Let Us Eat!

photo credit: Rodolfo Arpia Photographer

I'm amazed by how much this tablescape resembles what I want for my reception. Only difference is that my tables are oblong, I'm having floral centerpieces, and my table numbers will be an original Goldie creation. But, I must say that the charger plate and the way the napkin is folded with the menu tucked inside is pretty head on with what I was planning.

We're having a sit down dinner. Mr.Golden and I attended a wedding at Westbury Manor last year and I was amazed by the wait staff. The dining experience was one like I'd never had and Mr.Golden and I wanted to share that same experience with our guests. Upon being seated, our guests will pull out their menu card, tuck their napkin on their lap, and have a choice of seven delishes entrees. Here they are:

Veal Chop Fondue

Grilled and topped with melted cheeses

Amaretto Filet Mignon

Amaretto encrusted whole tenderlion of beef with red wine and strawberry glaze

Chicken Mirtillo Rosso

Breast of chicken with cranberry chutney

Shrimp and Salmon

Gulf prawn shrimp and filet of salmon pan roasted in champagne sauce

Sea Bass Provola

Baked Mediterranean Sea Bass provolone cheese and sliced tomato

North Fork

Grilled Portobello mushrooms, yellow squash, zuchini, asparagus and red and yellow Holland peppers

Duck'l Orange

Slowly roasted with apple bread stuffing served in orange glaze

Rumor has it that Mr.Golden and I get to sample all seven of these entrees at our sweetheart table...yum!

Reinforcing My Decision

It's so easy to get caught up in all the "what ifs" when it comes to wedding planning. I don't think I've ever been so indecisive at any other point in my life up until now. Everyone wants a dream wedding- something that stands out from the rest. With all the beautiful places to get married, sometimes it's easy to second guess whether you've made the right decision. This happens with everything else wedding related from stationary to flowers.

Taking a slight break over the long holiday weekend that just past helped me to put some things back into perspective. I had been wondering if my ceremony/reception hall was truly the right one. And then I came across the following pictures, and I fell inlove all over again.







Look at the peacock stealing the show! This is an old picture because they no longer have those chairs.



The parrots overlook the garden. In the winter, the staff at Westbury Manor take turns bringing the birds home.



The front doors



The garden patio:







For a full tour of my reception hall, check out my post here

So seeing these pictures just gave me a little reinforcement about making the right decision, and sometimes as brides we need little reinforcements here and there. So no matter if your getting married in a garden, waterfront, country, modern, or loft setting, just remember the reasons why you fell inlove with it in the first place. And most of all, remember that the most important thing is what's taking place that day, and not so much where it's taking place at!

Venues..I've kissed a few toads!

Most brides say that they automatically knew from the moment they walked into their venue that it was "the one." Unfortunately for me, finding the perfect venue was like finding Mr. Golden- I had my share of toads to kiss before finding "the one!"

Mr. Golden and I immediately set out to look at reception halls right after getting engaged. I had only been to a handful of weddings and Mr. Golden had been to a wedding and a half (and yes, I said half!). Honestly, we didn't really know what we were looking for in a venue. I just knew that I didn't want to be in a stuffy reception hall with no windows. The first few reception halls that we went to made me go coocoo for cocoa puffs.

Looking back now, I must have really been on cloud nine and blind to reality because many of the halls we saw did not reflect our personalities in any shape, fashion, or form. I refer to those reception halls as the guys in my past that were wrong for me in every way a.k.a. the "bad boys." Then we found another reception hall that was beautiful. We were dead set on it, but there were many things about it that just didn't feel right: 1) the sacarstic banquet manager 2) the lack of space & 3) the price. I refer to that reception hall as the guys in my past that were full of themselves. You know those guys that are fine and know it a.k.a. heart breakers a.k.a. get over yourself!

Alas, the last reception hall we went to was indeed the one. We went in there having no expectations because we had been let down before. We were definitely on point and had our poker faces on because we were tired of "playing the field." When finding your soulmate, you realize that they may not be perfect, but they're perfect for you; just the same, our ceremony/reception venue is perfect for us! Ladies & Gents, I present to you, Westbury Manor.

Enter the drive way...



And see the old victorian mansion set in the back...



Have valet take care of your car for you. After all, you are a guest!



Come through the front doors...



And into the foyer...



Where you will be escorted to a half hour of hospitality in the Polo Lounge.



Don't get too comfy, there's a wedding ceremony that's about to take place, and you need to get the best seat in the house! Let us go to the garden...



So I can make my grand appearance!



After witnessing me and Mr. Golden say I do and jump the broom, please enjoy cocktail hour in the 6 acres of garden!











Take in the scenery and the exotic animals. Don't worry, they don't bite!



What's that? There's been a change in forecast? Not to worry, the inside cocktail hour is just as beautiful...

Here's the solarium:





And the library:







When cocktail hour is over, make your way into the Manor room where the real fun begins. It's sure to be a Golden day!