2010 Trend #5: Weddings @ Home

Backyard weddings tend to be more intimate events (unless your home can comfortably hold over 100 guests). This does not mean it can't be elegant, but at the same time, it can be as informal as you want it to be.

Instead of spending a lot on floral centerpieces, you can upgrade the landscape with bright flowers. Or use floral prints for your table linens and bridesmaids dresses.

Photos from (1) Always Fabulous Events 2007, (2) Better Homes & Gardens, (3) Mo Plants

PA Reception Venues Under $100pp

Bartram's Garden

Philadelphia

Bensalem Township Country Club*

Bensalem

Blue Bell Country Club

Blue Bell

Bolingbroke*

Radnor

Brossman Center @ Lutheran Theological Seminary of Philadelphia*

Philadelphia

Crystal Rose Catering

Doylestown

D'Ignazio's Towne House

Media

Fisher's Tudor House

Bensalem

La Luna Banquet Hall*

Bensalem

Marjeane Caterers

Lansdale

Radisson Hotel Valley Forge

King of Prussia

The Saturday Club

Wayne

Sheraton Great Valley Hotel

Frazer

The Sorella Rose

Flourtown

The Stone Barn

Kennett Square

Village Caterers

Montgomeryville

Warrington Country Club

Warrington

The Willows

Villanova

Yangming

Bryn Mawr

* We have worked at this venue.

General Warren Inne

The General Warren Inne in Malvern, PA is the perfect site for your intimate wedding. The historical setting will create a day of memories that will last a lifetime.

Weddings can have 50 to 140 guests. Weddings of this size have use of all areas of The General Warren Inne: all 4 dining rooms, bar area, and the adjacent terrace and lawn and gardens (weather permitting). Time availability for this space is limited to Saturdays from 11:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m., or Sundays from 11:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m.

Smaller Weddings of 15 to 49 guests can be accommodated during regular Lunch and Dinner hours of operation.

Guest Suites are available for the bridal party prior to the Wedding, a Honeymoon Suite, and/or lodging for your out-of-town guests can be providing with the 8 charming guests suites at The General Warren Inne.

You can also host your rehearsal dinner here.

Mercer & Fonthill Museums

Terrace Pavilion @ Fonthill

The Mercer Museum is a historic castle in Doylestown, PA with a 19th-century art gallery and outdoor gardens. The Fonthill Museum is a picturesque castle surrounded by lawns, woodlands, and streams.

The Elkins Gallery @ Mercer, a stately Georgian room displaying the museum's collection of Bucks County paintings, can be booked for gatherings of up to 150 people to celebrate in elegant style. Fonthill's Terrace Pavilion is an intimate setting available for occasions of up to 36 people, such as rehearsal dinners and surprise parties, up to 70 for a wedding or meeting, or combined with a tent, a lawn party or wedding for up to 200. Elkins Gallery rentals include access to the Mercer Museum. Events at the Terrace Pavilion can include a private tour of Fonthill upon request.

Award-winning Memorable Affairs Catering is the exclusive caterer for both historic sites.

Intimate Winery Wedding

Wineries are a romantic backdrop for an intimate wedding.

Crossing Vineyards in Bucks County, PA (View e-brochure)

• The Barrel Room holds 50 guests for cocktails and 30 for dinner
• Jonathan's Garden & Patio is a great outdoor setting for your ceremony. It is available April thru November
• The Vineyard Room can accomodate 70 guests for dinner and 100 for cocktails
• A wonderful plus for this venue is the beautifully decorated bridal suite, which is actually an apartment on the vineyard property.

Rose Bank Winery in Bucks County, PA

• Two-story barn is available for parties of about 75 guests
• Bring in your own caterer

Kreutz Creek Vineyard in Chester County, PA

• West Chester Tasting Room accommodates 40 guests (only available on Sundays and Mondays)

Tomasello Winery in Hammonton, NJ

• Choose a champagne brunch, California "station" party, formal seated dining or buffet style dining
• Minimum capacity: 50
• Ceremony in the courtyard

Renault Winery in Egg Harbor City, NJ

• The Burgundy Room : Guests walk though a wine casks to enter the wine vault where the event takes place.
• Receptions only held on Friday or Sunday
• Accommodates 25-50 guests for a sit down dinner with dance floor.

Photo Source

Bachelorette @ Borgata

Take your bachelorette party to the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa in Atlantic City.

Get your own rooms or share a suite. After checking in, head to Spa Toccare for "relaxing treatments guaranteed to exhilarate". Then go to the Salon for hair and makeup.

Once you have been glamourized, head to dinner at one of the hotel's Fine Dining restaurants.

After dinner, see a show. Then hit the casino and a night club or 2.

In the morning, before you check out, grab a cup of coffee @ Starbucks and go shopping.

You'll do all of that without ever leaving the hotel property.

If you need help booking this fabulous bachelorette event, contact the party planner or travel agent at Always Fabulous Events. We will be happy to make the arrangements for you.

Photo Source

Please Touch

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Most famously known as a hangout spot for the preschool set, the Please Touch Museum is a fabulous place to host a wedding, bar/bat mitzvah, Sweet 16, or corporate gala. The event space at the museum is huge (it holds upt to 450 seated guests). The classic architecture (mile high ceilings and marble floors) gives the elegance expected at most weddings, while the colorful kid-friendly exhibits add a touch of whimsy.

Exclusive caterer - Max & Me Catering (starting @ $120 per person)

Facility rental fee starts @ $2500

Places to Have a Fabulous Party

The Philadelphia area is full of fabulous and fantastic places to host your next big event. There are already so many websites dedicated to wedding venues, so I won't be redundant. Where do we go for smaller, but very important, parties?

Here are a few picks:

1. Bridal Shower: The Radnor Hotel

The garden room overlooks the amazing formal gardens. The view is breathtaking and the service is top of the line. If you want the bride-to-be to feel like a princess, this is the place to be.

{both photos from The Radnor Hotel website}

2. Bridesmaids Luncheon or Tea: Mary Cassatt Tea Room at The Rittenhouse Hotel
I could not scream the word "elegance" any louder than the Mary Cassatt Tea Room already does. You'll feel like you stepped into a Cassatt painting. The large selection of teas and yummy variety of tea sandwiches and pastries will make you wish you could be there every day.

{photo from The Rittenhouse Hotel website}

3. Baby Shower: Jericho National Golf Club

The Gold Room at Jericho has a great big "window wall" so that lets the sun in and allows you to look out over the golfing green.

{photo from Jericho National Golf Club website}

80's Inspired Sweet 16

Always Fabulous Events created the concept and design for this 16th birthday party for twin girls, Samie & Patrice. They wanted a nightclub feel with a cool gimmick. We went back to the 80s... an interesting theme considering these girls weren't even born until 1992.

They loved the DayGlo night club idea which we carried from the invitations thru the decorations and dress code. Even the cupcakes were frosted with neon colors. The tables also held glow-in-the-dark centerpieces. Oh... I can't forget all of the glow sticks, necklaces, bracelets, and earrings.

The kids really impressed me with their 80s style interpretations... well, at least the girls.