Keswick Hall Wedding

We recently posted about a fun FAM (usually stands for familiarization but I like to refer to it as Family) trip our team took to Keswick Hall in Charlottesville.  The property is truly first class as is the wonderful events staff.  Last June I had the pleasure of planning Sarah and Nick's wedding at Keswick Hall and the weekend could not have been more perfect for them  As a hard working, busy couple in the DC area, they were looking for something just a bit slower and more comfortable for their family and friends to celebrate their wedding weekend.

Being in Virginia wine country, the ladies weekend started on Friday afternoon with a wine tour and lunch.  Friday evening brought an intimate rehearsal dinner in the Garden Room at Keswick Hall, the perfect space for a greek inspired sharing table to pay tribute to the groom's roots.  It was such a beautiful table!

Saturday morning the men kicked off the day with golf as the ladies relaxed and prepped.  Following the ceremony which overlooked the golf course, the bride and groom took a cart out for pictures using the Hall as the backdrop.

Guests enjoyed cocktails by the pool, one of my favorite places on the property, then moved back downstairs for an open air dinner on the terrace and dancing until the wee hours in the ballroom.  Truly a favorite for me was their choice in first dance song by Queen, "You're my Best Friend".  Completely appropriate for this pair.

It's safe to stay guests were treated to a celebration they won't soon forget in Charlottesville.  Thank you to the fantastic team at Keswick Hall including Adam and Wendy, along with Capital Decor and Events,  Gonzo's Nose and Jenni Green from Studio Diana Photography.

Stay tuned for pictures from my next wedding at Keswick in May.  A very different style, but elegant, sophisticated and modern all the same.

Sara

A Night at The Fillmore {Sound Connection}

A great event to check out amazing wedding entertainment! Register here!

It's a Video Giveaway!

To all our newly engaged brides out there or those with weddings approaching, you won't want to miss this opportunity.  Thomas Bowen Films is giving away a free Trilliant Bliss Wedding video package valued at $4,000!  Don't pass up this chance to have your friends and family recorded in history.  Time is running out!  Today is the last day to enter.  Please click the link below for details on how to register on their Facebook page.  Good luck and be sure to let us know if you are the lucky winner!

http://www.thomasbowenfilms.com/wedding-film-giveaway/

Downton Abbey Inspiration!

I'll admit it. I'm hooked on PBS's series "Downton Abbey." I only started watching it a few weeks ago and immediately raced through streaming the first season on Netflix and then had to get Season 2 on iTunes to continue the obsession. Now I'm distraught that I'll have to wait months and months to watch Season 3!

Along with the amazing characters and captivating plot lines, I adore the costumes.  Susannah Buxton has done an impressive job creating the gorgeous creations and also of gradually moving the clothing from turn-of-the-century (complete with corsets) to the looser lines of the 1920's.

I love bringing the delicate fabrics, intricate beading and interesting necklines back into the fray and hope to see Downton Abbey inspire some of our wedding dress designers! Anyone else love Downton?

Wish Upon A Star Party {Jorge Manuel Giveaway}

Just a few scenes from the fabulous event to kick off the Wish Upon a Star Jorge Manuel contest. It was such a delight to meet Jorge and see the stunning gown he'll be giving to one lucky bride!  Above, Hitched owners Carin and Julia with Jorge and his gorgeous gown.

The lovely brunch was catered by Design Cuisine with floral decor by Sidra Forman. Calligraphy by Meant to Be Calligraphy added the perfect touch. The lovely images are by the talented Ralph Alswang.

Don't wait to enter the contest as the contestants are limited!  The official "Upon A Star" application can be found by visiting www.jorgemanuelweddings.com. The contest winner will be determined by a combination of votes by the public and the judges, made up of members of the Jorge Manuel team and the Hitched ladies. Here's hoping a Bridal Bubbly reader wins the amazing gown!

Thanks you to the fabulous ladies of Hitched for introducing us to Jorge and his beautiful designs and to Jorge for being such a charming designer who delights in giving back.  We were honored to be included in the contest announcement party and so pleased to be able to spread the word. Enter today!!

Jenny Yoo Trunk Show {Love Couture Bridal}

Sareh Nouri Bridal {Fabulous New Dress Designer}

When Sareh Nouri was young, she’d have loved it if you’d told her that she’d grow up to design her own bridal collection. She loved wedding dresses. But then, what little girl doesn’t? The difference with Sareh is, she never outgrew the phase. In fact, at her nuptials in 2009, her father joked in his speech about her ongoing obsession with wedding gowns. So perhaps it’s fate that the search for her own dress is what really set her down the path to create her own line. As her wedding day approached, Sareh grew ever more frustrated, for she couldn’t find “the one” — a dress that was at once sophisticated and traditional, ethereal and elegant. In desperation, she decided to design her own gown.

Fortunately, Sareh had the background to back up her daring gamble: She’d graduated from George Mason University with a graphic design degree, so she understood how to work with patterns and layouts. A native of Iran, Sareh has been extremely successful in her design career and utilizing traditional Persian art, her work on numerous commercial and nonprofit media ads have gotten her profiled in a number of magazines and books. So she wasn't just able to conjure up a nice dress, she was able to create the dress of her dreams.

Shortly thereafter, a move close to New York City allowed her to pursue her newfound career and passion in the bridal industry. The newlywed realized that, if she had trouble finding the perfect gown for her sensibilities, hundreds of other brides must, too. And, following her stints working with a high-end bridal salon, modeling bridal gowns, collaborating with couture dressmakers and consulting one-on-one with brides-to-be, a new business was born.

I love that Sareh's gowns are dramatic and highly detailed. These are dresses for fashion-forward brides who want to make a statement. Absolutely breathtaking!  In the DC area, Sareh's gorgeous gowns are carried by Love Couture and Soliloquy:

Love Couture
12500 - B Park Potomac Avenue. Potomac, Maryland 20854
301.610.5683

www.lovecouturebridal.com

Soliloquy Bridal Couture
754 Elden Street, Suite 103, Herndon, Virginia 20170
571.449.2580

www.soliloquybridal.com

Credits:
Gown designer: Sareh Nouri Bridal www.SarehNouri.com
Photographer: Moshe Zusman
Make Up: Nour Kazoun
Hair: Remona Soleimani

Keswick Hall {Venue Love}

A little while ago, we had the pleasure to visit Keswick Hall outside of Charlottesville, Virginia. We've done several weddings at Keswick but wanted to really immerse ourselves in the resort and in Charlottesville. Keswick is such a short jaunt from DC and we have more and more clients who want to "get away" for their weddings (but not too far). Keswick fits the bill perfectly!

Keswick's sales and catering manager, Adam Donovan-Groves, was such a marvelous host and planned such an amazing experience for us! We checked into our gorgeous rooms (each individually designed and decorated with antiques and original art) before enjoying dinner at the hotel's acclaimed restaurant, Fossett's. 

Dinner was a lovely experience and the cuisine superb! We returned to Fossett's in the morning for a lovely breakfast as the sun rose over the spectacular grounds and the fog melted away.  I must say that the lemon meringue pancakes were an indulgent treat!

Adam treated us to a wonderful tour around Charlottesville, which included Monticello, Montalto (another gorgeous site for smaller events) and a wine tasting at Jefferson Vineyards. Then it was back to Keswick for a tour of the event space (so many lovely options) and lunch at Villa Crawford on the terrace. The afternoon was filled with relaxing spa treatments at the Keswick spa (which features an indoor pool, sauna, steam room and hot tub). Heaven!

For dinner that evening, Adam took us into town to The Local. What a fun restaurant and what fabulous food. My black truffle mac n' cheese was to-die-for! Charlottesville is such a charming town with tons of great options for rehearsal dinners or pre-wedding parties.

We enjoyed using the fitness center each morning that overlooked the grounds with floor-to-ceiling glass. Our company mermaid, Amanda, enjoyed the heated infinity pool one morning as the steam rose over the water. What a way to watch the sunrise!

We finished our amazing stay at Keswick with a tour around the grounds and all the activity options (there are so many things to do at Keswick--we even got to see the dogs they use for fox hunting).

Although we've planned some pretty stunning weddings at Keswick, we never knew the resort and area like we did after staying as guests. And what a place to be a guest! We were thoroughly spoiled by the attentive staff and the gracious charm of the resort.

We've always known what a breathtaking venue Keswick is for a wedding or celebration but now we know so much more. Next up: some fabulous Keswick celebrations!

Discounted Tickets to The Engaged Show!

Today Bridal Bubbly readers are lucky ducks! By clicking on this link, you can get $10 off the
ticket price to attend DC's most fabulous bridal experience!

Get your tickets then plan to visit four of the top luxury hotels in Washington on March 4th for an evening of fabulous food, delicious drinks and stunning decor. Meet DC's finest wedding professionals and get amazing ideas (and stop by and see us--the Engaging Affairs ladies--at the rooftop of The Hay-Adams while you're at it)!  So get your tickets and we'll see you there!

Stephen Yearick Trunk Show {Chevy Chase Bridal}