January 2006

One-Stop Weddings

Having your ceremony and reception in the same spot can be both easy and elegant.

By Jessica Carlson

Planning a wedding means tackling seemingly endless options and suggestions while walking the fine line between the fantasy event you’ve been dreaming of since youth and the sobering realities of money, convenience and—however minimal or great—the opinion of your groom.

Before arguing over what church or denomination to pick, consider planning an all-in-one wedding at one of the many unique venues around Hampton Roads. Having your ceremony and reception at the same place can eliminate much of the dirty work involved in planning your big day, sometimes save you money and ultimately be a major convenience to both you and your guests.

Following are four splendid venues with varying degrees of choices and prices. Each offers something a little different, but all are versatile enough to please just about every bride in the book.

The American Rover Capacity: 120 Ceremony: Outdoor Reception: Indoor/Outdoor P.O. Box 3125 Norfolk, VA 23514 757-627-7245 www.americanrover.com Tournament Players Club of Virginia Beach Capacity: 300 Ceremony: Outdoor Reception: Indoor/Outdoor 2500 Tournament Drive Virginia Beach, VA 23456 757-563-9440 www.tpc.com/daily/virginia_beach Peninsula Fine Arts Center Capacity: 250 Ceremony: Indoor/Outdoor Reception: Indoor/Outdoor 101 Museum Drive Newport News, VA 23606 757-596-8175 www.pfac-va.org The Inn at Warner Hall Capacity: 200 Ceremony: Indoor/Outdoor Reception: Indoor/Outdoor 4750 Warner Hall Rd. Gloucester, VA 23061 800-331-2720 / 804-695-9565 www.warnerhall.com

NAUTICAL-STYLE NUPTUALS

Whether you were born riding the bow of a boat or prefer lounging in the cabin to manning the sails, a wedding aboard the American Rover caters to all kinds of couples. With the simple elegance of the sea combined with a traditional and nautical environment, the boat offers an elegant theme, nautical adventure, ceremony and reception—all in a three-hour tour.

Just like the motto claims—“We always set our sails!”—the American Rover makes it a priority to ensure that not only the reception happens at sea but the ceremony as well. While you recite your vows on the spacious top deck surrounded only by water, three crew members, three servers, a captain and one special coordinator assigned just for your wedding make sure the transition from ceremony to reception remains seamless.

“I’m a sea-type person,” says Mary Lelhman-Lent, who had her sunset wedding on June 18, 2005 aboard the American Rover. “I liked the idea of a sea-type wedding.” Lelhman-Lent says she would recommend the American Rover to anyone who’s looking for “a magical wedding day.” And who isn’t?

The American Rover’s “magical” setting offers the unique and elemental offerings of a sailboat but with enough amenities and conveniences for great entertaining. The inside cabin is more spacious than one might imagine—hunter green and brass accents combine with the deep wood of the hull to create an elegant concoction of both class and comfort.

With catering provided by Omar’s Carriage House and Loaves & Fishes by Dails, there are numerous dining options, ranging from the casual (barbecue, slaw and potato salad) to extravagant (carved tenderloin of beef and shrimp cocktail).

The American Rover caters to a wide variety of tastes, but no matter who you are, delight in the fact that once you set sail, you’re not stepping back on solid ground until you’ve said your vows, cut your cake, danced with your groom and called yourself a wife.

ON SACRED GROUND

Why not say your vows on the ground men really do find sacred—the golf course? Tournament Players Club of Virginia Beach sits atop rolling green hills and is only recognizable as a golf course to the untrained eye by the sporadic white flags waving in the distance. It is quiet and windy, and the perfectly tended greens, patches of water and towering trees create an aura of manicured nature.

The sophistication of the sport of golf carries over to the facilities, and TPC does an excellent job preserving a high level of sophistication, respect and elegance—just what you want for your wedding.

After reciting your vows overlooking the 18th hole, you and your guests can enjoy wining and dining within the club. Dark wood with hunter green décor and gold accents provides a masculine sense of class, leaving the space feeling incredibly grown up.

The club at TPC doesn’t skimp on the food either. When planning your dinner, limitless possibilities range from casual fare to chef-manned buffets. There are also plated dinner packages, buffet packages and different ethnic buffets. Or you can go completely a la carte and create your own unique meal from the hundreds of delicious offerings.

Who would have thought golf and weddings could go hand in hand? But the green (in more ways than one) is not just a man’s world anymore. The refined class, excellent views and endless dining possibilities at TPC appeal to gentlemen and ladies alike.

SOPHISTICATION ON DISPLAY

Trends dictate that museums have become popular wedding venues, but few offer the variety and degree of choice available at the Peninsula Fine Arts Center in Newport News. Inside, sophisticated galleries with frequently changing exhibits provide great places for mingling, sipping cocktails and admiring the art. Special Events Coordinator Jessica Cramer suggests brides research the exhibition that will be on view during their wedding to make sure it aligns with their interests and values. Indeed, some brides choose their wedding date around an exhibition they admire.

But the galleries are only the beginning. Outside, Pfac has a quaint courtyard with a stone waterfall—a piece of art in itself. Unique trees frame a walkway leading to a spacious back lawn that is best utilized with a tent and can be decorated with gardens of your choice.

The versatility of Pfac allows ample amount of choice and variation—no single wedding at the venue could possible be alike. And while the museum provides the atmosphere of sophistication and creativity, the freedom to choose your vendors allows you to modify your theme to fit your personality and preference.

“It’s a beautiful, simple space,” says Jo Harding, owner of Port Warwick gift shop Jo Louise!, who held her wedding at Pfac at midnight on the eve of Sept. 11, 2005. Harding combined two themes—“Fly Me to the Moon” and “Honeymoon in Paris” (where they did actually honeymoon)—and transformed the center into a magical place complete with mounds of black and white tulle, miniature Eiffel Towers as centerpieces and tiny white lights everywhere.

“Having everything in one location allows for a truly seamless event,” says Harding. “Each guest was offered a glass of champagne upon arrival, then gathered in one of the galleries for the ceremony, then simply walked back to the main gallery for dinner and dancing. Everyone was so relaxed, partly because they never had to leave the center—well, not until 3 a.m.!”

Although you must be a member to have your wedding at Pfac, it is a mere $35 to join, a sum that can be added to your rental fees. Become a member of one of the premier arts institutions in the area, get hitched and have a spectacular party in a gallery, a Zen-like courtyard or beautiful tented garden? Now that’s an all-in-one deal.

CHURCH VS. ESTATE

You will have to pass through Ordinary, Va. to get there, but once you turn the corner into the white picket fence-lined driveway framing the pillared Inn at Warner Hall mansion, it becomes clear you’ve ended up somewhere quite extraordinary.

A site of great historical significance, the original Warner Hall was built by the great-grandfather of George Washington (Augustine Warner I), who, upon arriving in Jamestown in 1642 with 12 new settlers, was awarded 600 acres of land in Gloucester. Queen Elizabeth II is a direct descendent off Augustine Warner, and Warner Hall is often referred to as the home of the Queen’s American ancestors. Although fire destroyed both the original 17th-century mansion and the subsequent mansion built, the present wood-framed colonial revival mansion was built in the late 1800s on the original foundation and with the same floor plan as the previous house.

Innkeepers Theresa and Troy Stavens spared no expense in preserving the historical relevance of the property. After purchasing the land from an elderly couple, the house was in dire need of repairs and renovations. Upon seeing the property today, however, you would never suspect it ever lost an ounce of its grandeur from days past.

“We approach wedding events here as a weekend celebration,” says Mrs. Stavens. “The host family has total privacy from Friday afternoon check in until Sunday morning check out.” This leaves time for a rehearsal dinner, your wedding ceremony and reception, as well as a Sunday farewell brunch.

The Stavens make great strides to allow guests to feel at home for the entire weekend. Their two pet beagles greet visitors warmly and frolic around the property like they own the place, and morning coffee and front porch rocking chairs ensure a degree of modest comfort. But to truly feel at home at Warner Hall, one must assume a level of royalty or wealth few people have—the house is luxurious.

Every bedroom is a treasure; it is nearly impossible to name which room is the best or the worst. Each has different features, like a steam shower or whirlpool, trundle bed for extra guests or fireplace. The furniture and decorations create masterpieces, and it seems like every window provides a fabulous view.

Offering an asset for unpredictable weather, wedding ceremonies may take place inside or outside. Outside, you stand in front of sweeping green fields and a river inlet in the near distance. Inside, you are on the middle landing of an exquisite grand staircase with a window overlooking the same view. Either way, it is quite spectacular.

Reception options are varied as well, ranging from a tent outside for larger weddings to a small gathering in the four-season porch with wooden floors specifically reinforced for dancing.

Just keep this in mind—the venue truly takes the cake. Your guests may not remember the color of your bouquet or the dresses of your bridesmaids, but nobody will forget Warner Hall.