Historic Event
Willie Drye
Historical sites weave your wedding into the colorful fabric of the past. History is indelible. And, if you’re like many Long Island brides, you want your marriage to become a lasting episode in history’s endless saga.
Brides today get married in antebellum mansions, historic breweries, antiquated courthouses and Revolutionary War roadhouses. Traveling couples exchange vows in ancient inns in England, Ireland or Scotland – or in museums like the Louvre in Paris.
Such settings provide an elegant backdrop for one of the most important days of your life.
“It generally creates a longer-lasting memory,” said Bill Hansen at Florida International University’s School of Hospitality Management in Miami.
Older buildings – even those considered modest when built – often exude a charm and warmth that’s laid down, layer by layer, by generations of inhabitants. It’s an ambiance that’s very hard to duplicate.
“Many hotel ballrooms look similar,” Hansen said. “Most people who hold their receptions at historical sites are tired of going into hotel ballrooms. That’s why historical sites are incredibly popular and always will be.”
Many subtle elements come together to create the unique character of older structures. Often it starts with the way buildings were built a century or more ago, before the days of mass-produced construction materials and restrictive building codes.
“There was a lot more idiosyncrasy in the building profession back then,” said Jim McGlone of the Fairfax County Park Authority in Virginia, which handles rentals of county-owned historical buildings. “Builders back then built customized structures, and they liked to add a little something to make their buildings distinctive, like a painter putting a signature on a painting.” It’s this touch of individuality and tasteful idiosyncrasy that can add a distinctive elegance to your ceremony or reception.
“A $20,000 wedding can look like a $40,000 wedding at a historical site because of the richness and texture of the house, the beauty of the grounds and the nice furnishings of the house,” said Carol Marino of A Perfect Wedding in Fairfax, Va. “It’s entirely possible to have a wedding look tremendous in scope when you’re using an old mansion. It’s a real romantic thing.”
Incorporating the romantic setting of a historical site into your wedding plans, however, takes foresight and an attention to detail you’re unlikely to find in newer buildings.
Older buildings often have structural limitations that can affect your plans. There may be regulations that restrict decorating, food service and entertainment, too. In short, be prepared to tailor your expectations to fit the structure. But some brides don’t want to hear that.
“A lot of brides don’t want to think about going to that level of concern,” said Lois Pearce of Beautiful Occasions in Hamden, Conn. “They’d prefer to go to a place where everything is set up.”
Space is one of the first limitations you may encounter. Finding a historical structure that can accommodate a big ceremony or reception could be tricky. Older houses tend to have many smaller rooms instead of one large space. So instead of seating your guests for a big dinner, you’d have to set up food stations in different rooms.
You also may need to plan entertainment for several rooms, such as a piano player in one and a string quartet in another.
Allowing your guests to dance also could require special planning, and in some cases you simply can’t do so – space limitations make dancing impossible. Some historical sites allow dancing only if a portable hardwood dance floor protects the flooring. Such a dance floor often can be rented, but it adds to your costs.
Also, historical sites sometimes are in residential neighborhoods where zoning regulations prohibit loud music. In other cases, the electrical system may not be able to handle the demands of an amplification system.
Many historical sites have restrictions on decorating. You probably won’t be able to hang decorations on the walls or suspend them from the ceiling, and candles may be prohibited, too.
But you don’t need much to enhance a setting already carefully preserved or restored to the opulent look of a bygone era. Simple touches such as linen and table decorations can go a long way toward setting the mood you want, said Darcy Romano of the Decatur House in Washington, D.C.
“People don’t have to spend oodles and oodles of money to decorate,” she said.
If you want to serve alcoholic beverages at your reception, you may have to obtain a special permit. There also may be limits on the types of beverages. If you’ve ever tried to remove stains caused by red wine, you’ll understand why owners and caretakers of historical sites often prohibit it on their premises. White wine, however, usually is allowed.
Sometimes, accidents happen despite precautions. Restoring an old building is very expensive, and repairing even minor damage to a one-of-a-kind fixture or antique furniture can be costly. You may be required to take out a one-day insurance policy for your event. But check your homeowner’s policy to see if it already provides such coverage. After learning the regulations and restrictions that must be met, you may feel overwhelmed and begin to wonder if it’s all worth it.
“From their perspective, it can appear mind-boggling, particularly after they go to a historical site for the first time and are handed a packet of rules and regulations and forms to sign,” Hansen said.
Despite the restrictions, however, historical sites on Long Island are becoming increasingly popular as wedding venues. “Over the last five years, it’s increased dramatically,” Marino said. “Everybody wants a fresh look, and a fresh look might include having your wedding in an old place.”
In that case, the past does offer the best way to begin your future.