Destination Weddings in Saratoga Springs

Last weekend I had the pleasure of visiting Saratoga Springs, New York. It was a wonderful opportunity to see some of their most beloved wedding venues, that were dressed to impressed. It was a beautiful day designed to enjoy vignettes, signature cocktail, de

licious bite and decadent desserts.  Below are some of the highlights from the time we spent exploring this city's premiere destination wedding venues.

There is much growth and exciting renovations planned in Saratoga Springs over the next two years. If any of these images resonate or inspire, please get in touch and I'll be happy to provide more information regarding the venues and vendors behind the beauty. It's a great location for couples looking for a charming, historical and interesting location to host a destination wedding that is drivable for guests traveling from Boston and New York City. For a list of the venues we visited please check out my previous blog post here. 

For those couples planning destination weddings that aren't necesarilty accessible by car, check out Chris and Liz's intimate ceremony in Maui here.

Sincere thanks to the whole team at Saratoga Convention and Tourism Bureau, Tonya Pellegrini,
and Michael Gallitelli Photographer for sharing these beautiful images.

xo,
Tammy

Wedding Venues in Saratoga Springs

Tie the Knot in ‘Toga Wedding Event
 

Saratoga Springs, NY

I was happy to receive an invitation to visit Saratoga Springs this month.

I am leaving on Friday and look forward to a wonderful weekend of weddings. 

The itinerary is:

Friday, January 27
Enjoy the safe, walkable and award-winning downtown.

§  Exclusive kick-off event at the Visitor Center 

§  The event features hors d’oeuvres and drinks, drink & food specials to downtown bars & restaurants, live music from DJ Trumastr.

Saturday, January 28

  Coffee and breakfast at The Saratoga Springs City Center

  Industry speaker, AllSeated

  Visit featured wedding venues around Saratoga:

§  Hall of Springs

§  National Museum of Dance

§  Saratoga National Golf Club

§  Salt & Char 

§ The Lodge

§ The Mansion Inn

§ Universal Preservation Hall

  

At each venue, we will experience a variety of creative wedding vignettes along with samples of food and drink tastings. Each vignette includes a Florist, Music Entertainment, Wedding Planner, Photo/Video, Decorator, Caterer, etc.

  Reception at The Saratoga Springs City Center including local consumable fashion pop-up boutiques, free drink tastings and heavy hors d’oeuvres from local caterers, live music entertainment from Silver Arrow Band and DJ Trumastr!

I look forward to acquainting myself with these interesting venues and this vibrant area in a dynamic Victorian City setting in preparation for clients planning destination weddings!

 

If you have questions and are looking for information about a specific vendor or venue in the Saratoga Springs area, please contact me asap, and I’ll do my best to help.

xo,

Tammy

Greetings from San Diego!

  

I am spending a few days in sunny San Diego at a conference as I prepare for one of our last weddings of the season. I am sampling excellent food, connecting with smart professionals, visiting beautiful venues and enjoying this stunning backdrop. A few of my favorite things. I am marketing an organization in Cambridge, MA. It's exciting, challenging and rewarding to acquaint myself with the inner workings and professional tapestry of an industry that is unfamiliar to me.

 

The Berkshires

Today I am heading back to The Berkshires. I've been invited to tour this picturesque place while the premiere wedding destination is at it's prime. Three years I ago I visited some of the area's finest venues while acclimating to this popular location that is approximately two hours from both New York City and Boston.

If you or anyone you know is looking for a sophiticated, quaint, upscale wedding venue in this area for 2015 or beyond, please be sure to follow my adventures this week on facebook. I'll be posting updates and sharing images as the week progresses.

Last time, I stayed at the warm and charming Garden Gables Inn in Lenox, MA.

This week I am staying at Cranwell.

The highlights of our itinerary include:

Day 1

• Welcome Dinner and Tour at Wheatleigh.

Wheatleigh is amazing. It was easily the best venue we visited last time-- in terms of  upscale food, service, accommodation and modern decor. What a wonderful way to being our week!


Day 2
Tour and Lunch at The Kemble Inn

• Venue Tours
• The Mount, Edith Wharton's Home
• Hancock Shaker Village
• The Berkshire Museum
• Cocktails & Dinner at Mass Moca

With the exception of The Mount, which I remember loving, these are all new venues to me.


Day 3

• Venue Tours, beginning at The Red Lion Inn
  • Chesterwood
  • Norman Rockwell Museum
  • Naumkeag
  • Santarella
• Lunch at John Andrew's Restaurant
•  Tour of Gedney Farm followed by dinner in their restaurant  

The hosts of this tour have done an excellent job of showcasing new (to me ) venues. I have played chess, enjoyed hot chocolate and lunch at The Red Lion Inn on a snowy afternoon and toured the Normam Rockwell Museum-- but I am so happy to add to my knowledge of the area.
 
Day 4

• Breakfast at Cranwell Resort, Spa & Golf Club

If you have questions or curiosities along the way, please let me know and I'll do my best to get you replies.

Have a great week!

xo,
Tammy

Honeymoon Destination

With a dear friend currently island hopping in Greece and talk of our own honeymoon starting--it's safe to say I have travel on my brain more than usual. If you're looking for a totally luxurious, amazing and decadent travel experience, please check out Round Hill. They hosted a familiarization trip for destination wedding professionals a while back. It was absolutely wonderful. My colleagues and I were pampered from the moment we arrived and throughout our stay. I just received an email with promotions Round Hill is running. If you're interested-- please reach out to me by email and I'll happily forward the message your way. My email address is tammy@tammygolson.com.

Safe travels!

xo,
Tammy

Destination: Costa Rica

I recently returned from my bridal shower and bachelorette weekend in Costa Rica. While I was ridiculously spoiled and loved by five fantastic women, I am pretty sure my engagement was merely the motivator to get six busy women together to celebrate two decades of friendship. Rebecca and I have been friends since our freshman year in college. The other five of us worked as waitresses at the same greasy spoon restaurant during college.  My life is so much better because I know and love these amazing women. 

We thoroughly enjoyed our time in Costa Rica. It's easy to see why this country would be a wonderful location for a destination wedding for the adventurous couple planning an intimate wedding. If delicious food and natural beauty appeal to you, I recommend you add Costa Rica to your short list of locations to consider.

On our first night, we were welcomed by a private chef who prepared and served us a lovely and decadent five course dinner.

We took a ride on a catamaran. The boat brought us up close with dolphins and allowed us to swim and snorkel with the fish.

We rented a beautiful house with a private infinity pool and amazing ocean views. The concierge service provided with our accommodations made the planning easier by helping us navigate the language, logistics and steep dirt roads. Thanks to Manuel and Paradise Breezes for welcoming us so warmly and providing the perfect home base for our festivities.

We discovered a waterfall in the rainforest which led us to an amazing hotel in the jungle. Oxygen Jungle Villas rests at 9000 feet.  The views are absolutely breathtaking and it's decor is elegant and polished, which is uncommon in the region of the country we were in. We did not have a bad meal in Costa Rica, and while most of the restaurants would be categorized as hole-in-the-walls, Oxygen's appetizers were scrumptious and plated beautifully.

 Our last day was documented by professional photographer Paul Gerace.  Thanks to Paul (and Ceasar, of course)  for creating photos I'll cherish forever.

My heart is filled with gratitude thanks to my dear friends. I appreciate all their efforts that went into making this the most amazing trip!  While the rainforest and waterfalls were wonderful, it was the long overdue quality time and conversations I am most grateful for. I'll cherish the memories and laughter always. I also appreciate the husbands and loved ones who made it easy for my friends to leave their kids, get away, relax and enjoy this wonderful vacation.

If you're planning a destination wedding and interested in more information about Costa Rica, please get in touch.

xo,
Tammy



Photo Credit:  Gerace Images

Real Wedding: An Angolan Adventure

About this time last year, my help was enlisted by this beautiful bride. Maura, her mom and her best friend traveled from Angola to New York to plan this stunning two day wedding extravaganza that was hosted in her hometown in Africa. We had a two week/10 day window for our wedding planning marathon throughout the streets of Manhattan with a concentration on the luxury bridal boutiques of Madison Avenue. It was equal parts exciting, exhausting and exhilarating.

Our successful endeavor included shopping at many fine retail establishments in New York City, and I added some of my must see specialty shops to our ambitious agenda. The goals of the trip were: to find, purchase and get altered: two wedding gowns, bridesmaids dresses, suits for the little brothers, dresses for the mother of the bride, shoes, veils, accessories, undergarments, favors, paper and printed items, ribbons, candy bar items, decor, etc.

Maura took her perfectly tailored Vera Wang gown home with her on the plane. While my beloved bridal industry often suggest needing nine months to get a wedding dress, some designers have specific dresses available with the intention of accommodating international clients who come to New York City for this very reason. Rush fees are often required.

Thanks to our friends at Reem Acra, Gabriella's New York Bridal Salon, Christian Louboutin, Jimmy Choo, Saks Fifth Avenue, Katie Fischer Designs, M&J Trimmings, Economy Candy, Vase Source, Jamali, The Container Store, Paper Presentation, La Perla and Jenny Yoo for helping me make this productive adventure efficient thus making Maura's lofty and luxurious wedding day dreams a reality.

I am extremely proud of this collaboration and the outrageously stunning beauty that resulted from our time together. I am especially grateful to all those who who helped with the shopping, shipping and the unbelievable international logistics-- making me look like a hero.

Please enjoy this long overdue and very elegant eye candy and have a wonderful weekend.

xo,
Tammy

PS. Want more? You can see the rest of the photos, including some of this couple's beach ceremony here on the their photographer's blog.

Photo Credit: Catherine Mac Photography