Chai & Alicia's Rustic Fall Wedding- Beech Springs Farm (Part 1)

We've had the privilege of attending 3 weddings, 3 weekends in a row this Fall, and I continue to be so impressed and amazed by the creativity, the love, the time and the planning that go into every wedding detail, to make each day so unique and so...you. 

Our friends Chai & Alicia got married in late September at Beech Springs Farm in Orrtanna, Pennsylvania (about 15 minutes from Gettysburg). It was rustic, beautiful, fun, relaxed, and full of warmth. The weather was perfect, the venue was sweet, and the time spent together was priceless. Take a trip into their wedding weekend, thanks to Melissa McClain Photography and the bride & groom!  Watch for the purple font for Alicia's insight and inspiration.

The magnetic, postcard-sized Save the Date 

The beautiful invitation

The welcome bag for hotel guests: honey from the farm, a few Starbursts, water, homemade caramel pretzels, a map & a couple Gettysburg pamphlets and a weekend itinerary

The entire wedding weekend weather was perfect. Warm days with hints of Fall in the air and chilly but refreshing evenings. It was the ideal backdrop for Chai & Alicia's outdoor wedding. Upon arriving at the farm, guests parked in a field lot, then walked through this garden and gate toward the large Norway Maple tree, where the ceremony took place. 

I had a chance to speak with Jayne (the owner of the farm) the day of the wedding for a few minutes, and she told me that when she and her husband moved in and bought the farm years ago, she imagined their grandchildren getting married in the backyard one day. Last year, they converted their barn into an event space and decided to dedicate one day per weekend to a wedding or event on their property. With the garden, the farm, the view, the house (where bridesmaids and the bride get ready), the small groom's house (an air conditioned, relaxing space where the guys can get ready and hang out before a wedding, that is located within the garden), that gorgeous tree, the bonfire area (yes, really!), the sweet owners who were involved and present throughout the weekend and the countless spots for picture perfection, I was amazed by this venue over and over. Note: It's called Beech Springs Farm because there are beech trees behind the springhouse that are estimated to be over 200 years old. With lots of beech trees and springs on what was once a 350 acre farm, the history and beauty of this land are enticing, entrancing and enthralling. 

 I'm not sure whether any of Jayne's grandchildren have gotten married yet, and whether their weddings took place on that farm, but I know that our friends were lucky to have found such a wonderful space for their big day!

Oh, by the way, if you know someone who is on the lookout for unique rustic wedding ideas, check out Beech Springs Farm's pinterest page!  

Why Beech Springs Farm for you?

We really loved our venue.  It was different than any other venue we had been to.  The owner was super nice, it was personal and they take really great care of it because it is also their home.  We loved, loved LOVED that as part of the venue we got a wedding "day of" coordinator, even though she did a lot more than just the day of.  Our wedding venue does not advertise - they do not go to wedding shows and they only book by word of mouth.  We were so lucky to book them, because they are now booked into 2016!

A glimpse of the barn, and the dress

The bride, groom and wedding party- sleek and sophisticated!  

What Advice Can You Offer to Future Brides & Grooms?

Try not to stress!! Easier said than done, but the day of, just let everything go the way it's going to go!  It's impossible not to stress during the planning, but on our wedding day, I made a conscientious effort not to get stressed about the schedule, and try to focus on the fact that I was marrying an amazing guy!

Our other tip would be to like your vendors and trust your gut. If you meet with someone and their price is right but you don't like them, you won't like what they do on your wedding day.  Also prioritize a few things and make sure those things are what you spend your money on.  We wanted great photos, and we made sure to get a photographer whose work we loved.  We prioritized photos, catering, and the venue.  I would say, don't settle on the things you want - just prioritize!!

(My other tip would be to elope and save your money and stress!  Go on an awesome vacation!)

Thanks again to Melissa McClain Photography for permission to share these gorgeous photos 

(notice her watermark on some, mixed in with my amateur shots). 

Two frames were suspended from the tree with a real vase of flowers hanging in the middle of each. Since it was hanging by a thread (a piece of fishing line?), the vase turned in the breeze, and it was such a creative touch! 

Cocktail hour was held outside on the lawn between the garden and the barn

Giant Jenga (which the bride's dad made!), a bean bag toss and bocce were all available and used by guests.

Bartenders provided wine and beer, servers butlered a few hors d'eouvres and a beautiful station of antipasto, fruits, veggies and spreads was set up outside (see vendor reviews below for photos). 

Ready for the reception? Check out Part 2 of this post here! 

How to Get Out and Make a Timely Appearance at The After-Party

In addition to writing Wediquette, I am also a contributor to another incredible events blog called The Event Crashers. A few months ago, as the last wedding season was wrapping up, I thought back on what was on my mind as a recurring concern/issue that would be pretty easy to fix with some planning, and wrote a post called 'A Planning Step Not to Skip'. It just came to mind and I wanted to share the content with Wediquette readers too, so here it is. If you're planning a wedding or party for which you're bringing items that will need to be brought out at the end, you need a plan for them to ensure that they--and you-- get out in a timely manner, even in the midst of all of your end-of-party tasks and goodbyes. Check it out, share it and be sure to browse The Event Crashers blog sometime!  

Last wedding season, I saw a number of brides & grooms essentially ‘stranded’ at the reception venue at the end of the night, long after the party ended.  This should never happen. Whether the guest shuttle ran out of room and it took a long time to get back for them, or the bride and groom weren’t quite ready when the last shuttle left and then waited until it (hopefully) returned for them, it was sad to me that they were sitting around waiting, when they could’ve been enjoying the after-party with friends and family.  While you’re planning, consider two very important end-of-reception points to help you wrap everything up and get out the door as quickly (yet efficiently) as possible:

 1) If your venue does not allow you to leave all of the things that you, your florist and your guests brought in (decorations, centerpieces, guest book, parent/grandparent wedding pictures, toasting glasses, gifts, cards, etc.), you must have a plan to get them out at the end of the night. Although you and your parents may think you’ll be able to do it, keep in mind that you’re going to be saying goodbye to all of your guests, taking care of tips (consider asking a parent, your best man or maid of honor to deliver these for you) and payments (try to get as many of these taken care of in advance as possible) and getting your own things together. You’re not going to want to worry about all of the ‘stuff’ that you need to take with you. Have a plan for where it’s going and ask one or two people who are willing/able to help out if they would take charge on those things.  Even if you are able to leave most things, it’s likely that your venue will not let you leave gifts and cards overnight. Have someone reliable who can take care of those, or take them yourselves. If you’ll be leaving for your honeymoon right away, consider sending gifts and cards home with a set of parents or siblings, to be picked up when you return.

Flowers- Communicate with your florist about what will happen at the end of your event. Sometimes, they use vases that can go home with guests. Sometimes, they need the stands for the flower arrangements back. Be sure to communicate with your guests (or have your band/dj announce) that they can take centerpieces home. Otherwise, you may end up with lots of beautiful flower arrangements that you’ll have to transport out. In any case, the centerpieces should be removed from the guest tables as soon as possible, to allow the staff members at your venue to clear the tables and in some cases, prepare for another event.

If you’re getting ready at the venue in a bridal suite- You and your girls will have clothing, shoes, beauty supplies, purses, hangers a music docking station and more that have accumulated throughout the day. My biggest tip to bridal parties as they arrive at our venue is to have each girl keep her things in one place, and to have everything ready to go before they even leave the room for the ceremony or reception. The day will fly from that point on and at the end of the night, in a blur, they’ll be able to just grab what they need and go. Even better, if they have a car at the venue, they can bring their things out before the excitement picks up and not have to worry about collecting it all at the end of the night. If you’re looking for a good gift, consider tote bags or duffels with each girl’s name so they can literally keep everything in one spot.

If you are able to pick things up the next day, gather a few helpers- it’ll go faster that way and be more fun!

2) Have a plan for how the bride and groom will get out, and have a timeline in mind. If you’re staying overnight at the hotel where your guests will be, let them know where and when everyone can gather for the after-party. Then get there as soon as possible! The longer you wait, the fewer people will be around when you arrive. Whether you plan to hop on the shuttle or get a ride with parents/friends, know what you’re doing and don’t ‘miss the train’! If you’re going home or heading right to the airport for your honeymoon, consider asking someone to drive you, or better yet, renting a limo. Plan so that if you are the last ones out of the venue, it’s only by a few minutes. Then relax and enjoy the party!