Site Visit: Rocky Gap Lodge & Golf Resort

This past summer, I stayed at the Rocky Gap Lodge & Golf Resort in Cumberland, MD for a corporate employee retreat and it has some beautiful facilities for events with lots of activities available for guests. There are several ballrooms, a golf course, a spa and is next to Rocky Gap Park and Lake Habeeb.

Front of resort

One of the well appointed, lake view rooms

beautiful grounds with view of Lake Habeeb

outdoor tented area setting up for an event

Greenridge Ballroom seats up to 250 with its picturesque terrace overlooking Lake Habeeb

Venues Revisited

If you recently became engaged, congratulations! A reception venue is one of the first items most people want to check off their to-do lists. However, don’t let your venue decide what kind of wedding you want to have. Go through the exercise of figuring what kind of wedding you want first. Once you have done that, click the VENUE category to the right and see the places we’ve visited. Here are also some from our old blog:

Washington, DC venues:

Equality Center (DC)

American News Womens Club (DC)

Decatur House (DC)

Maryland venues:

Metropolitan Center for the Visual Arts “VisArts” in Rockville, MD

Black Rock Center for the Arts (Germantown, MD)

Virginia venues:

Signature Theatre Arlington (Shirlington, VA)

West Belmont Place (Lansdowne, VA)

Top of the Town (Arlington, VA)

Middleburg Community Center (Middleburg, VA) – summer and fall

George Washington Masonic Memorial (Alexandria, VA)

International Country Club (Fairfax, VA)

Meadowlark Botanical Gardens (Vienna, VA)

Clarendon Ballroom and Arlington Arts Center and here (Arlington, VA)

Foxchase Manor (Manassas, VA)

Mount Vernon Inn (Alexandria, VA)

Saima Says Design

I recently met with Saima Khan of Saima Says Design and was so impressed and inspired by all the beautiful and vibrant invitations in her studio. I love color and seeing all her handiwork set against a white wall was like eye candy! With a degree from the Maryland Institute College of Art, Saima did graphic design work in advertising. Her invitations are inspired by the clients she works with, whether it is horseshoe sculpture at the Halcyon House where a reception is taking place or a couple’s background. She will be introducing a new Signature Wedding Line which will be available for ordering on line in the new year!

All photos courtesy of Saima Says Design.

Site Visit: Mexican Cultural Institute

I recently attended my husband’s company holiday party at the Mexican Cultural Institute in the Columbia Heights area, just north of Meridian Hill Park. What a magnificent building! Built in 1910, it later served as the Mexican Embassy. Main Event catered the event and did an excellent job (loved the prosciutto and brie mini sandwiches!) and the Moonlighters band kept up the festive atmosphere. I hope to be able to post some pro photos soon from Tony Brown of Imijination Photography.

Advantages: about 4 block walk from Columbia Heights Metro station; great for 100 people or less. Could do wedding ceremony and reception in same location; elevator available for those who could not climb stairs.

Challenges: no on-site parking. only a 2-stall ladies room; some of the lighting could not be dimmed.

Mexican Cultural Institute entrance

Amazing murals all along the stairwell

Spacious foyer could be good for cocktails. Art exhibition space to the right.

Another beautiful room which was used for cocktail hour. One side has a piano and pipe organ.

The room between the ballroom and cocktail room was were the bar was located. Note the beautiful fireplace and mirror.

Main ballroom, looking back into the hallway.

The magnificent tiled alcove, which is attached to the main ballroom. Perfect spot for a band and dancing.

The Observatory

A few weeks ago, we had the priviledge of attending the launch of The Observatory, a new name for Jana Curcio Photography at Rosa Mexicano in DC. Congratulation to Andrea Jacobson and her staff of photographers on this new venture!

Andrea Jacobson (The Observatory), me and Sara Bauleke (Bella Notte)

Jana Curcio (in red jacket) giving a toast to Andrea Jacobson (white jacket)