Wedding Wednesday: Update & Ceremony Ideas

Update: The Homestead at Cloudland Station

  

The rafters are going up on the Celebration Barn. They connect at the pinnacle of the roof with mortise and tendon connections and an oak peg. This is a wonderful detail you don't see on many barns.

We will keep you posted on the barn and we can't wait to host our first wedding. Who will be the first couple to celebrate in the barn? Contact us at homesteadcloudlandstaion@gmail.com  

 Wedding Wednesday: Ceremonies

 The ceremony is the most important part of a wedding day. Your wedding ceremony is something you will never forget, so take time make it special. Checkout these unique options for your ceremony. 

 Looking for something different than the traditional unity candle , how about sealing an anniversary box?

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The couple placed a bottle of wine and letters to one another in the box and nailed it shut during the ceremony. In ten years the couple will open the box on their anniversary and toast to one another and read the letters. What a perfect time capsule of your wedding day. 

No need for ushers with this new trend.  A wedding is the joining of two families so why make your guests choose a side?

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Another unique seating option for a ceremony is to seat your guests in a circle.

What a great feeling of being surrounded with love during your ceremony. With a circle seating arrangement, no one with have a bad seat.  Like the circle seating idea? How about the spiral seating plan which allows you to walk past every guest on your way to the alter.

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Both seating arrangements would be perfect at our lake side ceremony site.

Looking to add a intimate touch to your ceremony, how about a ring warming?

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Your rings are tied together and passed through the hands of everyone in attendance. As each guest receives the rings, they "warm" the rings with blessings and well wishes. This would be great addition to a smaller wedding.

Tradition says that the father gives the bride away but why not let both parents give the bride away?

   Photo Credit: Our very own Event Coordinator, Courtney Cross

There are many ways to add unique touches to your wedding ceremony.Take time to personalize your ceremony because it is something you will look back on and remember forever.

Check back next week for more updates on the Celebration Barn. Contact us with any questions at homesteadcloudlandstation@gmail.com

Monday Menu: Food Bar Trend

We hope everyone had a relaxing Thanksgiving with their families. We know food is the last thing on your mind after a weekend full of it, but we have a interesting topic today.

A new trend in reception food is to feature stations or food bars. Brides and grooms are letting their tastes and personality show with their station choices.

One dessert station option is a S'mores Bar. Treat your guest to a old favorite with an assortment of marshmallows, chocolate candies, and graham crackers. If you are having an outdoor wedding use fire pits or for a indoor wedding use a planter, rocks and burners.

 

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Add a classic southern touch to your wedding with a Biscuit Bar including buttermilk biscuits, meat options and spreads. This would be a perfect addition to a mid-day wedding or a late night snack at a evening wedding.

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Another southern option is a Grits Bar that let your guests top the southern staple with cheeses, chives, tomatoes, onions and bacon.

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A common side with any meal is potatoes. Check out this Mashed Potato Martini Bar featuring mashed potatoes in martini glasses with all of the toppings.

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Do you love popcorn? Check out this Popcorn Bar. Let each guest make their own take home bags of popcorn as their favors.

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We have featured a few food bar options but the possibilities are endless. Think of your favorite food and there just might be a way to make it a station or a food bar. This unconventional menu option allows your guest to personalize their meal. Consider using food bars or stations to make your reception experience interactive and personalized. Check back next week for more menu ideas. Until then check out our featured recipe for No-Bake S'more Nutella Crunch Bars. Get the taste of a s'more with no fire required.

S’More Nutella Crunch Bars
1 stick unsalted butter
8 ounces semisweet chocolate, broken into pieces
3 tablespoons nutella
¼ cup light corn syrup
4 graham crackers, crushed into small pieces
2 cups mini-marshmallows
Melt the butter, chocolate, nutella and corn syrup together in a heavy bottom saucepan. Swirl in the mini-marshmallows and graham crackers. Spread the mixture in a 9×9 pan and smooth the top. Place the pan in the freezer until it is completely solid. Cut into small squares and serve.

Wedding Wednesday: Thank You

With Thanksgiving tomorrow, today's "Wedding Wednesday" post will feature thank you cards. While planning and celebrating your wedding you are showered with lots of kindness and gifts. A hand written thank you note will show your guest how much you appreciate their gratuity. Thank you notes are often over looked but are very important. 

While opening your gifts, make sure to keep track of the sender's name(s) and the items. If you receive gifts before the wedding, start sending thank you cards as soon as you can. This will help you to stay ahead and will make the process more enjoyable. Set a goal to write a reasonable number of cards each day allowing you time to make them sentimental. 

There are several options when it comes to thank you cards. From the traditional cards to photo cards, pick what fits you best. 

The newest trend is to take a photo with a thank you prop and make a card with the photo. 

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A thank you photo gives your guest a keepsake and a note that they can look at years from now. Remember to arrange the timely return of your thank you photos with your photographer beforehand. If you want your thank you cards before the wedding, plan a thank you photo during your engagement session. If you are planning a long engagement or will have lots of pre-wedding events, order your thank you cards with your save the dates. This way you can write cards as the gifts come in and have less to do after the nuptials. 

According to Amanda with Wedding Paper Divas, brides and grooms should wait no more than 6-8 weeks after the ceremony to send their wedding thank you cards. Don't give up, a late thank you is better than no thank you. When writing your cards make sure to greet the guest, express your gratitude, be specific about the gift, and thank them for attending. Add a personal touch by including an example of how you will use the item, for example " I can't wait to make homemade chili in my slow cooker."

Many couples are also including heartfelt thank yous in their wedding decor or on their favors.

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Always remember to take time to say "Thank You". We hope you and your family have a wonderful Thanksgiving. Check back next week for more wedding ideas! 

Monday Menu: Fall Flavors

For our "Monday Menu" this week it is only appropriate we feature Thanksgiving. 

Thanksgiving inspired menus are perfect for a fall wedding or event. Below are a few menus to inspire you.

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Some of the fall flavors that come to mind for a Thanksgiving inspired menu are pumpkin, maple, apples, sweet potatoes, etc.  If you are planning an event or wedding in the fall, feature a few of these fall flavors. 

We have put together a sample menu that could be featured at fall wedding or event. 

• Mixed Greens with Sliced Pears Goat Cheese and Candied Walnuts Drizzled with a Pear Vinaigrette 
• Butternut Squash Soup 
• Assortment of Freshly Baked Breads
• Grilled Pork Tenderloin with Apple Chutney
• Sweet Potato Gratin
• Sorghum glazed carrots with GA pecans
• Pumpkin Cheesecake Square, Mini Apple Spice Donuts, Mini Cranberry Apple Pie
• Cider Bar

Is your mouth watering yet? The key to a great fall menu is to feature food items that remind your guests of a home cooked meal.

Check out our featured fall recipe.  

Apple Cranberry Crumble

For the filling:

• 3 cups (about 4) peeled gala apples, sliced
• 1 cup fresh cranberries
• 1 tbsp flour or cornstarch
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 2/3 cup honey or agave*
• cooking spray such as Smart Balance

For the topping:

• 3/4 cup dry quick-cooking oats
• 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1 tbsp all-purpose flour
• 3 tbsp light butter, melted (such as Land O Lakes)
• 1/4 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
• 1/2 tsp salt

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 325°F.
• Lightly spray a 9-inch square baking dish with cooking spray. Combine apples, cranberries along with the rest of the filling ingredients in a bowl. Pour into baking dish and even out with a spoon.
•  In another bowl, combine the topping ingredients; sprinkle over apple/cranberry mixture.
•  Bake uncovered, for 55-60 minutes or until browned and bubbly. Serve warm.

 We hope you and your family have a wonderful Thanksgiving. Check back next Monday for more menu ideas.

Wedding Wednesday: Barn Weddings

Each Wednesday we will feature wedding photos, ideas, tips and more. 

The Homestead at Cloudland Station is currently under-construction. Check out our color rendering of the property.

The complex of buildings will be used primarily for weddings, but also for other events. The Homestead will include an 1871 Amish Barn, a farm house, a carriage house, a blacksmith shop, a formal Garden, and a great lawn.

We will offer multiple ceremony location choices and the Celebration Barn is the perfect spot for a indoor reception. Our farm house will be a mixed use building, it will feature a beautiful bride's dressing quarters and space for a small reception or rehearsal.

While the barn is being completed, we would like to share some barn wedding pictures for inspiration. 

 

 Photo source: Pinterest

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The Homestead at Cloudland Station will offer all of the rustic charm you are looking for with elegant touches. We are excited to bring a new event venue to the Chattanooga area. Check back for more updates on the status of the project.

Monday Menu: Simple, Southern Treats

Each Monday we will feature menu ideas for your next celebration. 

For our first "Monday Menu", we would like to feature simple, southern treats.

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When you think of southern food, what are some of the things that come to mind?

 

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No southern menu is complete without pulled pork, chicken, mac and cheese, sweet potatoes, green beans, etc.

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What is more southern than bacon and grits? Check out our featured recipe for bacon-grits fritters.

Southern Living Bacon-Grit Fritters

 Ingredients

• 1 cup uncooked quick-cooking grits
• 4 cups milk 
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 cups (6 oz.) shredded extra-sharp white Cheddar cheese 
• 1/2 cup cooked and finely crumbled bacon (about 8 slices) 
• 2 green onions, minced
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
• 2 large eggs 
• 3 cups Japanese breadcrumbs (panko)
• Vegetable oil   

Preparation

1. 1. Prepare grits according to package directions, using 4 cups milk and 1 tsp. salt. Remove from heat, and let stand 5 minutes. Stir in cheese and next 3 ingredients, stirring until cheese is melted. Spoon mixture into a lightly-greased 8-inch square baking dish or pan, and chill 4 to 24 hours.
2. 2. Roll grits into 1 1/2-inch balls. Whisk together eggs and 1/4 cup water. Dip balls in egg wash, and roll in breadcrumbs.
3. 3. Pour oil to depth of 3 inches in a large, heavy skillet; heat over medium-high heat to 350°. Fry fritters, in batches, 3 to 4 minutes or until golden brown. Drain on paper towels. Keep fritters warm on a wire rack in a pan in a 225° oven up to 30 minutes. Serve warm.
4. Make ahead: Prepare recipe as directed through Step 2. Cover and chill in a single layer up to 4 hours. Fry as directed. You may also prepare through Step 2 and freeze on a baking sheet for 30 minutes or until firm. Transfer to a zip-top plastic bag, and freeze. Cook frozen fritters as directed in Step 3, increasing cooking time to 5 to 6 minutes or until golden and centers are thoroughly heated.

Check back next Monday for more menu ideas. 

We would appreciate your feedback, so let us know what you think.

Coming Soon.......

We are starting a new project at Cloudland Station - a mid-1800s homestead. This complex of old buildings will be used primarily for weddings, but also for other events as well. It will serve also as the club facilities of Cloudland Station.

The Homestead will include an 1871 Amish Barn from Lancaster County, PA, that is being raised - starting Monday. It will include an authentically timber framed I-House (more on what a I-house is, later). Also, included will be a carriage house, a blacksmith shop, a herb garden, a formal Garden, a produce stand, and a great lawn.

 We hope to host a lot of Chattanooga weddings, as well as short destination weddings from Atlanta, Nashville and Birmingham and everything in between.

We will keep you posted.