Golden Horseshoe Inn

The Elegance Elopement

2012-02-05T13:33:00.002-05:00

I thought it might be high time to showcase our Elegance Elopement package. This is by far my favorite service that we offer. I love the romance involved when there is simply a Bride and a Groom and all the cares of the outside world have melted away. There is no one to worry about, or please or take into consideration except for your sweetheart.

Our Elegance package offers a 2 night escape from the real world. Blue Vistas Cabin serves as your honeymoon hideaway, with sweeping mountain views, a private hot tub and breakfast waiting in your fridge.

Arrive to find the cabin imbued with small romantic touches...rose petals adorn the bed and chocolates await on your pillow.

Blue Vistas Cabin is divided into two units East and West, and is located on 14 private acres. It offers sweeping mountain views of the Blue Ridge. Once you've settled in to your home away from home, it is just a short drive down the road (less than a mile) to our dedicated Ceremony Venue - The Golden Horseshoe Inn.

Your personal wedding planner Heather, will make sure every detail has been attended to. She will welcome you like a dear friend and show you to your dressing suites.

We feel that an elopement requires a special level of attention when it comes to photography. Because it is just the two of you, it is even more essential to capture the days events so you can share them with loved ones back at home. (Many of our couples have a private ceremony and throw a reception to celebrate after they return home. The perfect opportunity to share your photos!)

Our package includes onsite posed photography after your ceremony, or should you prefer the famous backdrop of Virginia's Skyline Drive - we'll take you on a short 10 minute ride to our favorite overlooks for those classic mountain wedding photos!

We use the best cake and floral vendors in the area. Your "Cake for Two" will be professionally created with the Icing, Filling and Cake Flavors of your choice and garnished with fresh flowers coordinated to your bouquet.

Your Bridal Bouqet and Groom's Boutonniere are also included in our Elegance Package. Created to your taste and specifications of course.

When it comes to the details - an elopement allows more freedom to express yourself too! Many of our brides choose to wear a traditional wedding gown, while others prefer a non traditional or more casual look. We encourage you to dress in the way that makes you feel your best!

For your ceremony, once booked, I will send a lovely library of ceremonies, vows and readings for you both to look over. You are encouraged to customize to your taste, making any additions, omissions or personal vows that you wish. We are happy to videotape your ceremony if you choose to bring a camera. Ceremonies can be performed indoors or outdoors.

We aim to provide the perfect mixture of support and privacy to our couples.

We are honored that so many couples have chosed to share their wedding day with the Golden Horseshoe Inn! We work hard to ensure each couple has the amazing experience they've been imagining.

Featured Today at Intimate Weddings!

2012-01-31T09:37:00.001-05:00

I am so pleased that the Golden Horseshoe Inn is featured today at one of my favorite small wedding planning sites Intimate Weddings - a super resource for small wedding ideas, decorating, and the experiences of real couples who chose to hold a small, intimate wedding. Check out our feature HERE!

Brides Choice Awards Winner 2012!

2012-01-17T12:43:00.001-05:00

Thanks to all our wonderful couples from the past year at the Golden Horseshoe Inn. The WeddingWire Bride's Choice Awards ™ recognizes the top local wedding professionals from the WeddingWire Network that demonstrate excellence in quality, service, responsiveness and professionalism. Unlike other awards in which winners are selected by the organization, the WeddingWire Bride’s Choice Awards™ are awarded solely based on the reviews from over 1.2 million newlyweds. Awards are determined by a combination of four factors: Overall rating (quality), total number of reviews (quantity), review performance from 2011 (recency), and consistency of reviews from year to year (consistency). This year's recipients represent the top 5% of WeddingWire's vendor community, across all service categories and all regions throughout the US and Canada.

Real Life Wedding - Zoe and Kevin

2012-01-12T15:55:00.000-05:00

Cheerful pops of hot pink made this late December wedding as bright as a springtime day. Our Australian bride paid homage to her heritage with playful kangaroo's sprinkled throughout the decor. Including hand made chocolate kangaroo favors for each guest, and custom made fortune cookies.

Guests snacked on a Candy Buffet and Milk and Cookies as they waited for the ceremony to begin.

Bride Zoe wore a truly beautiful dress with a skirt that slowly faded into pink.

The indoor ceremony was officiated by a close family friend of the Bride and Groom.

The beautiful December day allowed for outdoor photographs against the pure blue sky!

Adorable Flower Girls

Congratulations Zoe and Kevin.

Real Life Wedding - Jackie and John

2012-01-03T11:09:00.000-05:00

We were delighted to host a late November wedding for Jackie and John. We had planned on an indoor ceremony, but awoke to a warm and lovely day. Plans were quickly made to move the ceremony outdoors.

Jackie had the most beautiful veil, it looked so romantic and complimented her beautifully.

Our beautiful Bride.

Walking down the Aisle.

The brides sister is a talented musician, who played a heartfelt acoustic version of Over The Rainbow for the Processional.

The groom's son was the perfect ring bearer.

Mountains in the distance.

Fun with the Rose Petals! Shot at super high speed to catch the petals airborne.

Thank you Jackie and John for sharing such a special day with the Golden Horseshoe Inn!

Real Life Wedding - Dawn and Greg

2011-11-22T15:10:00.001-05:00

Dawn and Greg - oh where to start...this was such a fun wedding to be a part of. We had a lovely (ok, a little chilly - but GORGEOUS!) November day, with sunshine and clear blue skies. Dawn and Greg chose colors of Gold and Burgundy for their late fall wedding, and all the details came together beautifully. (scroll down for a pictures of their set up)

Dawn had the most beautiful gown and veil (veil not pictured here). We shot this photo just before she changed into her reception dress, and I think it is one of my favorite photos. What a stunning bride.

D + G were so sweet together. Here is a moment from their first dance. Their lovely group of friends and family travelled from far and wide to join them - including guests from California, Oregon and Atlanta.

I am pretty sure the Cha Cha Slide should be a part of every wedding reception~!

This cake stand (the newest addition to our growing collection) was a perfect match with Dawn and Greg's color scheme.

We brought in Magnolia Leaves, Fall foliage and Boxwood to add some color to the late fall wedding deck. Many thanks to Steve for offering the greens, and Norma and Beatrice for arranging the deck.

I loved these elegant Bride and Groom place cards at the Sweethearts Table. A big congratulations to Dawn and Greg. It was a delight to be a part of your wedding celebration. (All photos by our on site wedding photograher Stephen Tusing)

Elegant Elopement Saturday, November 19

2011-11-22T10:56:00.001-05:00

It was our pleasure to host a lovely private wedding ceremony for Victoria and Keith this weekend. Victoria wore a super cute red dress, and the early morning ceremony lent the most perfect light for outdoor photos ( and left lots of time for a post wedding winery tour!).

I think this is my favorite picture!

A beautiful blue november sky, and a beautiful couple!

Congratulations to Victoria and Keith, we are honored to have shared this day with you.

It's the little things that make the big things great!

2011-11-03T19:10:00.000-04:00

As our recent wedding for Melissa and Chris proved - Simple, thoughtful details often have the most impact - emotionally and visually - at a wedding. Most often, these little touches are inexpensive but full of soul. I thought you might enjoy a look at some of the special, low maintenance details Melissa and Chris added to their wedding day. A piece of lace from a grandmothers wedding gown adds meaning to the wedding bouquet above.

Guests were welcomed to the wedding with the aroma of Hot Apple Cider - served in cups garnished with cinnamon sticks - a simple touch that added so much to the presentation.

The blooms from this beautiful altar arrangement were cut the day before the wedding. Our bride and groom spent their wedding night at our nearby romantic accommodation Blue Vistas Cabin. I had been keeping my eye on the huge hydrangea bush at the Cabin, and its blooms were a perfect (free!) touch to decorate with. We cut them just before our bride and groom arrived and kept them in a bucket of cool water overnight.

Caroline, the mother of our bride Melissa, arrived at the wedding venue bearing hot cripsy creme donuts. We stacked them on a Cake Plate and tucked in a napkin. This was the perfect pairing for the hot apple cider - and a great affordable alternative to fancy party platters or catered hor's dourves. Guests were delighted with this seasonal snack, as they waited for the ceremony to begin.

A tiny tribute to our Groom's best canine pal - who did not attend the ceremony - but was there in spirit!

All photos by our onsite photographer Stephen Tusing.

Real Life Wedding - Melissa and Chris

2011-11-03T17:16:00.000-04:00

We seem to have the good fortune of working with truly wonderful couples - and that was certainly the case with Melissa and Chris for whom we hosted their October 22 wedding at the Golden Horseshoe Inn. They had so many lovely photos, but this first candid picture is my favorite.

Our bride and groom were lighthearted, didn't take themselves too seriously, and had fun playing with some of our photo props!

Our beatiful Bride Melissa in the garden. The train of her gown fastened at the neckline, and was such a unique and beautiful touch - it reminded me of The Princess Bride

Melissa and Chris shared a lovely outdoor ceremony with close family and friends. It had been an overcast day, and sure enough the sun came out just as the ceremony began.

A truly wonderful couple and a lovely and intimate wedding celebration. We wish Melissa and Chris all the best! All photos by our onsite photographer Stephen Tusing.

OPEN HOUSE - SATURDAY, OCTOBER 1st!!!!

2011-09-17T13:21:00.004-04:00

We're having an Open House and you're invited!!! Please join us at the Golden Horseshoe Inn on Saturday, October 1st from 11am - 3pm. Our wedding planner will be on site, tour the property, feast on cupcakes from Cakes Unlimited, see samples from our Florist and taste appetizers from our local caterers. Gallery Pieces from Blue Ridge Pottery's 25th Anniversary will be for sale, and Alan Ward our onsite celebrant will be available to greet you. All are Welcome!

Real Life Wedding August 2, 2011

2011-08-30T13:15:00.003-04:00

We had a wonderful day for J+L's intimate and elegant Elopement ceremony earlier this month. Our bride J was absolutely stunning in her gown.

I think we were all a little jealous of her fabulous ride - a custom mustang!- so we made sure the car was in a few pictures too!

Our bride and groom chose an outdoor ceremony on our wedding deck.

A perfect Wedding Cake for two was waiting to be enjoyed after the ceremony.

This black and white shot from their post wedding photo shoot was one of my very favorites. I am a huge fan of black and white photos, and we always make sure to give our couples a variety of black&white and color photos. Congratulations J+L!

Love is Sweet!

2011-08-30T12:20:00.003-04:00

Nothing says "Sweet" like a Candy Buffet. One of our August 2011 couples asked us to create a Candy Buffet Favor Station for their guests. Usually, the candy table is created to match the wedding color scheme. This Bride and Groom asked for a "rainbow" colored candy table which perfectly suited their easy going, lighthearted reception!

To add to the casual feel, candy was labeled with mini chalk boards and tree slice card holders.

It was fun to watch the guests ooh and ahh, and fill their favor bags. I think edible favors are a great choice for any wedding, and always enthusiastically received by guests.

Oh yes, Love is Sweet!

Great Guest Book Alternative

2011-08-30T11:55:00.002-04:00

I thought this wonderful idea was worth highlighting for couples searching for a great Guest Book Alternative for their Boutique Size Wedding. Traditional Guest Books, while pretty, are not really made for intimate celebrations - they have dozens of pages, most of which remain blank. One of our June 2011 couples chose this unique alternative. A Signature Plate was placed on the Guest Book Table and guests were encouraged to write a short message for the bride and groom and add their signature. After the wedding the plate is baked in the oven for a short time, to make the ink permanent. A wonderful keepsake which can be displayed and enjoyed in your new home together. A simple google search will help you locate plates like these. The plate pictured above was from the Lillian Rose collection.

Woodsy and Wonderful

2011-08-22T16:34:00.003-04:00

How much do I love this Wildflower Bouquet! Our Bride and Groom this past weekend choose a woodsy, casual feel for their decor and it was truly lovely. Katie's bouquet was a mass of wildflowers in a rainbow of colors - it was simply stunning (just like Katie!)

We trekked out on our mountain property (thanks Alan!) and found the perfect fallen tree which became this unique and rustic cake stand. Wildflower adornments and raffia twine added the finishing touches to the Lucious Lemon Cake with Blackberry Filling and White Chocolate Buttercream Icing.

Simple centerpieces helped bring the outdoors in. We used smaller treeslices of varying sizes, upon which perched a mason jar full of wildflowers. Willow green napkins and chair sashes were also used for a touch of green!

And we can't forget our Bride's pride and joy - Chessie, the handsome four footed ring bearer. A lovely wedding under blue skies and puffy white clouds. All our best to Katie and Justin! (all photos by our in house photographer Stephen)

Real Life Wedding July 9th, 2011

2011-07-30T09:33:00.003-04:00

We were delighted to host Michele and Peter's wedding on July 9th this summer. After a week of evening thunderstorms, the weather changed and gave us a beautiful summer evening to celebrate their wedding day! They were great sports when I asked them to walk next door to this field for a post ceremony photo!

Michele wore a beautiful lace dress and had a matching hat made by a seamstress in Charlottesville - it provided the perfect touch of old fashioned elegance.

Michele and Peter chose a 5pm ceremony, and we watched them marry under blue skies and a light breeze. Their wedding colors were a summery mix of pale pink and lavender.

I love the new trend of tall cake stands, and was happy to be able to provide one for Michele that matched her colors perfectly!

Budget secret - this beautiful ring pillow was actually a small throw pillow, which Michele simply attached ribbon to. It was stunning, simple and cost effective! All photos were by our on site staff photographer Stephen.

Library Themed Centerpiece

2011-07-19T20:32:00.006-04:00

One of the best parts of throwing a wedding is making the choices that personalize the event. Choosing a theme for your wedding can help narrow your direction and help you stay focused. It also gives you a chance to share something that is important to you with your guests. As a life long book lover and avid reader, I have fallen head over heels for the idea of a library themed wedding. The possibilities are limitless and the idea's are super affordable to bring to life. Check out this adorable "card catalogue invitation" I made with the template found online here

Centerpieces made out of favorite old books, stacked together could provide height and texture, and would require only a small (and budget friendly!) floral statement. Tables could be named after the bride and grooms favorite authors rather than being designated by number. Framed literary quotes (I'm thinking Velveteen Rabbit!) could be sprinkled throughout the event. And how fun would it be to seach a card catalouge for your escort card!

I don't think I could resist having a bookstore / coffee bar vibe for the pre wedding refreshments. Being greeted by the smell of fresh brewed coffee and a pastry table with lots of books piled round. And in addition to some old fashioned music (I'm thinking Sarah Vaughn or Bessie Smith) how neat would it be to have a book on tape playing in the background - Maybe Great Expectations? This is an easy, simple and affordable theme for bookworms who are ready to tie the knot with their own Lizzy or Mr. Darcy!

Beautiful Photos by Sylvia

2011-07-14T14:22:00.004-04:00

So excited to share these wonderful photos from a June 2011 wedding at Golden Horseshoe Inn. Sylvia Kibler was the photographer for Jason and Annie - who took some time out during their cocktail hour to head up to Skyline Drive (only 2 miles away!) for some posed photos! Click here to view http://sylviakiblerphotography.blogspot.com/2011/07/annie-and-jasons-wedding-at-golden.html

Enjoy!

Harley Wedding!

2011-06-15T12:54:00.003-04:00

We had the pleasure of hosting fun loving couple Denise and Ray this past weekend for their Boutique Wedding. I loved the way they incorporated their love of motorcycles into the wedding theme!

Just Married!

These flowers came into bloom just in time for the wedding - and matched their tangerine color scheme perfectly!

Love the contrast of black leather and delicate flowers in this photo!

A beautiful summer afternoon (we bravely weathered a quick thunderstorm and then enjoyed the cool fresh air that followed!) and a truly beautiful couple - congratulations D+R!

Simple and Summery Citrus Centerpiece

2011-06-15T12:40:00.003-04:00

We hosted a lovely summer afternoon wedding this past weekend for Denise and Ray. After some discussion regarding centerpieces, they opted for a simple and inexpensive alternative to fresh flowers. On the morning of the wedding, Ray dropped off a bag of oranges and some lemons and limes and I was able to create this fun and summery centerpiece for them.

Simply take 3 cylinder shaped vases of varying heights and place several oranges and fruit slices into each vase (use the slices to anchor your whole oranges as they tend to float up) and then pour water to fill the vase. I added a sprig of hydrangea to one of the vases on each table and voila - a simple, seasonal centerpiece.

Something Borrowed....Something Blue

2011-05-30T15:29:00.002-04:00

We were honored to host a lovely wedding on May 28th for Donna and Mike. Donna chose shades of blue to match her handsome groom's military uniform. It was the perfect late spring wedding palette.

Periwinkle Chair sahes adorned the aisles and white wedding umbrellas shaded the guests.

To continue the theme inside, this delicate wedding cake was adorned with fresh flowers that matched the bridal bouqet and reception linens.

Our heartfelt congratulations to this wonderful couple!

Brides Choice Winner 2011!

2011-02-25T14:39:00.003-05:00

We are so excited to have received a Bride's Choice Award from WeddingWire.com, all the 5 Star reviews we have received from our Brides and Grooms helped us win this honor. You can check us out on Wedding Wire here!

Real Life Wedding February 4th, 2011

2011-02-25T11:43:00.004-05:00

Small weddings are a big deal to us! This was an absolutely wonderful, and intimate wedding that we hosted for Amy, Tom and their family on February 4th, 2011. Most guests flew in from Chicago - dodging a massive storm that closed the Chicago Airport!

Amy and Tom had added so many thoughtful touches to their recepetion. I especially loved the old fashioned cokes we displayed in a tub full of ice - retro and adorable! Amy and Tom also spent time travelling to some of the many wineries in our area, and chose favorite bottles from each, to share with their guests. Each guest was presented with a thoughtfully chosen bottle of Virginia Wine upon their departure - as a special memento of this day.

Love this photo of Amy and her Mom sharing a quiet moment before the ceremony.

Amy and Tom chose a Retro Red Velvet Cake with vanilla buttercream frosting - delish!

It was so much fun to work with this truly wonderful couple. A bright future awaits them, and we are so honored to have been a part of their beautiful wedding day.

Charlottesville Wedding Blog Feature

2011-01-18T11:30:00.004-05:00

One of our lovely summer weddings at the Golden Horsesehoe Inn was featured this fall on the Charlottesville Wedding Blog. Check out the wonderful photos by Corey Borgman, of Amanda and Achraf's June Wedding HERE ! Enjoy the wonderful photos.

Cookie Table - A Pennsylvania Tradition

2010-11-20T16:27:00.006-05:00

I was very excited at the prospect of a "Cookie Table", one of the special requests for Terry and Neil's October Wedding at the Golden Horseshoe Inn. This is a wedding tradition with its roots in Pittsburg, PA. Our bride asked her guests to bring a favorite homemade treat, and sure enough, as each guest came throught the door, the cookies multiplied!!!

These adorable petit fours had the wedding date and Bride and Grooms monogram done in the colors of the wedding- so sweet!

"And they lived happily ever after" was the fortune inside each of these homemade fortune cookies.

All of Terry and Neils guests enjoyed sampling cookies throughout the evening, and the children in attendance had the time of their lives trying to decide what to eat next!

Beautiful Photos By Jamie R

2010-11-20T16:19:00.005-05:00

Erin and Roy, one of our amazing October couples, chose charlottesville wedding photographer Jamie Reinicke to capture all the magic moments of their wedding day at Golden Horseshoe Inn. Check out some of Jamie's favorite shots on her blog here

Let them eat CAKE!

2010-09-11T15:07:00.004-04:00

One of the special elements of a wedding or elopement at the Golden Horseshoe Inn is an amazing wedding cake. We are blessed to have Teri Edwards at Cakes Unlimited as our source for the amazing cakes we serve. She made my own wedding cake (13 years ago!) and we continue to be amazed by her flavors and flair to this day.

Flavor choices abound and everyone seems to have a personal favorite. I love one of Teri's "famous combinations" most of all - Luscious Lemon Cake, Blackberry Filling and White Chocolate Godiva Buttercream - that, my friends, is heaven on a plate.

This square cake was an upgrade from our traditional round cakes, by special request of the bride and groom. The cake topper was personalized by the bride to match her own wedding dress - creative and so sweet!

Our cakes for 2 are just as wonderful as their multi tiered cousins. Always personalized with flowers to match our Bride's bouquet for a very pulled together look.

Real Life Wedding - August 14th, 2010

2010-09-11T14:51:00.003-04:00

This amazing photo was the last one we took for C+J our bride and groom. We know all the great spots on the property for beautiful photos, but we always end by asking our bride and groom if there are any special shots they especially want. C+J wanted to try a "dip" - it took a few practices and lots of laughs, but in the end we got this wonderful photo!

C+J were such a fun, and fun-loving couple. They enjoyed a beautiful cake for 2, and stayed at our Blue Vistas Cabin for rest and relaxation after the wedding ceremony.

Our bride requested a "loose and flowy" summer bouquet with bright colors. Our florist came thru with an amazing bouquet, almost identical to the photo our bride had provided.

A champagne toast - the perfect thing to wash down that delicous cake!

We just loved sharing such a special day with our amazing bride and groom - thank you C+J!

Real Life Wedding - July 2, 2010

2010-09-11T14:22:00.005-04:00

I LOVE this cake for 2...doesn't it bring to mind all the beauties of summer. It was garnished with fresh flowers to match our bride's bouquet of purple and white.

Our bride and groom shared a special ceremony for just the two of them on our deck overlooking the pond, and then retired indoors to this lovely set up - fit for a king and queen!

The beautiful weather was matched by our gorgeous couple. They were truly radiant.

I love to make sure we get photos of the little details, like hands newly adorned with wedding rings.

We were truly lucky to spend time with A+H and we wish them all the best in their new life together.

Beautiful Brunch Wedding

2010-09-11T13:50:00.002-04:00

It has been a summer of wonderful weddings at the Golden Horseshoe Inn, each unique and beautiful in it's own way. Today, I'll spotlight a wonderful Brunch wedding we were honored to host in July. I had been hoping to have the opportunity to throw a morning wedding - the quality of light in the mid morning is so beautiful here, and the mountain air is still cool for a comfortable outdoor ceremony.

Guests enjoyed a lovely ceremony on our back deck, followed by a delicious brunch featuring Cranberry Orange Scones, sausage hot off the griddle, summer fruit salad and Mimosa's of course! (Serving juice in a champagne glass is one of our favorite ways to make breakfast special - add a fruit garnish to the edge of the glass and you have a lovely drink!)

Our lovely Bride requested a fresh rose tied to each chair sash, and it was a wonderful idea - it really brings home the fact that the little details can leave the biggest impression.

Our beautiful bride and her (real!) cowboy groom. I just loved her non traditional dress - a pale peachy pink crinoline skirt and custom made corset top, both purchased from one of my favorite websites: etsy dot com.

This couple knew exactly what they wanted their perfect wedding day to be like - relaxed, non traditional and lots of fun. A Big Congratulations to L+B from the Golden Horseshoe Inn wedding team.

Peaches and Tangerines

2010-07-17T16:13:00.002-04:00

One of our lovely June couples chose a color scheme that was both romantic and vibrant for their wedding. A combination of soft peach and cheerful tangerine gave guests a beautiful setting to celebrate in.

Champagne glasses, flameless votive candles and tall, water filled centerpieces gave each table sparkle and a warm inviting glow.

The sweethearts table for the Bride and Groom was decorated with a tangerine overlay and satin chair covers.

A beverage station featured personalized water bottles and orange soda!

Hand made favors and place cards created by our couple, helped each guest find their special place. I know this wedding will hold a special place in the hearts of all who attended!

Theming an event - Candyland!

2010-04-29T13:26:00.007-04:00

A themed party or wedding can be a whole lot of fun to plan and create. Guests will feel a palpable sense of joy from the moment they arrive. And the host or hostess will enjoy wowing guests with a unified, pulled together look! While we usually focus on weddings here at the Golden Horseshoe Inn, I thought it would be fun to take a look at a themed Birthday Party I recently created for my daughter and niece (who share the same birthday!). A lot of the aspects of theming an event can apply to a party of any kind, whether a wedding, birthday or anniversary. So without further ado...welcome to Candyland!

A great starting point with any theme, is a color scheme. We chose lots of pink in multiple shades and then added little splashes of orange for a light hearted feel. At about $1 each, Chair Sashes are a beautiful and inexpensive way to introduce and carry a color scheme. Table linens can also add a big pop of color. We dressed the guest of honor's table in a pink satin overlay to distinguish it from the other tables. This is something we often do at our weddings as well, designating a "sweethearts table" just for the Bride and Groom.

Once you have a theme and color scheme chosen - you can keep your eye out for great sales and items that work with your theme and colors. Think about the holidays (Christmas, Easter, Valentines Day etc.) that fall just before your event. You can often purchase items for up to 90% off, just after a holiday. The craft store M*chael's has a coupon in the Sunday paper almost every week - so scope out the store and shop weekly for big savings on larger items.

As I plan an event, I like to take into account my guests 5 senses - and find something to delight each... Sight, Sound, Touch, Smell, Taste!!! For Sight: A color scheme will delight the eye, as will unexpected surprises like a flower arrangement at the front door, or in our case Giant Inflatable Gingerbread Men! For Sound: great soundtrack can be essential in successfully creating a mood for your event. For our Candyland theme we chose songs like "Candygirl", "Big Rock Candy Mountain" and "Good Ship Lollipop" and created a fun mix that played throughout the afternoon. For Taste: a candy buffet tempted our guests and our beautiful cake from Bake Love Bakery served as a delicious centerpiece. For Touch: we got folks involved in a gingerbread house decorating activity. And we didn't really need to work on Smell - we were in a room full of Candy after all!

I think the most successful events are the ones that really get your guests involved. For our candyland party, I purchased pre-made gingerbread houses (on sale after Christmas!) and dedicated a large table to the houses, icing and lots of candy decorations. This was a big hit for our guests. Don't think activites are only for birthdays -getting guests involved at a wedding can be really touching and meaningful too. Many ceremonies these days, involve eloquent tributes to the loved ones attending. I have also seen a wonderful guest response when my Brides and Grooms create memory boards for their guests to enjoy looking at as they arrive at the venue. Photos of the bride and groom through their courtship, or as children are great fun to spend time perusing. One of the brides I am currently working with is designing a poster size family tree, showing how her family connects, and is having each guest sign the back of their photo - rather than doing a traditional guest book. So think about your guests 5 senses, your color scheme and a theme that is special to you or your guest of honor and get ready to throw the best event ever!

Real Life Wedding - May 13th, 2009

2010-03-04T19:08:00.007-05:00

Wonderful Wedding Facts:

Number of Guests: 4

Well Travelled: Our Bride and Groom were from England and their guests came in from England and Canada!

Wedding Colors: A hint of Red

Wedding Dinner: at the Bavarian Chef restaurant

Biggest Challenge: Planning a wedding from England

Best Surprise: Our Bride's red shoes!

This wedding was truly a joy to host. Our lovely Bride and Groom came all the way from their home in England to be married at our Inn - what an honor! It was a perfect, sunny, warm spring day with endless blue skies.

The petite wedding cake was garnished with fresh flowers to incorporate a "hint of red"!

I think we all made a mental note to go out a get a pair of red shoes as soon as possible - this was such a wonderful and playful addition to the traditional wedding attire!

Some truly lovely toasts were given in honor of our couple, by their dear friends who had travelled from Canada and England to share this special day. This day was everything an Intimate Wedding is supposed to be - beautiful, meaningful and from the heart. Congratulations S+D!

The Mad Hatters Tea - A Very Merry UnBirthday!

2010-03-04T17:54:00.006-05:00

This was a special event held at the Golden Horseshoe Inn. Very special indeed...it was a joint birthday party for my daughter who was turning 5 and my niece who was turning 1. (can you spot their ages on the amazing cake?) We decided on a Mad Hatters Tea Party. The bricks you see in the background were the original back wall of the Golden Horseshoe Inn. These bricks were handmade and fired in a kiln on the property back in 1827!

Little details made the party such fun...mismatched china teacups, iced cookies that tempted guests to "Try Me", "Take One" or "Eat Me". Each tea cup had a hang tag that declared "Drink Me"

A very long table was laid with treats, Mad Hats, and lots of Tea of course! I bought way too many sugar cubes and we've been using them at home ever since!

My talented sister (Melinda of Bake Love Bakery) made the amazing three tier cake. Below you can see the poor Card Man taking a rest before he finishes painting the rest of the roses red.

Super Cylinders

2010-03-04T12:50:00.006-05:00

Centerpieces are a mainstay in just about every wedding reception. We've all seen photos of million dollar weddings with towering floral arrangements dripping with crystals. But a centerpiece doesn't have to cost big bucks to have visual impact. Our motto at the Golden Horseshoe Inn is "Beautifully Simple and Simply Beautiful". Check out one of my favorite simple centerpiece ideas below. When choosing or designing a centerpiece, remember that you want to create something pleasing to the eye and something that helps to carry your theme or colors throughout the reception area. Also remember to use levels of space - elements that are of different heights - for visual interest.

These are some of my favorite centerpiece vases. Clear glass cylinders in varying heights - they are so simple and so useful! Easily found at most craft stores for only a few dollars each. For a delightfully easy and really beautiful Christmas Centerpiece, fill cylinder vases with christmas balls (I got mine at the dollar store). A quick, easy and inexpensive way to add shine and height to your table.

Here are my trusty vases again. This time with only a few stems of gerbera daisies in each and a coordinating piece of ribbon tied around the vase. This is a great way to make a big visual impression with only a few flowers. This was actually for a dinner party I threw, but the idea would easily carry over to a cheerful spring wedding. For even more visual interest, fill the bottom of the vase with lemons, orange slices or colored glass beads. PS- potted flowers in tiny terra cotta pots are a really cheerful and inexpensive favor. Place one at each setting and have your guests take them home as a living reminder of your wonderful wedding.

Real Life Wedding - December 24th, 2009

2010-03-04T11:27:00.006-05:00

Wonderful Wedding Facts:
Wedding Guests: Just the two of us!
Special Touches: Our bride requested a surprise from both our Florist and Cake Designer instead of specifying flavors or colors! Her White Christmas Bouquet with Evergreen accents was stunning!
Wedding Accommodations: Our couple chose to stay at Blue Vistas Cabin
Special Date: Christmas Eve (my favorite day of the year!)

Our Bride wore an amazing gown - my assistant and I cherish the time we spend to help our brides get ready -and this gorgeous gown had lots of criss cross lacing in the back!

This petite wedding cake for 2 was garnished with fresh flowers to match the bridal bouquet!

Our beautiful couple braved the Christmas Eve chill for some amazing outdoor photos. Our Bride's secret...snowboots under her gown! Don't you just love black and white wedding photos!

A giant congratulations to K+S, thank you for honoring us with your special day!

Real Life Wedding - October 24th, 2009

2010-03-04T10:59:00.003-05:00

Wonderful Wedding Facts:
Total Guests: 50
Wedding Colors: Fall Colors
Special Touches: a wedding cake made by the Bride's Sister, readings by the Bride's siblings
Catered By: Beggars Banquet - buffet style meal
Favors: Personalized Postage Stamps and Crocheted Stars made by the Brides Grandmother - an ode to the couples love of astronomy
Centerpieces: Beautiful fall gourds and fall foliage gathered by the couples family made a lovely natural centerpiece for each table
Well Travelled: Guests came from as far away as Hawaii!

An amazing 3 tier cake was a labor of love created by the Bride's sister. It was fun to watch the family assemble this giant cake in the kitchen. Each fall leaf was handmade and applied to the cake individually.

Vibrant lilies were the brides request for her bouquet.

Willow green chair bows (I love these!) added a touch of color to the reception

A wonderful couple with a great sense of fun. Congratulations A+K!

Real Life Wedding - October 10th, 2009

2010-03-04T10:31:00.004-05:00

Wonderful Wedding Facts:
Total Guests: 45
Wedding Colors: Fall colors of Willow Green and Burgundy
Special Touches: A surprise custom Grooms Cake featuring D's beloved Boston Red Sox
Wedding Favors: Blue Ridge Pottery heart dishes engraved with the Date and Couples Names Catered By: The Blue Ridge Cafe, including a post wedding Breakfast the following day.
Well Travelled: Guests came from as far away as Japan!
Biggest Challenge: Planning the entire wedding long distance from Boston
Our bride requested this custom arrangement to grace the outdoor ceremony area. After the ceremony concluded we moved it inside to the Bride and Groom's Sweetheart table for the reception and dinner.

A favor table greeted guests at the front door of the Inn as they arrived. Place cards handmade by the Bride were tucked into the favors.

Our Bride and Groom chose a buffet style meal catered by the nearby Blue Ridge Cafe. Servers poured beverages and kept the buffet well tended.

Congratulations to S+D a beautiful couple, who created a beautiful day for friends and family!

Real Life Wedding - February 6th, 2010

2010-03-04T10:09:00.002-05:00

Wonderful Wedding Facts:
Wedding Date: February 6th, 2010
Total Guests: 11
Wedding Colors : Tangerine and Burgundy
Catered By: The Lafayette
Vows: Personalized by the Bride and Groom
Well Travelled: Guests came from as far away as Texas!
Biggest Challenge: 28" of Snow on the wedding weekend - truly a Winter White Wedding!

The 3 tier wedding cake was embellished with glittering snowflakes in homage to the winter weather. Our Bride and Groom chose Luscious Lemon Cake, White Chocolate Butter cream and Blackberry Filling.

Anti Pasta appetizers greeted guests for a pre ceremony snack. A roaring fire took the chill off the day and Tangerine Chair Bows added the touch of the unexpected that our Bride was looking for!

Our Bride and Groom personalized their ceremony with surprise messages for each other read by our celebrant Alan, during the ceremony.

Our adventurous couple braved the weather for some beautiful outdoor wedding photos - you'd never know our beautiful bride was wearing snow boots under her dress! Congratulations G+J

Welcome

2010-03-04T09:49:00.001-05:00

Welcome to the Golden Horseshoe Inn's new Wedding and Special Event Blog. A great place to find out about all your wedding options, gather great ideas and get inspired! In the past two years, we've had the honor of helping amazing couples throw amazing weddings here at our Historic Stagecoach Inn - The Golden Horseshoe Inn (circa 1827). We specialize in intimate Boutique Weddings for groups up to 50 (or just the two of you). And best of all, we take care of every detail for you. Our All Inclusive Packages make it so easy and affordable to host the wedding of your dreams.

Your wedding day is a day to remember forever, so every detail counts. That's where I come in...I'm Heather, the Wedding Planner and Accommodations Manager for our family business, here in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of Stanardsville, Virginia. I'll walk hand in hand with you thru the planning process from our first meeting until your big walk down the aisle. Congratulations! Let's get planning!