Bridal News

Holding your wedding ceremony at the same location as your reception is a smart idea, especially if you have a lot of out of town guests. It offers convenience and an easy transition between “I Do” and “let’s party!”

It can also offers some great savings - book one of these dates at Stonewall Golf Club in Gainesville and get 1/2 off your ceremony site fee - an $850 savings!

August 3 and 31, September 7 and 21.

Conveniently located just off Route 29, Stonewall Golf has an amazing terrace overlooking Lake Manassas that’s perfect for outdoor ceremonies. Host your cocktail hour in the Brass Cannon Restaurant and then enter the lovely Magnolia Room, featuring lots of natural light, accommodating up to 150 guests. Customized menus are in the $51-$75 price range - a great value for an elegant country club.

To schedule your tour and consultation, contact Jeanna Hilton at 703.753.6156 and visit www.stonewallgolfclub.com.

Continental Event Center in Manassas has some great Summer dates open on their calendar. Book one and save a cool grand ($1000) on your venue rental - July 6th, 13th and 20th.

Located on Liberia Avenue near the Prince William Parkway, Continental Event Center features two lovely rooms that can accommodate both your ceremony and reception. Built with weddings in mind, Continental offers a great list of preferred caterers to customize your event. There’s plenty of free parking and nearby accommodations for your out of town guests.

To learn more about Continental and to schedule your appointment, call Jim Hester at 571.208.1208 and visit www.thecontinentalcenter.com.

It’s almost time to turn the page on the calendar to a new month - here are some great date night ideas coming up in May at the Workhouse Arts Center. Did you know that the Workhouse Gallery is available for rehearsal dinners, ceremonies and wedding receptions? There’s also a tented space for larger events. To learn more about renting this unique venue for your special event, call 703.584.2900 and visit www.workhousearts.org.

May 3 - Dinner and a Movie (8pm): This month’s presentation is the comedy musical Momma Mia! $39 per person.

May 4 - Mason Cabaret Presents: The Millennials! (8pm): Enjoy the most exciting new composers in cabaret. $25 per person, cash bar available.

May 10 - SingleMarriedGirl (8pm): Previewed at the Capital Fringe Festival. $20 general admission, $15 military, $10 student.

May 11 - 2nd Saturday Art Walk (6-9pm): Over 100 artists! Free admission.

May 17 - Sixth Generation Concert (8pm): Baby boomers - here’s your blast from the past rock & roll! Tickets $10-$15.

May 18 - Ballroom Social Dance (7:30-10:30pm). Take a mini dance lesson for just $5. Admission to the dance is $10 per person. Complimentary soft drinks and cash bar available.

May 18 - Chef’s Table (8-10pm): Learn some new cooking techniques from a professional chef, then enjoy dinner! $80 per couple.

May 25 - Cool Cow Comedy (8pm): National comedy acts on your local stage. Two shows. Tickets available at www.coolcowcomedy.com.

Private Events Director Leslie Collier of Tower Club Tysons is back with some more thoughts on wedding planning - this time, she tackles the topic of eco-friendly weddings in honor of the recent Earth Day.

Now that you’ve said yes, selected the perfect date and scored your dream dress, why should your wedding day be anything less than spectacular! But what happens after the party’s over? Where do all those beautiful things go?

Weddings easily top the list for being full of waste and not very earth friendly. If you’d like to maintain a lavish celebration - and at the same time reduce your event’s thumbprint - here are a few key ways to get you started!

Host your wedding and reception at the same location. Simple enough, right? Not only are you providing your guests with a beautiful venue, but the convenience of one location means fewer guests on the road (and getting lost) = less gas use and less pollution.

Rent instead of buying. From a fabulous farmhouse to a bustling city club, rentals area a fabulous way to transform any venue. With so many options available, from linens and lighting to chairs and flowers, the only limit is your imagination.

Reuse & re-purpose. Using your ceremony flowers throughout your reception not only saves you money, but you can later give them to a hospital or senior center. And your bridal party can donate their stylish fashions to local community organizations to be used by students for high school dances and proms.

Thanks, Leslie! Are you looking for a unique summer wedding venue, but can’t stand the heat? The Tower Club Tysons has the best of both worlds with a 35′ atrium ceiling and panoramic views from the Blue Ridge to DC. There are still a few 2013 dates left, so call Leslie at 703.461.5250 or email leslie.collier@ourclub.com. And visit www.tower-tysons.com.

If you find your wedding timeline has made a radical shift and you need to plan in a hurry, Grand Atrium in Tysons Corner has the following Summer dates available. Mention this blog post when you book one and save 10% on your reception: June 22, July 13 & 20, August, 3, 17 & 24, and September 7th.

Located on Gallows Road, this venue offers a private club atmosphere on two levels. There’s a huge dance floor (which is also terrific for ceremony set up), a cozy fireplace (looks great with candles - even in the Summer!), wonderful walls for showing photo montages and monograms, and best of all, a caring, attentive staff.

To learn more about Grand Atrium and to schedule your tour, contact Lucy Fletcher at 703.698.0228 and visit www.grandatrium.com.

If you’re looking for a truly unique wedding venue, you’ll want to check out the Tower Club at Tysons Corner. Located on the 17th floor, the club offers spectacular views of the Washington skyline with it’s windows and balcony on three sides. Ceremonies are held in an atrium that features 35-foot glass ceilings and marble floors.

Leslie Collier just joined the Tower Club team as their Private Events Director and she brings a wealth of hospitality experience to the club. I had the pleasure of having lunch with Leslie recently (yummy!) and asked her to submit some planning tips from time to time. Here’s her first installment:

Menu Planing … it’s time to think outside the box!

Hands down, the best parts of the wedding planning experience are the tastings! Whether it’s delectable cakes with decadent icings, delicious signature cocktails, or more importantly, the menu for the big day, it’s time to get ready to plan your guests’ menu.

The food trend that here’s to stay: Dietary Restrictions and Food Allergies.

Once upon a time, all you needed to prepare for were vegetarian meal requests. Well, even that’s changed with so many variations of “vegetarianism”. We are seeing a significant increase in guest meal restrictions at our club, so we have created specialty menus that not only give some wonderful vegetarian options but also some great gluten-free selections.

As you plan for your food tasting, be sure to share your concerns with your venue manager or caterer and ask for great options that don’t leave your guests feeling like an afterthought!

Tower Club Tysons still has some great 2013 dates available. To learn more about the club and to schedule your tour, call 703.761.4250 or email leslie.collier@ourclub.com. And be sure to visit www.tower-tysons.com.

Engaged and looking for the perfect wedding venue? Historic Rosemont Manor in Berryville, VA would love to have you come for tea!  Bring your mom (or another special lady who is helping you plan) and enjoy a delicious three-course tea at a beautiful historic estate.  You’ll get a full tour of the manor and grounds, and it’s all FREE!  Just call at 703.879.5683 for upcoming tea dates and to make your reservation.

Sometimes you need to plan a wedding in a hurry. This can be especially true for couples facing military deployment. Or couples with wedding guests on visas. Or maybe you just want to say “I Do”.

If that sounds like you, take a look at the great dates Springfield Hilton has available: May 4, June 8, 5, 22, July 6, 13, August 10, 17, 24, and September 13. Book one and take 15% off your wedding reception. You can also use this offer for Saturdays in January/February 2014.

The hotel recently renovated its grand ballroom and can accommodate up to 500. Packages range $76-$100 per person and include a lot of goodies. And outside caterers are permitted. Hotels make a great venue when you have a lot of out of town guests. You can have an elegant affair and then send your guests on their way safely to their rooms.

To learn more about Springfield Hilton and take a tour, call Felicia Hannan at 703.971.8900 x7155 or email felicia.hannan@hilton.com. And visit www.springfieldva.hilton.com.

Are you familiar with The Workhouse Arts Center, located on Route 123 just north of Occoquan? This former prison - yes prison! - is now home to some of the area’s best local artists. There’s a regular farmer’s market, great art exhibitions and all kinds of wonderful activities that are perfect for a date night. Here are just a few ideas for April:

April 5 - Dinner & A Movie: April’s feature presentation is “Rear Window”, the Alfred Hitchcock classic starring Jimmy Stewart and Grace Kelly. Tickets are $45 per person and registration is required by April 2nd.

April 20 - Social Ballroom Dance: Can’t dance? No worries - take a mini lesson for $5 per person. Dance tickets are $10 per person.

April 20 - Chef’s Table: This is a great way to learn basic cooking techniques and meet others who share a passion for food. No one leaves hungry! Cost is $80 per couple. Advanced registration is required.

And if you’re looking for a unique venue for your wedding reception, rehearsal dinner or guest brunch, the gallery at The Workhouse Arts Center is available. To learn more about The Workhouse, rentals, other special activities and to buy tickets for these events, visit www.workhousearts.org.