Shop Talk : Love in the fall

By Katryn Yerdon
Published: October 1, 2009

Love is in the air. It is all around us. See it in the long, white flowing wedding dresses, the colorful array of bridesmaid dresses, and the beautifully wrapped wedding gifts. Many of those wedding gifts are or can be bought right here on the Vineyard. If you are one of the many invited to an amazing Island wedding, or a future bride planning your wedding, I would highly recommend visiting some of our Island shops.

Everything for a romantic setting at Past & Presents. Photo by Katryn Yerdon

Midnight Farm, just off Main Street in Vineyard Haven, has a wide selection of possible wedding gifts. There is a large table of cookbooks to your right and a hutch filled with Stonewall Kitchen food items to your left. Continue through to a wonderfully appointed seating area or over to the most sinfully smelling candles by Votivo and the French-imported Diptyque. If you feel overwhelmed or unsure, just ask the friendly staff for some help. I was lucky enough to meet Jen, who was a wealth of knowledge and wedding suggestions. She said the most popular wedding gifts are the Rose Ann Hall etched stemware ($22 each), the flatware, a piece of ceramic (they have an extremely large selection) and the aforementioned Diptyque candles ($67) as they are something that brides might not buy for themselves, but would truly love to have. Jen said another popular option could be a custom-made gift basket. They have wonderful bathroom towels which, paired with some of their luxurious soaps and candles, would make a wonderful basket for the happy couple.

At Vineyard Decorators, out at the airport, you can speak with Natasha Shultz. She was happy to share some of the current wedding gift trends and suggestions for the "second marriage" gift. For the young couple just starting out, choosing an accessory such as a toss pillow, floral arrangement, or lamp is a great way to go. If you wanted to do something a little higher end, visit the bedroom area to pick some Peacock Alley linens, duvet covers with coordinating shams, and towels made out of bamboo. For the established couple, she suggested getting a gift that is opulent and decadent, such as a French framed print or cashmere throw. Natasha also said when in doubt the favorite go-to gift is a gift certificate so that the bride and groom can choose their own furniture or decor.

For the gift that stands the test of time, Past & Presents on Main Street in Edgartown could be your shop of choice. They offer both traditional and contemporary pieces that could become family heirlooms. Janice Wooden had such a love for the pieces in the store, that you might have a hard time not catching her passion and walking out with something for yourself as well. She has seen a popular trend in gifts of old pieces that have been recycled into new ones - vintage bamboo made into side tables with new tops of decoupage or work crafted by an artist in France. She also said the traditional gift of candlesticks is still a great way to go, and with their selection of brass, silver, glass or Barclay twist, you can't go wrong. Picture frames and mirrors are also special and their shell-encrusted options are great for the Island wedding.

For the brides planning their Island wedding, why not help out your guests and register at any of the above stores. That way you can choose from the wonderful selection of Island wares and your guests can travel unencumbered along with the excitement of a reason to shop while here.