All Things Bridal with Terrain & BHLDN: Terrain Gardens
Hey everyone!
I hope you’re all doing well and staying safe and healthy. My apologies for being MIA as of late on the blog. Things have been crazy since my last post! But don’t worry, the next two posts will more than make up for my absence; not to mention I have some great content planned for November!
Last Tuesday, I had the pleasure of visiting Terrain Gardens in Devon, PA for a venue tour with Brianna Alcorn, Director of Events, and then I walked over to BHLDN to talk all things bridal fashion with one of their stylists, Lindsey. Stay tuned because part two is coming later this week, which will feature all things bridal fashion with BHLDN ! In case you missed my last blog post about Terrain’s venues, you can read it here. That post features more in-depth information and some gorgeous photos from real weddings.
Photography by: Veronika Paluch Photography
On Instagram Live, Brianna took the viewers and me through the gorgeous venue. We started in the outdoor courtyard with the wirework ceremony pavilion made in England, which is just perfect for a florist to adorn with beautiful installations! The outdoor space has an English garden feel and is very versatile in how you can transform it. There’s also a sound system so that your vows can be heard clearly, and you can have music playing during your cocktail hour. The outdoor space features a covered porch with fans and space heaters, string lights, and bars on each end where your cocktail hour will be held. Food options include passed hors d'oeuvres and displays, but we will talk more about the food later in this post! There’s plenty of space to mingle in the courtyard as well, and couples have filled the space with lounge furniture and set up lawn games, just to give you a few ideas of creative ways to use the space. Terrain also has a fire pit where guests can gather and make s’mores later in the evening, which is such a fun touch to your reception, especially if you’re a couple that likes something a little bit out of the box.
Inside, you’ll find an absolutely adorable bridal suite with a full-length mirror (a wedding day must) to relax in during the moments before walking down the aisle or between photos. When it comes to the reception space, there are so many things to love. You don’t need to do a ton in terms of decor because the venue is beautiful on its own. (Although if you do want to go crazy, the space is a great canvas.) The farmhouse tables and Danish-designed chairs provided by Terrain look like ones you would spend oodles of money on if brought them in from a rental company. The space features beautiful barn doors, hanging orbs, antique furniture pieces, and string lights (which we know are all the rage when it comes to wedding decor right now). Terrain is known for including plates, glassware, votives, and table numbers, but you can also have the incredible Design by Terrain team bring your decor to the next level with flower arrangements and design elements to fit your vision. Make sure to check out the photos below for some of the amazing work that they’ve done! Any gathering with 30 people or less can be held indoors as of right now, but in normal circumstances, you can have up to 140 guests seated.
While Brianna and I covered a ton of info in the last blog post, here are just a few questions from my audience that she answered during the live. You can also see the full video from our Instagram live at the end of this post.
Photography by: LindseyK Photo
What is a good checklist to have in mind when visiting a venue?
Brianna pointed out that one of the things you want to do while you’re searching for a venue is to read reviews and look through photos, particularly real wedding photos, which help you picture yourself in the space. Besides this, other aspects to keep in mind are the capacity of the venue you are considering, what vendors you need to bring in, and what else you have to supply for that venue. Do you need to bring in tables and chairs? Do you need to bring that outside caterer in? Are things like place cards and table settings included? Another important factor is alcohol. At Terrain Garden’s sister venue in Glen Mills, they have a BYO policy, while the Devon location has alcohol in-house. Out of all of these factors, capacity is the most important, and you’ll want to go into your venue shopping with a guest list. Brianna noted that another important question to ask in times like these is if the venue can scale down to something more micro. At Terrain, hosting micro-weddings is something they are known for, and at both locations, they supply an intimate space that is seasonally decorated.
Do you offer virtual tours for couples who aren’t in the area?
Yes! Terrain started offering virtual tours at the beginning of March, and they have a great program that walks you through the space. Even if you do decide to visit in person, it will help you get a good feel of the venue and compare both the Glen Mills and Devon locations. Additional information about what is included at each venue can be found on www.terrainevents.com and the virtual tour for the Devon location can be found here. Click here for the Glen Mill’s tour.
Photography by: Pat Robinson Photography
Are you flexible with how couples can use the various spaces at Terrain (in non-COVID times)?
Yes! Terrain’s venues are very versatile in the ways they can be used. The ceremonies tend to be outside when the weather is appropriate, but they do have indoor options. The indoor option is in front of the barn doors at the Devon location, but both venue locations have indoor ceremony options for inclement weather or if it’s just a preference. The cocktail hours tend to be outside due to the nature of the venue, but they can also arrange for outdoor dinners when the guest count allows. During this time, couples can also have music and dancing outdoors. Brianna believes they will be seeing more outdoor dinners on good weather days and allow mingling options inside when it’s safe to do so.
What kind of menu do you offer?
Terrain’s chefs are super talented, and many of the options carry over from the café into the event menus. Fun fact: Each Terrain location has a café! Favorites include the signature flowerpot bread, cheese boards, chocolate chip black lava sea salt cookies, and chocolate terrariums. Overall, Terrain’s event menus feature a wide variety of cultures represented in the dishes, and they have a big depth of items to choose from. Most popular is the family-style entrees, which create conversation and a sense of community. While plated dinners are also an option, family-style is a great choice for the couple looking to deviate from the norm. (Also, just a note from me — The flowerpot bread is SO good.)
What is the difference between the two locations?
The Glen Mills location is Terrain’s flagship, which has been around for almost a decade. This location has historical buildings on the property and has a maximum of 110 guests. The Devon location was built from the ground up and opened in 2018 with a maximum of 140 guests. Brianna notes that both locations are magical in their own ways and encourages couples to make a reservation at one of the cafés to experience Terrain's culinary side.
*Please note guest counts are for pre- and post-COVID times.
Photography by: The More We See
What are your options for couples getting married during this time who want to have something small but still want to celebrate?
Terrain takes all of the safety precautions very seriously and has safeguards for their staff and to maintain food safety. Brianna noted that the staff and their clients have stayed healthy throughout this season, and if you look at reviews, you’ll find that people are having a lovely time! Micro-weddings have always been “in” for Terrain, which is comforting for couples to know. Whether you are forced to have a smaller wedding or want to reconsider your original plan, you can still scale down and have a beautiful day with all of the amenities of a large-scale wedding, but for 30 people. Couples have also utilized Zoom and other streaming components so their guests can join in from afar.
Photography by: Tree of Life Films & Photography
Design/Branding: House of Catherine
Florals: Always Beautiful Floral
Rentals: Lovely Luxe Rentals & Maggpie Rentals
Linens: Nuage Design Inc.
Well, everyone, I hope you’ve enjoyed learning more about Terrain! I personally love the fact that you can go shopping right next door at BHLDN for your gown and/or your bridesmaids’ gowns, visit the café for your anniversary, and, as Brianna added, shop in Terrain for items for your first home with your other half. Terrain really creates a whole experience that lasts far beyond your wedding day. (Also, Terrain’s café is a great spot for date night…Just check out the photo below!) To see more real weddings, make sure to check out Terrain’s venues on Instagram @terrain_events and see more information about the venues on www.terrainevents.com. To shop for your home or search for a Terrain location near you, check out www.shopterrain.com and follow along on Instagram @shopterrain. Catch you guys later this week for all things bridal fashion with BHLDN!
Photo via @terraincafe February 2019
Instagram live sponsored in part by BHLDN
