A Beautiful Winter Wedding with Fairy Lights...

Just before Christmas, we celebrated our first wedding at the Manor.  The bride was beautiful, the groom was handsome, and everyone was wearing a smile.  The weather cooperated, too, by remaining temperate and comfortable well after sundown.  The reception on the patio under the fairy lights was just right and guests enjoyed dinner al fresco.  A grand time was had by all;  we were so happy to be a part of the joining of two families in joy!

Can't make it to Paris? No problem...

The Lampasas Love Locks corner is finished!
Maybe you can't leave your love locks in Paris any more, but here at the Manor, we have just the place for couples to leave a sign of their enduring love.  Sit a spell on our bench and add your lock to the old fence under the shade of a grand-daddy oak tree.  You can even take the perfect selfie with your lock and your loved one.  Lee and I have added the first lock and we hope that many happy couples will join us in this fun tradition, whether they celebrate their wedding here, or come back to the B&B for an anniversary sometime.

Rain and Wedding Dress Trends...

Lately it's been raining...a lot.  It has rained so much our pond is full!

Work continues on the barn floor.  The parking lot is looking good.  We have two parking areas for event guests.  
Engagement season is upon us and I saw an article in the New York Times about wedding gown trends for those of you who might be in the market for a gown.   According to them, these are the top wedding gown trends for 2016:

1. Transparency--sheer sections of wedding gowns. Personally, I thought a few of the designers took this a little too far, but I have always liked a sheer yoke or back. This idea was popular in the 1950s and it can be done well. It can also be very flattering when done well. :)
2. Sparkle--faux gems and other additions to wedding gowns that add a special glint. This can be a lot of fun--and in the right light, it can be mesmerizing.
3. Short Wedding Gowns--back in the 1980s, ahem when dinosaurs roamed the earth and I was buying a wedding gown, there was a trend for short gowns. Think how much less trouble it would be. They aren't for everyone, but it is an idea worth considering.
4. Plunging V necks--again, this can be taken too far, but some of the gowns are very eye-catching.
5. Lingerie look gowns--with the boning and other lingerie detailing on the outside of the gown. I have to confess that I am not a fan of this trend. I think some things should be private. And I also think some things are in poor taste, like wearing your underwear on the outside, It's called underwear for a reason.
6. High Concept--most of us would probably skip this one, but if you could come up with something special to you, it might work.  Included in this category were colors besides white, such as crimson or even black for bridal wear One designer used a print.  Why not?  It’s your day and if your favorite color is red or purple, I say, go for it.

Here is a link to the slide show if you want to see for yourself.

New Photos...

Fall is sort of here, and it is time to showcase some ideas with a different color palette.




Plum is one of the favorites this season and it is, of course, a favorite among Aggies.  We took some time out from painting and gardening yesterday to take a few photos featuring a reddish plum. The bouquet in the photos was provided by the Petal Peddler here in Lampasas.  Here are some of my favorites--you can see more on our Pinterest board--photos from the venue.

New Grass for one of the Ceremony Sites...

Most of the brides who come and tour the Manor like the view from the terrace.  The view faces West, so it is perfect for a sunset ceremony.  We have been working on the barn, but this past week, Lee added some new grass to the area under the trees where our first bride will have her ceremony.  Now that it is starting to cool off, we can start thinking about landscaping again.  Coming soon, Lampasas Love Locks!