Over night transformations are somewhat exhausting but exciting at the same time!
Dear readers - its Sunday around noon and the barn is polished and almost ready for Karen and Mark's wedding.
And there were 6 tables on our multi-tiered stage - perhaps the most ever! Karen and mark were seated at the small table in the centre - with of course close friends and family all around. Having this many tables on the stage allowed for a large dance floor to be available all evening. This was necessary because there were plans to have dancing before during and after dinner. I should mention that Karen and Marks family filled our Inn - for us this made for an even stronger connection with the families - we do hope many more of our wedding parties take advantage of our new accommodations - thank you Karen and Mark. But back to the wedding. Little Ikea vases were used on each table for flowers - like these placed on the end of our bar.
As folks filed in they found their seating by picking up a cookie - names were stamped on each one.
So lets go back to the wedding service. Conducted by our dear friend Pat Hacker, Karen and Mark got married in the sheep shed.
out of the sun guests enjoyed a breeze here. After the service a signature drink (part of our all-inclusive beverage package) pink champagne with blueberries was served in champagne glasses and bubbly grape juice for those underage guests was also served.
Dinner was served with a range of Sandbanks wines as part of the all inclusive package Karen and Mark selected.
and then there was dancing - and more dancing until the late night snack of cakes and cookies and tarts and cupcakes and our lemon and raspberry gelato. The next photo is of the incredible range of desserts lovelingly prepared by family members. I watched them working at this gesture of love and was taken by how much effort was expended - I am sure this was not lost on Karen and Mark - their families are clearly behind them 100%.
Final presentation of these (and many other treats) was on a much prettier table - this was just their assembly area. Okay so there we are - Karen and Mark headed off to Niagara Falls for a few days and just got back to us today with this lovely comment.
'Every single one of our guests said:
1) it was a location that was straight out of the movies,
2) it was the best wedding they had ever been to and,
3) that they had never been to a wedding so unique and special...'
Thank you Mark and Karen - it was indeed our pleasure.