Our Wedding Story...
When I dreamed of my wedding day, I never dreamed of a specific place. My images were nothing concrete; I dreamed of a feeling. I always believed that when I found the perfect spot for my wedding, I would know. I knew from the moment I saw Bates Mansion that I had found that ideal place.
Elegant and regal, the Bates Mansion at Brook Farm sits in a valley nestled between mountains and streams. In the gardens, in each of the guest rooms, on each porch is a story waiting to be told. From the rolling pastures to the trotter track to the great entry hall and bustling kitchen, the Bates Mansion is a melody of movement. Amidst the elegant furnishings and decor is a welcoming openness. Intertwined with all the formality is familiarity. I knew immediately that this was going to be the best time of my life. George and Diana Davis, the owners of this spectacular estate, would have it no other way. With the guidance of our catering coordinator, a helpful staff and the care and affection of the Davises, the Bates Mansion is where your dreams of a truly unforgettable wedding takes life.
I had always loved sunflowers - their brilliance, color and country elegance. I wanted sunflowers to brighten my wedding. Ten weeks before the wedding, my parents, Susan and Gerry Leiber, my husband-to-be, Justin Murphy, Kristin, and a dear family friend, Kevin Inkawhich, helped me to plant my field of sunflowers at the Bates Mansion estate. We planted more than 1,000 that day - 18 different varieties. With sunlight, water, nurturing and a whole lot of luck, on my wedding day, the ninth of August, I had my field of sunflowers. On that morning, Kevin and I selected each of the sunflowers that the wedding party would wear. For my groom, I found an extraordinary one, breathtaking and strong. This vivid blossom had stood out amongst the others as magical.
My wedding day was a fairy tale. All the pieces, all the work and all the love fell right into place. Now over, it will live on in our minds and hearts and in a field of flowers standing tall in the sunlight - left to shine and dance again on another bride's wedding day.
