The Ashford Estate is an impeccable venue for a full weekend wedding celebration.
Hosting all of your pre-wedding & wedding day events on the grounds of the same venue is a wonderful way to show your guests how much they’ve honored you with their attendance. By removing the element of transportation through the city; your guests will be more at ease. Allowing them to be fully present as they enjoy each touchpoint of your weekend wedding.
A full weekend of events in the days leading up to your wedding requires a venue with top-notch service & careful attention to detail. The days preceding your wedding will be filled with your welcome party, rehearsal dinner, and incoming guests. As your out-of-town guests slowly fill your beloved city, you’ll be spending those last few minutes communicating with your wedding planner about final details, and revised timelines. Your weekend wedding celebration will be underway.
Selecting the Ashford Estate
You’ll feel welcomed to this elegant and sophisticated country estate from the moment of your arrival. The journey to The Ashford Estate begins through a small wooded road over an antique steel bridge. You’ll enter the estate’s lion-guarded gates before ascending the crushed stone driveway. The appearance of the estate at the end of the drive is just as transportive as the journey. As the facade of the estate comes into view, you’ll feel as though the rest of the world has drifted away. Your weekend wedding celebration at this secluded estate will be enchanting in every way.
Are you looking for a Philadelphia area wedding photographer to capture the romantic & joyful moments of your weekend wedding celebration at The Ashford Estate?
You can inquire with me, here.
Overnight Accommodations
Do you have guests coming in from Manhattan, Philadelphia, or across the country? You’ll be pleased to know the Ashford Estate offers overnight accommodations. Also known as the “suites”. Taking a page out of the magnificent European countryside estates, the suites allow guests to feel as though they’ve been transported for the weekend. Each suite at the Ashford provides a luxury experience with top-tier amenities including rain showers, towel warmers, sweeping views, and of course all of the technological comforts of home.
Your Welcome Party at The Ashford Estate
Hosting a welcome party is a wonderful way to begin your weekend full of events. Additionally, it will be the very first touch point that your guests will encounter of your wedding weekend experience. When working with your planner on the details of your welcome party, ask them about added touch points to draw your guests into a fully immersive experience.
The Ashford Estate provides its Grand Conservatory for welcome parties as well as hosting a morning-after brunch. The space inside the Grand Conservatory is luxurious, providing floor-to-ceiling windows for views stretched across the lush grounds. Additionally, the space connects to the outdoor veranda. Here added seating awaits your guests for mixing, mingling, and enjoying distinctive cocktails. Depending on the time of year, The Ashford Estate may also offer its luscious gardens for your welcome party.
The Grounds of The Ashford Estate
While many couples view their engagement photoshoots as a way to celebrate their newfound commitment, a pre-wedding photoshoot is a moment to be present and enjoy those final seconds of being engaged. The anticipation of your wedding day will be within reach and the air of excitement will be thick all around you. The Ashford Estate is a landscape of over thirty acres of well-preserved grounds. Brimming with gorgeous gardens, ancient Pines, stone fountains, ornate wrought iron benches, and a grand drive entrance, The Ashford Estate is a picturesque backdrop for a pre-wedding photoshoot.
The Start of Your Wedding Day
The Ashford Estate provides a bridal parlor and a groom’s lounge for all couples who embrace a full wedding day experience with the venue. The bridal parlor, in essence, is just as opulent and ornate as a world-class salon. At first glance, the bridal parlor bears a striking resemblance to the interior of a salon. Styling chairs line the far wall, with every comfort needed for your hair and makeup team to work on you and your bridal party with ease.
Conversely, the groom’s lounge, located in the estate’s library, is a reflection of sophistication. Furnished with leather chairs and travertine floors, the groom’s lounge provides an ambiance of class and elegance. The groom and his groomsmen can fasten their cufflinks and perfect the Windsor knots of their ties as they prepare for the day.
Ceremony Details
To be joined in marriage on the grounds of The Ashford Estate is to recite your sacred vows in their Barn Chapel. Here, simplistic elegance comes to life in this restored ceremony space filled with high ceilings. Glowing sunlight flows gently through the floor-to-ceiling windows with the stone fireplace serving as a backdrop to your ceremony altar. The barn’s original tilt windows allow for a gentle summer breeze to envelope your guests as they witness the moment you are wed.
Your Wedding Reception at The Ashford Estate
By far, the true hidden gem of The Ashford Estate is the Grand Ballroom. The interior of the ballroom is an architectural marvel that encumbers the expectation of a wedding in a European chateau. Wood-carved arches connect to the ballroom columns which frame the focal point of the ballroom, a glass wall with a crystal chandelier hanging overhead. The view inside the ballroom is a spectacle of awe-inspiring wonder, but the space allows for views over the estate’s grounds as you dine and watch the sun slowly set against the horizon.
A True Culinary Experience With Merri-Makers
One of the many facets of drawing your guests into a weekend wedding celebration is the culinary experience. Your planner will wow your guests with thoughtful design & decor. But your fully immersive experience is tied together with an extensive menu. Custom-crafted signature drinks, delectable small bites, and an extraordinary gourmet feast are all included.
Catering at The Ashford Estate is provided exclusively by Merri-Makers. Jack McCann is the executive head Chef and president of Merri-Makers. Though the Merri-Makers resume boasts coveted events such as Governor James McGreevey’s inauguration dinner in 2002 (a culinary affair that served over 5,000 guests) Jack McCann will personally oversee operations for your weekend wedding celebration. Above all, he prides himself on the attention to detail witnessed through his creativity on a plate. To work with Jack & Merri-Makers for your weekend wedding menu is to receive personalized attention. You’ll be assured each detail has met the unique needs of your events. Jack loves to sit down with his couples for one on one menu tastings. He’s open to your feedback on ways you feel the menu can be improved.
Are you looking for a Philadelphia area wedding photographer to capture the romantic & joyful moments of your weekend wedding celebration?
You can inquire with me, here.
James McCann has a very modern approach to culinary experiences and loves to display thoughtful creativity. For example, on your wedding day, you can expect a beverage to greet your guests. Options include bubbly cucumber-infused sparkling water, lemon-scented iced tea, or hot apple cider. Welcome drink selections will be crafted in accordance with the season. As your guests enjoy their refreshments, brunch will be served in the bridal suite.
With your wedding ceremony complete, an enchanting cocktail hour awaits in the Main Estate. Your guests will enjoy butler-style hors d’oeuvres, a pasta station, or selections that embody the flavors of the Pacific Rim. At dinner, your culinary journey continues. The Ashford Estate serves their guests a distinguished plated dinner. Your guests will be provided with a selection of options. Including chive-encrusted salmon, a slow-roasted New York Strip, and vegetarian options, just to name a few. You can view a sample of Merri-Maker’s online menu for your weekend wedding event, here. At the end of dinner service, you and your guests will enjoy a lively night of dancing.
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