October Highgrove Weddings

Our Saturday wedding this past weekend turned out so perfect... even though the weather forecast was not so perfect. Hurricane Sandy was passing by on the coast, but even though rain was predicted all day, we didn't have a drop out at Highgrove-- we were so thankful!
Jaclyn and Patrick put together a beautiful event for their guests, beginning was a welcome table of Hot Apple Cider on the front porch as their guests arrived. Everyone then made their way outside to the ceremony, where the wind was fierce, but the lovely Pashmina shawls that the bride provided for her female guests kept all warm. The ceremony was overlooking the lake and colorful fall trees-- Jaclyn looked beautiful in her Princess style dress! Cocktail hour was held on the upper patio where guests were treated to our Crab Cakes with Aioli, Beef Tenderloin Bruschetta, and Coconut Shrimp with Pepper Sauce. There was a photo booth inside the house during cocktail hour where guests could take a fun picture to add to the guest book.
The parents of the bride welcomed everyone to the reception and toasted the bride and groom before dinner began. Dinner was served buffet style and featured our Fall Spinach Salad with berries and walnuts, and then our Braised Short Ribs with Cheese Grit Cakes, Pecan Crusted Bourbon Chicken, Creamy Garlic Roasted Mashed Potatoes, and Green Beans Almondine. Wine service was poured with dinner as well so guests could stay seated while they ate-- a nice touch! Following dinner the band began playing and kept the crowd dancing before dessert. Following the cake cutting, our famous Krispy Kreme Flambe Donut Station opened, complete with our Homemade Maple Ice Cream and Himalayan Pink Sea Salt-- always a hit with the guests! Sparklers saw the couple off at the end of the night into the amazing antique getaway car. What a great way to end a month of fabulous weddings at Highgrove! Food and Drink: Highgrove, Linens: CE Rentals, Flowers: Flueressence, Band: The Shakedown, Cake: Sweet Memories

The wedding ceremony-- it was a bit windy, but beautiful!

The start of the buffet 

Guest book table

The bar on the patio

The seating charts- creative idea!

The ballroom looked beautiful!

The wedding cake, bridal pictures and the groom's navy sword

Part of the band during cocktail hour

October Highgrove Weddings

We held two gorgeous weddings this last weekend in October, and it turned out to be nice weather for both events... despite the forecast! We were so thankful to have two dry days in a row and I know our couples were so relieved as well.
Friday night we celebrated with Chloe and Karl as they celebrated their marriage with 60 of their closest friends and family. It was a quaint affair but beautiful and wonderful just the same! The couple shared their vows in a brief service overlooking the lake where the fall trees looked amazing with color. The upper patio held cocktail hour where guests dined on Carolina Pulled Pork on Corn Sticks with Frazzled Collards, Fresh Fruit Cosmos, and our Goat Cheese Stuffed Mushrooms. Following a relaxed time on the patio, the guests made their way into the ballroom which was inviting with silver, oranges, whites, and creams in the tablecloths and flowers. One very creative idea the bride had was the incorporate old books into the decor as the table numbers. She also included an antique typewriter at the guest book table and old luggage from her and the groom's family. Family Style dinner was served and included our Fall Spinach Salad with Berries and Candied Walnuts, Poached Salmon, Pan Seared Chicken Breast with Marsala Wine Sauce, Roasted New Potatoes with Rosemary and our Baby Carrots in Vanilla Bean Butter Sauce. After dinner, the dance floor was open for a while before the champagne and cake were served. It was a lovely event and we wish Chloe and Karl all the best! Food and Drink: Highgrove, Linens: CE Rentals, Flowers: English Garden, Cake: Cinda's Creative Cakes, DJ: Island Sound, Photographer: Tara Parker

The guest tables with book table numbers

Guest book table with antique typewriter

The ceremony

The cake was very beautiful with hand piped design work

The head table with more books!

The ballroom

Ballroom

Lanterns outside with candles- beautiful at night

October 20 Highgrove Wedding

So sorry for the delay in getting pictures from last weekend's wedding! We actually had two wonderful weddings, but below are the pictures and details from Lindsay and Tom's special day on Saturday.

Lindsay did a fabulous job of thinking up every little detail for her wedding day, which made the party a wonderful time from beginning to end. The weather was absolutely perfect as she and Tom exchanged their vows under our garden pergola as 155 family and friends watched on. The flowers handing from the pergola were gorgeous, and the color scheme was the perfect fit for the bride's vision of a French Rustic feel. After the beautify ceremony complete with live violins, guests enjoyed cocktail hour on the patio. They dined on our display of Mini Cuban Sandwiches served with Rum and Coke, along with our Fried Oysters served in the shell, and Grilled Chicken and Steak Kabobs. Guests had fun with the personalized corn hole boards on the side patio and hand made picture "photo booth" that the bride made. Following cocktail hour, the party moved into our ballroom where guests were invited to dine "Strolling" style with a Salad Station, Savory Crepe Station, and also a Carving Station. After dinner, the live band took center stage and kept everyone dancing the night away. Cake and champagne were served and then sparklers saw the happy couple off at the end of the night. It was a creative, thoughtful, and beautiful affair-- congrats to Lindsay and Tom! Food and Drink: Highgrove, Linens: CE Rentals, Flowers/Centerpieces: Flowers on Broad St. and Table of Contents, Cake: Sweet Memories, Music: Empty Pocket

The sweet ceremony

The guest seating cards

Corn hole--their was a guy board opposite of this one

The Cubans with Rum and Coke

The bride's father made this wooden shelf to display memory candles and pictures

The colors were navy with yellows, whites, and gold

The very pretty wedding cake

The crepe station-- savory for dinner and then sweet for dessert

The grilled Chicken and Steak Kabobs

The delicious Fried Oysters

Fall Wedding at Highgrove

What an absolutely amazing weekend for two beautiful weddings at Highgrove. The weather was autumn perfection for our two couples who celebrated their special days with us. Below are the details and pictures from our Saturday wedding.

Our Saturday couple did a fantastic job of putting together an amazing event for their friends and family-- and we were so happy to be a part. Guests were greeted on the front porch with a welcome mocktail-- our delicious Pineapple Spritzer served in champagne flutes, before heading out to the back lawn for the ceremony. The happy couple exchanged their vows overlooking the lake with simple, yet sweet grapevine balls hanging from the pergola. The bridesmaids dresses were fabulous- hot pink halter top tea length gowns-- fun and festive! For cocktail hour, the party headed up to our patio where everyone loved the Aviator Bar set-up, complete with cocktail bar chairs and snacks to go along with the beer and wine. In addition, the guests were invited to try out two signature drinks-- Rum and Coke and an Apple Cider Martini-- how perfect for Fall. The appetizers featured were our Crab Cakes with Aioli Sauce, Fresh Fruit Cosmos with Key Lime Sauce, and our Carolina Pulled Pork on Corn Cakes with Collards. Dinner was held in our garden ballroom which was absolutely stunning. The linens, flowers, and uplighting all worked together to create a warm and beautiful room for the party. Guests dined on our buffet selection of Autumn Spinach Salad, Cabernet Braised Short Ribs with White Cheddar Grit Cakes, Pecan Crusted Bourbon Chicken, Risotto with Leeks, and Seasonal Vegetables. Following the champagne toast and cake cutting, the bride and groom treated their guests to a candy table in the house. It was gorgeous event from start to end and we wish both of our couples all the best! Food and Drink: Highgrove, Linens: CE Rentals, Cake: Sweet Memories, Flowers: Family, DJ and Uplighting: Island Sound

The ballroom with the couple's monogram

The wedding cake

The flowers were so beautiful!

Flowers in pumpkins

The place cards 

The Aviator Bar

More of the Aviator Bar

The bride's dress was stunning

Wine at the bar

A little dark-- but the whole bar set-up

October 6 Highgrove Wedding

Saturday was a glorious day for an afternoon brunch wedding at Highgrove! It is always exciting to start the day off early preparing for a wedding and with a menu like the bride and groom had chosen, we knew it was going to be fabulous!

The bride and groom exchanged their vows with the bright sun overhead as 100 friends and family watched on. The bride looked radiant in her dress and the couple beamed as they walked up the aisle together as newly marrieds! Cocktail hour was held on the patio and featured our Crab Cakes with Aioli Sauce, Cheese Display with Imported and Domestic cheese, and also our Handmade Cheese Straws. Champagne and Mimosas were butler passed, along with Juices, Lemonade, Tea, and Coffee selections. The party headed into the ballroom for brunch, beginning with baskets of Homemade Scones and Mini Muffins (all made from scratch). The buffet inside the house welcomed guests with 2 tables of food-- Assorted Frittatas, Grits, Hand Cut Home Fries, Fresh Fruit Salad, Baked Blueberry Walnut French Toast, Carved Ham, Buttermilk Biscuits, and Crisp Smoked Bacon-- it was quite a spread! The guests headed out to the dance floor for a while before the champagne toast and cake cutting, and as a special treat for the guests, the bride and groom presented our Handmade Whoppie Pie table with Pumpkin Whoppies filled with Maple Cream Cheese and also Chocolate Whoppies filled with Mint Buttercream Filling. A delicious wedding from beginning to end! Food and Drink: Highgrove, Linens: CE Rentals, Flowers: Flowers on Broad St., Cake: Ambrosia, DJ: A Perfect Mix Productions