BOOKED!!

So - it's official: I am getting MARRIED June 18th, 2011 at Oatlands in Leesburg, VA! I am so glad it is in Loudoun County and that I have history with the location (cross country meets) like how more religious brides get married at their place of worship. This should be a really fun ride from here on out, I can't wait. Check back here because now I will start to give actual updates rather than just brainstorming!

Here is a link that gives a little taste of every aspect of the wedding set-up through pictures!

http://www.oatlands.org/photog/list.asp?ID=1

Oatlands: Wedding Day Pictures

Venue Spotlight: Oatlands

One of the many gaint old trees in Oatlands

4 acres of land and gardens

Place: Oatlands in Leesburg, VA

Price: $5000 base (of which 80% is tax deductible because its a historic preservation site) + cost of tent ~ $1700 - 2000 so puts it about $6700 - 7000

Thoughts: I REALLY like Oatlands. Not just for it's pretty lands, but for it's part in my past. I use to run cross country meets here - it was my favorite course! Also, after my AP US
History group impressed the Journey through Hallowed Ground (JTHG) folks and got an internship, I attended a press conference by the governor at Oatlands to hear about the JTHG preservation program. I don't know what it is about the historical component I like, but this has it, and it has personal meaning to me too. There are still caveats though; the mansion isn't really used in weddings. Guests can tour it in between the ceremony and the reception. And the reception is outside, under a tent. Hm. I did intially want a garden wedding though so I think that's why Oatlands appeals to me so much. As long as the weather is good (crossing my fingers already) I don't think an outdoor reception would be so bad. Plus, if rain is in the forecast, I can always get the siding for the tent (complete with windows). Also, they have a deal with Landsdowne for hotel room blocks, and that would be such a nice place to put up guests. The other two had deals with Comfort Inn (which also included a complementary ride over) that is pretty ideal - I'm sure Landsdowne has a van that could shuttle too, I might just have to pay. Hrm. But overall, I think I am leaning toward Oatlands. After this post I'll add some professional wedding pics (a lot!) that really show Oatlands in all it's summer splendor!

View of the gardens coming from the mansion

Where the ceremony is held; they are already

preparing it for spring and summer!

Garden teahouse where string quartet or harpist plays

(note proximity to where bride and groom are standing)

Side view of Garden Teahouse, ceremony is on other side

View from Rose garden, just one of the many areas of the land

Venue Spotlight: Raspberry Plain

Front of Raspberry Plain

These pictures aren't my own. I did like this place, it was very colorful (not neutral) although it matched what colors I currently want to do (pink & burgundy) but then again I already think I am changing my colors to possibly pink and peach so we'll see. Burgundy is just kind of dark for summer I feel like.

Place: Raspberry Plain in Leesburg, VA

Price: Catering not included; exclusive day rental = $7400 for 6 hours (Whitehall = $7500 for 5 1/2)

Thoughts: I liked it -- not impressed with the gardens / ceremony site. More use of the interior mansion - like 3 rooms.. a spot for guestbook, pictures, etc. I liked the historical component, it was owned by the first sheriff of Loudoun county then sold to Thomas Mason, George Mason's younger brother.

Front room, place for guestbook, picture of couple

Place to sit and chat, pictures on the table

Open room for mingling with cocktails

Formal Garden Ceremony (kinda blah)

Reception Hall

Reception Hall Wide View

Venue Spotlight: Historic Whitehall Manor

Okay so I am really delayed with these pictures. Sadly I forgot to bring my camera to Raspberry Plain. Oops.

Place: Historic Whitehall Manor in Bluemont, Virginia
Price: $$$ ... $21,000 for location rental (plus catering) = 60% of budget at 21k = no go
Thoughts: Pretty, but WAYYY too commercialized. The mansion isn't really a part of it (more so than Oatlands though) and the giant reception room was added on in 2005. Sorry, but I would like a little bit more historic appeal than that. I am definitely not choosing this place. But here are some pictures anyways.

The Mansion and front lawn

Cute swing in the front

Cake cutting and guest book room

Reception Hall

Spring Break '10 - Venue viewing!

So, I am pretty excited -- I've made appointments to view Raspberry Plain, Oatlands, and Whitehall Manor! I still need to clear up some exact meeting times, but I am excited to take some of my own pictures because a lot of these places do a crappy job of advertising themselves to the bride-to-be community with good pics! I am doing Raspberry Plain and Whitehall Manor this upcoming weekend and then I think Oatlands during the week, so I will do individual posts for each of them. I am really comfortable with my decision to get married in Loudoun County; Jon and I met here and I have lived here since I was three. Expect both the first two venue posts by Sunday night -- so check back then or on Monday morning! Thanks for reading :o)

<3>

Update + Unique & Cute Wedding Touches

So, I just requested to see a couple venues over spring break. Ah! I hope they get back to me soon. This is all so exciting. If only I wasn't so indecisive! I still haven't chosen colors, and that is the first step. I was always a sucker for royal purple... then I got Jon into it, and now I've moved on to Pink & Burgundy - which Jon doesn't like. He prefers Light Pink & Royal Purple. Hm. I also like Light Pink & Peach so at least we're narrowing it down. I really don't see any blues or greens coming into the mix, unless they are accents.

CUTE WEDDING TOUCHES! Here are some great ideas I found and I'm definitely planning on implementing more than one of them!

• Taking polaroid pictures of guests as they make their way to the reception. Can either add these photos to the guest book or sign them and write the wedding date on the bottom and send 'em out with the thank you notes.


• This idea is interesting -- make your bouquet have two detachable sections, and present one to your mother and one to your mother-in-law. Still not sure what I think about this one.


• Using seed paper cards (possibly for thank you notes), insert cheesy line about love always growing, lasting forever, whatever. I would do something lame like that :).


• Putting a heart symbol or something at one seating at every table, then that guest gets to take the table centerpiece home. Or, better yet, donate them to a hospital or retirement home.

Stationary Spotlight: Mika78

Mika78 (Mika78.com) has the most amazing stationary. Ever. I am sad that it is out of my budget (I had clicked through half of the necessities and it was already 3K... that can't be on the cheap side!). But it is still worth showing off, check out these awesome designs. These are from general collections (except the purple one) but I know that I want custom made, one of a kind cards. And my save-the-dates MUST be little magnets... how cute (and practical) would that be?!

Cu-etsy finds!

I am really diggin some of the unique handmade finds on etsy.com -- I definitely plan on utilizing this website for vintage accents. Here are a few interesting pieces I saw:

My favorite sources of procrastination

These sites definitely top my list of wedding helpers. Check them out!

Snippet and Ink
A blog with daily wedding inspirations. Cute pictures from real weddings.
http://snippetandink.blogspot.com/

Project Wedding
Quite possibly my favorite. Very user friendly, amazing collection of real weddings, photo gallery where you can sort pictures by color and genre. Complete with an inspiration board section!
http://www.projectwedding.com

The Knot
This is a magazine's webpage. It's very useful; if you make an account you can set up a wedding webpage, and even have an online guest list where you can keep track of numbers and who has replied, etc.
http://www.theknot.com

Etsy
This is a website where people can sell the crafts they make. It is a goldmine for unique wedding accents for sure!
http://www.etsy.com

100 Layer Cake
Another blog, a little more on the alternative side -- great for the artistic, edgy side of me.
http://100layercake.com/blog/

Wedding Wire
GREAT vendor reviews based on location. Can give you the extra push to pick a venue or a photographer!
http://www.weddingwire.com/

Wedding Mapper
Another site that tailors your search to your local area.
http://www.weddingwire.com/

The Treasured Petal
A blog by a florist. Some interesting pictures, but hasn't been updated too recently.
http://thetreasuredpetal.wordpress.com/2009/06/19/