Castle Hill {Charlottesville Venues}

The Engaging Affairs girls had the pleasure of visiting Castle Hill Cider, a Virginia cidery and event venue.  Let me tell you, this place is stunning!  There are so many possibilities for rehearsal dinner, ceremonies, and receptions on this property. 

Castle Hill is located in Keswick’s horse country, just a few miles away from Charlottesville.  The Blue Ridge Mountains serve as a perfect backdrop for wedding photos anytime of the year!

The Barn has a finished feel but is still rustic which lends itself to countless décor possibilities!  It has an awesome loft that can seat an additional 200-300 guests.  There is also a separate library, which can serve as a bridal room, complete with a fireplace, lounge furniture, and a balcony.  The tasting room can also act as a private hideaway for the bride and groom! 

Outside, the Linden Grove is so beautiful for either a ceremony or a reception.  There are also The Orchard, The Lawns, and The Lake for an outside option, tented or not!

The venue is also a cidery so their tasting room is open to the public during the day.  Evelyn Keyes, their events coordinator, was so gracious to let us try some of the ciders that they make on site.  So delicious and refreshing!  We couldn’t help but think how fabulous that would be for a toast, specialty cocktail, or a favor for a wedding!

The Engaging Affairs girls are so excited to plan some weddings in this gorgeous venue!
Cheers!
Amanda

The Engaged Show is Coming!

Mark your calendars, ladies and gentlemen!  The amazing Engaged in Washington 2012 will be held on March 4th at four of the top hotels in the city. This show is always stunning and filled with inspiration so don't miss it!

Win Designer Notecards from Hampton Paper Design!

Check out this delightful paper company from one of my favorite past brides. I won't even tell you how long ago she got married because it will date us both too much!  Her company, Hampton Paper Designs has a new line called "Pen and Pencil" with some of the most delightful motifs and drawings. Aren't these charming?

And now you can win a set of 24 personalized cards and envelopes with any one of over 300 designs!  Here's what you have to do to win:

1-You must be a follower of Hampton Paper's Blog Pen & Pencil. If you are not sure how to follow click here
2-To enter, you must leave a comment on the blog telling us what image you would choose for your cards and why between today, Wednesday, January 25, 2012 and Friday, January 27, 2012. A winner will be selected at random Monday, January 30, 2012.

Visit their site for more details and fabulous designs!

Win Free Save-the-Dates from The Dandelion Patch!

Georgetown Location

THURSDAY, JANUARY 26th * 6:30 PM

Wanna win FREE Save-the-Dates?
It's as easy as 1-2-3!
 

Designer + Owner, Claudia, will offer her thoughts on wedding trends for 2012 and an in-depth look at the styles of Fig. 2. We'll provide the champagne and tasty treats, you bring a girlfriend, mother or fiancé!

* * * * * * * * * *

1. At the end of a fantastic evening together, we'll pull one lucky winning ticket to win a FREE set of 50 Save-the-Dates from Fig. 2.*

2. Anyone who places an order for invitations or a save-the-date at the party will receive 50 free insert cards.** 

3. To sweeten the deal, The Dandelion Patch will offer a $25 gift card to every attendee! *** 

* * * * * * * * * *

  

TO REGISTER, EMAIL georgetown@thedandelionpatch.com  

*Winner of the 50 Save-the-Dates must register and be present to win. Choose any existing design except the A2 Vellum Calendar. Cards must be single sided, with the exception of the Postcard Save-the-Date. If printing letterpress or offset, colors are limited to 2 color printing and can not be custom colors. Envelopes will be printed in 1 color.  Liners are not included.

**For 50 free insert cards: Cards must be single sided, and smaller than the invitation or save-the-date card. Colors are limited to 1 color printing and cannot be a custom color. Envelopes and liners are not included. Cards must be ordered from January 26-29th.     

***Guests must register by January 25th to receive gift card. Must be present to win. 

    

Liancarlo at Carine's {Trunk Shows}

Hideaway Honeymoon Ideas

 

Today we have a guest post on honeymoon options submitted by Christina Johnson. Welcome Christina!

When seeking out the best location for a beautiful place to bask in the glow of a brand new marriage, the key is in the details and in searching for that unique place that speaks to both the bride and the groom. The honeymoon can be romantic, adventurous, or both, but most importantly it should reflect the newlyweds' personalities, tastes, and a reflection of how they feel about one themselves, individually and as a couple.

For the most romantic of honeymoon hideaways, a remote beach with hidden coves is a classic destination for enamored couples that never goes out of style. For a fun romp in the surf, Puerto Rico offers a newly married couple many choices of secluded beaches and private paradises. Whether the couple wants to experience soft and sandy beaches or pebble-strewn seaside tracts, Puerto Rico offers something for anyone's desires. The island of Culebra is perfect for this romantic escapade. Honeymooners can snorkel while visiting this romance-inducing island. Couples seeking whimsy and adventure should visit the Boqueron Bay Beach. Once a haven for pirates, and now a refuge for endangered birds, this environmentally friendly beach is a mecca for beach lovers.

Southwest India is brimming with clandestine romantic interlude possibilities for those just married and looking for solitude. Full of highly rated resorts, beautifully private beach bungalows, spas, The beaches of Goa and Kerala are warm, inviting, and overflowing with idyllic sandy beaches lapped by clear water. Even though well-visited, the beaches at Goa still retain their easy charm and laidback sensibility to make it an ideal honeymoon hideaway spot. Tourists are known to take afternoon siestas on the southern beaches of Goa to celebrate the beauty and soothing allure. Couples can visit Calangute, the "Queen of Beaches," to go windsailing or paragliding to take a break from the gentle calm and interact with others.

Fraser Island in Brisbane, Australia, is the world's largest sand island. Offering sun, sand, and an area rich in ecological preservation, this island paradise will give couples some quiet time together while being able to enjoy unspoiled beaches. Couples will be surrounded by beauty and adventure so any trek outdoors will greet them with beautiful birds and all manner of wildlife. Honeymooners can also find plenty of activity in snorkeling, kayaking, and fishing. 

For the ideal Greek honeymoon hideaway, Folegandros, Greece, will exceed the hopes and expectations of any dewy-eyed romantic couples' eyes and hearts. Mountainsides speckled with whitewashed buildings that overlook glorious azure blue water fit the bill for anyone seeking quiet beauty and romance, for that once in a lifetime honeymoon experience. Couples can shop in the markets when they find time to pull themselves away from the beautiful pristine beaches.

Christina Johnson works remotely for Elliman Prudential in the NYC Rentals market.  She is using her journalism major to combine what she loves most, writing and her career.  Her specialties include home decor design and DIY home improvement projects.

Keswick Bound!

This week the entire Engaging Affairs team is off to visit Keswick Hall near Charlottesville, Virginia for a few days. We've been lucky enough to plan several weddings at Keswick over the years and we love this stunning resort. Breathtaking!  We'll have more fun details on the property and all the amazing new options for events when we return.

Brunch Wedding Receptions!

YoungDesigns

I love breakfast. Really bad-for-you breakfast like French toast, pastries and pancakes drenched in syrup. Done well, breakfast is quite a decadent meal.

 ElizabethAnneDesigns

And I love breakfast for wedding receptions. We've done brunch weddings or even midnight breakfast spreads. Our own Sara served fabulous breakfast foods during the cocktail hour of her evening wedding and it was a massive hit.

You can get really creative with traditional breakfast food and make them passable for a more elegant presentation like mini pancakes, tiny frittatas and layered yogurt parfaits.  This stylish omelette bar from 100 Layer Cake is divine!

100 Layer Cake

You can also have some fun with drinks--make-your-own Bloody Mary stations and Mimosas with various garnishes come to mind.

100 Layer Cake

All this talk of breakfast is making me hungry!  Cheers!

Reem Acra at Saks Jandel!

Badgley Mischka Trunk Show!