Photo by Nina Tisara/Hollin Hall & The Meeting House

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Hollin Hall & The Meeting House have joined The Bliss Collection. The Bliss Collection includes Northern Virginia's premiere wedding vendors. Membership includes a variety of event professionals, each of whom has been carefully selected for their outstanding reputation. Members of The Bliss Collection are committed to providing the best offerings and service to its clients. For information, visit www.theblisscollection.com.

From time to time you'll find expert advice from Collection members on our Hollin Hall Wedding Blog. For starters, here's some guidance on hiring a wedding planner taken from their website.

Why Hire a Wedding Planner? A professional wedding planner can actually save you not only time, and energy, but can save you money by being the one to assist in the negotiating of contracts. A good planner takes care of the what-ifs and the unexpected and is the go-to person before and during the wedding so you and your family members can enjoy the entire wedding experience.

Is a Budget Necessary? The first thing you should be doing before making any phone calls for your wedding is decide on a budget. If you are not working with a planner on budgeting advice, then there are many budget formulas on the internet and in reliable wedding books to be used. Once the budget is determined, it is very important to stick to it!

How Do You Find Good Vendors? You should be using vendors that have been recommended by a wedding professional or a friend who has had a good experience with a vendor. With that said, you still need to meet with those vendors to make sure they fit your criteria. Always ask for references. Make sure to have a signed contract.

R&R Open House and a testimonial from Erin & Tim

Gourmet Tasting and Boutique Style Wedding Fair

Historic Hollin Hall and R&R Catering sponsored a Gourmet Tasting and Wedding Open House on Wednesday, September 15. The event featured a creatively designed array of appetizers, salads, and food stations by R&R catering. Exhibitors included Alexandria Pastry Shop, Floral Specialties, All Seasons Floral Preservation, Jan Davis Entertainment and Events, Tisara Photography, Prime Transportation, Perfect Honeymoons, Capitol Chocolate Fountains, Frost Lighting and Union Street Pub.

Photos: top - Wisteria Arbor; bottom - Hollin Hall Fireplace Room. Photos by Steven Halperson/Tisara Photography

A testimonial from Erin and Tim, Hollin Hall, September 4, 2010

We very much appreciated the responsiveness by Nina. Anytime I called or sent an email, I could expect a very quick response, which was so helpful in making time-sensitive, wedding-planning decisions! The price to rent the grounds for our wedding and ceremony was very affordable, and we felt that we had been transported to a peaceful countryside rather than the metropolitan D.C. area. I think our photographer even snapped a few pictures of deer at the property before the ceremony began! Nina was very flexible in accommodating our needs, and responding to the input of our caterer and our personal wedding coordinator. We couldn't have asked for more from Hollin Hall and will definitely recommend the use of Hollin Hall to all of our family and friends.

Juleen Stacy and Jan Davis of Jan Davis Entertainment, Inc.

What happens if you book an independent band or ensemble and they disappear a week before your wedding? And if you have sent them a deposit, what now? Well, you really have no recourse. If you have booked entertainment with a legitimate agency, you will have entertainment for your event.Here are a couple of really important questions. Say you have "surfed the net" and found a band that looks good. How can you be sure of their track record for a wedding? How can you be sure that they know the protocol for a wedding? How can you be sure that you have been charged a fair price? Professional agencies know what the fair market price of a band, DJ or ensemble should be, and they know the bands that know wedding protocol.Some entertainers brag that they will not work for an agency, or that you can save a little money if you go directly to them. Aside from the pointers that we have just given you, try getting some of these entertainers on the phone during the day or on a weekend to go over details for your wedding. Chances are that they are out doing their “other job”. Professional agents are there for you all day,every day to answer your questions and meet all of your needs. You won't spend days trying to catch up with them. And-don't forget-most independent bands are not be licensed or insured.

Jan Davis, Jan Davis Entertainment and Events
Event Design, Decor and Production
Phone: 703-461-7253 x10 FAX: 703-461-7927 www.jandavis.com

A Love Story – by Erin and Tim

“After meeting in the summer of 2008, we began talking and getting to know one another long distance. As our friendship grew, we both realized that we had found someone special. By December of 2008, we began dating, and were engaged a year later! We have been excited to see how God has led us through a long-distance relationship between Georgia and Virginia, and how He answered a multitude of prayers as He opened doors for us while we approached our marriage. We are thankful for friends and for our wonderful families who have supported us as we prepared for a life together. We appreciate your prayers through law school and bar exams, multiple moves, and job changes, as we worked toward this moment, one of the most important of our lives...”

Erin and Tim were married at Hollin Hall on September 4, 2010.

Sean and Matt - A Love Story On Target

Sean writes: Our paths first crossed in March 2007 at a well known and loved location that we often find ourselves back at, reminiscing. Where? None other than Target! We struck up a conversation in the check out line, exchanged phone numbers, went on our first date and the rest of it all just fell into place. Our introduction into each others lives didn’t have a storybook beginning, but our wedding day is sure to be an absolute dream!

Sean and Matt will be married at Hollin Hall on May 28, 2011.

Gourmet Tasting and Boutique Style Wedding Fair

Historic Hollin Hall and R&R Catering are sponsoring a wedding Open House on Wednesday, September 15, 5-8 p.m. The event features a gourmet tasting prepared by R&R catering and exhibits by Alfred Angelo Bridal Shop, Alexandria Pastry Shop, Floral Specialties, All Seasons Floral Preservation, Jan Davis Entertainment and Events, Tisara Photography, Prime Transportation, Capitol Chocolate Fountains, Frost Lighting and Perfect Honeymoons.

Hollin Hall is 4 miles south of Old Town Alexandria at 1909 Windmill Lane. It was placed on the Fairfax County Registry of Historic Sites in 1993.

For reservation information, see www.rrcatering.com under the tastings tab or call 703-451-2798.

Erin and Tim (above) were married at Hollin Hall on Saturday, September 4, 2010. Bunny and David exchanged vows in the walled garden on Sunday, September 5. We're looking forward to posting their stories in a future blog.

Preserving Your Wedding Flowers

(excerpted from a presentation by All Seasons Floral Preservation, 2/07)

All Seasons Floral Preservation will be among the wedding service providers exhibiting their work at the Gourmet Tasting and Boutique Bridal Fair at Hollin Hall on Wednesday, September 15, 5-8 p.m. See http://www.hollinhallweddings.com for registration information.

There are two common methods of flower preservation. "Freeze drying" is a process that results in a 3-D floral arrangement, typically displayed in a table top dome or shadow box. With this method, the flowers are very fragile and brittle and, as a result, may deteriorate and crumble over time. "Pressing" is a process that became popular in the Western world during the Victorian Age. Pressed floral art created with your wedding flowers will be in a frame that can either hang on a wall or be placed in a stand for table top/shelf display. This technique results in a floral design that is literally "pressed" against the glass, thus remaining in a fixed position for you to enjoy for years to come.

Because the freshest flowers make the most beautiful art, your florist plays a key role in the outcome of your artwork. Choose a florist who will use high quality, fresh flowers and arrange them in a way that is not only beatiful, but "durable." The wedding and reception are high enery events that can take quite a toll on a poorly constructed bouquet. The better condition the flowers are in when they are delivered for pressing, the better the otcome of your floral art.

During the pressing process it is natural for the colors of the flowers to change somewhat. Generally speaking, flowers with an "intense" color will press darker--red roses will become a deep burgundy; while flowers with a "softer" color will become lighter--pale pink and white flowers will become a cream color. During a design consultation, it is important to discuss your specific flowers and how they will look once they are pressed.

A Love Story - Kim and Bruce and Uniquely Yours

September 1, 2010

Photo by Nina Tisara

A Love Story - Kim and Bruce

We asked Kim and Bruce to rate us and their caterers on a scale of 1-5 (5 is best) and this is what Kim said:

"5 and 5!!!! We had such a lovely time. The place was gorgeous. R&R did an excellent job catering, the food was awesome. All of our friends and family were asking us how we found Hollin Hall and were so impressed with its charm! It was definitely a wedding like no other!

"Bruce and I met through friends from work. He is a psychologist and I am a talker. I guess I felt like he listened when I talk. He would stop everything to listen to me talk and I, in return would do something nice for him, simple things, like cook or bring him coffee.

"We chose Hollin Hall for the charming outdoor garden and the details on the inside of the house. We love "old charm", history and unique things that are still very simple. I think Hollin Hall was the perfect choice for us and our friends and family felt so welcomed there.

"Thank you for the memory! It was better than we envisioned!"

Uniquely Yours

If you're looking for a custom-designed engagement or wedding band, something that will be uniquely yours, you might start by looking through magazines, catalogs and ads to discover what you really like. Or you might try your hand at sketching the design that's in your mind.

Remember that your designer is your consultant, your engineer. Choose someone whose style fits yours and someone you feel comfortable with. Select a designer with the experience to help you understand what is possible and what is not feasible.

Your meeting at Gold Works will start with an introduction to the world of custom jewelry. There is a basic selection of rings in the shop and you will helped to visualize your own special design by looking through catalogs, photographs, drawings and sometimes with the help of a computer.

David Martin Gold Works
1400 King Street, Alexandria
www.goldworksusa.com
703 683-0333

A Love Story - Caitlin and Matthew--and--Hints for the Glowing Bride

Caitlin and Matthew met in Cambridge, Massachusetts in March of 2005. They were having a great time at a mutual friend's birthday party. Matthew noticed how Caitlin always closed one eye when she took a beerpong shot. He liked her freckles and curly hair. Caitlin noticed how sharply dressed Matthew was and she thought he was funny. The next week after the party, Matthew asked his coworker, Tag, how he could get to know her better. His friend told him that they all had plans to go to Southie for the St. Patty's parade that Sunday. If you have ever been to Southie on parade day, then you know that the whole town is party-hopping. So, Matthew followed his friends from house party to house party, meeting lots of people, toasting the Irish Patron Saint, and always keeping his eyes open for the young lady he was hoping to see that day. They seemed to keep missing each other. Finally, after a long day, they made their way back to Cambridge, Caitlin and Matthew's paths never having crossed in Southie. When they got there, Caroline, Tag's girlfriend and Caitlin's best friend, called to say they were right down the street and they were coming over!

Caitlin and Caroline came through the door first, followed by seven or eight dudes. The ratio of this gathering had tipped in the wrong direction for a man who was looking to spend some quality time getting to know somebody. However, within the first few minutes, it became apparent that the place down the street where they were all hanging out, was in fact Caitlin's place. Matthew knew that all he had to do was be patient and he might get the opportunity to walk her home. The mob of dudes slowly dwindled until only Tag, Caroline, Matthew and Caitlin were left. As people started to yawn, Matthew offered to escort Caitlin home. Despite a long day of house parties, they talked for hours. They found out about the uncanny amount of things they have in common. When it got really late and they were both struggling to stay awake, they decided it was time to call it a night. But just before he got to the door, he turned and kissed her. They made plans for an official first date. Five and a half years later, their next official date will be the most significant one yet: plans to be married at Hollin Hall on October 9, 2010.

The Glowing Bride~

The bridal "glow" comes from within. but take care to avoid the outward "shine" - the shine that comes by not keeping a matte finish to your makeup for those wedding photos. While a more-than-dewy complexion may look fine to the wedding guests, it can translate into an unattractive shine in photos. There's even the horrifying chance you'll look like you just finished a workout and slipped right into the wedding gown!I recommend using a finely milled powder matched to your skin tone exactly at the jawline and then touching up throughout the wedding day. Blot any oil or sweat that appears with a facial blotting sheet (drug store purchase), and then lightly touch up your look with a light dusting of powder. The powder absorbs light and keeps a more matte look so your features project your joyful glow - not shine! Pressing, not rubbing, blotting paper on your face absorbs the oil/sweat and pushes the powder back to the surface of your skin.Emergency Tip: those disposable seat covers in the ladies' restroom make great blotting paper. no residue, easily available. Shhh.only tell your girlfriends.The scoop on powder - opt for a compact rather than loose powder. It's so much easier to control in a hurry. Avoid bare mineral powders. The edges of the ground minerals reflect light and can give a gray cast or odd luminescence in photos. Mineral powders also don't have the necessary staying power or light-absorbing effect of talc-based powder foundations. A makeup pro experienced with on-site makeup (out of the controlled lighting of a studio) can further advise you on the best choices. We useArtistry Ideal Dual Powder Foundations and have gotten rave reviews!

Relax. Just a minute for a quick touch-up takes away the shine and brings all the attention back to your expressive eyes and lips where a little sheen enhances rather than distracts!

Barbara Hill, www.bridalartistryDC.com