Of the 52 vineyards on Long Island, 27 are open to the public. Beautiful tasting rooms, decks, arbors and vistas provide the perfect backdrop for a wedding.

"I wasn't familiar with Long Island," said Brad Speckerman, whose wedding to Maria Pappas was held at Macari Vineyards. "I had this perception that it was very commercial," he said. "I was surprised to see so much country." It was this beauty that convinced the couple to marry at a vineyard. This was the second wedding for both bride and groom, so they wanted an affair that would be a little different and less traditional.

For Maureen Buhler and Ken Carrion, who spent much of their courtship on Long Island's East End, it was natural for them to tie the knot here.

"We realized as we were planning the wedding that most of our guests hadn't been to the North Fork," Maureen said. "With Ken being in the wedding business, we wanted something totally different, a wedding like no other."

Here is a tale of two weddings. Both were unique, casual and elegant. Both took place at Long Island wineries. Best of all, both couples couldn't be happier with their choice of the North Fork for their special day.

Maria Pappas and Brad Speckerman
July 10, 2004
Macari Vineyards, Mattituck

Maria Margarita Pappas met her husband, Brad Speckerman, in a most unusual way. They lived with their respective families on the same block in Hopkinton, Mass. They had children similar in age who played together. Neither imagined they'd eventually be married to each other.

A couple of moves -- to Cleveland and then back to Hopkinton for Brad -- and two divorces later, the couple finally got together. Their children had been friendly the first time the Speckermans lived in Hopkinton so, when Brad moved back, he and Maria wasted no time in getting their children together for play dates and after-school activities.

Then one day Maria called Brad to tell him a large box turtle had taken up residence on her lawn. Brad went to see what the excitement was about. "When I came over I had to educate her on what kind of turtle it was," said Brad, who informed Maria that her new tenant was actually a snapping turtle.

"I was more interested in the turtle at that point," Maria remembers. But they had a lot in common and their children got along so well. One thing led to another, and Brad proposed.

"We loved the concept of having a vineyard wedding because it was different and because we're both wine enthusiasts," Maria said. Maria was familiar with the East End because she spent summers here and her parents own a house in Southold. They chose Macari Vineyards because they felt it offered everything they wanted for their wedding.

"We were pleased that the wedding could be outdoors on the deck, yet protected with a roof," Maria said. "We loved the natural wood in the tasting room and, being avid photographers ourselves, we loved the photos on the tasting room walls." The couple also liked the fact that their wedding would be the only event at the winery that day.

Maria and Brad were married at Transfiguration of Christ Greek Orthodox Church in Mattituck. Their five children served as bridesmaids and best man. After photos at the church, the bridal party headed to Macari for the festivities.

For the cocktail hour the tasting room had been transformed into a bistro with low lighting and glass-topped wine barrels. Hurricane lamps adorned the fireplace and served as centerpieces on the tables, where they were surrounded with wreaths of purple, lavender and blue flowers. Dinner was served on the deck overlooking the lush green vineyard.

"It was a dream wedding," Maria said. "The weather was gorgeous, with a gentle breeze and clear skies." During speeches toasting the couple the sun began to set, giving the sky a beautiful wash of pinks, purples and reds.

The food, catered by the Irish Coffee Pub in East Islip, was "incredible," Maria remembers. And, in keeping with the local flavor, Maria served pies from Briermere Farms of Riverhead.

"It's always been a favorite destination for us," she said. "We didn't want the traditional soggy wedding cake," she added. "Pies were a little different." As a final personal touch, guests enjoyed her mother's home-baked Greek cookies.

Maureen Buhler and Ken Carrion
July 9, 2004
Pugliese Vineyards, Cutchogue
Laurel Lake Vineyards, Laurel
Vineyard Caterers, Aquebogue

As owner of an event entertainment business, Ken Carrion promises his customers "a cure for the common party." Naturally his wedding had to be anything but ordinary.

Before he could plan that wedding, however, he had to find the perfect bride. Enter Maureen Buhler, a high school math teacher in Brentwood School District, whom he met at a friend's retirement party.

"All that summer I pursued her, but she wanted nothing to do with me. She wasn't looking for any type of relationship. But I kind of convinced her we were having fun," Ken said. One of their early dates was at Corey Beach in Bayport, where Maureen lived. He brought a bottle of 1997 Estate Reserve Chardonnay from Laurel Lake Vineyards.

That summer Maureen moved from Bayport to Hauppauge, where Ken lived, and they quickly became a couple. They visited Laurel Lake Vineyards and other North Fork wineries, and decided they wanted to get married at a vineyard on the East End.

While the couple was visiting the Vanderbilt Museum in Centerport with Ken's sister, Ken enlisted the aid of one of the museum curators, who put the ring in a display. After they walked through the museum, the curator guided them toward a case she told them held newer pieces.

"She said they were arranged so they got more beautiful as you went along," Ken recalled. "The curator had placed the ring in a conch shell. When Maureen got to the case with the shell she screamed. Then the curator opened the case, Ken's sister got out the camera, and Ken got down on one knee to propose.

On July 9, 2004, Maureen and Ken were married under the vine-covered arbor at Pugliese Vineyards. Their 100 guests had a view of the pond, where cranes, turtles and birds also witnessed the nuptials. An intermezzo with wine and cheese was held at Laurel Lake Vineyards, and the reception followed at Vineyard Caterers in Aquebogue.

"Our guests drove a long way for our wedding and we didn't want them stranded with nothing to do between the ceremony and the reception," Maureen said. "We wanted them to have somewhere to go, so we planned the intermezzo," she added.

"We were so pleased to be able to show our closest friends and family a piece of what we know as home away from home," Ken said.

Maureen loved everything about her wedding. "It was the most romantic wedding I've ever been to," she said. "The views, the ambience, the sky, the sun setting. It was gorgeous."