A Rustic Spring Wedding at the Barn at Gibbet Hill in Groton, Massachusetts

When Amy Zarrella (35 and a teacher) and Jason Montanaro (31 and an account manager) embarked on the wedding planning process, they weren’t sure what they wanted. After doing venue research online, they came across the Barn at Gibbet Hill in Groton, Massachusetts, so Amy visited it. “I went with my mother, and the minute we walked in we knew it was the place,” Amy says. “It was so beautiful. I felt like I was meant to get married there and couldn't wait.” From there, all the rest of the decor designs fell into place. Playing off the Barn’s rustic, laid-back vibe, the couple went with an elegant, rustic-chic theme. They chose a palette of ivory, blue and green and arrangements of hydrangeas, gerbera daisies and roses to bring the venue’s beautiful barn to life. After exchanging vows on the Barn’s porch overlooking acres of rolling green hills, the newlyweds and their guests moved inside for the reception. The menu was a big hit; the Barn served a mouthwatering assortment of short ribs, arancine (stuffed Sicilian rice balls), crab cakes, filet mignon and more. When guests needed to rest their dancing feet, they headed to Amy and Jason’s photo booth, where they could strike a pose with any number of silly props. Some tips from Amy and Jason: “Sit down and make a list of things you need to do and when you want to accomplish them. That was a big thing for us to do. We had deadlines and made sure we had them down. Also, ask married couples what vendors they used. It’s better to know what you are getting into with certain vendors. We picked a bad limo company and they messed a few things up on the day of the wedding.”