Helpful Resources
Another great idea from CREA, the Event Planning Center offers an event planning library and complete event management services in downtown Portsmouth.
Caterers
Julie Reed Dunfey Catering - Catering service
York Lobster - A dedication pristine quality and customer service has made York Lobster & Seafood the primary seafood vendor for over sixty area restaurants. Offering a wide variety of local groundfish, finfish and shellfish as well as selections from all over the world. York Lobster & Seafood is a federally permitted seafood buyer and has many day boat fisherman committed up and down the coast of Maine. Proud of their products and satisfied customers, York Lobster doesn't just fill orders, they'll offer assistance in choosing the right products, educate customers about seafood choices and seasonal trends, and deliver the finest quaility fish available seven days a week.
Chamber of Commerce
Dover Chamber -
Dover is situated between the Bellamy and Cochecho Rivers in the center of the Seacoast region of New Hampshire. Dover is convenient to New Hampshire and Maine lakes and beaches, is about an hour by highway from Boston, Massachusetts, and Portland, Maine, and is less than an hour from the state's capital city of Concord.
The Greater Dover Chamber of Commerce is a not-for-profit association of business and industry, professionals, individuals, and organizations working together to advance the economic well-being of its members and the community.
Greater Portsmouth Chamber - The Greater Portsmouth Chamber of Commerce is organized for the purpose of advancing the economic, industrial, professional, cultural and civic welfare of the Greater Portsmouth area by:
Supporting preservation of the free enterprise system, thus creating a better appreciation and understanding of the business person and consumer, and a concern for their problems; all activities believed to be beneficial to the seacoast area and opposing those that may be detrimental. Encouraging growth of existing businesses and providing assistance to new firms and/or individuals seeking to locate their business in the Greater Portsmouth region. And promoting programs of a civic, social and cultural nature designed to increase the functional and aesthetic values of the seacoast community.
Greater York Region Chamber - Long sandy beaches, warm cozy fires, kayaking and biking - there’s something for everyone.
There are family-oriented special events year-round in the greater York Region, including Celebrate Maine Festival in August, Harvestfest in October, and York Days, a week-long celebration of summer in York Beach. The Yorks offer wealth of fine restaurants and accommodations, including oceanfront resorts, campgrounds, and cozy bed & breakfasts.
From festivals to sandcastles, the Greater York Region welcomes you - in every season---for every reason!
Kennebunk/Kennebunkport Chamber of Commerce - Just 90 miles north of Boston, there's a glorious little corner of Maine where lobstermen still command the sea, where shop owners greet their visitors like long-lost friends and where the time-warp charm of New England's old-world fishing villages takes us back to simpler times – back when leisurely summer evenings were spent on front porches enjoying soft ocean breezes and long winter nights were warmed by the company of loved ones, as a gentle snowfall blanketed the outside world in delicate lace.
Welcome to the pristine seaside communities of Kennebunk, Kennebunkport, Arundel and Cape Porpoise – also known as the "Kennebunks." We're so close you can spend just a day – yet we're worlds away from the stress of everyday living. Recapture childhood memories of sun-drenched days spent at the beach. Renew your sense of adventure by cruising out of Cape Porpoise on a working lobster boat, fly-fishing on the Mousam River or hitting the slopes at one of our nearby ski resorts. Let our small-town community spirit become part of the fabric of your life – for a day or for a lifetime.
Ogunquit Chamber - Ogunquit: your vacation destination for every season. Fall brings the foliage, OgunquitFest, antiquing, and the opportunity for you and your pet to enjoy the beach and Marginal Way. Winter brings Christmas By the Sea, Mardi Gras, ice skating, and the opportunity to pamper yourself with a spa treatment. Spring brings fresh flowers, Patriots Day celebrations, a challenging round of golf, fishing, and hiking. In the evening enjoy a specialty wine dinner or musical entertainment at one of many fantastic area restaurants. Then return to your room to soak in a hot tub or curl up by a crackling fire. Summer: Walk on the pristine beach, see waves crashing into granite cliffs and evergreens rising above the birch trees along the Marginal Way. Ogunquit has long been a beautiful summer destination for visitors. Today, many travelers are finding that Ogunquit provides a wonderful year round vacation experience. Discover the charm of Ogunquit in all four seasons and see what you've been missing.
Computer/Web Services
Event Planners
Beautiful Days Events - Beautiful Days provides excellence in planning and floral design to Southern Maine, the New Hampshire Seacoast and beyond. This distinctive, historical, and coastal environment is such a unique place it's no wonder so many people choose this area for their special occasions. The pristine landscapes, timeless architecture and natural beauty are endless sources of inspiration and the perfect backdrop for your celebration.
Fireworks
Central Maine Pyrotechnics - Central Maine Pyrotechnics is Maine’s #1 fireworks company doing business in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and Massachusetts. We specialize in providing you with a unique pyrotechnics experience for your memorable celebration. Central Maine Pyrotechnics began its’ business 20 years ago, with some of it’s licensed technicians having thirty-five years of experience in the field. Our licensed professional technicians have over 400 years of experience in the industry. Central Maine Pyrotechnics firework displays come in many sizes and prices that are suitable for your memorable events such as weddings, anniversaries, fairs, Centennials, corporate events, Grand Openings and celebrations in general. We are a leader in skillfully mastering artistic displays whether it is an aerial display or a ground display with set pieces.
Florists
Jardiniere Florist - Jardiniere Florist, located in downtown Portsmouth, New Hampshire, provides stunning floral arrangements of garden and exotic flowers for all occasions, specializing in weddings, corporate events and other special affairs. With unrelenting dedication to quality and service, Jardiniere Florist provides custom designs of the freshest flowers available with an infusion of color and fragrance to please and delight the senses.
Owner’s Kathie and Vinny Colella and their team of dedicated employees and talented floral designers are known for their superior customer service and exceptional floral arrangement.
Hotels/Resorts/Function Halls
Abenaqui Country Club - Rye, NH - Abenaqui Country Club offers a private facility rich in tradition and unsurpassed elegance. Abenaqui is located on the beautiful New Hampshire seacoast surrounded by pristine woodland and gentle ocean breezes.
Established in 1903, their club is available to members and their guests for golf, tennis and social activities. Their facilities include a world-class 6,697–yard (par-72) golf course, four Har-tru tennis courts, and a magnificent clubhouse with opulent dining facilities. They will welcome you and your guests to an enjoyable and truly memorable club experience.
Ashworth by the Sea - Hampton Beach, NH - Open year round, the historical Ashworth by the Sea offers friendly New England hospitality in an elegant, boutique hotel setting. We’ve maintained the historical aspects of the hotel, which has been a Hampton Beach Landmark for over 95 years, but updated it with all the modern conveniences and latest technology.
Ashworth by the Sea offers the best views overlooking New England’s nicest beaches as well as the best food, service, rooms, and location in Hampton Beach, New Hampshire.
Ashworth by the Sea is the perfect Hampton Beach hotel for romantic getaways, family vacations, girlfriends’ spa & shopping weekends, or corporate retreats.
Clay Hill Farm - York, ME - The restaurant at Clay Hill Farm, surrounded by eleven private acres of rolling lawns, colorful gardens and our tree farm's protected woodlands, provides a tranquil retreat for those who seek award-winning food and service while enjoying the natural beauty of Maine.
Clay Hill Farm has been the recipient of numerous local, regional and national awards for food and service. Open year ‘round, they proudly serve traditional Holiday family feasts on Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, Easter and Mother’s Day, along with special menus for dinner parties and private affairs.
Cliff House Resort and Spa - Ogunquit, ME - This beautiful Maine resort on the scenic coast near Ogunquit has been the scene of countless weddings,receptions and events since 1872, ranging from an elegant daytime events in the Main Dining Room to a spectacular evening blowouts in the Coastal Ballroom.
Eagle Mountain House - Traditional Jackson New Hampshire lodging in the heart of the White Mountains since 1879. This Historic Hotel of America, listed on the National Trust for Historic Preservation, was restored as a historic country inn in 1986.
Ninety three guest rooms and suites in a casual country decor, most with wireless internet service.
Cross country ski from the door onto the #1 network in the East 9-hole golf course, pro shop and driving range. On property amenities include tennis court, outdoor heated pool and health club with sauna, 280 foot wrap-around grand veranda with breathtaking mountain views.
Hilton Garden Inn - Located in the heart of historic downtown Portsmouth, the Hilton Garden Inn is surrounded by a wide variety of restaurants, shops, boutiques, theaters, galleries and waterfront gardens. Access to deep sea fishing, whale watching tours, and panoramic tours of the Isle of Shoals are steps away from our front door. New Hampshire and Maine coastal beaches are a short drive, The Kittery Outlets and Fox Run Mall are just three miles from the hotel and numerous office buildings are within walking distance.
The New Hampshire Hilton Garden Inn features a restaurant that serves breakfast starting at 6:00am and dinner from 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm. The lounge, featuring live music every Friday and Saturday evening, also serves dinner and room service and is open until 9:00 pm. After a busy day, New Hampshire travelers can relax in the indoor pool and whirlpool or workout in the fitness center.
Audio/visual equipment, full service catered food and beverage, and business services are available for a nominal charge.
Red Barn at Outlook Farm - South Berwick, ME - The Red Barn at Outlook Farm hosts several different events from Private Dinners to Wedding Receptions throughout the year. Their exceptional staff and attention to detail will be evident from the day you choose their facility to host your event. Their goal is to make sure that all your expectations are exceeded.
Sheraton Harborside - Portsmouth, NH - With 15 conference rooms to choose from, the Sheraton Harborside Portsmouth is the ideal location to host a business function or personal gathering. Guests appreciate the location of being downtown within walking distance to all the attractions, shops, and restaurants. Their experienced personnel and superior quality is the perfect combination to make your event successful.
Stage Neck Inn - York Harbor, ME - Stage Neck Inn is a wonderful destination for a romantic getaway, fun vacation, wedding, corporate meeting or retreat. Enjoy deluxe oceanfront lodging on the southern coast of Maine. Stage Neck Inn is a complete resort with amenities that include a full-service spa, 18-hole golf club privileges, seasonal clay-court tennis, two swimming pools, fine dining in your choice of in two year-round or two seasonal restaurants, full-menu room service, and an exceptional service-oriented staff.
The Inns & Spa at Mill Falls - Located in the heart of New Hampshire's historic Lakes Region, The Inns and Spa at Mill Falls provide an extraordinary venue for your next event. Let their conference coordinators help you plan an elegant corporate retreat, an intimate workshop, board retreat or an annual meeting you are sure to remember for years to come. A total of 158 designer decorated guestrooms and function facilities to accommodate groups of 5 to 300 people awaits you.
Union Bluff Hotel - Whether it is that special day you have always dreamed of, or a special occasion that needs to be recognized, the Meeting House is the perfect backdrop for your event.
Able to accommodate up to 200 guests with a professional custom dance floor, the Meeting House boasts a classic, warm neutral interior décor that is sure to enhance any theme. The ballroom will wow you with 12 foot ceilings detailed with crown molding, tray lighting and custom made chandeliers. Their double-sided bar serves onto the ocean view patio so you can offer your guests an amazing view during the cocktail hour and beyond. Claim the building for your event by reserving the eight beautifully appointed hotel rooms above with access to and from the function hall. Included with your booking are the services of their Event Coordinator, who will meet with you at various times to ensure all details of your special event are addressed.
Wentworth by the Sea - Newcastle, NH - Wentworth By the Sea commands the island of New Castle, NH's oldest settlement, next to the distinctive destination of Portsmouth, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. The perfect destination for a romantic getaway, family vacation or group, Wentworth by the Sea. The 161 guest rooms & suites blend historic elegance with 21st century convenience. Portsmouth NH conferences, meetings, and events appreciate the 10,000 sq. feet of flexible space including the original Grand Ballroom and the Treaty Boardroom. The meticulously restored grand hotel gleams with the glamour and grace that have drawn guests here for over a century. Intimate restaurants with imaginative cuisine, tranquil spa services, indoor and outdoor pools, nearby ocean beach, fitness and business centers, WiFi and an unwavering commitment to guest service make the Wentworth Marriott one of the great resort hotels of NH, New England and the world.
York Harbor Reading Room - York, ME - For more than a century the York Harbor Reading Room has been a place for families to gather.
This seasonal private club offers elegant dining, lectures, and fun parties for all ages of its members from May through October.
Even as the Reading Room is proud of its traditions and some of its families have enjoyed membership for generations, it is also open to new ideas and new faces and welcomes inquiries for membership.
Media
Atlantic Media - Atlantic Media, Ltd. is an award winning, full service, film and video production company. Utilizing the latest technology we specialize in creative programming for broadcast (television commercials, documentaries, radio commercials), closed viewing (educational, corporate, promotional, industrial, sales and training videos) and multimedia applications (CDROMS, streaming video for the web). Our many years of experience allow us to deliver artistically unique and compelling programs that bring our clients? stories to life. We shoot on film or video. Our clients don?t need to go to a big city to get high quality in any format. We can give our programs the look our clients want without the hassles or cost.
SeacoastOnline - Seacoast Online & Seacoast Media Group are a news and advertising powerhouse in Seacoast New Hampshire and Southern Maine. A division of Dow Jones, Inc., they are proud to offer you six great newspapers: The Portsmouth Herald, Hampton Union, Exeter News-Letter, Rockingham news, York Coast County Star, and The York Weekly. Each is a proven partner and an indispensible part of the communities they serve.
Tastes of the Seacoast - Taste Magazine (and their website) is rapidly establishing itself as THE place to go to when you want more information about dining out, food and wine, what’s happening, what’s hot and what’s going on on the Seacoast. As the demand for more grows, Taste will be there to inform, educate and report on what the public wants, when they want it, and what they are looking for... you!
Murder Mysteries
Murder Mystery - Enjoy fast-paced comedy that's as interactive as you want it to be! Since 1986, we've presented thousands of highly engaging shows at our own famed venue and elsewhere. Choose from dinner theater, murder mystery cruises, mansion mysteries and specialized events. Or let us come to you - our productions are highly customizable, making them perfect for corporate groups and parties too.
Organizations
Green Alliance - CREA is now a member of Green Alliance, a regionally based initiative inspiring businesses to become more sustainable.
Their Mission:
·To increase the profits of the businesses that are having the least impact on the environment and through "Business-to-Business" mentoring and strength in partnership, encourage more sustainable business practices.
·To educate and influence the public to think more about the goods and services they use in their own communities and to encourage more sustainable choices
We're proud to be a part of such an important effort, and offer all GA members a 10 percent discount on our booking and event planning services. Get on board, save the planet, and save some green while you're at it!
Seacoast Local - Officially launched in 2007, with a board of directors, the support of nearly 100 Buy Local network businesses, and a volunteer mailing list of more than 100 motivated community members, Seacoast Local is grassroots initiative dedicated to promoting community involvement in local business, agriculture, arts and culture, the environment and civic life in the Seacoast region of southern Maine and New Hampshire.
Smuttynose Brewing Company - he Granite State’s leading craft brewery, located in the historic seaport city of Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Smuttynose was founded in 1994 by the folks who started the Northampton; and Portsmouth Breweries. Their beers - Shoals Pale Ale, Old Brown Dog, Star Island Single, IPA, Robust Porter, the Big Beer Series & our seasonal specialties - Hanami, Summer Weizen, Pumpkin Ale & Winter Ale - are distributed from Maine to Florida.
The Portsmouth Brewery - The Portsmouth Brewery, New Hampshire's original brewpub, has been serving great food and outstanding handcrafted beers in a friendly, lively atmosphere since 1991.
They're open seven days a week, from 11:30 AM till 12:30 at night. Our kitchen is open till eleven PM on weekdays, till 12:30 on Friday and Saturday nights.
They love to host large groups and private functions. If you are planning a function of your own, check out our function menus or drop us a note and ask how can accommodate your party.
Production Companies Sound and Lights
Klondike Sound Co. - Klondike Sound Company provides sound reinforcement services for concerts and special events requiring high fidelity, full-coverage systems. Since 1968 KSC has played key roles in over ten thousand events, specializing in architecturally challenging venues and outdoor festivals. KSC is also an authorized dealer for many pro audio manufacturers.
All of their systems are custom packaged per client giving us the ability to configure for audiences from 100 to 30,000 seats indoors or out, stacked or flying.
Pine Point Productions - A full service audio and video production house. Services include production design, digital videography, digital editing, DVD authoring, manufacturing and design.
Psychic
Rentals
Unique Entertainment - Unique Entertainment Rentals is a full service rental company based in Plymouth, New Hampshire. We rent out inflatable games and other games to anyone intersted in enhancing their functions. Our Motto is: "You supply the people, and we'll supply the fun!" Our Staff is dedcated to making your function as fun and enjoyable as possible. Our job is to set up,control and take down the rides during your function. We do functions of all types, here are a few pictures of some of our events.
Theme Dinners
Joey & Maria's Comedy Italian Wedding - This show is RATED PG-13 Dillstar Productions presents the Gnocchis and the Cavatellis in the longest running all-interactive comedy wedding in the nation. It's one wedding that's had an unbelievable reception in cities like Boston, San Diego, Cleveland, St. Louis, and many more! Join these two wacky families as you dance the Tarantella, witness the vows, and take part in some unconvential surprises. Critics have hailed "Joey and Maria's" as "A blast" and "The wackiest wedding show... not to be compared to the rest!!" Come see the original interactive Italian wedding or Don Ziti is sure to pay you and yours a visit!! MANY OTHER THEMED SHOWS AVAILABLE FOR DIFFERENT OCCASIONS!
Wedding Planners
Blissful Beginnings - Blissful Beginnings has a simple philosophy:
Every event and every individual is different. It's your event and your style, not theirs.
They listen. They care.
BB clients often comment that their event is "so them." And why shouldn't it be? Whether you'd like them to manage your entire event or just one aspect of it, it will look as if you handled the details yourself.
Blissful Beginnings is your advisor, confidant and set of second hands. They'll design, manage and provide consultation for weddings, bar mitzvahs, baby and bridal showers, anniversaries, and birthdays.
Inside or outdoors, at home or at an establishment.
Every size event, every budget.
If you can imagine it, Blissful Beginnings can do it!
Kate Parker Weddings - From the coastline of Maine to the Mountains of New Hampshire, Kate Parker Weddings specializes in New England destination weddings. Whether you are planning a tented wedding on the ocean or a lavish affair in a grand hotel, Kate and her team will work with you to design an event you will remember forever. Offering full-scale wedding planning, floral and event design services.
What began as a one-woman wedding planning company in 2003, Kate Parker Weddings is now a nationally
recognized design and coordination firm.
Seeking to help the NYC or LA bride find her style in New England, Kate has created a company that caters to the design-savvy bride.
With a background in stage managing opera, and a great aunt with a passion for floral design (owned her own shop in Conneticut for 40 years), Kate comes by her design talent honestly. Headed by Kate, her husband Ryan, (Chihuahua Lola) and surrounded with the most energetic and dedicated staff, the KPW brand represents the highest level of customer service in the industry today.
Downloads
Wedding Worksheet PDF, 100kb