Wedding Bliss

Wedding by PATRICK MCNAMARA Functions Manager Bliss

Codman Estate offers the ultimate in nuptial experiences

It was “the handsomest place in America,” proclaimed Rebecca Gore in 1799, scion of a wealthy Boston family whose husband, Christopher, was a prominent lawyer and politician who would serve as governor of Massachusetts. She was referring to the Codman Estate, also known as The Grange, a sensational rural haven set in lush surroundings in Lincoln, Massachusetts.

The Codman Estate hosts many unique events but it is most often the place for fabulous one-of-a-kind weddings. Couples love the openness of the space, its verdant lawns, historic gardens, and water features. Photo opportunities are everywhere, from the terraces of the 1740 mansion to ancient stone walls, garden nooks, and majestic trees.

Ceremonies are most often held in the luminous Italian Garden. Sarah Bradlee Codman conceived this walled, hidden oasis as an outdoor living room when she created it in 1899. The Codmans were noted for entertaining as

well as for their love of nature and beauty. Incorporated into the garden are ancient columns, urns, arbors, and pergolas. Its most noted feature is the serene reflecting pool. A perennial perimeter garden and shade trees add to the tranquil ambiance. Anchoring each end of the reflecting pool are statues of Roman deities: Flora, the goddess of flowers and springtime; and Bacchus, god of agriculture, wine, and entertainment.

Sarah’s son Ogden Jr., architect and interior designer to the rich and famous, embraced The Grange and all it represented. He spent a lot of time in Europe and his drawings for a formal garden on the property may have been the inspiration for the Italian Garden. Ogden traveled in high-society circles. With popular novelist Edith Wharton, he coauthored the 1897 book The Decoration of Houses. It was a major success and is still considered an important manual for professional decorators. A tour of the Codman mansion shows why Ogden was so inspired by the inside of the estate as well as the outside.

The expansive meadow is the perfect post-wedding-ceremony gathering place; guests segue there for cocktail hour and lawn games and revel in its splendor, from the centuries-old stone walls to a rural pond with spectacular foliage and wildflowers. The Carriage House is an 1862 wonder. Its rustic charm, original beadboard paneling, and overhead bistro lights and lanterns win plaudits from our couples. They especially love the enormous dance floor and built-in bar. The Carriage House can accommodate intimate weddings for dinner and dancing. Weddings of up to 150 people require a tent, which is placed over the gravel drive to create a 360-degree panorama of the Carriage House, meadow, woods, farmland, and lawns. This is pastoral beauty at its best.

page 32 An autumn ceremony in the Italian Garden beneath a chuppah. Courtesy of Leise Jones Photography. top A romantic moment captured in the Italian Garden. bottom Olivia and Jordan described their wedding at the Codman Estate as magical. Courtesy of Rebecca Caponetti, Fifty One Hale Photography.