Northern Virginia Wedding Reception Site, Ceremony, Rehearsal Dinner

Entrance Update!

2010-03-05T16:18:00.003-05:00

Our new entrance is really coming along. Here is a photo of our entrance today. The completion date is right around the corner and just in time for wedding season!

This week, brick work was started, new concrete was laid, and the ceiling of the new portico was put up.

From Our Kitchen to Yours!

2010-03-05T16:10:00.001-05:00

Here's a menu from our Chef. Enjoy!

Waterford Steamed Clams

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 tablespoons Sundried Tomatoes

1 tablespoons Chopped Garlic

1 tablespoons Small Diced Shallots

2 pounds Little Neck Clams Scrubbed

1/4 cup Hard Cider

1/4 cup Dry Sherry

1/4 cup Pinot Gregio

Juice of 2 lemons

1/4 cup Heavy Cream

1/2 pound Butter Cut in 1 inch Pieces

2 Green Onions Chopped

1 loaf French Bread

Heat Oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add sundried tomatoes, Garlic, Shallots and cook for 2 minutes. Add clams, hard cider, wine and lemon juice. Cover and steam until clams open (about 4 to 6 minutes). Discard any clams that do not open. Add heavy cream and bring to boil. Add butter slowly and stir gently until the butter melts. transfer clams to individual shallow bowls, pour sauce over clams and sprinkle each with green onions.

Serve with warm French bread.

Waterford is having an Open house!

2010-03-04T12:11:00.001-05:00

ATTENTION BRIDAL COUPLES (FUTURE AND PRESENT)

Waterford at Fair Oaks is hosting an open house on Friday, March 26 at 6pm.

Dinner will be served.

RSVP is required by March 22. Please call 703-352-3200 or click on the E-Mail Me link in the right column.

We hope to see you there!

2010-03-04T12:09:00.003-05:00

(Click to View Larger)

Available 2010 Dates

2010-02-12T10:08:00.002-05:00

Waterford at Fair Oaks still has a few POPULAR HOLIDAY dates available for 2010:

May 28, 29, 30 -- Memorial Day Weekend (one room remaining on Sunday)
September 3, 4, 5 -- Labor Day Weekend
October 8 and 9 -- Columbus Day Weekend

There are some June dates still available as well:
June 5 -- Alexander Ballroom
June 12 -- Carrington Ballroom
June 19 -- Serafin and Carrington Ballrooms (can combine into 1 large room)
June 26 -- afternoon events only

If your date is not listed, it may still be available! Please give us a call. 703-352-3200

*All of these dates are subject to change without any notice. Please call Waterford at Fair Oaks for updated availability.

Washington Area Bridal Showcase (by Showcase Productions)

2010-02-02T11:35:00.000-05:00

Waterford at Fair Oaks attended this year's Bridal Showcase at the Dulles Expo center over the weekend. In spite of all the snow that the area is receiving, the show's attendance increased! Waterford at Fair Oaks is looking forward to the 2010 shows! We hope to see all of you there!

Twitter!

2010-01-13T14:35:00.003-05:00

Waterford Receptions is now on Twitter. Follow us!
NoVaWeddings

New Waterford Weddings Picture Website!

2010-01-13T14:30:00.000-05:00

Please visit our Waterford Weddings Photo site for photos from past weddings at Waterford at Fair Oaks.

http://waterfordreceptions.shutterfly.com/

1 Month and Counting

2009-12-15T14:04:00.001-05:00

The renovation on the main entrance of the facility is scheduled to begin in 1 month from today! We are very excited about our new entrance. Please contact me for more information regarding the renovation. WE ARE ALSO OFFERING SPECIAL DISCOUNTS FOR THIS TIME FOR ALL WEDDINGS AND OTHER EVENTS.

Charlena, Catering Sales Manager
703-352-3200

Christmas Themed Wedding on the First Snow Day of the Year

2009-12-05T14:56:00.003-05:00

All the decor for this wedding was red and gold - Christmas tree, flowers, and linens included! This couple left no part of their wedding without the proper colors/theme!
The Christmas Tree included over 100 ornaments, which were the favors for the guests. Each was hung on the tree with personalized ribbon. The Christmas tree smell filled the room!
Linens were rented from DC Rental.
The snow created a magical day for this bride and groom! Best of Luck Nick and Rita!

First Snow of the Year at Waterford!

2009-12-05T11:19:00.003-05:00

Its the first snow of the year at Waterford! This is the perfect setting for our afternoon Christmas themed wedding -- Christmas tree and all!

The Poinsettias Have Arrived!

2009-12-04T11:24:00.001-05:00

Waterford at Fair Oaks decorates the holiday season with beautiful poinsettias around the fountain in the lobby.

Countdown to Construction!

2009-11-13T09:55:00.000-05:00

The renovation for Waterford at Fair Oaks is 9 weeks away! The front entrance of Waterford at Fair Oaks is going to be transformed into an elegant entrance with columns and a permanent structure. This new entrance will be great for photo ops, easier access to the building in inclement weather, greater visibility from the road, and an over all better look for Waterford at Fair Oaks.

Here is a photo of the current entrance:

Here is an artist's creation of what the new entrance will look like!
Construction is scheduled for January 15 through March 15.

CURRENT BRIDES: Do not be alarmed when you come in for your tasting - it will be completed on time!

FUTURE BRIDES: Take advantage of a great deal and book your reception during this time! We are offering our package with more than $20 off per person!

If you have any questions, please contact me, I will be happy to answer any questions regarding the renovation of our front entrance.

703-352-3200 (main office)
charlena@waterfordreceptions.com (my email)

Linens - Ways to save on linens and make your reception look AWESOME!

2009-11-09T10:03:00.004-05:00

Colored linens definitely look great for any event. However, when you take a full length round linen and multiple by your number of tables (plus the head table, cake table, place card, etc), it can get costly! Here are some ideas to add colors with linens to your tables without breaking a budget!

The sashes on chair covers always add color, however, people sit in these chairs the whole time and look at the tables (not the chairs), added a colored napkin instead will give them something pretty to look at when they sit down! If napkins are delivered to Waterford at Fair Oaks before your reception, we will fold them and have them ready to go for your BIG DAY!*Colored floor length linens look great until the total comes - what about a table overlay instead? It adds just the right amount of color, PLUS Waterford also already includes your table linens.

*Don't like the look of table overlays? How about table runners? Table runners give a splash of color through the middle of your table and always look great!

(As a side note, when choosing your linens, do not worry about the colors in the carpet, no one will be looking there at your reception...)

Here are some pictures from events with specialty linens at Waterford at Fair Oaks!

Popular Fall Colors at Waterford at Fair Oaks

2009-11-06T13:05:00.000-05:00

This year's HOT fall colors at Waterford are Red and Black.

Here are some RED AND BLACK weddings at Waterford at Fair Oaks.

Tasty Food @ Waterford at Fair Oaks

2009-11-05T13:04:00.005-05:00

Waterford at Fair Oaks (and Waterford at Springfield) prepares some of the best food in the area! Our Chef, Chef Michael Rogers, has created a wonderful menu for both our plated/sit-down meals and our buffets (the most popular service at Waterford at Fair Oaks).

Food tastings (which are included with ALL our wedding packages) are scheduled with our Chefs on Wednesdays and Thursdays. All of our tastings are private tastings with a sales person and a Chef. Our food ALWAYS tastes just as good (if not better because you've waited for it so long) as it did at the tasting.

Below are some of the popular items served on our buffet.

Chicken Piccata - our number 1 dish on EVERY menu.

Three Peppercorn Strip Loin - this is a carved item for the buffet. The most popular buffet beef!

Colors in the Centerpieces are the Right amount (and the right Budget)

2009-10-31T14:23:00.000-04:00

You don't have to have decorations all over the room to change the look of your wedding venue. Nicely adorned centerpieces that accent your wedding colors are enough to brighten the room of your reception. Having floral arrangements, chair covers, colored linens, balloons, and other decorations can bring a lot of color to your room, but can also be very expensive. Choosing to have colorful centerpieces can be low in cost, but still look fantastic! You can use anything from flowers and candles to fruit and vases with water. Using simple items such as a fish bowl or a large martini glass and placing floating candles or flowers inside makes a very nice centerpiece. You can also use the season to inspire your centerpieces; use pumpkins and colorful fall leaves for an autumn wedding or fruit and bright flowers for a spring or summer wedding. As long as your centerpiece includes the colors chosen for your wedding you can have any creative arrangement on your tables to change the look of your ballroom and give your wedding the right amount of color.

Holiday Weekend Weddings/Sunday Receptions

2009-10-26T13:17:00.000-04:00

Weddings on holiday weekends are very popular and can be more accommodating to your guests and their travel needs. If you hold your wedding on a Sunday of a holiday weekend (i.e. Memorial Day Weekend, Labor Day Weekend, or Columbus Day Weekend), travel time is available for most of your guests on Saturday so they do not have to leave work and then on Monday to return home (or to recover). With a Sunday wedding, your rehearsal and rehearsal dinner can be on a Saturday (instead of Friday) which helps those in your wedding party to miss less work as well. At Waterford at Fair Oaks, Sundays of holiday weekends usually fill up before the Saturdays do!

Sundays of non-holiday weekends are not as popular at Waterford at Fair Oaks and your reception is likely to be the ONLY reception with us. Sundays on non-holiday weekends also have a reduced rate from our Saturday evenings and timing is very flexible. You can have an early afternoon ceremony and/or reception with us and give your guests plenty of time to get home and get ready for work the next day.

Ceremony + Wedding Receptions --- Why to have your whole day at one place.

2009-10-11T15:00:00.000-04:00

Why add to the stress of your big day by having to deal with more than one location? Waterford at Fair Oaks can hold your ceremony and reception.

Church Reception:
Dieing to have a church reception? You can make this happen at Waterford at Fair Oaks. Check out this picture below of stained glass windows projected up onto our ballroom walls. This simple addition created a bride's perfect church wedding!
Outdoor Ceremony:
Do you really want to have an outdoor reception? This can be very difficult to have and the weather cannot be controlled by you. Is it worth the risk? Waterford at Fair Oaks can hold your reception indoors where the climate is controlled by us. Then you can go to a nearby park or outside on our property to take pictures.

You can also use us as the "Plan B" if you choose to have your reception outdoor somewhere else.

Michael and Fabiola - Sept. 20, 2009

2009-10-02T15:13:00.002-04:00

In September, Michael and Fabiola hosted their ceremony and reception with Waterford at Fair Oaks. The ceremony look place in our Serafin Ballroom, the cocktail hour in our Club Room, and the reception in our Wordsworth Ballroom.
Invitation and Ceremony in the Serafin Ballroom.

Across from the fountain in the main lobby.

Outside Waterford at Fair Oaks.

Bride and Groom with their parents following the ceremony.

Just after the grand entrance and their first dance as husband and wife followed the introductions.

The party continues!

Flowers were provided by Flower Gallery of Chantilly - ask for Rick.

703-378-4007

Photography and DJ services provided by the Pros.

http://www.thepros.com/

Photos provided by the Pros.

Looking For Ethnic Catering for your Wedding?? Waterford has it!

2009-10-01T09:00:00.001-04:00

Waterford at Fair Oaks can offer the perfect menu for your reception - American or Ethnic food!

Waterford at Fair Oaks offers packages for ethnic catering inwhich we have chosen a caterer for you, or packages that you can pick out your own caterer and have them provide the food for your reception. This includes Indian, Persian, Ethiopian, etc. Our packages start at $48 per person.

Waterford at Fair Oaks is also able to do split menus - ethnic and American. Most entrees can be added to our package for $5 per person and most sides for $2 per person.

E-Mail us for more information.

Host your Company's Holiday Party with Waterford at Fair Oaks

2009-09-30T14:39:00.002-04:00

Please Pardon our Dust - Waterford Announces Renovation!

2009-09-23T13:03:00.005-04:00

Waterford at Fair Oaks is pleased to announce a renovation of the front entrance to begin in the middle of January. The new front entrance is scheduled to be completed by March 15. We are very excited! Here is what the new entrance is going to look like (an idea anways)!

During this time, Waterford at Fair Oaks is offering a SPECIAL discount on our wedding packages - $52 per person for a Saturday evening!! (GREAT PRICE!)

This price is only available during the scheduled construction time (Jan. 15 to Mar. 15).

The front entrance, both inside and out, will be covered so construction work will not be visible. The side entrance to our property will become the main entrance during this time.

If food, the elegance of your reception, and excellent service matter to you, this is a great deal to take advantage of!

Call me for details - Charlena 703-352-3200 or charlena@waterfordreceptions.com

Vendor Spotlight - Philip Kent Photography

2009-09-02T10:08:00.006-04:00

Philip Kent Photography, located in Tysons Corner, Virginia, has been serving Northern Virginia since 1978. This studio has been praised over and over again by brides. As shown in the photos below, this studio produces wonderful photos of your big day.

Outdoor shot.

Getting in the limo following the ceremony.

Following introductions at Waterford at Fair Oaks, in the Wordsworth Ballroom.

The Wordsworth Ballroom, filled with guests!

Time to cut the cake!

Maid of Honor Toast.

Party time!

Philip Kent Photography offers a variety of packages, add-ons, etc. Many decisions that you will need to make regarding your photography package will be after the wedding! Please visit their website for more information. All of the contact information for the studio is listed below.

Address:

Centennial Plaza

8296 Old Courthouse Road
Vienna, Virginia 22182

Phone:

703-790-1020

Wedding Reception Lighting Basics

2009-08-25T16:03:00.007-04:00

I found this great article on theknot.com this week regarding lighting for your
reception, here is an excerpt below!

Wedding Reception Lighting Basics
Think lighting your wedding reception site means flipping on a light switch? If you want to turn your wedding site from standard to simply stunning, you'll probably need to take a more illuminating approach to your decor. "Lighting creates a mood," says event designer Preston Bailey, and when it's done well, lighting can make everything -- including your wedding flowers.

Assess Your Site
If you're planning an evening reception, make sure to visit your site at least once when it's dark outside. Look around the room and see where the fixed lighting is focused. Lights that illuminate the walls, windows, and ceiling can draw attention away from the center of the room -- and you want to keep everyone's eyes on the tables, dance floor, and each other.

Learn Lighting Lingo
Here are the types of lighting commonly used at weddings.

Pin spot - A focused beam of light that shines directly onto an object, like a centerpiece or wedding cake, as a highlight effect.

Color wash - There are a few different types of light fixtures that can create a "wash," which is basically a blanket of colored light covering an entire area.

Gobos - Circular stencils that are put over a light to project a design or pattern. Popular gobo designs are monograms, dates, or any other wedding motifs.

Led Short for light-emitting diodes, LED lights are currently popular for weddings because they use much less electricity (and don't get as hot) than regular, incandescent light bulbs. LEDs are great for color changes and vibrant colors. They're also common in strands and good for accent lighting.

Use Color
Think outside your wedding palette when you use colored lights. If you've used sage throughout your wedding, shy away from green lighting -- it might be too much, and green isn't always flattering. Opt for colors that complement all skin tones, like magenta or a soft rose.

Choose the Right Lights
The layout of your reception site can determine how you're going to use lighting techniques. If your reception site has sprawling ceilings, use pin spot lighting to keep the decor focused on certain details. And use a gobo light if you have a cute, recurring motif to help tie your reception together.

Work with your lighting designer to figure out which type of lighting fits your budget. All of your vendors (whose hard work will be well displayed) and your guests (who will all look great in flattering light) will be happy with the results, and you'll be left with a reception space that's bound to impress.

From: http://wedding.theknot.com/wedding-planning/wedding-reception-planning/articles/wedding-reception-lighting-basics.aspx

Visit theknot.com for more information!

Vendor Spotlight - Artisitic Concepts Group

2009-08-21T10:37:00.002-04:00

Artistic Concepts Group can create any lighting affect in your room that you desire. As you can see below, the bride's and groom's names are projected onto a wall behind their sweetheart table (where they will be seated for dinner). This looks GREAT for pictures and is another small detail to add into your special day. Here, in our Serafin Ballroom, green and yellow lighting changed the entire atmosphere of the ballroom. The yellow linens were also brought in for this birthday party.

You can also project initials onto the dance floor! Here, at Waterford at Springfield, the initals of the bride and groom were highlighted on the dance floor. This is another great touch to the ballroom for your special day!

In 2008, Bride and Groom Heather and Ricky choose to have their name's displayed on the wall behind their head table at our Springfield location. There was also a spotlight on the 2 of them for their big day! (See how the flowers are a little lighter at the bottom/the chairs are brighter? A great touch for pictures and to make sure everyone can see you!)

Artistic Concepts Group (AGC) can do almost anything imaginable for your wedding day! Visit their website or give them a call for more information (703-631-2213).

ACG is also offering a special discount to Waterford at Fair Oaks weddings ONLY.

ONE FREE Standard Metal Custom Pattern
with any $1000 order
-OR-
10% OFF Rental Equipment*
(DIY or have ACG set it up for you)
*not applicable labor

-Offers may not be combined-

EMAIL ACG FOR MORE INFORMATION

Mariana and Wayne

2009-08-12T20:10:00.001-04:00

Mariana and Wayne hosted both their ceremony and reception with Waterford at Fair Oaks over the weekend. The ceremony was held in our Carrington Ballroom. The room was filled with their family and friends -- and lots of pink and black!

Mariana utilized a wedding planner to ensure that the evening went smoothly. The wedding planner also made sure that all necessary pictures were taken!

Mariana and her bridesmaids created the centerpieces on their own -- ordered the flowers, had them delivered and put together the 2 pieced centerpiece here at Waterford. Prior to their arrival here, the flowers stayed in a very cold hotel room. Favors included gift boxes and water bottles.

The cake was also adorned with pink and black.

The couple started off the evening with their first dance and the dancing did not stop for the rest of the evening!

Vendor Spotlight - Cynthia Kirsch Photography

2009-08-10T11:02:00.002-04:00

Cynthia Kirsch Photography aims to capture amazing moments in life through blending artistry with technical expertise and years of experience. Kirsch Photography is photography for the exeception moments in life and specializes in weddings, bar/bat mitzvahs, and corporate events.
Kirsch Photography can be reached at kirschphoto@yahoo.com , http://www.kirschphoto.com/, or 703-421-5454.

Kirsch Photography is currently offering a special discount for Waterford at Fair Oaks Brides. Please see the Waterford sales office for details!!

Bride$hare

2009-08-06T12:42:00.004-04:00

Trying to save money? Or love going Green! -- Check out Bride$hare.

What is Bride$hare?

Bride$hare is a social networking site designed to help brides save money by sharing wedding-related resources and goods. Decor, apparel, rentals, and even vendors can be shared, swapped, or sold through Bride$hare connections.

Using Bride$hare is easy! After creating a profile, you’ll be able to connect with other brides planning similarly themed or decorated weddings, find local brides willing to split costs by sharing goods and services, browse member profiles and photos for inspiration, use Bride$hare classifieds to find or sell wedding items.

Vendor Spotlight - Maryam Flowers

2009-08-04T09:44:00.008-04:00

Maryam Flowers is a family owned and operated flower shop in old town Fairfax (Fairfax City). Maryam Flowers has over 17 years of experience and can create anything you can imagine with flowers.

Services from Maryam Flowers include:
-unlimited consultations in the store
-centerpiece samples (with a signed contract)
-toss bouquet
-rental vases and other items
-delivery and set up of ceremony and reception flowers to an unlimited number of locations
-stage/back drop, chuppa design and set up
-transporting flowers from ceremony to reception location
-pick up of all rentals
-any additional requests a bride has for her special day
less stressful

Raji and Bree
Here are some photos of the flowers from Raji and Bree's Wedding in our Alexander/Carrington Ballroom last year (8-9-08). Their ceremony took place in our Carrington Ballroom prior to the reception.

Please contact Maryam at 703-385-2929 or maryam@maryamflowers.com or visit http://www.maryamflowersbridal.com/.

****MARYAM FLOWERS is currently offering a special discount to Waterford at Fair Oaks brides -- 5% off your total floral bill!****

Kristin and Jonathan 7-25-09

2009-07-31T09:39:00.034-04:00

Kristin and Jonathan held their evening eception in our Alexander Ballroom on July 25, 2009. The ceremony took place prior to their arrival to Waterford at Fair Oaks.

The cocktail hour was held in our Club Room. Kristin and Jonathan chose our International Cheese and Fruit Display for the displayed hors d'oeuvre station and there were also 3 butler passed hors d'oeuvres for their guests.

The couple's attendents created a tunnel for them to enter the ballroom -- this, of course, after the entire bridal party danced into the ballroom.

The couple danced their first dance prior to dinner being served, which was a buffet.

The Alexander Ballroom -- decorated with mugs and soaps on the tables, pink rose centerpieces from the Flower Gallery of Chantilly, and pink uplighting.

The couple chose to have their sweetheart table directly in front of the dance floor. This place was chosen so that their grandparents could be both close to them and the dance floor - to make sure that they did not miss a thing on this special day!

The party really got started after the cake cutting and everyone enjoyed the entire evening.

Photography for this wedding provided by Philip Kent. For more pictures and package information, please visit his website.

$99 Gown Sale at David's Bridal

2009-07-29T10:58:00.003-04:00

The $99 gown sale is going on NOW at David's Bridal, now through August 10 - for the price savy bride. The closest stores are in Springfield and Woodbridge.

Vendor Spotlight - Cakes by Linda

2009-07-28T13:26:00.009-04:00

Linda Rothgeb, Cakes by Linda, has been decorating cakes for more than 30 years. She specializes in laces pieces, stringwork, white chocolate bows and roses, sugar-paste orchids, and other specialty flowers.
All of her cakes are baked fresh and never frozen! She offers Buttercream designs starting at $4.00 per serving and Fondant designs starting at $5.00 per serving. She also offers a variety of icings and cake flavors including orange champagne and white with almond. Please visit her website for more information and to contact her to set up an appointment to create your perfect wedding cake! You may also email her at cakesbylinda@hotmail.com.

A White Horse was Spotted at Waterford at Fair Oaks...

2009-07-21T14:08:00.007-04:00

Waterford at Fair Oaks hosted a traditional Indian ceremony last week. The drums, white horse, and people got the attention of the surrounding buildings of Waterford. The Groom started in the back parking lot on his white horse.

The family proceeded to the front of the building for the traditions of allowing the groom inside of the building. After a few minutes of discussing, he was finally able to come inside Waterford to see his bride. The wedding attendees first gathered in our Alexander Ballroom for a light breakfast and then moved into our Carrington/Serafin Ballroom for the ceremony.

7-11-09 - Weekend of Pink!

2009-07-15T13:45:00.001-04:00

Waterford at Fair Oaks hosted three pink weddings on Saturday. Each wedding chose a different shade of pink and had completely different centerpieces and other decorations.

This wedding chose to use Waterford's mirrors and round vases for the centerpiece. Maryam's Flowers (maryamflowersbridal.com) picked up the vases on Friday and returned them Saturday morning with the centerpieces completed.

This wedding used the mirrors and round vases provided by Waterford at Fair Oaks. Their florist from Clifton (Cliftonfloristva.com) provided the blooms and sparkle. The florist arrived prior to the event and set up the centerpieces here.

This wedding brought in hot pink table overlays and their own vases for the centerpieces - each with ivory and pink roses.

6-6-09

2009-06-25T09:46:00.005-04:00

June 6, 2009 was a great day for weddings. Ron Jones of Jones Photography (http://fairfaxweddings.net/) photographed this wedding in our Alexander Ballroom.The Bride and Groom chose to have a sweetheart table in front of a set of our mirrored French doors.
The couple had their first dance as soon as they entered the ballroom, with their wedding party standing behind them as a background.
This wedding chose to have a plated/seated dinner. Two entree selections were chosen for their guests at their tasting a few months prior. Pictured below is our Flame-Broiled New York Strip with our fresh steamed vegetables, Virginia style green beans, and herb-roasted new potatoes (red potatoes).
For more pictures of weddings at Waterford at Fair Oaks/Waterford at Springfield or other beautiful weddings photographed by Ron Jones, please visit http://fairfaxweddings.net/.

Wedding Mapper Website

2009-04-23T09:34:00.004-04:00

Waterford at Fair Oaks is now listed on the WeddingMapper.com website! This website is great to help your guests who are out-of-towners and unfamiliar with the Northern Virginia area. It can be linked to your website, you can print maps, and you can link other sites involved with your wedding (rehearsal dinner, hotels, points of interest, church, etc).

Visit our profile here: http://http//www.weddingmapper.com/vendors/vendor_stats/120792

New The Knot Website

2009-04-22T17:25:00.005-04:00

The Knot has created a new website just Washington DC Brides! This is a great tool to use in planning your wedding. TheKnot.com offers great helpful tools/hints to help you plan your wedding (and rehearsal and bridal shower and engagement party... etc)

Please visit the new site through this link: http://washingtondc.weddings.com/

Waterford Receptions Featured on BridesandWeddings.com!

2009-04-15T17:33:00.001-04:00

Waterford Receptions (Fair Oaks and Springfield) was a recently featured site on Bridesandweddings.com - the website of the magazine "Brides and Weddings of Northern Virginia."

Click on the link below to check out what BridesandWeddings.com had to say about Waterford at Fair Oaks
http://bridesandweddings.com/wordpress/?cat=6

Waterford Rehearsal Dinners

2009-03-17T16:32:00.003-04:00

Cannot think a place to hold your rehearsal dinner? Consider Waterford at Fair Oaks! Our faciliy holds a minimum of 30 guests in our beautiful Serafin Ballroom or our cozy Club Room. We have a special discounted menu for rehearsal dinners of $29.50 per person.

If you are already hosting your wedding and reception here, you might as well hold your rehearsal dinner here too! (You will already be here for the rehearsal on Friday anyways).

Waterford's Buffet Rehearsal Dinner Package includes 2 entrees, 2 vegetables, 1 starch, dessert, and coffee/tea. You can add on hors d'oeuvres (if you want) and a bar. There are many bar options for you, including an open bar, cash bar, wine by the bottle or just non-alcoholic beverages - it's completely up to you!

Holiday Receptions...?

2009-03-13T16:24:00.000-04:00

In 2009, there are many holidays that fall on Saturdays (Valentine's Day being the first last month) including Independence Day and Halloween. Christmas Day is also on a Friday this year and New Year's Day 2010 also falls on a Friday!

Should you get married on a holiday?? Well, if you love that holiday (i.e. July 4), then YES! What better way to celebrate your wedding date with fireworks every year! With an afternoon July 4 reception, you will be finished in time to step outside of Waterford to see various Fairfax County fireworks displays.

If you love Halloween, make your reception a masquerade party! (or halloween costumes required). This will make your reception an event that all of your guests will remember.

Be careful when planning around Christmas, many families go out of town for this weekend and may not be able to attend your wedding and reception. However, if you love Christmas, Waterford has special decorations during the holidays that are available to you as well!

Spring Brings a New Awning!

2009-03-05T16:21:00.000-05:00

Our front awning has been replaced and is brand new! Our staff has begun to spruce up the surrounding area of the building and the awning was first. New flowers should be in the front of the building by the end of the month.

Waterford's Wonderful Menu!

2009-02-10T10:33:00.012-05:00

Waterford has an extensive menu to choose from for your special day! We don't believe in creating a menu for you - we want you to create your own menu! Here are some of our favorite selections.

Chicken Piccata with our Grilled Italian Seasoned Vegetables and the Steamed Fresh Vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, and carrots)

Atlantic Grilled Salmon with Basil Cream Sauce
served with our Fresh Steamed vegetables, Virginia Green Beans, and Garlic Smashed potatoes

Waterford Garden Salad
our most popular salad served with Amaretto Balsamic and Champagne Raspberry Vinaigrettes

Here is a selection of our Hors D'oeuvres:

Petite Crab Cakes

Tomato Herb Bruschetta

International Cheese and Fruit Display (the most popular hors d'oeuvre display station choice)

Silk Flowers

2009-01-17T15:05:00.008-05:00

Many people believe that silk flowers do not look as real -- check out this video below of a reception for 200 that has silk and faux everything (including the cake!). After the wedding (to recoupe some costs) the bride and groom plan to sell everything.

The arrangements were created by the bride and the mother of the bride from round styrofoam bases that were placed into the glass vases for each table. Here are some close-ups below.

This is a great way to save costs on real flowers. You can purchase faux flowers over time so it is not as much of a large expense when it comes down to days before your reception! And the best part is -- they are reusable, so you can sell them or split the costs with another bride!

Waterford does Holiday Parties too!

2008-12-18T14:55:00.003-05:00

Waterford at Fair Oaks is also the perfect location for your company's holiday party! We offer the same great service as our weddings with festive holiday menus and decor.

Our lobby is decorated extra special for the holiday season. We decorate the lobby for the holiday season at the begining of December and keep the flowers out for as long as possible - even for wedding receptions!

Pink Winter Weddings

2008-12-12T11:37:00.010-05:00

Waterford at Fair Oaks hosted a pink winter wedding over the weekend of December 6. This time of year is a very popular time to host weddings and other events. Our Alexander Ballroom was filled with pinks and snowflakes. The Alexander Ballroom can fit a large head table (as you can see below) and still have plenty of space for guest tables and a buffet.

Last year, Waterford hosted another pink winter wedding in December. This wedding chose to bring in table runners and their own centerpieces.

Purple is this Year's Fall Color!

2008-11-20T12:07:00.007-05:00

Waterford at Fair Oaks has been host to multiple fall weddings this year that have chosen the color purple for their wedding color. Purple has been showing up in dresses, cakes, floral arrangements, favors, chair sashes, and table linens.

As you can see in the pictures below, this couple added in purple (and some navy blue) to their reception in the chair covers/sashes, centerpieces, table linens, bouquets for the bridal party, and on the cake/cake table.

The cake table and sweetheart table (table for the Bride and Groom) at the reception are shown below. There was no additional centerpiece provided for the sweetheart table, only a vase. The bride's bouquet was used as a table arrangement on this table.

This wedding below chose to bring in bold purple table napkins to use as a centerpiece accent to the purple hydrangeas in the round vases provided by Waterford.

Fall Football Weddings

2008-10-24T14:09:00.004-04:00

The Wordsworth Ballroom was host to a fall/football themed wedding on October 18. The centerpieces had 3 floating flowers in our round vases and the mirrors with candles, also provided by Waterford. This couple chose to bring in a Giants shaped football helmet ice sculpture. Low centerpieces make for easier conversation at tables.

The set up for this room works well as no one is in the back of the room. Guests are either close to the dance floor/food or to the bride and groom's table.

Washington Bridal Show @ Waterford at Springfield

2008-10-02T10:06:00.001-04:00

The Washington Bridal Show was held at the Springfield location for the second year in a row on September 28. Colleen represented the Springfield location and Erin and Charlena from the Fair Oaks location. Waterford offers a sample of items on our menu. This year we served our Pork Loin with herb roasted new potatoes.

September Weddings

2008-10-01T09:48:00.000-04:00

This wedding featured bright fall colored flowers with splashes of pink to add more color. The Alexander and Carrington Ballrooms, which this wedding was held in, holds 200 to 300 guests. This wedding had 200 guests with an extra large dance floor and room for a stage for a band! If you are interested in these items, it is important to take this into consideration when booking a space at Waterford at Fair Oaks.

This couple chose to have their first dance following their entrance into the room. Towards the end of their first dance, the parents of the couple were invited on to the dance floor, followed by the bridal party and then the rest of the guests. The dance floor was filled in moments!

Salads were served as the guests were seated followed by a delectable plated dinner of filet and chicken.

Another Beautiful Waterford Wedding in August

2008-08-23T23:59:00.006-04:00

The Serafin and Carrington Combination Ballroom was the room chosen by Amanda and Nathan over the weekend to celebrate their special day. This event had 180 guests in attendance.

Amanda chose to place the dance floor in the middle of the 2 rooms so more people could feel closer to the dance floor and they had a lot of dancers! Placing the dance floor in the center of the room generally means that the room will be able to accommodate a smaller dance floor as more space is needed surrounding the dance floor. Many of the special events/speeches for the evening took place on the dance floor and the bride wanted to make sure that everyone could see!

The chosen centerpieces were simple, yet elegant. Each table had a square vase with blue hydrangeas and orange tiger lilies. The bridal bouquets featured the same flowers.

Photography was provided by Witschey Photography, a husband and wife team that is frequently at Waterford at Fair Oaks.

The bride and groom chose a carrot cake. The cake waws provided by Cakes by Natalie in Leesburg, Virgina.

We've Repainted our Office!

2008-08-22T17:00:00.001-04:00

We just finished redecorating and repainting our office! We are displaying new pictures and have new albums in our office to look at. Come in and see us! We are open from 9am to 5pm Monday through Friday and 9am to noon on Saturday mornings. We have a few GREAT Saturday evening dates available for this year.

Availability update: Saturday evenings are begining to fill up for Spring and Summer of 2009.

Fishy Centerpieces

2008-08-20T17:47:00.002-04:00

Shannon and Sembe chose to share their special day in our Serafin/Carrington Combination Ballroom. They chose to bring in their own centerpieces which consisted of 3 tall cylinder vases and one short vase. The tallest vase was filled with clear water and a silk orchid plant. The two middle vases were filled with blue dyed water and the smallest vase was filled with distilled water and a blue betta fish. A clear protective top with holes was placed on the vase with the fish so it could not jump out! All the fish made it through the evening and the centerpieces remained beautiful for the entire reception.

The newlyweds danced to their first dance song sung by one of Shannon's bridesmaids. This live performance was a great enhancement to the evening!

2008-08-06T12:37:00.000-04:00

Lots of Gold and Candles

2008-08-04T14:05:00.014-04:00

Waterford at Fair Oaks was host to another beautiful wedding reception in our Wordsworth Ballroom this weekend. Christina and Eric chose to bring in patterned gold floor lenth linen. The colored linen changed the atmosphere of the entire room!

The table decor was provided by the bride. She brought in her own centerpieces and 12 candles for each table! The candlelight from each table made the room glow.

The bride also chose to have her place cards preset on the tables and a framed table list was located outside the ballroom for guests to view prior to entering the room.

(Linens were provided by Gala Cloths - http://www.galacloths.com/)

New Office Member

2008-08-01T10:42:00.001-04:00

Erin Hobson has just joined our office. She comes to us from the Odyssey, based in Washington D.C. She is a graduate of James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virgina. We are very happy to have her in our office!

Brooks Wedding Reception

2008-07-31T17:30:00.012-04:00

The Brooks' chose to have their special day in our Wordsworth Ballroom. This ballroom is our second largest ballroom. Following the parents and bridal party introduction, the newlyweds chose to have their first dance. Many couples choose to have their first dance right after their introduction as newlyweds. Others choose to have their first dance during dinner (towards the end) and invite others to the dance floor at the completion of their dance. It is custom for the newlyweds to have the first dance of the evening, so if you are looking for the party to start earlier, have your first dance as soon as you enter your ballroom!

The Brooks' chose an elegant, yet simple centerpiece to adorn their tables. Using the fishbowls, mirrors, and votives provided by Waterford at Fair Oaks, each bowl was filled with water, clear/white marbles, and 4 pink or ivory roses. The roses were purchased and delivered by the couple to save on floral costs. This is a great alternative for couples looking to spend their money elsewhere!

A Summer Affair

2008-07-15T15:27:00.004-04:00

Daisies and red accents filled the Serafin Ballroom for a ceremony and then the Carrington Ballroom for the reception over the weekend. A collection of daisy stems were on each row of chairs as well as vases filled with daisies on the alter.
The bride chose continue the yellow theme with red accents and decorated her tables with yellow pokka-dot overlays and daisies in red vases.

The sweetheart table featured a similar centerpiece as the rest of the tables in the room as well as a square overlay on the half round table. The cocktail reception and dinner reception were held in the same room.

Alternating Centerpieces

2008-07-15T15:02:00.007-04:00

Centerpieces typically are the same from table to table, however, varying/alternating centerpieces from table to table add uniqueness to each table.

On July 5 in our Alexander Ballroom, there were three different centerpieces on the tables. This pink and black wedding reception also chose to bring in bright pink table runners for each of the tables including the gift table and place card table. Each centerpiece was unique, but similar flowers were used for each centerpiece to tie them all together.

Alternating centerpieces is another way to save costs on flowers. If you would like to have floral centerpieces but they seem costly, use those centerpieces for half of your tables and use our fishbowls with floating candles for the other half! Don't forget to order a centerpiece for your head table or sweethear table!

A Perfectly Pink (and blue) Wedding Reception

2008-07-08T13:15:00.006-04:00

June 28, 2008 featured a hot pink and Tiffany blue wedding reception. This couple shared their special day in our Alexander Ballroom with 164 guests at 18 tables. Joanna and Joseph chose to name their tables with places that were significant to them. This evening began in our Club Room with passed coconut shrimp, bacon wrapped scallops, and virginia ham biscuit wraps as well as our International Cheese and Fruit Display.

The evening continued in the Alexander Ballroom, where the couple chose to start their reception off with their first dance and dinner. Guests were served Filet Mignon and Grilled Salmon or Chicken Wellington.

Linens were provided by Extraordinary Creations.

Here is what Joanna had to say about her wedding reception: "Everything ran like clockwork. Excellent service from the very beginning. Couldn't have asked for more helpful or more professional people to work with. Many, many compliments on the quality of the food and service.
I would highly recommend Waterford Receptions to anyone. Couldn't be more pleased!"

Ceremony and Reception

2008-07-07T17:00:00.000-04:00

On Friday, June 20, in our Wordsworth Ballroom, we held a ceremony and reception for 106 guests. The evening started out with a Catholic wedding ceremony on the left half of the Wordsworth Ballroom. Waterford provided the tables, riser, steps, and pillars for this ceremony. The couple provided the arrangements. Photography was provided by Dussan Photography, http://www.dussanphotography.com/.

Following the ceremony, the guests moved to the Club Room for cocktails and hors d'oeuvres while the Wordsworth Ballroom was reset for the reception. Our cocktail receptions typically feature an open bar, 3 butler passed hors d'oeuvres, and a stationary hors d'oeuvres display.

The Wordsworth Ballroom was reset with 11 tables that featured our fishbowl centerpieces with some added arrangements by the bride. Waterford can provide the round mirror, 3 candles, and fishbowls as shown below. Our brides choose to decorate these fishbowls in a variety of ways. For this reception, the bride chose to float a candle surrounded by floating petals with large clear rocks at the bottom of the bowl. She chose to include her own vase of orchids to add to the centerpiece.

June 7, 2008 (06-07-08)

2008-07-07T15:56:00.000-04:00

June 7, 2008 was a busy day at Waterford at Fair Oaks! In our Serafin/Carrington Ballrooms we had an afternoon reception for 200. The room was fulled with red and white decor. The bride chose to use our provided fishbowls for her centerpiece and filled them with beautiful red roses surrounded by red candles and red petals. Our Serafin/Carrington Ballrooms can hold a minimum of 160 guests and a maximum of 220 guests.

Our First Blog!

2008-07-02T12:33:00.002-04:00

Welcome to the wedding blog of Waterford at Fair Oaks! Please check back frequently for more pictures, ideas, comments, and more!

For our first post, we will take you back to a wedding held on May 24, 2008 where Amanda and Robert of Richmond shared their special day in our Alexander Ballroom. This wedding was beautifully decorated with green and white, with a touch of gold added with the chair cover sashes. The bride chose to bring in her own votive candles and the florist provided the vases for the centerpieces.

From Amanda regarding her wedding day:

"Everything was perfect! I imagined what my wedding day would be like, but you guys helped me surpass all my expectations! Thank you so much! I would defintely recommend your venue to any and everyone."