Inside Weddings features Winvian
Celebrating love with New England charm
Winvian played a special role in a recent Inside Weddings feature about one of our favorite couples. Connecticut natives Kelsey Clarke and Ian Melville had a meet-cute worthy of a rom-com. Following a 10-mile run in Raleigh, North Carolina, one of Kelsey’s fellow runners introduced her to Ian, who happened to be from Kelsey’s hometown. After a whirlwind romance that included a foster puppy and close quarters during quarantine, the two decided that this was a forever love-story and that they wanted to start the next chapter in their home state, with a summer wedding graced by New England charm.
With the perfect match made, Inside Weddings notes that Kelsey had a specific vision for a similarly perfect wedding location. “‘I wanted a venue where the whole wedding weekend could take place,’ affirms Kelsey. They began searching and immediately fell in love with a luxurious retreat that showcases unique cottage accommodations for guests and marries New England charm with European elegance.”
Winvian: your private estate awaits
Winvian has the unique distinction of offering couples and their guests an entire 113 acre estate for a fully customizable wedding weekend. From start to finish, the wedding was marked by elegant flourishes tailored to Ian and Kelsey’s specifications. Inside Weddings describes guests arriving to “a gorgeous invitation suite, which was inspired by the floral pattern Kelsey selected for the bridesmaids’ skirts.”
A guest-centric itinerary “encouraged guests to lounge by the pool, visit the gardens, bike around the property, and hike throughout the weekend.” Another “only at Winvian” touch was a post rehearsal dinner “cottage crawl” that “provided loved ones with the opportunity to explore some of the venue’s 18 unique cottages designed by 15 artists. Guests grabbed flashlights and followed a map to three of the cottages for desserts and drinks – plus, two beers brewed by the groom, including ‘Peachy Horizons,’ a brew made with native North Carolina peaches that complemented the design.”
A natural choice
Ian and Kelsey’s June wedding reflected the beauty of a New England summer, with lush florals transforming even the more rustic Gordon Brown House into a leafy bower lifted straight from the pages of a fairytale. From ivory florals lining the aisle to “reception seating assignments on escort cards decorated with pressed flowers arranged on a charming garden-inspired display,” the wedding weekend reflected the natural beauty of the surrounding landscape.
Food should never be an afterthought. Winvian’s five-diamond farm-to-table cuisine was one more romantic element worth savoring. Guests enjoyed “a tasty farm-to-table dinner highlighting ingredients from the onsite gardens” followed by “slices of a wedding cake decorated with realistic sugar flowers and danced all night to the sounds of a live, jazzy band. The couple was overjoyed with their celebration that honored the ‘homey, comfortable, relaxed, and spectacular’ vibe they desired. With so many happy memories made, they plan to return to the venue and stay at a different cottage each year to celebrate their anniversary weekend.”
Start your story here
As a family-run luxury retreat, Winvian loves when couples choose to start their family story here. Read the full Inside Weddings piece to see how our attention to detail ensures each Winvian wedding reflects the unique love it commemorates.