Venue Spotlight: The Pavilion On Lakeland Farm
Authentic Southern Charm
That is the phrase that describes The Pavilion on Lakeland Farm, a wedding venue in Orange Virginia to a (sweet) tea! The main house is a thoroughly modern design inside with an exterior that mimics the stately manor houses from a by-gone era. The Pavilion has a stone terrace overlooking a pond complete with an island for a picturesque outdoor ceremony. The reception hall can easily accommodate up to 200 guests for your wedding reception, and comes complete with a warming kitchen, a built in bar area and plenty of room for seating guests, a band and dancing.
The photo opportunities abound on this 600 acre working farm, and there is a golf cart to transport the bride and groom to the many scenic areas on the farm. This can be a big time saver, and it allows for a lot of photo opportunities.
The Pavilion has various options for your wedding. You can choose a one-day Wedding Package, a Weekend Package which includes two nights in the guest house or upgrade the Weekend Package to include the Rehearsal Dinner as well. Table and chairs with setup and takedown and on-site parking with staff are included in all packages. The guest house sleeps up to 6 adults in 3 bedrooms, has a spacious living area, dining room and free wi-fi.
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Should you DIY your wedding flowers?
Photos are from Harmony Harvest Flower Farm
In the age of Pinterest and YouTube, DIY inspiration is everywhere. But should you take on your wedding flowers as a DIY project? Well…maybe.
- Flower arranging isn’t easy. Realize that florists are highly trained creative professionals and they may make flower arranging look easy, but it isn’t. If you have certain must-have flowers that may not be grown locally, rose-covered arbors or large, voluptuous centerpieces in mind, then hire a professional. You will be glad you did.
- Are you flexible? If your vision of your wedding flowers is more flexible, a local flower farm can be a great resource. They can give you an estimate of what will be blooming at the time of your wedding (remember that weather is a huge factor in farming so being flexible about your flowers is very important). Many flower farms, like the ones featured below, offer full florist services as well.
- Take a class. There are flower arranging courses available at some flower farms and florists-take a course in advance and see if it’s something you would enjoy doing. If it is going to make you miserable, hire a professional.
- Do both! Consider a hybrid approach-get your bouquet and boutonnières made by a professional and do more casual table centerpieces yourself.
- Weigh the cost of your time. Even with help, arranging flowers is time consuming. Will you have time in the days before the wedding to pick up the flowers, arrange them, keep them cool and then transport them to the venue the day of?
- Don’t forget the details. You will have to provide your own vases (or rent them) and floral supplies; pins, tape, floral wire and ribbon.
- Get help. Don’t go it alone-gather a group of friends and family to help you-it is much more fun that way!
You Can’t Always Get What You Want
How Compromising Can Save Your Wedding Plans
Contributed by Mona Freund of Siege Media
We all know that planning a wedding can be one of the most overwhelming and stressful experiences of your relationship to date. If you and your partner have different ideas of what the big day should look like, even the most experienced wedding planner may struggle to please both of you.
When you can’t decide on the perfect location, the best wine, or are stuck between hiring a DJ or a band, you’ll have to compromise to move forward. A true compromise is an art form and will leave both parties with a solution they’re content with. Here is a step-by-step guide on finding a compromise with your partner:
Step 1: Make your case and listen
You’ve been dreaming of your wedding day ever since you were a little child? Tell your partner why this day is so important to you and how you’re picturing it. Then listen to their point of view and be sure not to interrupt each other. This conversation will be the foundation of your compromise so take your time and be respectful of each other’s opinions and ideas.
See all the steps to compromising & get your downloadable worksheets here
Ready to Start Planning?
Our comprehensive Wedding Planning Checklist will lead you step by step through the process of planning your wedding! We have a shorter version you can download as a pdf. Need help with your planning? Let Burleson’s Big Day Events or Laura Louise Events and Design help you every step of the way!
My Virginia Wedding provides listings for local wedding vendors so that they can connect with brides, whether they are local or coming to Virginia for a destination wedding. We are different from Wedding Wire or The Knot because we focus only on the Commonwealth of Virginia and strive to provide a true geographic search so that vendors near the search locality come up first.
In addition to the wedding vendor listings, we provide real weddings to provide inspiration, a wedding blog with tips on every aspect of the wedding planning process, a wedding marketplace for free buying and selling of wedding related items, and many planning tools.
If you are a wedding professional, consider listing with My Virginia Wedding. We exist to provide brides with their dream wedding, from down to earth, to out of this world. We will actively work with you to let brides know about your services through social media, newsletters, and internet marketing. Your success is our success, and a bride’s beautiful wedding. We have listing plans for everyone.
