A Lovely Fall Wedding at Sunapee Yacht Club in New Hampshire

Lake Sunapee is such a meaningful place to William (Bill) Shaw (33 and works in finance) and his family, that both he and his twin brother got married in the area. But Bill wanted his wedding to Dagmara Nowak (31 and a lighting designer) to contrast his brother’s airy summer party. At Lake Sunapee Yacht Club, he and Dagmara designed a rich, lush celebration with velvet tablecloths, burgundy candlesticks and hanging displays of amaranthus, Italian ruscus and baby blue eucalyptus. Born in Poland, Dagmara also brought her own heritage to New Hampshire. Per Polish tradition, the parents of the newlyweds welcomed the couple to the reception with bread, salt and champagne, which Dagmara chose in place of the usual wine or vodka.
Dagmara carried garden roses, orchids, astilbe, scabiosa and protea. Her crew carried roses, hellebores and scabiosa, while Bill’s groomsmen wore matching ties.
The couple created a mod seating area under pennant flags at the reception. 
“I really wanted a cheese tower as our wedding cake, so I brought up five cheese wheels from New York,” Dagmara says. A dessert spread of rosemary cakes, berry cobblers, plum mascarpone cheesecake and tarts offered something for everyone.  
Homemade sourdough bread and rosemary sprigs marked each seat. 
Dagmara and Bill popped a cork after the ceremony. 
Jars of olive oil and vinegar were on hand for a gourmet meal of butternut squash soup, roasted vegetables, prime rib and potato gnocchi.
The newlyweds floated up to the reception in a vintage wooden Chris-Craft boat driven by a friend. “It was so special seeing everyone gathered to welcome us,” Dagmara says.