VENUE VISIT

As every bride and groom know, choosing just the right venue is one of the most important decisions in getting the planning process going. The venue should reflect the style of wedding you have decided on. For instance, you would not have a formal wedding in a country atmosphere, or a casual western affair in a ballroom. So, when I found out about two new venues opening in our area, I decided to do site visits to assess them for myself and my clients.

My first visit was yesterday afternoon. Here is my brief assessment: Honalee Farm Event Center is located just west of Linder Road, off State street. On this winter afternoon it is difficult to imaging the lush green lawns with pots of fragrant blooms scattered about and the pond with its fountain spraying and the summer sun refracting the water droplets into a thousand points of colors with large shade trees giving just the right balance between shade and sun. If this is what you are wanting for your summer ceremony, this would be ideal for you. The guests enter through a gate just for events, loop around the pond and park in an area tucked away out of sight of your event. There is, however,an extra pad devoted to the dropping off of special needs guests immediately adjacent to the building or the ceremony site. The guests will enter via winding path, crossing over a small creek which spills into the pond. The building itself offers seating for up to 100 guests comfortably inside. The large patio accessible through two large double doors on the east side, open to reveal an oversized patio which does double duty as reception or dancing under the stars, and in inclement weather is a tent pad. The building has a commercial size kitchen, storage and prep areas. There is a beverage area with ample space for ice and all other beverages. Oversized windows can be opened up completely on east and west sides to allow welcome evening breezes on those hot summer nights. Whether inside or outside, the state of the art sound system will accommodate your every musical wish, as do the double flat screens mounted inside the building. There are plans underway for more improvements to this facility which will only enhance your experience.

If you allow yourself enough time and planning, even with any size budget, this may be a perfect fit for you. Check them out for yourself and call for a tour: www.honaleefarm.com .