Lynchburg Living

2010 Hitched

By Jennifer Prince

Destination weddings are a growing trend, and they offer a couple the opportunity to choose a location that suits their needs, tastes and style, yet many shy away from attractive locations due to expense or even lack of knowledge. Fortunately, our own state of Virginia offers numerous pleasing destinations for engaged couples to choose from in a variety of areas, such as the mountains and even the water. Today’s couples have a plethora of options for choosing a location that is just right for them and their special day.

BY THE WATER WEDDING

Mariner’s Landing – marinerslanding.com

For those who foster a love for the water, Mariner’s Landing in Huddleston, VA, is on Smith Mountain Lake, which attracts visitors from all over the United States. Couples have traveled from as far as New Jersey, Michigan and California to make Mariner’s Landing their destination of choice, yet couples in and around Lynchburg have this location practically at their back door.

Mariner’s Landing has several settings to offer. The Pointe Lawn boasts a large landscape, which includes a gazebo as its focal point, and can accommodate an unlimited amount of guests. On the other hand, The Pier, which is over the water, can handle a smaller wedding of 75 guests. Other options include The Breezeway, which has a more urban appeal, and weddings also occur on the beach and in the pool area.

There are also several options for reception locations, including the Bedford Room, which holds 100 guests, and the Blackwater Room, which accommodates 250. Mariner’s Landing also offers an outdoor festival tent that will hold 400. For those couples with extensive guest lists, an outdoor reception for an unlimited amount can be pulled off with ease.

Another attractive aspect about Mariner’s Landing is the ability to have everything at one location.

“We have studio apartments up to four bedroom homes [to rent] so that guests can stay at the location,” Kerry Keeney, Event Sales Consultant at Mariner’s Landing, said. “Guests typically stay at Mariner’s Landing and have a mini weekend with their friends and family.”

Couples can choose this relaxing style of event by having their rehearsal dinner, wedding and lodging all at the same campus, which gives out-of-town guests more time to unwind and catch up with one another.

“For families, we also have three pools, tennis courts, basketball courts, a volleyball court and a game room. We have plenty of things to keep families occupied, including the beach,” Keeney said.

This variety of activities and accommodations is a thoughtful thing to consider so that guests of all ages can make a weekend of it and enjoy their time together.

Mariner’s Landing has a wedding coordinator available for planning needs. Wedding packages are offered, which include catering by Benjamin’s at the Pointe, the wedding cake and a bridal suite for the wedding night.

“Mariner’s Landing offers wedding packages because brides do not always have the time to find all of the vendors,” Keeney explained.

The packages are also completely customizable to allow for additions or subtractions based on a couple’s needs.

Mariner’s Landing also creates the opportunity for a bride and groom to relax with their attendants. Bridesmaids can receive the full gamut of pampering treatments for hair, makeup and body, while the groomsmen can enjoy a challenging round of golf at the Mariner’s Landing Golf Course. Wedding packages typically range from $7,500 to $11,500 for 100 guests, and Keeney suggests booking at least a year in advance, especially for ceremonies taking place during the peak summer season.

THE SOUTHERN PLANTATION WEDDING

Berry Hill Resort and Conference Center – berryhillestate.com

Both history and beauty abound at the Berry Hill Resort and Conference Center in South Boston, VA. The plantation is a sprawling estate that began with a historic home.

“The resort is centered around a mansion that was built in the 1840s, and the house is still in its original state, only restored. We have turned some of the rooms in the mansion into suites,” Janet Collins, Sales/HR Manager at Berry Hill, said.

In addition to the original house, a separate resort-like atmosphere has been created on the land, including 88 rooms to accommodate overnight guests.

“Someone took this gorgeous Greek Revival mansion, and used it as a centerpiece,” Collins explained. “A beautiful rose garden has been maintained, and there is the family cemetery there. Most of it is rolling hills and ruins of the past, and it is beautiful to explore.”

All of this creates the perfect backdrop for a memorable affair. Berry Hill offers several facilities for both indoor and outdoor locations, although it is their preference to book just one wedding at a time.

“We typically like to focus on one at a time and not have our facility overcrowded. If a bride booked her ceremony outside and it rains, there is always a backup plan,” Collins said.

The resort can handle anything ranging from a small, intimate wedding up to a celebration with 350 guests, with several wedding packages offered to couples.

“With the wedding packages, they automatically get a bridal suite in the original mansion, which gives the bride and her party plenty of room to get ready. The bride and groom have a mini mansion room for their night after the wedding,” Collins said.

Berry Hill also offers the services of a wedding coordinator, and their on-site catering is the ideal choice for food.

“We have an amazing chef and a great service team. We offer wine and food tastings, which gives the bride and groom an opportunity to sample food,” she said.

The resort also has a list of recommended vendors to aid a couple planning a wedding away from familiar territory.

“The wedding planner makes sure everything is where it is supposed to be, and she is there with you during the process,” Collins explained of the process. “Brides have full access to the wedding planner, and she is the liaison between everything that goes on there [at Berry Hill] and the bride and groom.”

Another consideration for planning a destination style wedding at Berry Hill is the amenities. The resort offers a wide range of overnight accommodations, meal options and entertainment choices. Groomsmen can bond over a variety of sporting activities including golf and canoeing, and bridesmaids can be pampered and relax at Blackberry Spa, which is a full-service European spa.

While most of their 2010 wedding season is booked, Berry Hill is beginning to book for 2011, so contacting them six months to a year prior to a desired date is ideal. The average cost for a wedding with 100 guests is $10,000 to $15,000, which includes food, drinks, rentals, some overnight accommodations and linens.

THE VINEYARD WEDDING

King Family Vineyards – kingfamilyvineyards.com

King Family Vineyards is an example of why a winery is the perfect place to consider for a wedding away from home. In Virginia, there are many to choose from, with King Family being among the most grand for destination weddings.

“We are a vineyard, and that element is attractive to a lot of people. We are mountain, farm, horse and winery all in one…it is the feel, the views and what they see when they get here. It is the perfect Albemarle County experience,” Kerry Hannon, General Manager for King Family Vineyards, said of a couple’s attraction to the vineyard for their Big Day.

The vineyard is in a pristine setting with a backdrop of rolling hills and an outstretched sky, which makes for not only a stunning wedding but beautiful photo opportunities.

The Carriage House is a raw space that can be decorated to whatever theme the bride and groom have in mind.

“All brides have a little bit of a different approach, and we give you this raw space that is beautiful all by itself. It is rustic, elegant and beautiful all on its own. You can make the event totally yours,” Hannon said. “The building has been there for 2 1/2 years, and it looks different every time. Little simple things, such as the change of season or change of decor helps people to visualize and create the event that they want in terms of the look and the style, and the room seems to morph and lend itself to whatever you put in it. High-end events work and even more casual ones do too.”

The vineyard rents out the Carriage House space, so all catering is outsourced, yet they can readily recommend caterers and other vendors. In addition to the Carriage House, which can accommodate 200 guests, King Family Vineyards also offers the adjacent North Gallery for 80 people, which can be used as a place for hors d’oeuvres before the reception, as its doors can be left open to the Carriage House or closed for a smaller, more intimate reception. The Tasting Room also offers a comfortable setting for a maximum of 40 guests, whether that be for an intimate ceremony or for a cocktail hour. Room rentals are approximately $6,000 for Saturday or Sunday, and slightly less during the week. Due to the popularity of King Family Vineyard (and the fact that they are already filling up for 2011), it is a wise idea to contact them 12 to 18 months before a desired date.

THE MOUNTAIN RESORT WEDDING

The Homestead – thehomestead.com

As America’s oldest resort, The Homestead is nestled in the Appalachian Mountains and boasts 483 guest rooms on 3,000 acres. What started out as a honeymoon destination has become a widely sought after place for wedding celebrations.

“It is not just a good time for the bride and groom, but it is a treat for the guests as well. The outdoor grounds offer several areas for an outdoor wedding, either large and elegant or small and simple,” Lori Hicks, Wedding Sales and Social Events Coordinator for The Homestead, said. “We can offer a unique variety of spaces for the ceremony, reception, rehearsal and day-after brunch. We have so many things to offer and so many ways to accommodate brides.”

The possibilities truly are endless for a Homestead wedding. There are more intimate spaces, such as the Fish Pond, Tower Suite or Washington Library, while larger affairs can be held on the Casino Lawn, which is a premier location thanks to its grand staircase and mountainous backdrop. Featuring 13 chandeliers, The Crystal Ballroom is available for up to 1,000 guests, and the Empire Room is perfect for dinner and dancing. Many weddings take place outdoors, so a popular choice is for couples to take a sentimental carriage ride together as their guests mingle and reflect on the ceremony.

The Homestead also offers thoughtfully planned wedding packages.

“We offer full-service wedding coordination. After the wedding is booked, the coordinator will meet with the couple, do a tasting and talk about plans,” Hicks said. “We hold the bride’s hand until the last dance. They can be as involved or uninvolved as they wish in the planning. You want someone to be with you every step of the way.”

The Homestead also makes those steps easier with their helpful list of trusted vendors and the fact that the wedding cake can be designed and made by their on-site French pastry chef.

For day-before pampering, the Homestead Spa, with 33 treatment rooms, books appointments for brides and their attendants for relaxation and beauty therapy, which can also include a private luncheon at the spa. The groom and groomsmen can bond at one of the three golf courses, but The Homestead also offers the options of their shooting club, canoeing, an Orvis endorsed fly fishing school and falconry in the warmer months. Skiing, snowboarding and ice skating are also fun treats in the winter. A unique option for the entire bridal party to enjoy together is a fun-filled evening at The Homestead’s bowling alley.

An evening wedding for 100 guests is approximately $20,000, yet late morning and early afternoon weddings are gaining in popularity at The Homestead.

“One option is our daytime weddings, and we are having so much fun with them. Having a tea party or an ice cream social is a great way to save money,” Hicks said.

Booking a wedding at least a year in advance is recommended due to the popularity of The Homestead.

No matter what your taste, style or budget, a unique Virginia destination wedding awaits. From the first phone call to the last dance, our featured locations handle weddings with ease. Whether you prefer the intimacy of a winery or the grand scale of an estate, our home state of Virginia has the perfect location waiting for you.