Bucks County Wedding Receptions

Fonthill Images

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Fonthill Images

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Mercer Museum's Elkins Gallery Images by Maggie Wallace - Cullen

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Mercer Museum's Elkins Gallery Images

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Mercer Museum's Elkins Gallery Images

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Fonthill Images

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Fonthill Images

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Fonthill Images

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Fonthill Images

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Fonthill Images

2010-02-03T15:33:00.001-05:00

Fonthill Images

2010-02-03T15:25:00.002-05:00

Occasions Images

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Occasions Images

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Occasions Images

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Jenny & Brendan's Wedding Cake

2009-11-04T15:50:00.003-05:00

I actually moved this cake 13 times to keep it safe each time the property owners let their dogs out!

Mandy & Brian's Autumn Fonthill Wedding

2009-11-04T15:09:00.007-05:00

Cathy,

I just wanted to tell you thank SO much! Thank You! You and your team yesterday were just absolutely amazing, you guys are the most amazing professionals EVER! Everything was perfect! Everything was better than we ever expected. Thank you so much. I am going to call in two weeks when we get back from our honeymoon.

Amanda Smyth

Chimney Hill Farm Estate chosen one of top 10 wedding reception venues!

2009-10-02T09:56:00.003-04:00

Chimney Hill was chosen for the number four spot on our survey because of the old stone inn and landscaped gardens that surround the estate. Chimney Hill can handle everything from lodging, catering, tent and chair rentals, wedding cakes, floral arrangements, and accommodate weddings of up to 125 guests. Call Jack or Pat for more info, or visit www.memorableaffairs.com for menus.
Visit them online here.

Mike and Naomi's Wedding

2009-09-09T10:27:00.000-04:00

Hi Cathy,

Thank you SO much. It turned out that 5 people did not show for some reason or other, so I guess we were covered anyway. :)But, thank you so much for letting Tammy know.

I also just wanted to thank you so much for our wedding. Everything was WONDERFUL. Tammy was so great and helpful, and really helped to drive the day to perfection! Everyone raved about the food, particularly cocktail hour. Mike and I were sure not to miss out on the fantastic food, so we definitely made sure to crash our cocktail hour and we were not going to miss the tasty crab cakes either for dinner!! :) Also, all of the staff were so kind and the attention to detail did not go unnoticed. One of my girls in the wedding party told me that the staff remembered that she could not eat dairy and was sure that she didn't get cheese on her salad!
Please extend our thanks to Jack as well, his help through the planning phase of our wedding was priceless. We are so glad that we chose Memorable Affairs to take care of our special day.

We would like to send Tammy a thank you card, would the MA office address be the best place to send to her?

Thanks again for making our day wonderful!

Mike and Naomi

Sign in on our guitar, please........these are from photographers Monika and David's Project Mad Love!

2009-08-12T12:43:00.007-04:00

Fab Fonthill Wedding - from photographers Monika and David's Project Mad Love!

2009-08-12T12:24:00.006-04:00

Outdoor Tent Wedding - Erica Loves Patrick

2009-07-23T15:50:00.002-04:00

Lots of Laughs!

Lots and lots of bubbles!!!!

July Wedding at Fonthill

2009-07-23T11:03:00.005-04:00

Dear Jack, Cathy, Ed, Fran and Team,

I should be writing this on lovely stationery, but I wanted to get it down while it was still fresh in my mind. Our wedding was an absolute dream come true in every way. I don't know if you had anything to do with producing the gorgeous weather, but I'll give you credit for everything else. I think the biggest compliment I can give is not from us, but from many of our guests. So many people told us that the food was beyond delicious (and we agree) and that this was the most fun wedding they had ever attended (I also agree, but I'm very biased here). Fonthill is truly a special place and you are a special group of people and I think that was apparent to everyone there.

I really have to thank you for all the extra care that you gave us. Eric and I wanted a traditional wedding that wasn't "cookie-cutter" and that's what we got in so many ways. Everyone raved over our custom menu as a whole and over specific items. Eric would like to know if we can just order some of that artichoke jalapeno dip from time to time!! The cheese was amazing. Everyone enjoyed the mix of crowd-pleasers (skewers, dips, fruit) and the unexpected items (quince paste, gazpacho). My biggest disappointment was that I wasn't able to sample everything, but I tried! Everything that I tasted literally surprised me because it tasted a hundred times better than my mouth was prepared for.

I also want to specifically thank Cathy and Fran for the care they took with us. Everything ran very smoothly and they were very kind to check in with us to make sure we had what we needed. We appreciated being served at our table so that we could chat with our guests. Cathy set up the tent and the ceremony very beautifully and really listened to our ideas about the atmosphere that we wanted to create and took initiative to keep going where my ideas left off. We were also more than pleased with Jimmy Ryan and the other vendors that you recommended to us.

Again, our deepest gratitude to you all for a beautiful day that we will remember with nothing but happiness!

Kindest regards,

Natalie and Eric Hart

Mercer Museum July 3 Wedding

2009-07-23T09:13:00.003-04:00

The 3rd grade students had some great advise for the bride!

Evan & Lauren's Fonthill Wedding Images

2009-07-23T08:09:00.006-04:00

Jack,

just wanted to take a minute to send you a quick note. I wanted to thank you and your team for a great job on our wedding day. Everything was setup perfect and went pretty smoothly. I have no complaints! I know the bride and her mother also had a great time and thought everything was lovely. Many of our guests loved the location, the food, and the setting.

Again, thanks to your team for hard work, planning, flexibility and patience.

Evan Penalba, Happy Groom

If you’ve ever been to Doylestown, you might have heard of Fonthill Museum with enormous collection of tools and history gathered by Henry Mercer. He also left a house behind, a gorgeous castle, where this beautiful wedding took place. Lauren & Evan came down all the way from Connecticut. Some of the highlights of the day were carriage rides, flying veil, awesome live band, great weather and a beautiful setting to have such a nice wedding. Prior to this we did an engagement shoot and I was surprised to find out all the different prints on the tables. I though it was a nice touch. They also had a great local caterer Memorable Affairs who was very easy and smooth to work with. The castle had a lot to offer and everyone had a great time as you can see in the photos … Gene Smirnov, Smirnov Wedding Photographer http://www.smirnovweddings.com/blog

Evan & Lauren's Fonthill Wedding Images

2009-07-23T07:45:00.006-04:00

Tented Family Style Reception Dinner in Doylestown at client's home

2009-07-03T10:41:00.005-04:00

Dear Cathy and Jack,

We wanted to let you know how pleased we were with your catering services for our wedding on May 30, 2009.

We had a good feeling about your understanding of the informal but polished style we hoped for from the beginning when we first met with Jack. Prior to the wedding, we appreciated meeting with you on site several times and your assistance in figuring out and ordering the necessary rentals. It seemed like we were on the same page right away, and that you were always available for our questions and to help sort out the details.

Everything for the wedding day was wonderful. The tables were set up beautifully, the service was excellent--I appreciated that the waiters came up to Madison with the clams casino--and prepared a special plate for us as well. Madison loved the clams, so thank you for helping me work that into the wedding. Our guests raved about the food--enjoying the pastas and chicken, and all of the wonderful appetizers.

More than anything, I appreciated knowing that I did not have to worry about how the reception service would go, that things were well under control and as we hoped that they would be. The wedding went by too quickly but we appreciated everything that you did, all of the little details, helping to set up the tables, moving the chairs, the bar setup in the courtyard--everything that made the day special and gave our guests a wonderful day.

We are grateful that you were recommended to us and will highly recommend you to others.

Sincerely,
Beth and Madison Saurman

Memorable Affairs and Fonthill to be featured in The Knot - AGAIN!

2009-06-23T13:04:00.001-04:00

Hello Cathy,
I just wanted to write and let you know that Jason and my wedding at the Fonthill is going to be featured in the "Real Weddings" section in the Spring/Summer 2009 issue of The Knot Pennsylvania magazine. I'm not sure what images they plan to use, but they requested information and feedback about all of the vendors we used.

Thanks!
Jessica

Jessica Stern
Product Administrator, Texas

Marjorie & Jayson's Wedding June 21 at Mercer Museum

2009-06-23T12:27:00.000-04:00

The food was great. The manager was fabulous. We couldn't have asked for more.

Please give me Tami's full name and address. We want to send a special thank-you.

Thanks.

Edythe
(Mother of the Bride)

The Bride Weighs In! June 13 Picnic Wedding at Green Hills Farm, Pearl S. Buck House

2009-06-19T11:40:00.000-04:00

Hi Jack,

I just wanted to let you know how wonderful our wedding was this past Saturday. It did rain, but it held up for the ceremony. I am amazed at how well Tammy put everything together and accommodated to everyone of our needs without us even asking! The tent panels were closed as soon as it started raining and they were open again as soon as it stopped. She also had all of our gifts and games ready for us when the reception was over - we didn't have to worry about a thing! Please let her know how appreciative both Joe and I and my mom and dad are for all of her hard work. Many of our friends are looking for future locations and caterers for either their weddings or their friend's weddings and all will be checking out Pearl Buck and Memorable Affairs!

Thanks again!

Amy

Amy Scheckenbach

3rd Grade Teacher

West Broad Street Elementary

Souderton Area School District

Luxury Portable Lavatories

2009-06-16T12:52:00.001-04:00

18' Fantastic Trailer

The "Fantastic" model restroom trailers from Port A Bowl are spectacular, upscale units designed to impress even the toughest critics. These amazing units are perfect for upscale weddings, corporate events, high-end fundraisers and in an endless variety of other applications.
These trailers set the standard for exquisite features including real wood maple stained trim, wainscoting, crown and chair molding, wood grain floors, marbled walls, six panel doors with levered handles, recessed lighting and stainless sinks. If the goal is to impress, the answer is the Fantastic Model.

Mother of Bride Pleased!

2009-06-16T07:29:00.001-04:00

Jack,

Your staff did an excellent job...thank you for making Amy's wedding so special.

The blue and white tablecloths with the blue napkins looked amazing with the colorful gerber daisy centerpieces...i'm glad we went with them. (I've attached a few pictures) Tammy was wonderful from the beginning to the end. She worked with quiet confidence and competence and kept the event running smoothly. She really did an amazing job.

I heard positive comments and complements about the food as well...and the cake was positively beautiful!

Thanks again for working with us to have the wedding Amy wanted.

Linda Scheckenbach

Testimonial

2009-05-06T14:54:00.000-04:00

Subject: 4/25/09 Wedding Celebration

Cathy - I just wanted to tell you how pleased we were with the catering services for our wedding celebration. The food was terrific, the service was great, and the staff was just a pleasure to work with. My guests commented on all three. Thanks so much. I'd be happy to act as a reference. Marla Cochran

Marla Cochran
Director of Regulatory Affairs and Product Safety
Functional Additives Division
Arkema Inc.

Kathryn and Thomas' Fonthill wedding featured in Brides.com

2009-03-06T11:52:00.001-05:00

Check out this Tom Waits-ish band and Tom's socks!

Outdoor Wedding Ceremony in Courtyard

2008-12-08T14:44:00.001-05:00

Ellen & Steve's Reception

2008-11-04T08:21:00.001-05:00

October 12 Wedding Ceremony and Reception @ Occasions

2008-10-30T15:34:00.000-04:00

Hello Jack, just wanted to let you know that Paige and I absolutely loved our wedding at Occasions. Thank you for making it such a special event for us both. You guys did great and we will not forget how you took care of us on that day. All of our guests had a great time too. We feel that everything went perfect and if we had to do it all over again we wouldn't change a thing. Thanks again and take care.

Pete and Paige Slivinski

Ryan Goldman Photography

Unique Doylestown Wedding Reception - Marge & Homer Simpson Cake

2008-10-23T12:08:00.001-04:00

Some nice images of the day:
Slide Show by Brokaw Photography

Dear Cathy, Jack, and everyone at Memorable Affairs,

We want to thank you all from the bottom of our hearts for a simply amazing reception on August 9, 2008. The staff was amazing, the food was to die for, and the design and planning was flawless.

You brought our vision to life, and the attention to detail was obvious as the night went seamlessly. We had family and friends from Oregon to Florida, from Chicago to Vermont - everyone said they had never been to a wedding like that in their lives.

Thank you for everything!

Katie and Jason Christiansen

Doylestown Wedding Reception

2008-10-23T12:06:00.001-04:00

Cathy,

Now that Jason and I are back from our honeymoon and all settled in, I had to take some time and send you a letter to tell you just how thrilled we were with everything. First of all I owe a huge thank you to you, Fran, and all of the staff at Memorable Affairs! Everything turned out perfect thanks to all of you.

You have been wonderful to work with from day one. I was so impressed at how quickly you always responded and how flexible you were. Planning a wedding is always so stressful, but the one part of it all that I didn't have to worry about was the catering. You made the process so easy! I appreciate all the help you gave me coordinating my vendors, as well. As you know, many of them were working at the Fonthill for the first time and you were great about responding to all of their questions.

The wedding day went flawlessly. Fran was so helpful! Everything was set up perfectly and the day ran right on schedule. Fran was great at coordinating the wedding party before and during the ceremony. She was also so helpful with coordinating all of my vendors on the wedding day. She was so attentive to me and Jason the whole day. It almost seemed like she was in 10 places at once. All of the staff that was there that day were so nice! Oh my gosh and let's not forget the food! Although I didn't get to enjoy the actual meal, I heard from so many guests that the food was fantastic. I did make sure to grab as much as I could during the cocktail hour and the brie puffs were awesome! I'd consider a career as a wedding crasher just to get brie puffs every week! LOL!

You did a fantastic job setting up the candy buffet too. I am a control freak so I must admit I was a little anxious about handing off the responsibility of setting that up. You did everything exactly as I would have…and better. I had no idea the candy buffet would be such a hit, but the guests loved it. Actually the guests loved everything! In general, my mother is hard to impress, so congratulations because you impressed her. She hasn't stopped talking about how fantastic she thought the wedding turned out. Our friends and family have been sending us messages all week to let us know how much fun they had and how beautiful they thought the wedding was. From start to finish it was perfect!

If I ever have an excuse to host another event I will definitely be calling Memorable Affairs! I just can't thank you enough for everything!

Cheers!

Jessica and Jason

Philadelphia Inquirer Coverage of Wedding Reception

2008-10-23T11:42:00.001-04:00

"When all of my siblings married, the receptions were at a Chinese restaurant," Nary said. "But we were not doing a Cambodian wedding; we were doing our dream wedding." They loved Fonthill from the moment they saw it, they picked food they loved, and they didn't let the cost - about twice as much as the Chinese-restaurant option - deter them.

Full Inquirer article

Melissa & Rick @ Fonthill

2008-10-01T12:21:00.001-04:00

Melissa & Rick from Lucky Productions Video on Vimeo.

Occasions New Hope Wedding Reception

2008-10-01T10:46:00.000-04:00

Hi Cathy,

We wanted to say thank you to all the Occasions staff, and Fran especially. Everything we asked for was done perfectly.

Please pass along our Thanks to Fran again, she was incredibly helpful and on top of everything throughout the night which definitely helped a lot.

PS - although we did not eat much last night we tried all the food today and it was all delicious! All of it and you did a great job with serving family-style.

Natasha and Matt

Allebach Photography LOVES Fonthill!

2008-09-30T18:03:00.001-04:00

Here are the top 6 dream wedding locations in the Philadelphia area according to our very own polls:

Cairnwood Mansion in Bryn Athyn, Pa
Ballroom at the Ben in Center City, Philadelphia, Pa
Fonthill Castle in Doylestown, Pa
Drexelbrook in Drexel Hill, Pa
The Rittenhouse in Philadelphia, Pa
Moshulu, Philadelphia, Pa

Fonthill is an extreme value in this company!!!!

Budget Issues Resolved!

2008-09-30T14:51:00.001-04:00

Jack,

I cannot thank you enough for your help. My Mom had a great time meeting with you and we are very excited to be working with you. We have had some bad experiences with caterers along the way so far, and we were a bit gun shy about meeting with another caterer, but you’ve put us at ease and we are thrilled. Thank you for the Sunday Wedding Date advice and for your help with our budgeting. I plan to come home within the coming weeks and hope to meet with you then.

Amanda

Mike and Sherry's Wedding

2008-08-04T14:20:00.001-04:00

2008-08-01T12:08:00.001-04:00

Dear Jack -

I know I am a bit late in writing this, but it still needs to be done. I wanted to thank you for the amazing job Memorable Affairs did for our wedding at the Mercer Museum on May 24, 2008. My husband and parents and I were simply delighted with how wonderfully everything turned out. Your staff was fantastic to work with, and made the entire experience from start to finish very easy and enjoyable. The location was stunning, and we received many compliments on finding such a unique and beautiful venue. But most of all, the food was amazing. Just about every guest commented on how delicious they found the meal, especially the appetizers. I know many of them went through the buffet line two and three times.

Overall, I could not have asked for a better wedding experience, and Memorable Affairs was an enormous part of that. I will absolutely be recommending you to every engaged couple I know. Thank you again for truly fantastic day!

Karen Doberstein

2008-07-31T13:45:00.003-04:00

2008-07-31T13:45:00.001-04:00

2008-07-31T13:41:00.000-04:00

Meghan and Alan's wedding reception at Occasions

2008-07-30T11:04:00.000-04:00

July 12 Wedding Reception at Fonthill Estate

2008-07-15T14:06:00.001-04:00

Cathy,

I wanted to touch base quickly to tell you how perfect everything was Saturday. Everyone had a great time and Adrienne was so happy. I can't thank you and Jack, and all of your staff did for us.

I'm out of the office for the next few days but will touch base later in the week.

Thanks again.

Elizabeth (Mother of Bride)

Murphy& Klein Centerpiece & Fonthill

2008-06-30T15:57:00.001-04:00

Summer Wedding @ Fonthill - flowers by Murphy & Klein

2008-06-30T15:55:00.001-04:00

Beth descending the Fonthill stairs for her ceremony

2008-06-30T15:51:00.000-04:00

Juqua & Beth's Table Tops by Murphy & Klein

2008-06-30T15:45:00.000-04:00

Centerpiece by Murphy & Klein @ Fonthill

2008-06-30T15:34:00.000-04:00

Irishmen Training the Bartender @ Mary & Stephen's Party

2008-06-23T19:27:00.000-04:00

A FUN reception - the Irish Contingent

2008-06-23T18:30:00.000-04:00

Mary & Stephen on a snowboarding trip

2008-06-23T18:29:00.000-04:00

Cocktails in the Gallery of Orphan Children Art

2008-06-23T18:28:00.000-04:00

Suitcase placecards assign guests a "destination" table - interesting guests headed for Washington DC! (click on image to enlarge)

2008-06-23T18:23:00.000-04:00

The New York table

2008-06-23T17:18:00.000-04:00

Christina's Wedding reception at Occasions in New Hope

2008-06-16T09:14:00.002-04:00

Mini Macs - The Bite Sized Cheeseburger

2008-06-16T09:14:00.001-04:00

Christina & Bill's Wedding at Occasions - The "Flirtini"

2008-06-16T08:55:00.001-04:00

Music Vendors - DJ's

2008-06-10T11:17:00.000-04:00

In 18 years of wedding catering, we have found relatively few DJ's whom we can recommend without reservation - here they are:

John Grossman
John Grossman Entertainment
www.johngrossman.com
215.646.4499
(John held his wedding at Mercer Museum and has also been a sales person for Memorable Affairs at the Museums. He knows how things work!!!)

Tim Lieb
Ambience DJ's
www.ambiancedjs.com
215.741.2783

Frenchtowner.com chooses Fonthill as top wedding venue in Bucks County!

2008-06-06T13:56:00.000-04:00

From: The Frenchtowner

Top ten places in Bucks County for weddings:

#1 Fonthill Museum, Doylestown

Fonthill was chosen for the number one spot in our survey because it is unique. There is no other place that matches its grandeur, beauty and romance. It is unlike any other place anywhere in the world. It is one of the American Castles that PBS featured in its series. This exotic house and the gorgeous expansive grounds that surround it are simply incredible. Fonthill rents out the Terrace Pavilion and tents on the grounds for fabulous weddings and memorable celebrations.

#3 The Mercer Museum, Doylestown

The Mercer was chosen for the number three spot in our survey because it is one of the most impressive buildings in Bucks County. This historic six story structure, which houses an important collection of Americana, makes for a fantastic backdrop for a wedding and the Elkins Gallery that is used for weddings and elaborate celebrations is a marvelous ballroom

#8 Pearl S. Buck Estate, Perkasie

The Pearl S. Buck House was chosen for the number eight spot in our survey because of the beauty of the historic 1834 farmhouse, the gardens, the grounds and the beautiful flagstone terrace. The estate located in the Northern Bucks County community of Perkasie was the home of the famous writer and humanitarian, Pearl S. Buck. This impressive 68 acre facility can accommodate weddings and large celebrations of up to 250 guests in a variety of settings and locations on the property.

http://www.frenchtowner.com/Top-Ten-Places-in-Bucks-County-for-Weddings.html

Kat and Tom's Fonthill Wedding was featured in Brides magazine!

2008-05-22T13:08:00.000-04:00

Hi jack-- we can't come to the picnic... but how are you? how's business?? Have you guys gotten any inquiries as a result of the Brides Magazine spread? I know the band booked a few gigs because of their picture in there, which was great. Hope you are well. And i wanted you to know that people are STILL talking about our wedding... thanks again for helping to make it a huge success. :) Kat

Flank Steak on bed of sauteed garlicky spinach

2008-05-20T18:26:00.000-04:00

Jenna's Wedding May 17, Occasions in New Hope

2008-05-20T07:55:00.000-04:00

Jack,

I just wanted to thank you and your staff for a wonderful, most memorable time my wife and I had at Occasions on Saturday night. The food, service, and atmosphere you created was second to none. We had a fabulous time!

Two staff members in particular, Susan and Dean were sensational!

Susan was so attentive and accommodating, she really made sure we didn't have to ask for anything. Her anticipation was great!

Dean was so personable, and his Mojitos were delicious! If we ever decide to have a summer party at our home.....he's our man!

Thank you so much, we had a great time!

We will tell all our friends and family about Memorable Affairs.

Mr & Mrs Robert Lucini

Jenna & Dennis - It appears the couple has broken some hearts in the past........including Kim Kardashian???

2008-05-19T11:59:00.000-04:00

Jenna's placecards were celebrity magazines the couple created as favors

2008-05-19T11:54:00.000-04:00

Cupcake Tower - YUMMY! From Velvet Sky - flowers by rhodesflowers.net

2008-05-19T11:49:00.000-04:00

Dennis & Jenna's Occasions Wedding

2008-05-19T11:42:00.001-04:00

Jenna and Dennis produced a slide show chronicling the great memories accumulated over 11 years of being together that ran on the screen to the side of the dance floor. All the guests in attendance at the reception are honored in the slide show.

Organic Baby Arugula with pear, almonds, bleu, dried cranberries & blueberries

2008-05-17T12:28:00.000-04:00

Dry-aged Rib Eye with Grilled Asparagus with Balsamic Reduction

2008-05-17T12:26:00.000-04:00

Grilled Swordfish with Cilantro & Lime

2008-05-17T12:23:00.000-04:00

Stuffed Mushrooms

2008-05-17T12:21:00.000-04:00

Spanikopita with Roasted Pepper Aioli

2008-05-17T12:20:00.000-04:00

Brie in Filo with Raspberry Coulis

2008-05-17T12:18:00.000-04:00

Goat Cheese Crostini

2008-05-17T12:14:00.000-04:00

Square Cake

2008-05-02T11:52:00.001-04:00

New Tent this Year - much improved!

2008-05-02T11:39:00.000-04:00

We have entered into an agreement with Bucks Mont Party Rentals to maintain the tent at Fonthill this year - and added several new amenities; more French doors, sconces, new chandeliers, numerous fans, new cathedral "skylights" and more!

Fonthill Wedding of Tanya and John April 26, 2008

2008-04-30T16:13:00.000-04:00

The season is off and running!

Thanks to Vantage Pictures, photographers Jonathan McBride, and his wife Sarah.

http://vantagepictures.typepad.com

Check out their blog!

A Very Gatsby Wedding

2008-03-14T13:27:00.000-04:00

There wasn’t a more fabulous time than the roaring twenties. And there wasn’t a better book to capture what it would be like to be a 20’s socialite than The Great Gatsby. Take away the homicide, tragedy, prohibition, and you get a series of evenings filled with grandeur, lavishness, culinary splendor, lively guests, dancing, music, and libations in abundance. Hmm, doesn’t that sound a lot like a wedding reception? The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald, is a favorite among us Y-Gens, and many are choosing to use the style of the 20's for their weddings. You could really get into it and do a theme wedding (complete with flapper dresses, character roles, and the works), but if not, just keep things light, fresh, fun, and fabulous and you're well on your way to a 20's event. Here are some ways to have a Gatsby inspired wedding reception:

Keep your overall style light, avoiding formality and stuffiness.

Use flowers popular in the 20’s: Gladiolus, mums, lilies, and gardenias

Keep things colorful and fresh: Use fruit such as oranges and limes as decorations and centerpieces at buffet tables.

Adopt the style of the 20’s with a modern twist: Bride, wear something sleek, like a slipdress, to accentuate a simple silhouette characteristic of the 20’s, but embrace details such as lace, embroidery, anything to add a bit of flare. Wear period jewelry, as well. Groom: Wear an ivory suit, with a colored tie (peach was a trendy color in the twenties).

Have jazz music playing, and swing for dancing (You can also buy the soundtrack to The Great Gatsby and listen to it for inspiration)

Use a black and white checkered dance floor

Rent these movies for inspiration:
Oscar (with sly stallone)
Bullets over Broadway
The Great Gatsby (Obviously)

I love the idea of a Gatsby inspired wedding. There are scads of resources on the internet, too. I think the romance of the 20’s comes from the knowledge that, even though things appeared to be fabulous, fun and fancy free, it was about to take a turn for the worst (think October 1929). At first thought, the roaring twenties doesn’t seem like a good metaphor for a wedding. But life having its ups and downs, its triumphs and trenches, is inevitable, and when you are at a party, in the company of family, good friend, and marvelous people, well that, like love, is timeless.

Most resources found from:

http://www.minnesotamonthly.com/media/Minnesota-Monthly/Guides-Resources/The-Wedding-Planner-Spring-2007/Creating-a-Great-Gatsby-Wedding/

Fairy Tale Fabulous

2008-03-06T13:01:00.000-05:00

We may have been small children (or prenatal) during princess Di’s wedding to prince charles, but as children of the 80’s, we grew up with, not Pixar, but the fairy tale. And what other wedding was more of a fairy tale than hers? A kindergarten teacher finding her prince charming (at least, it seemed that way at the time) couldn’t get any more like a bedtime stoy, and her wedding dress was the perfect princess dress:

”Diana's wedding dress was a puff ball meringue wedding dress, with huge puffed sleeves and a frilly neckline. The dress was made of silk taffeta, decorated with lace, hand embroidery, sequins, and 10,000 pearls. It was designed by Elizabeth and David Emanuel, and had a 25-foot train.” ( http://womenshistory.about.com/od/diana/a/diana_wedding.htm )

Sounds pretty 80’s, right? Puff sleeves were my favorite style of dress as a kid (yeah, that with a side ponytail and some jellies – very regal indeed). I do like the element of tradition that comes with sleeves on a wedding dress, but I’m pretty sure I could only get away with puffy ones if I were actually marrying royalty (who wants to put a bet on whether Harry will accept my offer?). Puffy sleeves aside, Diana’s dress has every classic wedding gown attribute that embodies a gown fit for a royal fairy tale wedding (sleeves, a veil, a –very – long train, the puffy skirt, a frilly neckline). Let's be honest. No normal person could pull off that dress. But you don't have to embrace all of these things to achieve the look. If you’re a romantic and want a bit of bravura in your gown, I found some Carolina Hereira dresses that exude a more modern fairy tale appeal. This dress in particular:

Carries the allure of the veil, the femininity of some ruffle on the neckline - without making the bride look like she belongs in a Shakespearean play – and the grandeur and enchantment of a full skirt. The overall look? Fabulous.

I like the lace sleeves on this dress, as well. It keeps the look subtle, yet still traditional. If you don't like sleeves and want some grandeur, a dress with some volume to the skirt and a small train might suit you:

Dresses property of Eden Bridals: http://www.edenbridals.com

"To fake or not to fake" or "Because Pam Anderson Did It"

2008-02-29T14:18:00.000-05:00

No, I’m not talking about fake, well, you know. It turns out Pam Anderson is famous for faking something else: her wedding cake. Wedding cakes are a time honored tradition, but even a small one can cost a pretty penny. With that said, depending on how important this tradition is to you, should you save money by using a fake wedding cake accompanied with a sheet cake for the guests? Most bakeries offer rental wedding cakes, with an opening to insert a piece of real cake for the cake cutting.

Although fake cakes have been around for awhile, renting them is fairly novel. Brides to be have said they will pay half as much to rent a fake cake than to buy a real one. Three tiered wedding cakes cost about $100 to rent, plus up to $100 more for a custom design.

For DIY brides, you can make a fake cake out of Styrofoam from the craft store (Wilton makes Styrofoam cakes of different shapes and sizes, and the green Styrofoam is easily shapeable) and PermaIce (artificial icing). It’s pretty easy and can be fun to do. Best of all, if you make a mistake, just throw it out and start again.

But is it worth it? I guess that’s just a judgment call. I personally like the idea of having a real wedding cake, especially because I like the idea of pearls and flowers being edible (the ones made out of sugar, I mean). And is it really cost efficient? Maureen Rogers, at http://pinkslipblog.blogspot.com/2007/07/this-takes-wedding-cake.html did the math, and for one company, renting a fake cake with a 100 slice sheet to accompany it only saves about $45 dollars. So should you fake it? I would opt for the real thing, especially because I’m only getting married (hopefully) one time, and a couple hundred dollars is not so bad for such an important occasion, considering what I’ve splurged on in the past: 120 dollars when I was 14 on ‘N Sync concert tickets, 200 dollars a couple months ago on a pair of jeans that ripped already, and like 70 dollars at CVS last week when I only went in for toothpaste (why does that always happen?). And if the tradition is not important to you, then don’t get a cake at all. Do not conform to the matrimonial peer pressures! But for me, this looks too good to fake:

Don't you think this would taste better than styrofoam or cardboard?
(wedding cake property of Annie B's confections, find more cakes like this at http://www.anniebs.com/ )

Fit 2008 Trends to Your Style

2008-02-26T11:37:00.000-05:00

Let’s face it. If you’re female, you probably have some sort of interest in fashion. Do you follow trends religiously? Yeah, me neither. But to be truly in touch with your own inner fashionsta, you can find a balance between style and trend. Style is about personal expression and being creative, rather than trying to fit a mold. Trends, while they can make you feel like part of a school of fish, following the same path as everyone else, can be viewed as inspiration, rather than instructions, on style. Here are some ways to adapt some of the 2008 wedding trends to your own style and wedding vision.

Yellow was all over the Spring 2008 runways. If you’re feeling bold, go for bridesmaid dresses in bright yellow. If you’re looking for subtlety, go for yellow trim such as yellow ribbons around the waist, or yellow daisies in the hair. Pairing yellow and chocolate brown is great for a romantic evening wedding.

Silver and jewel tones for a wedding are trendy, as well as romantic. Jewel tones are in style, such as royal purple, green, and shocking pink, for sashes, ribbons, flowers, and even makeup. Use large rhinestone accents on tables, or small jewels in hair to give a royal energy to the reception.

If you like the idea of jewels, but want more of an authentic, “green” feel to your wedding, or if you’re unique or into new age, go for natural stones or crystals on tables, such as rose quartz, amethyst and amazonite, which you can find at new age stores.

http://weddings.about.com/od/bridesandgrooms/tp/2008-Wedding-Trends.htm
http://www.brides.com/

Go Tropical

2008-02-25T12:54:00.000-05:00

Do you like the idea of getting married at the beach, but not the idea of a plain and simple wedding? Sure, the very concept of the beach is minimalistic: minimal clothing, accessories, makeup and, well, you know, minimal clothing. But you can still have a luxurious wedding at any beach by embracing a tropical theme. You don’t even have to go to Maui. If you plan to get married on a beach, take advantage of the sultry ambiance and add as much color as you can. Chair sashes in rich tropical colors like salmon, royal blue, magenta, lime green, sunny yellow, bright orange, embellished with orchids, roses and hibiscus add some lavishness to the ceremony. Add some extra flavor by using tropical fruit as decoration, such as mangoes, pineapples, watermelon, and bananas. And don’t forget to make the most of the natural beauty you can find only at the beach: seashells. Pink conch shells look nice placed at the end of each row of chairs. Glittering the sand with smaller shells is also nice. Just make sure the guests are wearing shoes.
(Visit http://www.weddingthemes.net/wedding_themes_island_style.htm for images)

Add a twist to tradition:

Rather than candle unity, incorporate sand unity into your ceremony. The bride and groom each hold a vial and fill it with sand from the beach. Then, simultaneously, they pour their sand into a larger vial or bottle, symbolizing their lives merged and unified. You can find an ornamental bottle, or decorate one yourself. Keep the bottle of sand as a keepsake and constant reminder of your vows.
(This idea from http://www.alohafriendsluau.com/Hawaii_wedding.html )

If you can't make it to a beach,utilizing a tropical decorative theme can make a backyard or outdoor wedding appear and feel exotic.

"The Green Party"

2008-02-20T12:37:00.000-05:00

With all that goes into a wedding, it’s easy to forget about the amount of our earth’s resources that go into making your big day extravagant and memorable.

Well, good news. “Green” weddings have become mainstream! There now exist scads of websites, vendors and companies who dedicate themselves to promoting eco-friendly nuptials.

Here are three ways to start your life together on a positive, peaceful and harmonious note:

Pre-Engagement: Avoid “blood diamonds” by buying “conflict free” engagement rings. This is so important. Many diamonds are mined in war zones and the profits fund conflicts and genocides. Start your engagement on a peaceful note. Here are some alternatives, thanks to Sierra Club(1):

Go vintage. Family heirlooms and antiques have substance and history to them, which hold a romantic appeal. Gold can even be melted down and reshaped.

Buy lab created diamonds. GreenKarat’s diamonds are set in recycled gold, too, like this ring called the Gatsby Redux:

Research diamonds mined in peaceful areas, like Canada and Australia.

Check out Amnesty International’s Buyer’s Guide to find out questions to ask jewelers to make sure your diamonds are conflict-free under the Kimberley Process (an ongoing effort to reform diamond mining in Africa).

Pre-Wedding: Use recycled paper for invitations, or paper made from an alternative fiber like hemp or bamboo.

According to Ariel Dekovic, coauthor of 365 Ways to Save the Earth, "Every ton of recycled paper saves 17 trees, 7,000 gallons of water, the energy equivalent of 380 gallons of oil, and keeps almost 60 pounds of pollutants out of the atmosphere." Go to Womancraft.net for recycled invitation paper. Also, rather than use a lot of paper for inserts, include a website with your wedding information. This is more useful, as it can be updated and can’t get misplaced (2)

Post Wedding: Donate your flowers to a retirement home.

Flowers are beautiful and healing. Studies also show that taking care of plants and flowers give senior citizens a feeling of control in their lives, improving its quality and brightening their day. Use potted plants, and then donate them (2).

http://sierraclub.typepad.com/greenlife/2007/03/10_steps_to_a_g.html

Information found at http://www.theknot.com/

Let Them Eat Cake!

2008-02-19T13:05:00.000-05:00

I know, what a horrible reference for a title. Marie Antoinette must have been quite the Bridezilla!

Anyway.

What kind of wedding appeals to you? Are you the type who wants to get married on the beach in a sundress and a flower in your hair, with your closest friends to witness? Or do you want a wedding fit for royalty? Maybe you’re pretty traditional, but you want a little extra something to keep your day memorable. Or do you recoil from convention and want a wedding that’s fun, bold, and with a sense of humor? Whatever your desires, keep tuning in here for some great ideas for inspiration to personalize your wedding.

Today I spent some time searching for wedding cakes. I looked for the unique, the irreverent, the simple, and the fabulous. These are my favorites:

If you like:

Simple, Subtle, and Beautiful

This one is simple but beautiful, and looks like something you could duplicate cost efficiently. You could easily find stands like this, or even decorate the stand with ribbons or flowers rather than on the cake. It’s perfect for an elegant wedding (1).

Fabulous and Luxurious

With intricate designs and colors of royalty, this cake is fit for a queen, or someone who wants to be treated as such on her special day(2).

Traditional with a twist

Want a traditional wedding with a unique twist? Try a design like this, inspired by a Paisley print Indian shawl. It’s edgy, but beautiful and with a hint of culture(3).

Unconventional and Fun
I couldn't pick just one of these.

This is absolutely awesome! It's a lego cake for the kid in all of us. If you’re a goofball, love kids, or are unique and unconventional, this is a great idea. Of course, it’s not edible. But I love cookies and brownies and other types of sweets, so I would be happy with a sweets table and a cool Lego cake to look at(4)!

This one is my favorite! For all of us who grew up obsessing over those green pipes and “one up’s” and question mark boxes always filled with something special, what better way to celebrate your special day than with some childhood nostalgia? May every Princess Toadstool find her Mario(5)! Here’s another one:

I love the bride and groom in a pipe, ready to travel through sewers together for life(6)!

This…is weird. But it is a meatcake! If your fiancé is into being a “manly man”, or at least wants to joke about it, this is easy to make and hilarious! It’s actually a meatloaf cake, with mashed potato frosting. Take a look here for the full story:

http://www.blackwidowbakery.com/demo/meatcake/

Image sources:

1. http://www.affordablewedding.net/Wedding_Cakes.html
2. http://www.cakes-unique.com/
3. http://www.brides.com/brides/cakes
4. http://www.ericharshbarger.org/lego/wedding_cake.html
5. http://haha.nu/misc/mario-princess-peach-wedding-cake/
6. http://www.flickr.com/photos/20372079@N08/1976562617/
7. http://www.blackwidowbakery.com/demo/meatcake/

Calling all "Y-Gen's"!

2008-02-19T12:17:00.000-05:00

Oh yes, that's what we're called. We're the Y-gens, the millenials, or "babies of the eighties", a phrase I have borrowed from Andrew McMahon of the band Something Corporate. We're technologically savvy. We’re comfortable with e-mail attachments rather than fax machines. We're still paying off loans while trying to save money for the future, but we have been brought up to appreciate quality. We value tradition, but let's not forget, experiencing the 80's and early 90's during our formative years have left us creative, quirky, fun, and charismatic.

And now, we've gotten a start on our careers, and for some of us, are ready to become homeowners, start families, but most importantly (at least in terms of this blog), get married!

So what are we looking for?

We’re internet researchers, and can find anything with a keyword and some clicks, but will want someone experienced to tell us what it all means. We were the first generation to grow up with numerous extra-curriculars and athletic commitments, so we are used to budgeting our time and being organized, but we won’t cancel our commitments or activities. Rather, we expect agents and planners to be savvy with accommodating our busy schedules. Although we are in touch with the latest styles and trends, we feel the most comfortable with an experienced planner, because we trust that they will keep things traditional and running smoothly. But we want them to be in touch with our unique and fresh visions.

With these things said, I’ll be posting things I find that are classy and traditional, but maybe have a unique flair or a twist to really personalize and stylize your wedding. I'll also keep an eye out for the fabulous and luxurious, finding ways to make your wedding fit for royalty or the red carpet (Which, let's face it, is America's form of royalty anyway). Or maybe you're the romantic type, don't want all the fuss, and are looking for something understated, subtle and beautiful. And of course, there is always the wacky, the fun, the unconventional. We may want tradition, but let’s face it: we were kids of the 80’s, and we know how to have some fun, and there’s nothing wrong with letting a little personality shine through on our wedding day!

Which kind of style speaks to you for your wedding?

Unconventional and Fun
Simple, Subtle and Beautiful
Fabulous and Luxurious
Traditional with a Twist

Stay wired for inspiration!

"The Honeymooners"

2008-02-19T12:07:00.000-05:00

Honeymoon Registries

It’s time to register for gifts! Don’t have a craze for crystal? Lack passion for pottery barn? Or maybe you and your fiancé have already been living together for years in a fully furnished home. Let’s face it. In this day and age, that seems to be the norm. So why not register for some memories? Scads of travel businesses now offer honeymoon registrations. The perks?

After shelling out on your wedding, how nice to de-stress on an island knowing you still have some money in your bank account.
Friends will appreciate it. It’s simple and easy to contribute to the registry and they’ll know they are giving you something you’ll appreciate more than a material possession.
You can add extras into your trip that you wouldn’t have been able to. Upgrade your honeymoon to your dream vacation!

I love this idea. Check out www.honeymoonwishes.com to see samples of registries ranging from Las Vegas and Mexico to Tahiti, Europe and even Fiji. Or just Google “honeymoon registries”, and voila! You have a million options

Fonthill Castle and Estate featured

2008-02-07T10:36:00.000-05:00

Fonthill Castle and Estate featured in Bucks County Woman Magazine as one of the best venues for wedding receptions in Bucks County!

Candy Bar Dessert Buffet

2007-07-17T12:58:00.000-04:00

Carly & Alex's wedding reception at Fonthill Castle Estate featured a terriffic Candy Bar - it was a huge hit!