Love and Lobster Coastal New England Weddings

Paul Newman, one of America’s most legendary actors, also had one of Hollywood’s most legendary marriages. He tied the knot with actress Joanne Woodward in 1958 after reuniting with her on the set of “The Long Hot Summer,” launching a 50-year union that endured until his death in 2008.

Once you read the vows from their Las Vegas wedding, it’s easy to see why Paul and Joanne lasted so long.

Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward

January 29, 1958

Happiness in marriage is not something that just happens. A good marriage must be created. In the Art of Marriage: The little things are the big things. It is never being too old to hold hands. It is remembering to say ‘I love you’ at least once a day. It is never going to sleep angry.

It is at no time taking the other for granted; the courtship should not end with the honeymoon, it should continue through all the years. It is having a mutual sense of values and common objectives. It is standing together facing the world. It is forming a circle of love that gathers in the whole family. It is doing things for each other, not in the attitude of duty or sacrifice, but in the spirit of joy.

It is speaking words of appreciation and demonstrating gratitude in thoughtful ways. It is not expecting the husband to wear a halo or the wife to have wings of an angel. It is not looking for perfection in each other.

It is cultivating flexibility, patience, understanding and a sense of humor. It is having the capacity to forgive and forget. It is giving each other an atmosphere in which each can grow. It is finding room for the things of the spirit. It is a common search for the good and the beautiful.

It is establishing a relationship in which the independence is equal, dependence is mutual and the obligation is reciprocal. It is not only marrying the right partner, it is being the right partner.

Nothing sets the mood like an enticing cocktail on Valentine’s Day. But not just any mixed drink will do – a Jack and Coke doesn’t exactly scream romance, does it?

We checked in with the divine Grace restaurant to see what they’ll be shaking and stirring up for guests on February 14. Bar manager David Smith was kind enough to share two martini recipes, one featuring fresh cranberries with hints of citrus and the other spotlighting Maine-made vodka, ginger and sage.

Cheers to that!

REQUIEM

3 oz. Grey Goose Vodka

1 oz. Cointreau

2 oz. Cranberry Syrup

For cranberry syrup:

In non-reactive sauce pan combine:

1-12 oz. bag fresh cranberries

2 sprigs fresh rosemary plus small sprig for garnish

1 c. sugar

zest of 1 orange

zest of 1 lime

Stir over moderate heat until cranberries start to pop and rosemary is fragrant.

Add 2 cups water and reduce until it becomes slightly thickened and cranberries have released their pectin; approximately 15 minutes. Cool. Should be made the day before.

For the cocktail:

In a martini shaker add Grey Goose, Cointreau and cranberry syrup.

Shake well and strain into martini glass. Garnish with reserved rosemary and lime twist if desired.

DUST TO DUST

3 oz. Cold River Vodka

1 1/2 oz. Domaine de Canton (ginger liqueur)

1/4 oz. Aperol or Campari

3 Sage leaves (1 reserved for garnish)

1/4 oz. piece of crystallized ginger (1/2 reserved for garnish)

1/8 t. fresh lemon juice

For the cocktail:

In martini shaker, muddle 2 sage leaves, half of crystallized ginger and lemon juice with a couple ice cubes.

Add Cold River Vodka, Domaine de Canton and Aperol. Shake well and strain into martini glass.

Garnish with sage leaf and reserved crystallized ginger.

Still searching for a last-minute Valentine’s Day gift? Before you rush out to buy the last lonely box of conversation hearts at the grocery store, consider DIYing those tiny iconic candies.

This fun recipe shows you how to create the candy hearts with the sweet sayings right in your own kitchen. All you’ll need is some powdered sugar, gelatin and a few other ingredients, plus some romantic catchphrases. Borrow one or two of the most popular sayings, like “Be Mine” and “Sweet Talk,” or make up your own.

A heads up: the homemade hearts need 36 hours to dry, so get started well before February 14.

NECCO’s recipe for its Sweethearts conversation hearts has remained largely unchanged since the candies’ inception in the early 1900s. Originally cut in a variety of shapes, such as postcards and horseshoes, the hearts used to be large enough to accommodate longer sayings, allowing would-be lovers to communicate.

Some of the original sayings are still used, including “Kiss Me” and “My Man,” but NECCO now adds new ones each year. The late 90s brought the cutting edge “Fax me” and “Email Me” sayings, and more modern times saw the introduction of “Tweet Me” and “Me + You.”

NECCO makes 8 billion of the candies throughout the year, then sells out of them in the six weeks from January 1 to Valentine’s Day.

You can have the candy hearts custom-made, but you’ll have to pay for a full production run of 2 million. For a low-budget alternative, scratch off the original words and write in your own.

We’re still waiting to hear which sweet sayings NECCO will announce for 2012. Our suggestions: “Marry Me” and “I Do.”

A roaring fire. Soft sheets. Room service. How much do we love a romantic getaway?

After sharing a few of our favorite inns and B&Bs in Maine, we thought we’d expand our horizons. There are cozy cabins and plush rooms scattered throughout New England, perfect for a quick romantic retreat or an extended honeymoon escape.

A new independent travel site called Fathom recently sent L&L their list of the most romantic hotels in the Northeast. Here are some highlights:

Massachusetts

The staff at the stately Blantyre in Lenox freezes the tennis court in the winter for ice skating and serves oysters on snowballs around a crackling fire. Snuggle up in a four-poster bed and admire the antique décor in one of the hotel’s palatial rooms.

Vermont

Twin Farms in Barnard is well-appointed despite its location “smack in the middle of nowhere.” Skip the area’s crowded ski resorts and hit the downhill trails right on the property, with a convenient snowmobile shuttle. Cap off your day with a soak in a Japanese tub housed in a small shack nestled in the woods.

Rhode Island

The deluge shower alone would make it worth the trip to Watch Hill for a stay at The Ocean House. The hotel spa’s couple’s room features the shower, a therapeutic bath and a private bathroom. Book a massage, then relax on a chaise lounge in the “relaxation room,” with walls of panoramic windows overlooking the coastline.

For Fathom’s complete list of the most romantic hotels in the U.S. and Caribbean, click here.

If you haven’t already guessed from our inspiration boards, we just can’t get enough of Amy Atlas. No one has quite the way with sweets that she does, and we’re simply in awe of her talent for transforming candies and desserts into table-ready works of art that are both creative and delicious.

We just know her new book, “Sweet Designs,” will fly off the shelves when it comes out in late April. Get a jump on the competition by pre-ordering your copy now, so you can swoon over the how-tos, stunning photos and party planning tips ASAP.

Described as a “cookbook and craft book in one,” Amy’s guide to all things sweet and stylish will show you how to add a designer’s touch to any event. Planning a dessert or candy bar for your reception? Amy’s the woman behind that delightful trend, and her book’s sure to be full of tips for making yours look as good as it tastes.

For some candy of the visual variety, check out the image gallery on Amy’s website for sweetscapes of all types, from modern to romantic to playful. (We’ve never seen a jar of taffy look so darn good.) Get your fill, then ride that sugar high until “Sweet Designs” shows up at your doorstep.

After a year filled with Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber, and Katy Perry, you might think pop hits would top the list of wedding reception songs in 2012. Turns out, the oldies are still the goodies.

According to a survey of brides and grooms by event entertainment booking service GigMasters.com, a few Top 40 numbers will break into the top 5, but Etta and Elvis still reign.

Check out these predictions for the most popular first dance and father-daughter songs, plus the ditties making couples say “I don’t.”

TOP 5 FIRST DANCE SONGS

1.    At Last – Etta James

2.    Can’t Help Falling in Love – Elvis Presley

3.    Marry Me – Train

4.    You and Me – Dave Matthews Band

5.    (tie) All My Life – K-Ci & JoJo
Lucky – Jason Mraz
The Way You Look Tonight – Frank Sinatra
Then – Brad Paisley

TOP 5 FATHER/DAUGHTER DANCE SONGS

1.    I Loved Her First – Heartland

2.    Wonderful World – Louis Armstrong

3.    The Way You Look Tonight – Frank Sinatra

4.    Cinderella – Steven Curtis Chapman

5.    (tie) My Girl – The Temptations
Unforgettable – Natalie Cole

TOP 5 ‘DO NOT PLAY’ SONGS

1.    Chicken Dance

2.    Electric Slide

3.    Macarena

4.    YMCA

5.    Cotton Eye Joe