Special Places: 1989 Photo Shoot at Graeme Park

During a recent cleaning and reorganizing of our library bookshelves, I came across an interesting little booklet called "Special Places." Flipping through pictures of old properties I suddenly stopped on a familiar image: "That's Graeme Park. But that's not our furniture! What the heck is this?" Looking more closely at the captions, I realized it was a catalog for Martex bedding. They had used Graeme Park, and several other historic properties, as settings for their product lines. None of the locations are identified, although Fonthill in Doylestown is rather distinctive and recognizable if you've been there and I believe the first set of pictures is at Ephrata Cloister (also a PHMC property). If anyone can identify the other locales, we'd love to hear from you.

Ephrata Cloister

Graeme Park

Unknown Location

Unknown Location

Fonthill Castle

A Wedding at Graeme Park: Abby & Rick

Abby and Rick chose to say their "I Do's" in front of the historic Keith House at Graeme Park. Afterwards guests were invited back to the Open Aire Affairs wedding tent for cocktails, hors d'oeuvres, and a dinner prepared by Catering by Rich. The buffet menu included: Cesar salad, chicken Parmesan, pasta primavera, roast beef, red potatoes, and string beans.

The tent was decorated in classic white linens and natural centerpieces with lush white roses and lots of greenery, displayed on top of slices of wood with moss.

The table numbers were perhaps my favorite idea yet: each featured pictures of the bride and groom at the age that corresponded with the number on the table. Here they are at 9 years old.

The sour cream pound cake with buttercream icing wedding cake was created by Elizabeth Joyce Custom Cakes - Elizabeth Joyce just happens to be Graeme Park's board president Beth, and any of our staff or volunteers can attest to the deliciousness of her cakes and cupcakes.

The Groom's cake was sweetly baked by his new mother-in-law and was his favorite carrot cake. Elizabeth Joyce Custom Cakes did the cream cheese icing and tuxedo decoration.

Congratulations Abby & Rick and thank you for choosing Graeme Park.

A Wedding at Graeme Park: Amanda & Jimmy

Amanda and Jimmy chose the lawn behind the Keith House at Graeme Park, shaded by the large oak tree, as the site of their ceremony.

After a cocktail hour in the barnyard, guests enjoyed a meal of spring mix salad, veggie lasagna, sausage, chicken (sorry as a vegetarian, I don't know the specifics of the meat dishes - I'm sure they had fancier names then sausage and chicken), a mixture of beans, carrots and squash, and red potatoes, catered by Catering by Rich.

The tent was decorated in white lines, burlap runners, deep purple napkins and natural looking centerpieces.

Can you guess what those flowers are made of? Yep, paper towel or toilet paper rolls - Pinterest for the win!

The classic two tiered wedding cake featured chocolate and vanilla layers and dark purple flowers to compliment the color palette. 

It was a perfect evening for dancing in the tent or enjoying the lawn outside.

Congratulations Amanda and Jimmy and thanks for choosing Graeme Park. For information on weddings at Graeme Park, please plan to attend one of our upcoming open houses.

A Wedding at Graeme Park: Tasha & Adraea

Tasha and Adraea were the third couple to get married at Graeme Park during our big Memorial Day Wedding Triple Crown. They planned a beautiful jazz-age inspired theme, beginning with a processional through the historic Keith House and out to the alter, framed by vintage doors from Love Bird Vintage Rentals.

Drinks, specialty cocktails and hot and cold hors d'oeuvres were served in the courtyard in front of the 19th century barn at Graeme Park. 

Back in the Open Aire Affairs wedding tent, guests were created by a few more vintage touches, including a rustic wooden ladder with L-O-V-E on it, an old fashioned typewriter and instructions to find the "key to their seat" on a board featuring tags with skeleton keys.

Inside the tent, the pink and ivory color scheme and vintage feel continued with the guestbook and gift table.

The table featured pink and ivory centerpieces ...

... and pink glittery bottles with the table names and the dinner menu which included Texas smoked brisket, brown sugar rubbed roasted chicken, shrimp and pineapple skewers, mac and cheese, collard greens, corn bread, Caesar salad, and red bliss potato salad. The catering was done by Red Cedar Grille of Colmar.

The classic, traditional wedding cake was layers of lemon and strawberry and supplemented by cupcakes and a sweets table for guests to take a treat for the ride home.

After a great night of dancing...

... the couple was sent on their way with a sparkler send-off.

Congratulations Adraea and Tasha and thank you for celebrating at Graeme Park.