Classic Romance

With its magnificent architecture and rich history, Aldrich Mansion provides a romantic setting for fairy-tale weddings.

by NOELLE BARBOSA

Nestled amid 70 acres of manicured landscape and tranquil waters in Warwick Neck, Rhode Island, Aldrich Mansion is an opulent, Frenchinspired château with a beautiful Catholic chapel right on the property.

“The chapel is a gorgeous ceremony space, and the mansion takes your breath away,” says Laura Hoyos, who wed her husband, Andres, on October 5, 2018. The Arlington, Virginia, couple chose the gilded estate for its Baroque style and commanding views of Narragansett Bay. “Each room is more beautiful than the next, and the view of the bay is amazing. We decided to keep our theme classic and romantic to coordinate with its beauty.”

Steeped in history, Aldrich Mansion pays homage to the life and style of the 19th-century aristocracy. “The mansion has an Old-World feel,” says John Gazerro, director of the site. “The ceiling in the foyer is reminiscent of the ones found in Europe.” Senator Nelson W. Aldrich commissioned the home in 1896 and a team of European craftsmen worked diligently for 16 years to complete the project. Today, the stately home belongs to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence.

Aldrich Mansion offers a sprawling 7,000-squarefoot event space that can accommodate both large receptions and intimate affairs. The grand marble staircase is a showpiece and one of the most popular areas for photographs in the home. The venue hosts one event per day, which gives couples exclusive use of the property to dress (there’s a stunning secondfloor bridal suite), take photos and enjoy time with family and friends. Orchestrating all the details is Tony Maggiacomo, an event planner with more than three decades of experience. “I love when happy couples tell me they had the best night of their lives or that we made their wedding a dream come true,” says Maggiacomo. “That’s what makes me work so hard.”

Executive Chef Al Langeveld, who apprenticed with The Netherlands royal family chef, has been overseeing the kitchen at the estate for 30 years. His Elizabethaninspired menu offers a beef tenderloin and includes a tiered wedding cake. For any given event, the dessert room can include up to 20 different treats, including a mouthwatering bananas Foster. “The idea for a dessert room came from Chef Al about 20 years ago,” says Gazerro. “We used a smaller room initially, but it became so popular we had to move it to the larger library room.”

Couples must be of the Catholic faith to use the onsite chapel for their wedding ceremony, but brides and grooms of any religion can host their reception in the mansion.

by HOLLY ABNEY