One of the first things you decide is finding the perfect place for your wedding day. Your wedding venue is everything to you. It sets the tone, style and shows off you and your groom's personality. Location is a big deal on your wedding day. Determining your wedding place is one of the biggest decisions you will make when planning your wedding. Therefore, it should be everything you've always imagined. So, if you are in the Tuckasegee, North Carolina area, Castle Ladyhawke is a spectacular wedding place that everyone will fall in love with.

Simply Breathtaking

Immaculate Wedding Venue

Castle Ladyhawke is a magical private estate that is on a 62 mountain estate. What is so great about this wedding location? It's a castle! What girl doesn't dream about getting married in a castle? This gorgeous castle offers both indoor and garden ceremony and reception locations. This castle definitely gives off a medieval ambiance.

This place is simply amazing! The gorgeous stone exterior, as well as some interior, beautiful look out points, lush gardens, amazing ceilings and a grand staircase all make for an extraordinary wedding. Your guests will be blown away and you will have the wedding you've always dreamed about.

A Wedding You'll ALWAYS Remember

If you're planning a wedding, their friendly staff is there to help you. First, pick from the wedding packages that they offer that best suits your wedding style and budget. Choose from their elopement package, wedding of 25, wedding of 100, packages that include pre-ceremony decorating, event coordinator, hors d’oeuvres buffet, tables, linens and chairs. You can even choose from their Prince Charles package, the queen package or the royal wedding, which includes everything that you could ever want.

Rent this immaculate site for 4 full days, catered rehearsal dinner, bridal party brunch, valet parking, wedding photography, tents, dj, floral package, full dining package, champagne toast and accommodations, this wedding package includes it all!

Whether you are planning a small or grand wedding; Castle Ladyhawke wants to suit every bride and every budget. From your wedding ceremony to your wedding reception venue, everything will be simply amazing.

You will even find recommended wedding vendors on their website, along with floral and other ideas for you wedding. Always offering the best of wedding vendors and suggestions to make your day truly a dream come true.

Whenever finding your dream wedding venue, Castle Ladyhawke is your place to make all your dreams come true. The gorgeous views, lush gardens and spectacular rooms makes for an absolutely amazing location to have your wedding. Just imagine what your wedding photos will look like! So, create the wedding of your dreams with Castle Ladyhawke.

Your wedding site should paint a picture. It should represent who you are as a couple and your exact style. It's the background for your beautiful wedding day, featured in all of your wedding photos. A wedding location sets off the tone of your event, your guests should feel it as soon as they step foot on the grounds. Milky Way Farm does exactly that. Located in the most beautiful serene setting, in Pulaski, Tennessee is exactly where you'll find this gorgeous wedding venue. You'll have the picture perfect backdrop for all your beautiful events with them.

Breath Taking Views

Milky Way Farm is a beautiful historic property. It features acres of green pastures that is populated with animals, lakes & streams, barn trails and breath-taking scenic vistas. Quaint cottages and a divine manor house also adorns this scenic property.

Their amazing Tudor mansion has 25,000 square foot, intricate stone & wood work with absolutely stunning views. Surrounded by beautiful hills, trees and lush landscape sounds like a wonderful setting. It just paints a picture. Doesn't this sound absolutely divine?

Now can't you just imagine having your wedding here? Your wedding photos will be absolutely fabulous. Whether you are getting married in their beautiful historic manor house or outside among the beautiful scenic view, your wedding location will be absolutely gorgeous.

From your wedding ceremony location to your wedding reception, you'll have a picture perfect moment. Just imagine getting married in a historic home and dancing the night away inside. What a dream wedding come true.

Are you not in the process of planning a wedding? Well, plan a party! Wouldn't this be the ideal place for a party? Yes! You wouldn't even need any party decorations, however, they would just accent it that much more. Their facilities and banquet halls would be absolutely ideal for any event or party. You'll have a picture perfect place.

Breath Taking View

Every Little Detail

Not only does Milky Way Farms offers a beautiful event site, they'll help with all your details too. If you haven't a clue on where to begin, they will help. They will be glad to bring in party decorations or even the party caterer that will fit your style.

Especially, if you are not familiar in that area of expertise. Either you bring in exactly what you've always dreamed of or they can create it for you. Their friendly customer service is there to help!

Milky Way Farm wants to give you a beautiful location to remember your special event by. Beautiful surrounds with a wonderful house. So picturesque. Along with their beautiful setting, their friendly service will always be there to help you. They want to make your day memorable.

The wedding location was one of the most important things to me, right behind finding an amazing wedding photographer. The wedding location paints a picture-perfect setting for anyone's wedding day.  A wedding location can set the tone and provide a feeling that everyone will be able to feel.  Plus, it's in all your wedding photos as a background so it has to show off the style of the couple.

My Picture Perfect Setting!

I wanted to do something different and we both wanted a smaller wedding, so that was our starting point. Normally, everyone gets married in their church and has the reception at the community center.  Which is completely fine, but would have ended up being way too big of a wedding for us. We're definitely a little shy and not an attention stealer.  People have even asked our parents if we even talk when we're together, we're both so quiet.  I'd like to say that is definitely not the case, he says I talk too much!

Anyways, a year or so ago I ran across a wedding that was in Hot Springs, Arkansas at a gorgeous chapel.  I have been to Hot Springs when I was younger with one of my bridesmaids and her family, so I was already familiar with the location and really enjoyed it.

Anyways, I immediately googled it and found Anthony Chapel at Garvan Gardens.  It was absolutely beautiful so right then I knew that's where my wedding was going to be held.  Also, it suited our smaller wedding preference.  It's around a 4 hour drive from our hometown so we knew the people who meant the most to us and wanted to be there would be there.  The absolute perfect wedding location for us!

After Bart finallyyyy proposed, we set a weekend to look at the chapel and explore Hot Springs.  My parents and Bart had never been there so it was fun!  It was even more beautiful in person!  My parents loved it and so did Bart.  However, there were reservations in making everyone drive 4 hours.  My parents gave their opinion on finding a closer location if not at home.  Once I get my mind-set on something, there's no going back.  I did research other locations, but nothing compared.  I presented all my counter arguments and won the battle, like I knew I would.

Finding A Reception Venue

Wedding reception venue was important to me too.  I wanted a fun place that had a great feeling and had the perfect layout.  However, I would like everyone to be proud of me because the room I chose is not the one we went with.  Bart won!  While we were in Hot Springs, I scheduled a few appointments to visit several wedding reception sites.  We already ruled the gardens out, which would have been convenient and beautiful.

However, we are planning around 50 guests and didn't want it to be outside and all of their inside spots were way too big for our wedding size.  This is a good thing to think about when planning a wedding because if you get a wedding venue too big for your small wedding, it'll look like you have 10 guests in the place.

First stop was one of Hot Spring's bath row houses.   It was so pretty and would have been really convenient for my wedding day prep since it is a spa, but this place was just a little too small.  Me, my parents and his mom loved it.  It was bright, big windows and absolutely gorgeous.  Bart liked it but thought it was too small and we would have been cramped. However, it was so so pretty!

Next stop was one of Hot Spring's delicious restaurants, The Porterhouse.  They showed us 2 rooms and provided the catering, which was a big plus for us.  This place was the opposite.  It was dark and had an old, vintage feel.  The first room had a place for all the tables, dancing and the dj.  This was the room I chose because I liked everyone being together.

Next, it was on to the second banquet room.  There were 3 separate rooms, including a place for dining, dancing and a billiards room.  It was neat and provided tons of entertainment for everyone but I didn't want anyone to miss our first dance and just not be altogether.  Bart shared his arguments, which were his friends might get a little crazy so it might be a good idea to separate our parents and grandparents from them.  Good thinking!  I gave in!

My Mind Was Set On The Perfect Date!

I had it all planned out in my mind when I wanted our wedding to happen.  April 2011 or January 2012 were the months I picked out.  I had January pictured as the perfect winter wedding month.  I picked April because I wasn't into a Summer wedding, plus a ton of people I know are getting married in the Summer of 2011.  Very, very busy!

My mom suggested I wait until April 2012, which would give me plenty of time.  However, me being stubborn wanted it the next year because waiting over a year would just be too long for me.  April 30th was picked because that was one of the 2 weekends still open for the chapel.  In the end, it worked out so great because April 30 is Bart's grandparent's anniversary.  They were absolutely thrilled!

Finding the perfect wedding location was on the top of my wedding checklist.  It means a lot to get married in a beautiful chapel and to have our close family and friends there.  Plus, sharing a wedding date with his grandparents makes it that more special.  Now, what I'd like you to take away from this is don't settle on just any old location.  This is YOUR wedding day and you'll remember it a lifetime.  Now, to take care of the million and one things left on my wedding to-do-list!

When you want something done right, you have to do it yourself. Right? Not anymore! Kirby's Private Dining offers the best in food and atmosphere, without you having to lift a finger! Elegant dining, extraordinary menus, and the sort of professionalism and talent that has built a loyal enthusiastic clientele makes Kirby's Private Dining no ordinary catering experience.

Wedding reception, rehearsal dinners, and holiday gatherings are taken to the next level with Kirby's excellent staff and facilities. Chef Scott Schymik has been offering Evansville, Indiana, and the tri-state area irresistible menus for countless events. It doesn't matter if your guest list is 10 or 270 people, Kirby's Private Dining adds a sense of sophistication to any special occasion.

Kriby's can create your ideal setting with it's rich decor and exceptional menu. Buffet-style dining, seated meals and hors d'oeuvres are all expertly prepared by Chef Schymik and Chef Jason Watson.  Chef Schymik can also create a specialized menu for your special event or hit the road to bring your favorite foods to you and your guests! With Kirby's Private Dining, you can have the food you want, where you want it, all with the memorable touches that give Kirby's a reputation as the top tri-state reception location.

Don't waste any more of your precious time worrying about your next big event. Trust the talented and professional staff at Kirby's Private Dining's tri-state reception location to exceed even the most exacting standards. Their passion for making each special occasion an unforgettable experience keeps people coming back to make memories at Kirby's Private Dining.

Looking for a unique wedding location that is sure to please? The Ainsworth House & Gardens will do just that (and more!). The spectacular southern-style mansion will take your breath away. It's lush green gardens with vibrant flowers are simply irresistible. The splendor doesn't stop there. Inside you will find a lavish display of period decor and grandeur. The whole experience is an unrivaled photo opportunity.

The Ainsworth Gardens are a site to behold with mounds of flowers and romantic, ivy-canopied pathways.  You will get lost in the beauty as you wind through their romantic and tranquil gardens.

One of the most popular areas for a wedding ceremony is under a very large, old pine tree.  From this spot the gorgeous mansion is sure to make it in the background of all your ceremony shots!

For winter weddings, what better place than the Ainsworth Conservatory? With over 30 windows in the ceiling alone, the sun lighting the white room will create a heavenly atmosphere connecting your wedding with the white 'clouds' of snow outdoors.

Your wedding day should be as stress-free as possible. Ainsworth House &  Garden will take care of your wedding planning for you. Let them handle any or all of the following:

• Catering: everything from banquet, to buffet, to barbecue
• Tables, chairs, linens and tableware in your choice of color
• Flowers, including arrangements, bridal bouquets and garlands
• D.J., musicians and a minister
• Aisle runner, candles and bubbles
• Cameras on each table as well as a photographer and videographer
• A horse and carriage or limo service
• And a tent in case the sunshine begins to melt.

Gather at the Ainsworth House for more than just weddings, it is the perfect spot to hold that corporate board retreat, or the charity gala you've been planning. You can easily the rent whole complex or choose from an array of beautiful spaces to accommodate your specific events needs. If you are looking for the perfect location to host your next event in Oregon City, Oregon, look no further than the Ainsworth House and Gardens.

Want more advice on where to find party and wedding vendors? Find vendors and other party and wedding planning tips at www.WeddingAndPartyNetwork.com.

Wedding Receptions: The First Party Of Your Married Life

Your first party together as husband and wife – the wedding reception – is a celebration of your love and commitment, a truly momentous event that should be glorified as such. Family and friends will come from near and far to help mark this important milestone in your new life together. And you will have the time of your life. Great wedding receptions are talked about and remembered fondly by guests and wedding party members alike for years and years.

Just think of all the great memories you will make together as husband and wife surrounded by the most important people in your life.  What a great way to start your journey together.

However, before you put on your dancing shoes and let your hair down, there is a lot of planning that goes into making your wedding reception perfect. While there are many aspects of the wedding reception to consider, if you take care of the core five ingredients (food, music, decorations, location and photographers/videographers), it will come together beautifully.

Food: Success Begins With Great Taste

Just imagine, as your guests enter the reception hall they are greeted by a stunningly beautiful ice sculpture that sparkles and glistens in the warm candlelight. Near the buffet table a chocolate fountain gurgles a cascading sheet of rich milk chocolate and nearby an elegant champagne fountain bubbles out the sweet lavish liquid. The aroma of a delicious meal fills the air, leaving your guests with a feeling of excitement for the festivities to come.

Feeding your guests a great meal may just be one of the most important aspects of your reception. A caterer can take the worry and hassle out of feeding a large crowd. A professional wedding caterer can help you plan the menu and tailor it to the desired atmosphere of your wedding reception.  He or she can help you add those special touches like a delicious chocolate fountain, an elegant ice sculpture, or maybe even that bubbling champagne fountain.

Music: To My Ear and Theirs

Think about how much fun you'll have twirling around the dance floor to your favorite song. Or maybe your entire wedding party will wow the crowd with your own choreographed version of  "Thriller" which could make your party one of the most unique receptions your guests have ever attended. Just think how much fun you and your wedding party will have, not only learning the dance but showing off your new smooth moves as well. A professional choreographer can help you create that special dance.

Music sets the mood for dancing and fun and is a vital part of a good reception. A professional DJ can help keep things lively and get everybody out on the dance floor. You'll be surprised to see your aunt kick off her shoes and get down to "She's a Brick House," but a good dj can make even the most prim and proper guests want to get out there and shake it. Plus think about all the good memories you'll have of dancing and being silly with your friends and family.

Decorations: A Feast For The Eyes

Imagine your guests entering the reception hall. On a table strewn with bright rose petals, photos of the bride and groom greet them at the door.  Bunches of sweet red roses surrounded by the soft glow of romantic candlelight grace round tables draped with rich cream colored linens. The shimmering candlelight along with soft music create a picturesque atmosphere for your wedding reception.

Or maybe picnic tables and buckets full of drinks for guests, lanterns strung through the trees above the tables and whimsical palm tree centerpieces with Jimmy Buffet playing in the background is more your style. Whatever your style may be, there are wedding decorations to make your reception the ideal one for you.

Decorations can make any reception location look amazing and are a must for a great reception. When selecting your reception decorations look for items that match the look and feel of your wedding. If you have a very formal wedding, a formal reception hall would be appropriate. If you have a laid back beach wedding, a more casual laid back reception would match the wedding and your attire.

Location: The Best Place To Celebrate

A church hall, a hotel banquet room, or a garden party all make great places to hold your dream wedding reception. When selecting your reception location consider:

• the number of guests
• whether an indoor or outdoor location
• proximity to the ceremony
• nearby accommodations for out-of-town guests
• availability on the date you have selected

When booking your reception location it is important to do so well in advance to secure the date you need. When it comes to places to hold your reception, the sky is the limit. If you can dream it you can probably do it. Just make up your mind and make it happen and you are sure to end up with the reception location of your dreams.

Photographers and Videographers: Capturing A Moment In Time

There will be so many moments you'll want to capture and preserve forever : like cutting the cake, your maid of honor's heartfelt and teary toast, your first dance, the daddy-daughter dance and all the other great moments at your reception. What better way than with photos and videos that will last a lifetime? A professional photographer can capture great candid shots of those special moments and the special people at your reception. Those creative toasts can be relived again and again on video. A professional videographer can help you preserve those precious words and wishes.

When your grandchildren ask about your wedding you will be able to show them the video of your first dance or the cake cutting. You will also have keepsake photos of you looking gorgeous in your beautiful wedding dress that you can pass on through the generations. That is why selecting a wedding photographer and or videographer is so important. You and your spouse will enjoy looking back at all the wedding reception photos and video and remember the beginning of your great journey together.

A special thanks goes to:

Mendon Massachusetts photographer, Blueberry Photo for the use of their bride and groom photo.

Bentonville Arkansas Caterer, Catering Concepts for the use of their fruit platter photo.

Uniontown Ohio Photographer, Curtis Photography-Videography for the use of their wedding reception dance photo.

Tulsa Oklahoma Wedding Florist, Perfect Presentations for the use of their wedding reception decorations photo.

Ask The Celebration Advisor: We're getting married this fall and would love to consider an alternative location before entering into a contract with our first choice. Does anyone have suggestions for outdoor or unique venues? Our main concern is the cost of catering in a typical hall, hotel ballroom, etc. and want to be able to reduce or eliminate the catering bill and buy and provide our own food. Lola

The Celebration Advisor: Lola, you really have two separate issues at hand. One – wedding location venue. Two – Budget friendly catering.

Let's discuss wedding location venues. With outdoor weddings, venues can run the gamut from a backyard to a state park to a national landmark to an open outdoor area. The key to finding these unique locations is to think about outdoor venues you enjoy.

Outdoor Venues
State Parks
This past summer my cousin's son wedding took place in our local state park. The park's amphitheater was the perfect setting for a wedding. Many state parks allow weddings and often have buildings that can be rented for the wedding reception. Since the state parks only furnish the building and grounds, they leave the catering up to you. Some cities have fantastic city parks ideal for weddings.

Backyards
Another great outdoor venue is someone's backyard. In the fall of 2007, I attended a wedding held in a backyard. The backyard did not belong to the bride or her family nor the groom or his family. Instead a family friend of the bride offered her yard as the wedding venue. Using the backyard of a family member or a family friend can add a sentimental touch to the celebration and give you many options for the reception.

Botanical Gardens
I have seen weddings taking place at botanical gardens. Botanical garden and arboretums have large grassy areas that can accommodate weddings. Like state parks, gardens are ideal places for outdoor weddings.

Unique Wedding Venues
Historical Buildings
In my town we have a historical courthouse that can be rented for weddings. Many historical building foundations supplement their expense by renting there facilities out for events like weddings. The Frank Lloyd house Taliesin West in Scotsdale Arizona rents its grounds for small events. So if you have any historical buildings in your town check them out.  They might be just what you are looking for.

Bed & Breaksfast
Bed & breakfasts are another unique place to host your wedding and reception. Sometimes you can get a wedding package that includes catering and a honeymoon night stay.

Those are just a few of the many wedding location options available. Your best bet would be to look around your town and see if there is a place you think would make a good wedding location. It doesn't hurt to ask.

Affordable catering
Although you think cooking the food for your wedding will save you money, in the long run it probably won't be worth the time and hassle. You can have your cake (and a lot of other foods) and eat it too. Catering doesn't have to blow your budget. Many caterers have different levels of service with different prices ranges. The food at your reception doesn't have to be the traditional fish or chicken served dish. In fact, you don't have to have a sit down dinner with waiters at your reception. Buffet style food is an affordable catering alternative.

Another budget saving idea is timing your wedding so a "meal" is needed. Instead have your wedding in the afternoon and serve light finger foods or hors d'oeuvres. The wedding I attended in the backyard was held in the afternoon and the food consisted of chocolate covered strawberries, cheese straws, cucumber sandwiches, a wonderful vegetable platter, a delightful punch and champagne. Oh and of course a wedding cake and a grooms cake. By having the wedding in the afternoon, the need for a heavy dinner was eliminated.

Of course the wedding reception will need to match the formality of the wedding ceremony. Keep in mind a less formal wedding can have a less formal wedding reception. The affordable alternatives for wedding reception foods increases with the informality of the reception. The way to get the best bang for your wedding reception food buck is to discuss all the catering options available with the caterers you interview. I'm sure they will have an options that will suit your needs and budget.

Congratulations and I hope this information will help you achieve the wedding of your dreams.

Naturally Beautiful Destination Weddings

Destination weddings are becoming a popular way to tie the knot in the 21st century. With all of the beautifully diverse places the world has to offer it can be hard to choose the right place for your wedding. There is so much that goes into planning a destination wedding: climate, season, budget, how many guests, and the list could go on and on. Then, right when you think you’ve got your mind made up, you think of somewhere else, and the process starts all over again. Below are three great places in the United States with totally different climates that are beautiful venues for destination weddings. Continue reading "Naturally Beautiful Wedding Destinations" »