal dinner, afternoon bridesmaid’s tea, wedding reception,
and any other functions.
The gorgeous outdoor gardens of The LimeRock Inn make it an ideal choice to
exchange vows providing plenty of space to move around.
The stately Berry Manor Inn with its drawing room, spacious parlor, dining
room, and grand stairway, all presenting a Victorian flair, make this inn a most
attractive wedding venue.
You can even engage the services of Captain Ken Barnes to perform the
wedding ceremony. He and his wife Ellen are owners of the Captain Lindsey
House. The intimacy of the Captain Lindsey House, that incidentally resembles
a European style hotel, along with the Barnes’ wonderful collection of décor,
relics, and authentic antiques acquired during their many years of travel, will
surely provide the wedding guests with some interesting topics for animated
conversation.
The combined number of rooms of these three inns is twenty- nine, and if you
add the other three inns, Old Granite Inn, Waterman House & Gardens, and the
Lakeshore Inn, you have a total of forty- four rooms to call upon. All total with
roll-aways and cots you could conceivably accommodate about one hundred
guests.
What is also noteworthy is that all, with the exception of the Lakeshore Inn, are
in walking distance of one another. It should be mentioned that the latter is
within an easy ten- minute drive from the others.
What is also interesting about these inns is their close proximity to many
outdoor venues where wedding ceremonies can be celebrated. Here is a
sampling:
>As mentioned above, the Marie H. Reed Memorial Park and the Rockland
Breakwater Lighthouse, is a very popular wedding venue offering spectacular
panoramic ocean views of mountains, islands, Penobscot Bay, as well as
schooners, island ferries, fishing boats depart and enter the harbor. There is also
a small sandy beach leading to the historic Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse.
> Mt Battie located in Camden Hills State Park offers spectacular views of
Camden, Penobscot Bay, and surrounding islands. During the autumn the
foliage is breathtaking. If you are in the mood to add a little poetry to your
ceremony, it should be pointed out that the famous poet and playwright, Edna
St. Vincent Millay, who was born in Rockland, was inspired by the view from
the summit of Mt. Battie when she wrote her poem “Renascence” which opens
"All I could see from where I stood / Was three long mountains and a wood; / I turned
and looked the other way, / And saw three islands in a bay."
> One of the most popular venues is the non-denominational Vesper Hill
Children’s Chapel, set atop a rock ledge overlooking unbelievable lush
gardens. The chapel can seat fifty, however, there are other spots nearby where
you can exchange vows that will accommodate a larger party.
> Don’t forget to check out the Merryspring Horticultural Nature Park with its
herb and rose garden, the Perennial Border, and the Birds and Bees/Winter
Color Garden. In late summer, the 250-foot long annual border is the star of the
show, with some flowers blooming well into October.
> Last but not least are the many lighthouses that attract couples from all over
the globe. There is the Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse, the Owls Head
Lighthouse and the Marshall Point Lighthouse.
In order to reach these various venues and at the same time keep the wedding
party together, many couples rent a trolley from the All Aboard Trolley
Company.
In addition, the trolley provides you with the added feature of having some
great photo opportunities.
No doubt, with all of these resources available and a little imagination,
weddings in Rockland Maine can easily compete with the best of them at any
other destination. One last important mention, in most instances it is necessary
to contact the officials of your chosen venue in order to arrange a date and time
for the celebration of your wedding.
A UNIQUE GIFT
If you are looking for that special gift for the bride, mother and daughter
getaway, mother-in-law, or wedding attendants, the Lakeshore Inn, a member
of the Historic Inns of Rockland, offers a reasonably priced Ladies Only Spa
Weekend during the months of Mid-October through June. From their arrival
on Friday evening until they depart on Sunday, groups of 4 to eight ladies
experience a wonderful line up of mind and body presentations with learning
sessions with spa treatments that include facial, massage, manicure, pedicure
and paraffin wax treatments. In addition, owner Pam Masson serves mouth-
watering gourmet meals.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
A great place to pick up some excellent wines produced in Maine is Cellardoor
Winery & Vineyards located in nearby Lincolnville.
For delicious sandwiches, soups, breads and pastries check out Atlantic Baking
Co. You won’t be disappointed.
Norm and Lily Goldman are a unique husband and wife team, writer and water
colorist, who write and paint about romantic destinations.
Basically, they meld art and words to create an unusual travel story, which
generates interest, particularly because of the fact that each painting appears to
have been ‘custom made’ for the story – original story and original art.
About the author: You can view all of their articles and art work on sketchandtravel.com.
Norm and Lily have collaborated with several Convention Bureaus and Public Relations
Companies visiting many romantic travel destinations, resorts and inns throughout the
New England States and Florida.
By Norm Goldman
In 2004 Rockland Maine celebrated its 150th anniversary, yet very few in the
past would have ever considered it to be a place for a vacation, let alone a
romantic getaway experience or wedding destination.
Perhaps, this is a draw back to the time when visitors would experience the
unpleasant whiffs emanating from the SeaPro fish-rendering plant. In fact, it
was not uncommon to hear the jingle: “Camden by the Sea, Rockland by the
Smell.”
All has now changed in Rockland as SeaPro, along with the town’s two sardine-
packing and other fish processing plants, have departed along with their odors.
There is now a handsome harbor- front with a walking trail extending over four-
miles connecting several points of interest as Snow Marine Park, Harbor Park,
where the annual Maine Lobster Festival is held, Rockland Fish Pier, Coast
Guard Pier, Maine State Ferry Service Terminal, North End wharves, Marie H.
Reed Memorial Park and the Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse.
The latter two are often venues for some spectacular wedding ceremonies.
It is also home to The Historic Inns Of Rockland, a consortium of six
independently owned inns that are dedicated to historical preservation, as well
as providing their guests with a memorable experience within a locale that has
reinvented itself as a mecca for the arts and outdoor activities.
In addition, three of these inns, LimeRock Inn, Berry Manor Inn and Captain
Lindsey House have created a sub-consortium that inter-change and leverage
their facilities offering a combined wedding venue that take full advantage of
their unique attributes.
As all are in walking distance of one another, you can avail yourself of anyone
of them for the rehearsal dinner, afternoon bridesmaid’s tea, wedding reception,
and any other functions.
The gorgeous outdoor gardens of The LimeRock Inn make it an ideal choice to
exchange vows providing plenty of space to move around.
The stately Berry Manor Inn with its drawing room, spacious parlor, dining
room, and grand stairway, all presenting a Victorian flair, make this inn a most
attractive wedding venue.
You can even engage the services of Captain Ken Barnes to perform the
wedding ceremony. He and his wife Ellen are owners of the Captain Lindsey
House. The intimacy of the Captain Lindsey House, that incidentally resembles
a European style hotel, along with the Barnes’ wonderful collection of décor,
relics, and authentic antiques acquired during their many years of travel, will
surely provide the wedding guests with some interesting topics for animated
conversation.
The combined number of rooms of these three inns is twenty- nine, and if you
add the other three inns, Old Granite Inn, Waterman House & Gardens, and the
Lakeshore Inn, you have a total of forty- four rooms to call upon. All total with
roll-aways and cots you could conceivably accommodate about one hundred
guests.
What is also noteworthy is that all, with the exception of the Lakeshore Inn, are
in walking distance of one another. It should be mentioned that the latter is
within an easy ten- minute drive from the others.
What is also interesting about these inns is their close proximity to many
outdoor venues where wedding ceremonies can be celebrated. Here is a
sampling:
>As mentioned above, the Marie H. Reed Memorial Park and the Rockland
Breakwater Lighthouse, is a very popular wedding venue offering spectacular
panoramic ocean views of mountains, islands, Penobscot Bay, as well as
schooners, island ferries, fishing boats depart and enter the harbor. There is also
a small sandy beach leading to the historic Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse.
> Mt Battie located in Camden Hills State Park offers spectacular views of
Camden, Penobscot Bay, and surrounding islands. During the autumn the
foliage is breathtaking. If you are in the mood to add a little poetry to your
ceremony, it should be pointed out that the famous poet and playwright, Edna
St. Vincent Millay, who was born in Rockland, was inspired by the view from
the summit of Mt. Battie when she wrote her poem “Renascence” which opens
"All I could see from where I stood / Was three long mountains and a wood; / I turned
and looked the other way, / And saw three islands in a bay."
> One of the most popular venues is the non-denominational Vesper Hill
Children’s Chapel, set atop a rock ledge overlooking unbelievable lush
gardens. The chapel can seat fifty, however, there are other spots nearby where
you can exchange vows that will accommodate a larger party.
> Don’t forget to check out the Merryspring Horticultural Nature Park with its
herb and rose garden, the Perennial Border, and the Birds and Bees/Winter
Color Garden. In late summer, the 250-foot long annual border is the star of the
show, with some flowers blooming well into October.
> Last but not least are the many lighthouses that attract couples from all over
the globe. There is the Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse, the Owls Head
Lighthouse and the Marshall Point Lighthouse.
In order to reach these various venues and at the same time keep the wedding
party together, many couples rent a trolley from the All Aboard Trolley
Company.
In addition, the trolley provides you with the added feature of having some
great photo opportunities.
No doubt, with all of these resources available and a little imagination,
weddings in Rockland Maine can easily compete with the best of them at any
other destination. One last important mention, in most instances it is necessary
to contact the officials of your chosen venue in order to arrange a date and time
for the celebration of your wedding.
A UNIQUE GIFT
If you are looking for that special gift for the bride, mother and daughter
getaway, mother-in-law, or wedding attendants, the Lakeshore Inn, a member
of the Historic Inns of Rockland, offers a reasonably priced Ladies Only Spa
Weekend during the months of Mid-October through June. From their arrival
on Friday evening until they depart on Sunday, groups of 4 to eight ladies
experience a wonderful line up of mind and body presentations with learning
sessions with spa treatments that include facial, massage, manicure, pedicure
and paraffin wax treatments. In addition, owner Pam Masson serves mouth-
watering gourmet meals.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
A great place to pick up some excellent wines produced in Maine is Cellardoor
Winery & Vineyards located in nearby Lincolnville.
For delicious sandwiches, soups, breads and pastries check out Atlantic Baking
Co. You won’t be disappointed.
Norm and Lily Goldman are a unique husband and wife team, writer and water
colorist, who write and paint about romantic destinations.
Basically, they meld art and words to create an unusual travel story, which
generates interest, particularly because of the fact that each painting appears to
have been ‘custom made’ for the story – original story and original art.
About the author: You can view all of their articles and art work on sketchandtravel.com.
Norm and Lily have collaborated with several Convention Bureaus and Public Relations
Companies visiting many romantic travel destinations, resorts and inns throughout the
New England States and Florida.
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