setting the scene: the venue hunt

Yeah, lame title from a lame theatre kid ::wink and a smile!::

First up, Bucks County.

Finding the perfect setting for the big day was surprisingly simple, and also probably the thing I did my homework on the most. I was looking more than two years out, so I tooook my sweeet time.

We started our research in the Brandywine Valley of Pennsylvania, hoping to tie in our engagement week's tip to Sonoma into our wedding theme. We clicked on websites of a few fairly local wineries and found our way to Open Aire Affairs. These folks handle events and rentals for Sandcastle Winery, in ridiculously beautiful and quaint Erwynna, PA. It is set up on a hill on sprawling grounds of hearty grapevines fighting for their lives in the fickle weather of Eastern PA... or Anywhere, PA for that matter.

The only problem is the castle itself. It is just a little like... a lego castle? It's just so darn NEW. Which means clean and full of amenities and well planned, of course. The winery owners are very proud of their hard work and blueprints. I would be too... I just need, some ivy growing up the sides or something. I need more rustic for a vineyard... well I mean for a vineyard for my wedding...

{all photos from Open Aire Affairs}

And the other not-so-insignificant problem with Sandcastle Winery was that Marc didn't really care for a vineyard setting at all. He's didn't think it reflected us as a couple- we're not really wine experts or anything. Not together at least. My spin in the world of the fine dining day job has certainly given me an appreciation for fine wine. But he had a point. And PA wine isn't often fine... like I said about the poor little grapes just trying to make it through the season.

However, the beauty of Open Aire Affairs for my folks and I is that you can bring in all your vendors. You don't have to use an on-site caterer or florist, you don't have to choose from a list of preferred vendors- although they are happy to make recommendations. And they manage more than one venue.

With Fall 2010 set as our wedding date goal, I had visions of campfires, s'mores and hayrides dancing in my head. Larry from Open Aire Affairs was completely on board and pointed me in the direction of a caterer with a penchant for s'mores. At our first open house and the first venue we ever visited- the Pearl S. Buck Estate:

Pearl S. Buck's House

Pretty archway photo ops

rustic barn-like cultural center

reception tent with clear-top option and lighting treatment

{photos from Open Aire Affairs}

We only really came here to meet Larry and to hold us over until the Sandcastle open house the next week. From the pictures, I thought this place looked a bit too typical for a wedding. The classic estate wedding. Yawn.

In person, something about this place felt like home... but I was not about to fall for the first and only venue we'd seen.

Which brings me to the final quintessentially Bucks County venue we checked out, and that makes me swoon every time I think about her... yes, it's a her. She's got some serious character:

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Aldie Mansion. Of the wealthy Mercer family of Doylestown, PA. A home where the likes of Charlie Chaplan and other celebs of the day are said to have come for a bit of a retreat and a visit and I imagine for a fine cigar or two on the terrace. This place. Is the shit.

Jeffrey Miller Catering has the exclusive on this primo D-town wedding venue. And they did a fantastic job adding on a banquet hall to the home:

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Just look at that tray ceiling with sklight windows, and those arches floor to ceiling windows all along the walls. ::sigh:: I knew I didn't want a typical country club banquet hall. This room was just a perfect compromise between view of the outside and comfort and convenience of indoor seating. It felt fresh and light.

And on to the outside terrace:

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Fountain? Gooorgeous arched windows with light pouring through from the inside.

But there has to be a kicker, right?

Unfortunately, Jeffery Miller Caterers are the exclusive caterers for several venues in the Greater Philadelphia area, and they have a central office and kitchen in Delaware County somewhere. The goliath catering company is kind of my nightmare scenario. Food that could be fantastic will be prepped elsewhere and might come out mediocre. The reviews are consistently good but not GREAT. I just don't like not having a choice is all.

Meanwhile, the dining room addition holds only 180 guests... if you squeeze them in to every nook and cranny. It's looking like we might have around 175, and we want a band and a dance party.

Finally, they have TWO events on Saturdays. One in the afternoon and one in the evening. We can't start our bit until 6pm, and we can only stay until 10. Four hours isn't gonna cut it for a ceremony, cocktail hour, pictures and dinner. And this, of course, is BEFORE we decided on Sunday 10.10.10 out of unforeseen necessity. {Do I feel venue regret? no... no as long as I stop looking at pictures.}

I brought Marc along to look at it separately, and he told me off the bat that he didn't like it. From his perspective, the great hall inside looks rather church-like. And in the back yard on the outstandingly manicured grounds... that are much much smaller than PSB's, he pointed out that one tall fence was not enough to block out the road noises from Rt. 611 on the other side.  I had been ready to overlook this detail-I think he was just trying to make my life and decision easier. Bless him.

Next up in the venue hunt, a recap of our whirlwind one-day trip to Olde City in Philly to try the downtown vibe on for size.

What are some of the factors you considered when searching for the perfect venue? Did you feel "at home" when you found the right one?