"Michael and I have known each other for as long as I can remember. Our families spent weekends and vacations together. Several years ago, my family moved away, but our parents remained friends. Seventeen years later, in 2004, we were invited to spend Easter with Michael’s family in East Hampton. Sparks flew between us and we began dating.

"I was living in Washington, D.C. at the time and Michael lived in New York. In 2005, I moved to the city to live with him. In late 2006, Michael asked me to marry him and be his roommate forever!

"We knew we wanted to get married in East Hampton, since so much of our time had been spent there. After hours of phone calls and Internet searching we decided to visit Gansett Green Manor. The entire staff is friendly, accommodating, and always ready to help. The Manor is serene, beautiful, and has a certain flair that makes it intimate, unique, and a stand-out among all the places we visited. Whether it’s the fish pond, the hidden garden spots, or the magnificent hedges, Gansett Green Manor is truly one-of-a-kind.

"We met with the owner, Gary Kalfin, who answered all our questions and was willing to do anything we wanted to make our wedding memorable. No detail was left undone, which left very little for us to worry about. We were very relaxed, due in large part to the utmost professionalism of Gary and his staff.

"The Manor has 13 cottages on the property, which was a big draw for us, as we could have over 30 close friends and family with us for our wedding weekend. It’s also steps from the adorable village of Amagansett.

Julia Haley & Michael Malafronte Ceremony & Reception: Gansett Green Manor Gown: Monique Lhuillier Bridesmaids: Coren Moore Suit: Burberry Florist: Sag Harbor Florist Photographer: Susan Francy Photography Caterer: Stone Creek Inn Band: Cape Cod Slackers Honeymoon: Africa Gansett Green Manor P. O. Box 799 / 273 Main Street, Amagansett, NY 11930 631.267.3133 www.gansettgreenmanor.com

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"Our wedding day was over the top. The venue was bright, green, and literally shining. The tent looked beautiful on the lawn, next to the brown folding chairs surrounding the ceremony spot, which was in front of a wonderful wooden fence and many flowering plants and trees.

"The food, provided by Stone Creek Inn, exceeded expectations. The standout hors d’oeuvres included tuna tartar on plantain chips, smoked salmon with caviar, and butternut squash soup in a shot glass. To give our wedding as natural a feel as possible, we chose round tables of different sizes and covered them with stunning chocolate brown silk dupioni tablecloths. We had flax colored billowy linen tablecloths for the cocktail tables outside the tent. Chinese lanterns lit the tent in the most magical way and were a gorgeous detail. To make our wedding as environmentally conscious as possible, we used local, seasonal flowers. Our centerpieces included fresh rosemary, purple basil, scented geraniums, Chianti sunflowers, and burgundy dahlias arranged in wooden boxes.

"Our guests enjoyed pan-seared sea bass provencal and roasted rack of lamb with Mediterranean spices. Instead of a typical wedding cake, we had individual sampler plates of chocolate caramel mousse cake, lemon tartlet, biscotti, and chocolates. It was outstanding. One highlight of the night was the still-warm-from-the-oven chocolate chip cookies. They were served a few hours after the meal and well into our night of dancing. No wonder our guests call our wedding ‘legendary’!

"A few months later, family and friends continue to call, raving about the location, the food, and the staff at Gansett Green Manor. We had a rapport with each person with whom we worked. We made new friends, tried new things, and became husband and wife in a truly enjoyable process from the very beginning. We wish we could have another wedding next year to do it all over again!"