Party on the mountaintop
Well, this whole wedding weekend was just a blast! The bride and groom are our friends, so we were invited as guests as well. We're still talking about the mountain-top party! We transported tables, linens, chairs, hors d'ouevres and (of course) lots of beverages up the mountain to our sunset patio, for a "welcome to the wedding" party about 5 pm on Friday. The endeavor required our Pioneer UTV (aka a side by side atv), several SUVs, and our trusty old brown Chevy van. Some wedding guests hiked up, some rode up - on any available seat. A play list had been created ahead of time on a cell phone, so the music was personalized and had everybody dancing in short order.
The highlight of the crazy impromptu party was the grand entrance of some late arriving (long flight) guests. They had driven to the lodge, found no one, and didn't quite know what to do, other than find a drink and grab a porch chair to wait for somebody to show up. Well, it's very quiet here in WV, no city noises, so they heard the music from the mountaintop across the way. They hopped back in their vehicle, followed the lane that looked most recently travelled and came screaming up - honking their horn, laughing, spinning tires. The group was complete!
Dinner was to be a "cook out" casual meal back down at the main lodge. Let me just share that everyone forgot about dinner until about 9 pm!
Hay bale hullabaloo
We hosted a smaller, formal wedding here and the bride and groom chose to get married (Jeff officiated) up at the top of the mountain patio. (Obviously a much-loved spot). They had been here for motorcycle trips, and also gotten engaged here so we were tickled that they wanted to say the "I dos" here, too. As fancy clothes were involved, the wedding party was driven up the mountain. The ceremony was beautiful and on the way back to the lodge, there were several picturesque photo stops along the way. The hay bales intrigued the bride, and she decided to use them as a photo prop. She hopped up on one, talked the groom into coming up, too, and the resulting shot is one of our favorites taken on the farm.
The "lost" wedding guests
For this weekend wedding, a lot of young folks brought their tents, so all could visit together for a couple of days in a casual outdoorsy fashion. Most tents were erected near the main lodge, but a few couples ventured a little farther out on the 190 acres. This was early Fall, so the weather was perfect for sleeping outside.
A great wedding evening was enjoyed by all. The bride had chosen a black and white color scheme, a lovely outdoor spot for the ceremony, and the reception was self-catered with vegetarian and vegan food brought in from DC. Gluten free and vegan cupcakes stood in for a traditional wedding cake. A personal playlist provided the musical backdrop for evening's entertainment in the picnic pavilion. The party here can go on as late as you like! No one objects.
The next morning, coffee was made, breakfast was prepared and eaten, and the clean up began. Most everything was packed up, the entourage ready to depart, when someone noticed a couple of the guests hadn't been seen. A search was started, and they were eventually found in a back field - still asleep in their tent! It's going to take them a long time to live that one down!
Glitter and glam
This was our largest wedding, which involved lots of tables and chairs, a DJ and dance floor with light show, a huge party tent, and a lot of planning and organization by the bride, groom, and family and friends. Everything went off without a hitch, and this was one of our loveliest occasions. The tablescapes were lovely, the flowers and wedding attire stunning, the food excellent, the signature cocktails most festive. All in all a glam event, with many unique and special touches.
The "glitter" part of the tale is not what you're thinking, I bet! Here's what I mean - after the ceremony, the couple exited thru a sparkler arch (think saber arch with sparks rather than weaponry), and had a fireworks salute. This was another weekend wedding, so after the dressy duds were exchanged for comfy clothes, the party continued around the bonfire with late night s'mores. Some of the guests walked up to one of our "star gazing" hills for a clear view of the glittery night sky and held a meditation session to end the busy and (happily) stressful day. You can't do that in a big city!
The memories here have continued for this couple (now friends). They've stayed here 5 times - the last trip with their newborn son! The chance to welcome guests like them is one of the reasons we're running the resort and event venue.
Thanks for reading, and we hope to host you here soon - come and make some memories of your own!
Teresa, Jeff and Xena-dog
