Wedding dress, DJ, reception hall and. . .construction?

The scenic view enjoyed by weddings and other events at Ned's Point Lighthouse are up in the air due to impending renovations this summer at the hands of the U.S. Coast Guard. The renovations will see the iconic lighthouse surrounded with an assembly of scaffolding.

Scaffolding, of course, that can mar wedding photos.

According to Bert Theriault, current lighthouse keeper, the Coast Guard has not been specific about when the renovations will take place and has provided only a vague and broad estimate.  Earlier this month, Theriault said the work would begin by the end of this week.

"Nothing is being stopped or closed except the free tours inside the lighthouse given by Auxiliarists on Thursdays for a couple of hours, weather permitting," said Elizabeth Theriault, Bert's wife.  "The lighthouse is an aide to navigation and is on Federal land and needs some work done which the Feds are going to do."

"A group from Portland, Maine, is going to do the renovations," Bert Theriault said earlier this month. "We’re got cracks up on the walls. The subsurface is exposed to the weather, so we’ve got quite a bit of work to do."

That's more than a little frustrating to town officials and the many brides and event-planners who have booked the adjacent park months in advance so that the iconic lighthouse can be the backdrop for their special day. In fact, it's frustrating to wedding parties that they didn't learn of the construction plans until earlier this month -- months after they had booked the site.

“We don’t have any answers,” said resident Danny White. “All we know is a company from New Jersey has the contract to do the painting. People want to know more, but we have nothing to give.”

White said that the phones at Town Hall keep ringing with concerned brides-to-be and others who want to know how this will affect their events.

"We don't do weddings at the lighthouse," said Elizabeth.  "We don't have anything to do with what the town does. The town park is run by the town."

“I certainly will notify the town as soon as I know,” said Bert.

Flotilla 63 of the Coast Guard Auxiliary adopted Ned’s Point Lighthouse in 1993. The Auxiliary comprises civilian volunteers and Flotilla 63 adopted the lighthouse in 1993. Since then, tours have been held during summers.

Since its adoption the lighthouse has seen repairs and other work often. In 1994 vandals covered its white walls in graffiti causing the Coast Guard to repaint and restore the structure. Work was done from 1995 to 1996. More renovations were also completed in 2001 as well.

Flotilla 63 officer Lee Harrison, who often stands on the catwalk of the lighthouse during tours, said the biggest problem was the builder, Leonard Hammond. Harrison explained that Hammond had several business ventures and hastily put together the lighthouse to meet deadlines. Hammond then went on to open a tavern, but as Harrison said, he was a far better tavern owner than lighthouse builder.