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Pitchers and catchers aren't around much in February in Cooperstown, the legendary birthplace of baseball - but there's still a hint of spring, as love lives in the frosty air.

On Feb. 27, at St. Mary's Church in the Otsego County village - population about 2,000 - Jon Patti, 40, is scheduled to wed Dr. Lauren Heath, 32.

That's not unusual. The Cooperstown church, also known as "Our Lady of the Lake," celebrates some 20 weddings a year, most of them involving out-of-towners. There's something about the picturesque setting that attracts those establishing a marital bond.

"They come from all over the country," noted Rev. John Rosson, pastor of St. Mary's, who makes it a point of pride that his village church has become such a popular wedding destination.

...They will come
The Patti-Heath nuptials are a case in point: Mr. Patti, a computer engineer, hails from Smithtown, Long Island. Dr. Heath grew up in Stamford, not far from Cooperstown, but now resides in Manhattan, where she's completing her medical residency.

"She will tell you she is simple country girl from upstate. But now she is a physician on the Upper East Side of Manhattan," said the groom-to-be, his pride evident in a phone conversation on a post-Valentine's day when the couple had just gone shopping for wedding rings.

The attraction of Cooperstown, including the famous Baseball Hall of Fame and the Farmers' Museum, among other sites, brings those who seek out a wedding destination with appeal. Visitors are not unusual to the village: the Baseball Hall of Fame alone attracts more than 300,000 each year.

"We are the site of many destination weddings. We are in a privileged place, surrounded by natural beauty," said Father Rosson. "This requires a special approach to marriage preparation. I call it 'Cana hospitality.'"

Making provisions
Most of the weddings involve couples from the northeast, particularly Long Island and New York City, as well as Connecticut and Massachusetts, but the church has hosted couples from as far away as Alabama.

Prior to booking a ceremony, couples are interviewed and the paperwork from their home dioceses needs to be processed. Father Rosson, while fulfilling Church norms, tries to keep the process as simple as possible.

Like other couples from out of town, both Mr. Patti and Dr. Heath completed their pre-Cana requirements. They attended a weekend retreat at Mount Alverna Retreat House in Wappingers Falls, in a program approved by the New York Archdiocese.

Mr. Patti noted that he and his fiancée are devoted skiers and first thought of a winter wedding near the slopes in Vermont. But a visit to Cooperstown changed their minds.

They were both familiar with the general area: Dr. Heath from childhood, Mr. Patti from trips as a child to visit his father's family in Jamestown - eight-hour drives from Long Island through many struggling up-state towns.

Pluses
"Cooperstown is like an oasis," Mr. Patti remarked. "The vibe and beauty of the town won us over."

Off-season banquet hall rates also helped.

Mr. Patti is a Catholic; his bride-to-be is not. The hospitality at St. Mary's was also an important element in their decision: "I wanted to have a church in which a person coming from the outside would not feel like a stranger," he said.

St. Mary's fit the bill and, while the parish welcomes the Jesuit priest who will witness the ceremony, the couple was told to nix the idea of having their two pet dogs participate in the service.

"I realized that was a stretch," conceded Mr. Patti.

Contact St. Mary's at (607) 547-2213.

(02/25/10) [[In-content Ad]]

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