Bigweekend this past weekend - our last wedding at Winterthur for 2010 was Friday evening and the last wedding that I am in or attending on a personal note was on Saturday evening.

Friday night I had the second of 4 sisters - I helped with Megan’s wedding 3 years ago. This time I had Erin and Drew who are so fun and so lively - their personalities are through the roof. Erin and Drew have been together forever and so they wanted their wedding to be a fun time for everyone involved - when I last saw Erin she had a beer in her hand and was on the dance floor having the time of her life. I wish them all the best as they enter this long awaited new time of their life.

Saturday I hopped in the car and headed down to DC where two of my friends were married. Church services on the grounds of the National Cathedral - stunning does not cover that location. Then back to a private club for a great cocktail party. Champage was passed throughout the evening and the cupcakes were from baked and wired in Georgetown - yum!

Other items of note - Lauren, Carlye, and I are doing every tour we can fit in rigt now and booking the last few dates in 2011 like crazy. We are also booking for 2012. If you are interested in a date please give us a call as there are not that many left now!

The three of us are also trying to find some quiet time in the office as we are in the final stages of finalizing the catering packages with updated pricing for the remainder of 2011 and for 2012. Again - if you are looking to book you may want to do so sooner rather then later, once these new rates go into effect unless you already have a signed contract the price will be increasing.

Lauren, Josh, Chef Gary and Chef David are getting ready for our monthly tasting tonight. Reminder that our last one before we close until March is Monday, December 27 at 4:30pm. If you need to book for the tasting please send us an email so we can guarantee your spot.

Here’s hoping everyone has a safe and thankful thanksgiving this year!

I finally got my hands on some of the amazing photos from Laura Novak from the July 23rd Lewis wedding here. This wedding was amazing in no small part due to Melissa Paul and her team from Evantine. Lighting with Eventions of course and we had Casey and the dreamtime band from EBE - they had the guests up and out of their seats all night long.

This was the first wedding using the conservatory and look at what Melissa did with the Gallery - wow- I think pictures are better then my words any day….

Placecards - Evantine Style

leading up to the conservatory

Guest sign in station - Evantine Style

Stationary Hors D'oeuvres

Bar in the Conservatory, Evantine Florals

Raw Bar Display

Signature Cocktail

Conservatory from the West Side of the Museum

Conservatory Doors

What an amazing sweetheart table

Long Dinner Tables

Liz Marden Cake

Outside of the Gallery

Intermezzo

View from the top of the Gallery

Chocolate Mousse

Dessert Station

Yum!

One of our fun brides from last Fall - Kirsten - and Matt of course, made the press. Check out the article in Delaware Bride. http://www.delawaretoday.com/Delaware-Today/Delaware-Bride/Fall-Winter-2010/In-Praise-of-Something-Blue/

Wanted to share - in the Fall/Winter 2010 Knot magazine Winterthur is named as one of the 10 most talked about wedding locations- check out page 30! Although you don’t have to be a member here if you host your reception all at the Visitor Center Pavilion - but hey, slightly incorrect press is better then no press right?

And since you already have that magazine in your hand flip to page 148 to read about Ashlee and Jons wedding here on the estate under a huge tent along Clenny Run - truly magnificent but then again, we were working with Eclatante Events!

Check the blog next week - I just got a disk of some amazing shots from the Lewis wedding this past July where we ised the conservatory for the first time. I am always so in awe of Laura Novak and her team - the photos are simply the best!

Hello all. So many things happening - where to start?

We had 2 amazing weddings - Megan and Jamie were married on the 16th and Kristin and Sinclair held their reception in the Gallery on the 22nd. I was so on the move on the 16th that I did not get one single shot and you have GOT to see this gorgeous wedding. Luckily Rob from Humble Eyes Photography was on the job and he is sending some my way that I may share with you. And more good news on that front - we are adding Rob to our preferred vendor listing so the rest of you may experience his work.

I had a severe sinus infection all last week and I had to miss Kristin and Sinclair and I so enjoyed these two relaxed wonderful people. Katie from the Laura Novak team shot this wedding and I love the way she captures all the perfect shots - more to come on that wedding as well.

I am currently trying to pair down all of the shots from the amazing wedding we had in July for Chris and Chanell. They used the Gallery for cocktail hour and Melissa Paul from Evantine did the most amazing job in the Gallery for dinner - like a dream. I should have those for you next week or soon after.

This is our first weekend without a wedding and I am Texas bound this weekend as the last of my college roomates head to the alter. So I am helping, of course, and hoping that it is warm and I can catch a few rays of sunshine at least! And next weekend I am in NYC all day for a meeting - no rest for the weary right?

Gary and I are currently changing the catering menus, prices, wine offerings, and different cake options. Can’t wait to show off the new items!

We had a great monthly tasting on Friday the 15th - and it looks like the one on Tuesday, November 23 at 6pm will be even more full. Lauren and Gary run them and love to answer the food questions. Don’t forget to let me know if you are coming so we can prepare.

I promise to be back with more pictures for you all to anjoy - have a great weekend and check the blog again next week please.

I knew from the moment that I met Eva and Kevin their wedding was going to be just a little bit different in all the right ways. Such special touches included…

The bridesmaids carried lanterns instead of flowers which shone beautifully as the sun set

We used the pool for the ceremony but moved into the Gallery for cocktail hour - Eva works at a museum (or the museum) in NYC and all of her guests were enthralled with the sites at Winterthur. We then escorted guests via shuttle to the VC for the dinner and dancing portion of the evening

Eva’s dad took the mic from the DJ - pre-planned of course - and he did the bridal announcements - including Eva and Kevin coming in first so they could watch their friends and families

The cake was accented with fall fruit - how simple and beautiful, and the motif was carried out in the wonderfully simple centerpieces that the Winterthur Floral team created.

Great pics shown from Joel Plotkin- we love Joel - he just makes our life so relaxing and allows me to focus on all of the other important details- look at some of the shots he sent me- thanks Joel!

Huppah designed by Winterthur Floral

pictures in the gallery - how unique

Cake by Kimberly Withers - Liberty Lane Bake Shoppe

Good afternoon all. Well we just had one of the busiest and most successful wedding weekends that I can remember in a long time - 4 this week - Friday, Saturday, Sunday and our first ever daytime wedding yesterday while the museum was closed. What a great way to celebrate Columbus Day!

Cynthia wanted a relaxed wedding - one she would would have fun at and not have that many formalities and one she would cherish always. Yesterday delivered all of that and more with an off-season high of 78 degrees and a light breeze. The ceremony started at 3pm and guests grazed on an ice seafood raw bar and fun stationary hors d’oeuvres - butternut squash risotto anybody? - while being served the perfect size crab cake sliders.

The signature cocktail had to include the couples favorite - limoncello, served with peahc schnapps, sparkling wine and fresh peaches.

Cynthia told me later in the afternoon that it was the perfect wedding for her and Miles and their friends and families - thank you, we thought so to….

Bar and Ice Carving (out of the sun!)

Limoncello Favors, Chocolates for the kids

Cake by Liz Marden

I am so blessed this weekend - I have the best couples and families to assist and share their days with! This evening I have the pleasure of working with Kitty and Jeff and they are awesome! These two high energy people exude energy and when they are together it gets even better. Lots of small, gorgeous touches to show you from throughout this whole wedding…

Pool beforehand

Pretty programs

I was so lucky to work once again with Joel Plotkin - Joel sent me some quick pics so that I could put up some better shots then what my talent and camera allows for - thanks Joel!

I cant wait to get some more of the pics when Joel is done with them

I don’t want to be remiss in not mentioning the rest fo the great vendors we had to work with on Saturday including Signature DJ’s, Theresa Florals, and Eventions Lighting. Linens were from total table. Ambiance by Winterthur, amazing night by Kitty and Jeff!

At least we are not whining about the weather this morning. The last remnants of Tropical Depression Nicole has left the area and the sun has come out and the wind is giving us a lovely breeze. This evening we are celebrating with Ethan and Lindsey and everything wine, wine colors, wine accents, well, you get the idea….

Wine Table Numbers, Flowers Sweet Peas of Jennersville

Wine Table Numbers - aren't these a great touch?

I think the flowers were great - they were all so natural and enhanced the Visitor Center and the Pool so well. We love Meg and her team with Sweet Peas  from Jennersville!

Liberty Lane Cake - Flowers from Sweet Peas of Jennersville

Creative cake topper - all of the flowers were so natural

Guests entered the Visitor Center and were greeted with this great display of wine bottles as favors and placecards.

Wine bottles as favors and placecards

Since I am flying out on Saturday morning for my friends bachelorette party in Dallas Texas I wanted to make sure you stil had something to read until we kick the month off with weddings bonanza on October 1. Have the lastest issue of the Knot? If not check out one of our real weddings at this link:

http://weddings.theknot.com/Real-Weddings/69919/view.aspx?id=69919&type=1&location=021

Hi everyone, Tom sent me a link to his blog where he has some great photos from Deana and Mike

Take a look - I think you will love them like we do!

http://feehlyphotography.com/blog/

I know I have been talking about the weather non-stop since Labor Day weekend but I think I have reason to - a beautiful 80 degrees today with no humidity and a great couple to boot - how lucky can I get? The brides dad and some of their guests were strolling around the gardens this afternoon, taking it all in.

Deana is about as nice and friendly as they come and Mike was a cater waiter in a former life - we love to exchange stories and talk about food and I love to watch these two people interact with each other. Perfect day for a ceremony at the pool with the crepe myrtles all lit up. Shaw strings playing in the background. Cocktails around the pool are simply breathtaking and every guest is commenting on the perfect setting.

Tom at work, Deana and Mike looking picture perfectTheresa Florals enhances the elegance of the pool

We are so excited to be working with Vince from Signature DJ’s all weekend. Vince has such a great temperment and is so good with the guests and keeping the people on the dance floor. Flowers were from my good friend Theresa Florals this evening. And I got to work with Tom Feehly Photography- and Tom always makes us look good and takes such great care of the bridal party. Everything just came together so wonderfully and these two and their great families really deserve it wit their great karma!