Some brides dream of a small gathering on a yacht off the coast of an exotic port. Others fantasize about an elaborate Cinderella-style affair in a fancy hotel with every distant relative and casual friend in sight. Still other brides long for a garden setting with champagne-sipping guests huddled under a big white tent, while others choose the comfort and familiarity of their very own living room. Whatever the vision, from somewhere around the age of seven every young girl begins to dream of her fantasy wedding and the Prince Charming she someday hopes to marry. Just as beauty is in the eye of the beholder, the perfect wedding is carefully tucked away, deep in the mind and heart of each and every bride.
This story is for those who dream about the perfect small wedding - for brides who believe the way to celebrate this joyful occasion is to host an intimate gathering of family and only the closest of friends. Luckily for us, the Chesapeake region has an abundance of grand and varied venues for such an occasion.
Waterloo Country Inn
Princess Anne, MD
410-651-0883
http://www.waterloocountryinn.com
Situated on a tidal pond, The Waterloo Country Inn is a paradise for nature lovers. Flanking either side of the driveway of the Waterloo Country Inn are graceful 200- year-old sycamore trees. This luxurious pre-Revolutionary War waterfront estate was built in the 1750s by a prominent Somerset County landowner and has since been restored to its original charm. It has been an elegant country inn since 1996 and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Canoes, bicycles, and an outdoor pool offer guests the opportunity to be idle or to explore the serene atmosphere. With just five splendid rooms, the inn provides a cozy wedding setting. While rooms feature antique furnishings and Victorian reproductions, two luxury suites have all the modern amenities, including Jacuzzis. One room has a fireplace with original Delft tiles, others a tassled canopy bed or antique sewing machine. The most dynamic interior feature is the triple-flight, twisted-baluster stair, every spindle handmade. Swiss owners Therese and Erwin Kraemer have incorporated many homeland accents into the inn. On the ornate staircase, exquisite dolls, prints of Swiss cities, a butter churn, and a hand-painted washtub along with the owners’ collection of coffee grinders and antique irons add interest.
The second floor hall opens up to a terrace providing a wonderful view of the pond. A 200-year-old Swiss clock, fireplaces, shimmering chandeliers, and oil paintings create a warm atmosphere.
The Inn at Perry Cabin
St. Michaels, MD
410-745-2200 or 800-722-2949
http://www.perrycabin.com
Perhaps the most famous country inn in the Chesapeake region, The Inn at Perry Cabin deserves its reputation as the grand dame of inns. Recently named the fifth best resort in the United States by Conde Nast Traveler magazine, it is situated on a magnificent cove off the Chesapeake Bay in the historic town of St. Michaels. Built by Samuel Purser Hambleton in the 1800s to serve as a cabin for Commodore Oliver Perry after the war of 1812, it was purchased and renovated by Sir Bernard Ashley, widower of Laura Ashley, in 1989. While steeped in history, it is elegant yet informal, possessing all the amenities of a luxurious twenty-first-century hotel including access by helicopter, an indoor pool and health complex, and luxurious accommodations. Decor is typically English, very Laura Ashley-ish with floral prints, stripes, and lots of ruffles throughout. Each room is different in attitude and style, but all contain a fine collection of English and American antiques creating an eclectic traditional English country house look and feel. Because the inn is located on 25 idyllic acres, wedding guests longing for solitude can stroll along the water’s edge or linger over afternoon tea on the patio. Others in need of activity can take a short stroll or bike ride into St. Michaels to explore shops and the Maritime Museum. Since wedding guests would all be enjoying an overnight stay at the inn, there’s plenty of time to play a round of golf at Queenstown Harbor Golf Links, take a sail on an authentic working skipjack, hop on a ferry for a brief ride to Oxford, or rent a power boat and explore the Chesapeake on their own.
Every wedding is prepared-to-order at the inn; Chef Mark Salter works with each bride and groom to create a one-of-a-kind menu and accompanying wines. While the price of weddings varies greatly, from $75 per person on upward, the average wedding at the inn with food and beverage is approximately $140 per person. The cost of wedding cakes also varies dramatically, from $7 per person to $25 per person, depending on the complexity.
Antrim 1844
Taneytown, MD
410-756-6812 or 800-858-1844
http://www.antrim1844.com
Historic Gettysburg and just a one-hour drive from Baltimore lies this splendid red brick Greek revival mansion. Built in 1844 on 24 magnificent acres, Antrim is a wonderful mix of Civil War history and twenty-first century luxury.Elegant Antrim 1844 has been meticulously restored by Dorothy and Richard Mollett, owners and innkeepers, who purchased the property in 1988 to fulfill their lifelong dream of running an inn. Prior to their purchase, it had been boarded up for sixty years. In addition to the manor house and outbuildings, this National Historic Trust property includes a charming gazebo, a pavilion for entertaining, tennis courts, a croquet lawn, a black-bottomed marbleite swimming pool, and European-style gardens with charming brick paths. A rose garden set around a fish pond with an enchanting fountain fills the air with intoxicating scents.Inside, a long foyer with a gracefully curved stairway spiraling three stories high welcomes guests as classical music unobtrusively plays in the background. The original hand-carved cherry banister still retains markings from its rich history, thanks to the proprietor’s request to never polish it. Fourteen-foot high ceilings, oriental rugs, a nineteenth century grandfather clock, a hundred-year-old Hepplewhite-style sideboard, period silver, marble fireplaces, and brass chandeliers create the ambiance of a time gone by. The old summer and slaves’ kitchens have been transformed into a restaurant called the Smoke House. There are twenty-two luxurious, distinctively different guest rooms, including several outbuildings which have been converted into individual suites with fireplaces and oversized whirlpool baths. The original icehouse, set in the formal gardens by the pool, has every bell and whistle including a king-size four-poster feather bed and whirlpool tub under a sky-lit ceiling, whimsically painted with clouds. A wood-burning fireplace plus personal CD player complete the ingredients for a romantic night. The Carriage Room in The Barn has a private deck overlooking a stream.
The Hope and Glory Inn
Irvington, VA
800-497-8228
http://www.hopeandglory.com
In the late 1800s it was a small elementary school on the property of an old Methodist church. Today, The Hope and Glory Inn, just a fifty-minute drive from the Richmond airport, is regarded by Tatler/Cunard Travel Guide as one of the 101 best hotels in the world, and was recently named one of the top ten romantic inns by American Historic Inns guidebooks.
Tucked behind a white picket fence, The Hope and Glory Inn is a unique oasis with authentic Victorian gardens featuring flowers and plants not seen in Virginia since the 1800s. Meant to remind you of your grandmother’s garden, it has the look of an old-fashioned garden, not contrived or overdesigned. The moon garden, which is in peak bloom in the evening, is perfect for bridal party picnics and late-night strolls.
The old classrooms have been transformed into one expansive columned lobby with intimate conversation settings. Accessories are whimsical and decor is frequently described as “tastefully playful.” Overstuffed furniture, lots of stars and stripes memorabilia, ships models, weathered birdhouses that have been transformed into coffee table bases or towel racks, and lots and lots of toys create a unique setting. It’s fun, eclectic, and irresistibly eccentric, the sort of place where guests can either put their feet up on the furniture or go black tie. Every bedroom, suite, and private guest cottage is individually styled. The inn delivers on its promises including the one claiming to be “hopelessly romantic.”
The nice thing about a wedding at Hope and Glory is that guests can either rock around the clock in a wicker rocker on the front porch, linger in a deep comfortable chair in one of many inviting reading nooks, take a five-minute walk to Carter’s Creek and the Rappahannock River, borrow a bicycle, or explore the shops and boutiques in nearby Irvington. There are plenty of charter boats for hire nearby and the inn’s own 42-foot catamaran is available for sunset cruises.
Watermark Cruises
Operated by Chesapeake
Marine Tours and Charters
Annapolis, MD
410-268-7601
http://www.watermarkcruises.com
If tying the knot aboard a fabulous yacht is your style, the Catherine Marie is the perfect venue for a one-of-a-kind wedding. There are other smaller yachts available, but few have the elegance and “curb appeal” of the 95-foot Catherine Marie with its soft, muted earth tones, lots of whimsical original art, richly appointed mahogany paneling and bars, curved stairways with lighted steps, and large, low windows offering expansive views.Granted, hosting just twenty-five people on a custom-designed motor yacht that can accommodate up to 240 people is downright decadent, but that is precisely what this fantasy wedding is all about. The wedding ceremony takes place dockside on the third deck offering the best view in town-360 degrees of unrestricted views of the Bay-followed by a four-hour cruise immediately after the ceremony. The deck is set with white chairs, creating an aisle for the grand entrance of the bride and her attendants. Sky and water serve as the backdrop as Captain Ron Gonzales performs the ceremony in his formal white uniform.
After the ceremony, guests descend the stairs to the second deck lounge for the champagne toast and butler-served hors d’oeuvres. Soft music plays in the background. After the cocktail hour, guests walk down another staircase to the main deck for a seated dinner with premium open bar for three hours followed by a delicious wedding cake. Fine linens, china, and fresh flowers complement the table settings. A small band or string quartet is nestled in an alcove in the bow. After dinner they switch from soft music to dance music and the party takes a lively turn. As the guests depart, the bride stands at the bow and tosses her bouquet.
The Tides
Irvington, VA
800-843-3746 or 804-438-5000
http://www.the-tides.com
After thirty years of friendly family competition, The Tides Inn (more formal) and the Tides Lodge (more casual) joined together to create the largest family-owned resort in the mid-Atlantic. Situated on the Rappahannock River and the Chesapeake Bay, the two properties now encompass more than 675 acres of land, 194 guest rooms, sixty-four marina slips, three swimming pools, two championship golf courses, seven tennis courts, ten yachts, and six restaurants. All guests can enjoy both properties-a two-minute boat shuttle enables guests to come and go as desired. Golf Digest has given the Golden Eagle Golf Course four stars and consistently places the course in the top ten in Virginia. This is not a small country inn but it has the ability to feel that way. It can be quiet and serene or full of activity, elegant and sophisticated or laid-back casual. To the Stephens family this is not a livelihood, it is home. Since 1947, three generations have continued the tradition and commitment to service.
White Swan Tavern
Chestertown, MD
410-778-2300
http://www.chestertown.com/whiteswan
http://www.chestertown.com/weddings
The White Swan Tavern is an authentically restored eighteenth century tavern. Fireplaces, peaceful ambiance, and colonial charm provide an intimate atmosphere, rich with history. As you enter the front door and pass through the foyer and out the back door, a picturesque brick courtyard is surrounded by a well-kept rose and herb garden and a beautiful meadow with terrace seating for outdoor functions. The two front rooms were furnished using known historic inventories as guides. The dining room features a handsome fireplace, antique Windsor chairs, and aged wooden tables. The inn is within walking distance to four churches as well as several shops and restaurants.
