Tag Archives: unique wedding venues

Wedding Venue: Dunton Hot Springs

by on December 15, 2011

Dunton Hot Springs

52068 West Fork Road #38
Dolores, CO 81323
(970) 882-4800
View their website

Average Cost: $45,000

*Average cost for THIS venue is calculated by figuring a 44-person guest list for a Friday/Saturday night stay during their Winter/Spring low season, including all meals and accommodations for you and your guests. Transportation to venue, entertainment, additional decorations, and flowers are not included. Average price includes gratuity and state sales tax. Price is rounded up to the nearest thousand.

How it breaks down:

Facility Rental Fee: A “Town Buy-Out” will give you and your guests exclusive access to the entire property.

The rates are as follows…

Summer/Fall: $25,000/night with a three-night minimum

Winter/Spring: $19,000/night with a two-night minimum

What’s included in the fee: All meals, beverages, alcohol (except for reserve list wines and champagne), and lodging. Guests have access and use of the entire property, which includes private hiking trails, mountain bikes, river access, pool, screening room, fitness center, and yoga studio.

Photo by Max Wagner

View more photos here

Accommodations: There are 13 luxury cabins on the property that accommodate up to 44 guests total. That means that some cabins can hold up to 4 people.

 

One of the 13 cabins at Dunton Hot Springs

The Well House cabin has a private hot spring and cold plunge.

 

Food: The chef will customize all menus with you. Below is a sample weekend menu:

Friday Night

BBQ BUFFET on the fire: House Smoked Ribs, Smoked Pork Loin, Smoked Flank Steak, Smoked Chicken Quarters, Grilled Ginger Brined Corn on the Cob, Fresh Bread (for sandwiches if desired, Smoked Fig & Tarragon BBQ Sauce, Braised Swiss Chard & Salt Pork, Grilled Jalapeño Corn Bread, Baby Mixed Green Salad, Grilled Plumb Pie

Fish Option – Grilled Grouper and grilled vegetable skewers

**Smores at the fire**

Saturday

Breakfast 7:30AM – 9:30AM BUFFET

Grilled Eggs Benedict, Local Smoked Seafood’s, Bacon & Sausage, Soft Scrambled Eggs, Lavender French Toast, Assorted Fresh Muffins & Pastries, Fresh Yogurt & Homemade Granola

*** Lots of berries / fresh fruit***

NOON BUFFET (Casual seating around saloon & Deck):

Course One – Smoked Chicken & Whole Grain Noodle Soup

Course Two – Grilled Greyer Cheese & Heirloom Tomato Sandwich, Heirloom Tomato Bisque, Organic Baby Green Salad,

Course Three – Homemade Coconut Ice-Cream Sandwich, Chocolate-Chip Cookies

(Wedding) 4:00PM Cocktail Hour – Handcrafted Cocktails and Passed Appetizers:

Petite passed appetizers that compliment Dinner menu (not too heavy as dinner will be substantial)

5:00PM Plated Dinner:

Course One – Wild Mushroom Dark Chocolate Bisque

Course Two – Chilled Petit Green Pea, Watercress & Bing Cherry Salad, Parmesan Mint Aioli, Rendered Pancetta

Course Three –Roasted Pink Salt Foam Encrusted Texan Bison Striploin, Roasted Red Beets, Grilled Wild Asparagus, Bison Couscous

Or

Course Three –Roasted golden Tile Fish with a fresh herb & vanilla bean butter sauce

Or

Course Three –Fontina Cheese Risotto Croquettes

Course Four – Tiered Wedding Cake

 Sunday

Breakfast – Brunch 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM BUFFET:

Roasted Beef Top Round, Roasted Ham, Cheese Quiche, Local Smoked Meats, Bacon & Sausage, Soft Scrambled Eggs, Root Vegetable Hash, Black Berry Waffles, Assorted Fresh Muffins & Pastries, Fresh Yogurt & Homemade Granola

*** Lots of berries / fresh fruit***

NOTE: Meals (with the exception of your reception) are served family style in the Saloon.  Breakfast is served from 8am to 10am, Lunch is at 1pm, and in the evening, cocktails and appetizers are served in the Saloon at 6:30pm with dinner between 7:30pm-8:00pm.

Photo by Max Wagner

View more photos here

Where does the actual ceremony/reception take place? Weather permitting, most couples take advantage of the property’s expansive outdoor space for the ceremony. The reception takes place in the Dance Hall. After dinner, guests are taken to the adjoining Saloon for cake, and the Dance Hall is set up for…you guessed it, dancing!

Extras:

  • Reserve list wine and champagne
  • All traditional appetizers such as cheese platters are included, but a passed hors d’oeuvres can be added for  $10.00/pp.
  • Market price for special request food items
  • Wedding cake, flowers, officiant, additional decor not included
Interesting fact: In the state of Colorado, anyone can conduct the ceremony so long as the marriage license in order (which must be obtained in the State).

natural hot springs bath house

More Stats:

Space Type: Inside/Outside options.

Size: Up to 44 guests can stay on the property.

Food Service Type: Buffet/seated options

How Will Grandma Get There? She stays on the property! Woo-hoo! Guests fly into one of several airports in the area, which include Telluride and Cortex. From there you can arrange for the resort to pick you up, or you can rent a car to explore the area.

Party On!

  • Since you’re buying out the entire property, you can party as late as your little heart desires.

The Report:

Located in the San Juan Mountains of the Colorado Rockies, across from Telluride (about 1 hour away), Dunton Hot Springs is a ghost town turned luxury wilderness resort. The 5-star cabins and spa include such cool features as private hot springs and cold plunges. Guests at the resort have access to hiking, fishing, yoga, and of course the hot springs. The chef sources all local food, including lamb and fruit and vegetables from their own garden.

Woman Getting Married Says:

Um, can I go here right now? This place looks amazing, and I love the idea of having your own resort for your family and friends for your wedding. Of course, that kind of luxury doesn’t come cheap. However, I actually don’t think it’s as crazy as the price sounds. Think of it like this: The price includes every meal and accommodations for your guests. If you get married in the Winter/Spring when it’s $19,000/night and have guests stay two nights, that’s $45,000 if you include tax and gratuity. It would not be unheard of to have guests contribute $300/night or more for their accommodations, since meals are included. If you recouped $300/night per cabin (there’s 13), that would be $7,800 off (you could add on tax for each cabin to bring it up higher than that). That brings you somewhere in the neighborhood of $37,000 for the wedding (minus, of course, flowers and photographers, etc.). It’s expensive, but it’s not astronomical considering every meal is paid for and you basically have an entire luxury resort to yourselves. And more power to you if you have the budget to cover the guests! If that’s the case, can I come to your wedding?

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Wedding Venue: Blackberry Farm

by on September 7, 2011

Blackberry Farm

1471 West Millers Cove Road
Walland, Tennessee 37886
(865) 380-2260
View their website

Average Cost: $78,000

*Average cost for THIS venue is calculated by figuring a 78-person guest list for a Saturday night ceremony/reception in Mid-Season using the venue’s Main House wedding package and charging your guests $350/night for two nights in 39 rooms. Transportation to venue, entertainment, additional decorations, and flowers are not included. Average price includes gratuity and state sales tax on meals and guest rooms. Price is rounded up to the nearest thousand.

How it breaks down:

There are several packages you can choose from, listed below. They all include two-nights accommodations for you and your guests, as well as all their meals and non-alcoholic beverages for the entire stay (including the reception dinner and morning after brunch), and event coordination by Blackberry Farm. Since all package prices already include two-nights of accommodations for your guests, what you would do is have guests write you a check for their rooms (Guests cannot pay the hotel separately–packages must be paid by you to Blackberry Farm). The exact rate you choose to charge guests per night is up to you…the Farm suggest somewhere around $300 as an example, though typically rooms at the resort for hotel guests start at $395 – $445/night without the meal package, and $745/night for the traditional “full American plan,” which includes meals, snacks, and non-alcoholic beverages for hotel guests. So, to figure out how much the package would end up costing you, deduct the price for the guest rooms. For example, the Farmstead wedding option, below, includes 20 guest rooms. If you charge $350/night per room for two nights, that would make the Mid Season package $56,000 instead of $70,000. With that said, it’s kind of a pain in the butt to have guests pay you, and be out of pocket all that money. Also keep in mind you’d be paying for guests’ arrival night dinner, next-day lunch, snacks, and morning-after brunch in addition to the wedding ceremony and reception. Sure, you love your guests, but that breaks down to a whopping $1,400/person!

 

NOTE: Low Season is January-March, Mid Season is April-September, and High Season is October-December. 

Wedding Packages at Blackberry Farm

A Farmstead Wedding:

  • Up to 40 guests
  • 20 guest rooms
  • Exclusive use of Heirloom Garden and The Barn for wedding ceremony and reception
  • $65,000/$70,000/$150,000 (low/mid/high seasons)

A Main House Wedding:

  • Up to 78 guests
  • 39 guest rooms
  • Exclusive use of Main House and Main House Lawn and Veranda for wedding ceremony and reception
  • $90,000/$105,000/$200,000 (low/mid/high seasons)

Full Property Wedding:

  • Up to 124 guests
  • 62 guest rooms
  • Choice of wedding ceremony and reception sites
  • $140,000/$163,000/$355,000 (low/mid/high seasons)

Food: Every meal for you and your guests staying at the hotel is included in the package price (breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, morning after brunch). For the reception, a seated, pre-selected four course menu is included and can be customized with the culinary team, based on seasonal and available ingredients. Offsite guests not staying at Blackberry Farm are welcome to eat for the following additional price:

Meal
Price
Breakfast
$25
Lunch
$25
Dinner
$125
Brunch
$45

 

Important Note: Alcohol and additional wedding vendors (photography, floral, live entertainment, etc.) are not included in the package price. The package price DOES  include tax and service charge on the guestrooms and meals.

More Stats:

Space Type: Inside/Outside options. Location options (depending on package) include Main House, Main House Lawn, Veranda, Heirloom Garden, and Barn.

Size: Up to 124 guests. For parties over 124, they also offer a sister property, Dancing Bear Lodge.

Food Service Type: Buffet/seated options

How Will Grandma Get There? Ideally Grandma would get to stay in one of the guest rooms assigned to your package. For guests not able to stay on property, other cute inns are available nearby, such as the Butterfly Gap Retreat (hey, wasn’t that a bad movie with Ashton Kutcher?) and the Richmont Inn.

The Report:

Blackberry Farm is indeed a farm, with their own heirloom produce , honey, farm-fresh eggs, and artisan cheeses culled right from the property. But make no doubt about it, there’s nothing rustic about it. Located in Walland, TN, Blackberry Farm and it’s 4,200 acres in the Smoky Mountains was recently rated the Number 1 Resort in the Continental U.S. and Canada for 2011 by Travel + Leisure magazine. That’s quite a feat.

Woman Getting Married Says:

This place is gorgeous. I mean, look at it. It’s the perfect posh country retreat. And of course it’s going to be expensive, considering how pricey their regular hotel rates are. HOWEVER, I really think they are doing themselves an injustice by making you pay for not only the guest rooms, but also every guest meal. Unless you’re Kim Kardashian and you can afford to fly in your whole family AND pay for their rooms AND every meal, this is out of reach for most of us. Since they’ve recently introduced a ‘Build Your Own Experience’ pricing option for regular hotel guests, where you can just pay the room’s base price and add-on dining options, activities and events as you see fit, maybe they’ll eventually do the same for wedding guests as well. Otherwise, I don’t know any bride who wants to pay that much per person.

For more images of Blackberry Farm, click here.

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Wedding Venue: Grove Isle

by on August 4, 2011

The Ship's Deck @ Grove Isle. Photo by Serendipity Studios

Grove Isle Hotel and Spa

4 Grove Isle Drive
Miami, FL 33133-4125
(305) 858-8300
View their website

Average Cost: $27,000

*Average cost for THIS venue is calculated by figuring a 125-person guest list for a Saturday night ceremony/reception using the venue’s all-inclusive wedding package (with no additional add-ons). Transportation to venue, entertainment, additional decorations, and flowers are not included. Average price includes gratuity and state sales tax. Price is rounded up to the nearest thousand.

How it breaks down:

Ceremony Fee: $1,500 for lower pool deck. Lower-priced option includes the Fire Pit for $500

Grove Isle’s Wedding Package includes:

  • One-Hour Cocktail Reception with one hour open bar
  • 6 Butler passed hors d’oeuvres
  • Four Course Dinner
  • Champagne Toast
  • Wine Service with Dinner
  • Four Hour Open Bar (plus the one above)
  • Complimentary Suite for the Bride and Groom
  • Discounted hotel rates for wedding guests

Equipment included in package is:

  • Cocktail Tables for the Reception
  • 72” Round Tables for the Dinner
  • White Floor Length Linens and White Napkins
  • Hotel Parquet Dance Floor, Staging Up to 12X32
  • Hotel 60” or 72” Round Banquet Tables
  • Hotel Banquet Chairs (They will rent Chivari chairs for your for $4/each, which isn’t a terrible price. I would make the upgrade if you can.)

Food:

  • 6 Butler Passed Hors d’oeuvres, such as Beef Carpaccio with Roasted Portabella, Parmesan, and Thyme
  • 1 Appetizer, such as Blue Crab Cakes with a Tropical Mango Relish, Avocado,Pineapple-Citrus Frisee
  • 1 Salad, such as Steakhouse Iceberg Wedge Roquefort with Grape Tomatoes, Red Onion, Bacon
  • Entree (see below)
  • Choice of two sides, such as Cranberry Almond Quinoa and Root Vegetable Fondants
  • Wedding Cake ($5.00 per person cake cutting fee will apply to any outside cakes brought in)
  • Coffee, teas

Your total price per person will depend on your entree selection. Examples include:

$155: Herb Crusted Salmon with Spring Onion, Fava, Fingerling & Mushroom Fricassee, Truffle Lemon Jus Soy

$215: Beef Filet & Sea Bass with Crushed Yukon, Braised Leeks, Glazed Carrots,Roasted Asparagus, Sauce Bordelaise, Ver Jus

Notes:

  • For a sit down dinner, you may give your guests a choice of 2 entrées. You will need to have your guests preselect and supply the Hotel with the count 5 days prior tothe dinner, as well as place cards indicating the entrée selection for each guest.
  • Add-ons to the standard package include stations (such as a Paella one for $18/pp), and upgraded appetizers

 

Photo by Serendipity Studios

See more photos from this photographer here. I’m really liking their stuff!

Beverage:

  • Premium bar package is included, with spirits such as Absolut and Jack Daniels. House wines are also included and there is service during dinner.
  • A ‘super premium’ upgrade is available for an additional $15/pp, with brands such as Grey Goose and Chivas
  • Champagne toast included (they currently offer Kenwood Sparkling Wine…which just sounds like it’s ‘meh’. I would ask if you can do a prosecco or something comparable in price)
  • You can opt to extend your bar past the 5-hour included limit for an additional $12/per person per hour
  • If you want additional bartenders, it will cost you $100.00/per bartender for 5 hours and $25.00 for every hour afterwards. See what they offer you. Typically venues say 1 bartender for every 75 guests, but I think if you’re having a full-bar you need 2. There’s nothing worse than a line at a bar!

 

Photo by Maloman Photographers

See more photos from this wedding here

Party On!

  • There is a 10 p.m. outside noise ordinance. After that, music can be moved inside.

 

 

Photo by Serendipity Studios

More Stats:

Space Type: Inside/Outside options, such as poolside, lower pool deck. ship’s deck, and the ballroom. You can see a floor plan here. Private poolside receptions run an extra $700, and have to start after 8 p.m. in the summer, and 6 p.m. in the winter.

Size: From 25-200 depending on location choice. 100 people minimum required for a Saturday night.

Food Service Type: Buffet/seated options

How Will Grandma Get There? There are 50 guest rooms available at the Grove Isle Hotel. There are several other hotel options close by as well, such as the lower-priced Hampton Inn

Note: Rooms at the Grove Isle Hotel range from $240 and up

More additions: A farewell brunch is available the next morning for $42/pp

The Report:

Grove Isle is a private island in Coconut Grove, FL (Miami) that has three apartment buildings as well as a hotel, restaurant, spa, and other resort-like amenitities (such as pools and tennis courts). The island, which encompasses about twenty acres, is right in Biscayne Bay, and has gorgeous views of downtown Miami and of the miles of water around you. The island is accessible via a small bridge, so it’s very easy to get to. Coconut Grove, if you’re not familiar with it, is about 10-15 minutes from South Beach, and is very “Old Florida,” with palms, marinas, and old spanish houses.

Woman Getting Married Says:

I have a soft-spot for Grove Isle because I actually grew up there! Tough childhood, I know. Coconut Grove is really my favorite part of Miami, because it’s SO green and it’s on the gorgeous Biscayne Bay and you’re not far from anything. The hotel and restaurant on the island have been through a TON of incarnations over the years, and they still seem to be getting their footing. However, I heard they got a great new manager (Christian), so I think it’s FINALLY going in the right direction. You cannot beat the views, especially at sunset. If it were me, I would opt for a wedding outside (they have rain backup plans) on the Ship’s Deck (which can accommodate over 150 people). They have a more traditional ballroom, but I just have a serious hatred of hotel ballrooms…I cannot STAND that carpeting. I really hope they decide to do away with it and make it into something cooler. The space has so much potential. I *heard* that they have been negotiating prices, so don’t be afraid to tell them what your ideal per person budget is. Compared to prices I’ve seen around Miami, this venue is pretty much in the right ballpark for what you’re getting. However, heed my advice above and negotiate!!!

 

 

Ballroom @ Grove Isle. Photo by David Acuna Photography

See more photos from this wedding here

 

Hopefully one day they’ll make the ballroom look more like the restaurant…

 

Gibraltar dining room @ Grove Isle. Photo by Serendipity Studios

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Wedding Venue: San Ysidro Ranch

by on July 13, 2011

San Ysidro Ranch

900 San Ysidro Lane
Santa Barbara, CA  93108
805-565-1702
View their website

Average Cost: $26,000

*Average cost for THIS venue is calculated by figuring a 60-person guest list for a Saturday night ceremony/reception in the Hydrangea Cottage, featuring top-shelf bar options and a seated meal. Transportation to venue, entertainment, decorations, photography, and tents are not included. Average price includes gratuity and state sales tax. Price is rounded up to the nearest thousand.

How it breaks down:

Facility Rental Fee: There are several locations at San Ysidro Ranch that are used for weddings. They include the following:

The Wine Cellar
A private room with stucco walls and a vaulted wine-barrel ceiling. Also has a private patio with a wood-burning fireplace.
Size: Holds up to 8-20 guests at one long table, or 30 at multiple tables.
Fee: $1,000/Saturdays, or $1,500 if also used as the ceremony location.

 

Photo by Jessica Claire. Image from Lazaro Design

See more images from this wedding here

What’s Included:

  • Wedding ceremonies in the Wine Cellar may utilize the Gardens for photography.
  • Various banquet tables, standard white restaurant linens, china, silver and glassware.

Food and Beverage Minimums:
Lunch: $50/pp
Dinner: $150/pp

Hydrangea Cottage
Private cottage with enclosed patio.
Size: Up to 60 people
Fee: $7,000

What’s Included:

  • 6 adjacent Junior Suites for the night of the event.
  • Various banquet tables, standard white restaurant linens, china, silver and glassware.
  • Custom built in A/V Equipment is available in the Hydrangea Cottage for a $250 rental fee.
  • Limited freestanding outdoor heaters are available on the Hydrangea Patio.

 

Hydrangea Cottage. Image by LaFete

See more images from this wedding here

Food and Beverage Minimums:
Lunch: $2,000
Dinner: $6,000

Upper Estate Lawn
10,000 sq. feet with a view of the Pacific.

Size: Up to 200 guests
Fee: $10,000 everyday, November-April
$12,500 for a Saturday, May-October

*There is no Food and Beverage Minimum for the Upper Estate Lawn

What’s Included:

  • Traditional white ceremony folding chairs are available complimentary for 100 or fewer guests for every location on the grounds.

 

 

Photo by Jose Villa. Image from Elizabeth Anne Designs

See more images from this wedding here

Food:

  • Appetizers range from $6-$8/pp, with 1.5-2 pieces recommend/pp

For dinner, 3-4 course menu options are available, as well as a buffet. Sample options include:

3-course plated dinner:

  • Pan-roasted sea scallops/pecorino cheese risotto, tomato beurre blanc
  • Corn chowder/roasted poblano, crabmeat, yukon gold potatoes
  • Braised beef short ribs/horseradish and mascarpone soft polenta, broccolini/hoizin glaze, crispy onions

$100/pp

If you want a choice of entree, you can do a duo:

  • Mixed grill of filet, shrimp and chicken/mushrooms, caramelized onions & tarragon bread pudding
  • Roasted vegetables, natural jus

$129/pp

  • For a more casual event or a rehearsal dinner, you can opt for a “Backyard BBQ” for $115/pp.
  • Buffet option from $85/pp

Dessert:

  • Various options, including a Valrhona chocolate orange cheesecake, with a chocolate cookie crust, candied orange rind, tangerine sorbet for $14/each/

Beverage:

  • Bar packages range from $9-$12/per drink, which includes standard mixers. If you want to upgrade mixers, a $5 up charge applies. Wine sold seperately
  • Bottles of wine range from $45-$180 each (more for champagne).
  • Wine corkage fee for outside bottles brought in is $30 per bottle.

Extras:

  • Ceremony Fee of $750. Traditional white ceremony folding chairs are available complimentary for 100 or fewer guests.
  • Valet Fees are $150 per 20 guests not staying at the hotel.
  • 60 fruitwood Chivari chairs are available for $5 per chair based on availability

Party On!

  • All daytime events may start no earlier than 9:00am and must conclude by 3:00pm.
  • All evening events may start no earlier than 4:00pm and must conclude by 10:00pm.
  • Events pre-approved by Hotel Management to conclude past 10:00pm are subject to staffing fees of $150 per service personnel, per hour of extended event time.

Wine Cellar

More Stats:

Space Type: Inside/Outside options

Size: From 8-200 depending on location choice

Food Service Type: Buffet/seated options

How Will Grandma Get There? San Ysidro Ranch is located 15 miles from the Santa Barbara airport, and 90 miles from Los Angeles. Ideally, guests would stay at the Ranch, or at a lower-priced option such as the nearby Montecito Inn.

Note: Rooms at San Ysidro Ranch range from $650-$5,500

The Report:

Located just South of Santa Barbara in wine country’s Montecito, the San Ysidro Ranch is where the rich and famous go to stay (or get married). The ranch is ranked the 4th best hotel in the world, and has hosted the weddings of such noteable names as Vivien Leigh and Lawrence Olivier, Kings of Leon’s Caleb Followill and Lily Aldridge, and Hillary Duff and Mike Comrie.

Woman Getting Married Says:

If you have the budget, a wedding venue doesn’t get more idyllic than this. While you’ll most likely be paying what you would at a lesser venue for double the amount of people, you’re making up for it in atmosphere/experience (remember, even though it’s on average with other venues I write about, they’re usually for 120 people and up, versus 60 here). You’ve got sprawling hills, ocean views, and wine (what more can you ask for??). The rooms are pricey, but I wouldn’t hesitate to see what kind of discount you could get (it NEVER hurts to ask) for a group rate. Even if the hotel rooms are out of budget for you or your guests and you choose to stay at a lower-priced hotel, I think this venue is still ideal. Personally, if I was having a smaller wedding, I would opt for the Hydrangea Cottage wedding option, purely because it includes 6 junior suites. My other favorite location would be the Wine Cellar for a much smaller, more intimate wedding.

 

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