Saturday October 2, 2021
Parque at Ridley Creek State Park, Newtown Square, PA
1261 days 7 hrs ago
Story
Alex caught Laura's eye online with his charming smile and personable response. After 4 weeks of texting back and forth and no first date in sight, Laura finally gave in and asked Alex if he wanted to meet.
The wait was worth it because Alex planned a detailed, 8-hour first date adventure where he whisked Laura around Philly from a hip restaurant to a jack-o-lantern garden to a hidden speakeasy. They ended the night walking hand-in-hand around Philadelphia in the early morning hours. Multiple romantic dates ensued with apple picking, antique shopping, cooking classes, campfires, sunrises at lighthouses, sunset hikes in Maine, firework watching at Charleston Harbor, jazz at the local winery, and late summer Shore trips. Most weekends, though, Laura and Alex spent quarantined together during the pandemic watching Indiana Jones, discussing God's will, completing puzzles, and experimenting with cooking.
Just over a year after their first date, Laura and Alex retraced the steps of their first date (as they best could in the pandemic), stopping along the way to select an ornament from the Philadelphia Christmas Market. At home, Laura placed their new ornament on the Christmas tree, and Alex told her to turn around with her eyes closed because he had a surprise. It was a ring...she said yes (with surprised, happy tears)...and the rest is history.
Tidbits
How did you first meet?
We first met online, and then shortly afterwards, met in person at a small vegan restaurant in Philadelphia.
What's your favorite activity together?
I think there's a lot that we consider favorite activities together such as hiking, hanging at the beach, road trips, and eating pizza.
Where are you going for your honeymoon?
Our plans for the honeymoon are to travel to Kauai and Maui for 2 weeks. We have plenty of hiking and sightseeing plans already made.
What's the best meal you have eaten together?
I think there are a few favorites. As the best meal from a restaurant, I would have to say its between our one year dating anniversary steak dinner at Rocco's at the Brick in Newtown, PA and our 5th date where we picked up wine from the local vineyard in Hopewell and then ate dinner at Nomad Pizza (where the pizza is truly amazing). We also have some pretty amazing home-cooked dinners, such as roasted sweet potato risotto, African peanut curry, Buddha bowls, tamale pie, and gnocchi.
What's the most memorable trip you have taken together?
We took a trip to Maine in our first 6 months together, stopping along the way in Boston and small coastal towns. We met friends and family for the first time and stayed in a small cabin on a frozen pond in Maine with gorgeous sunrises. We like to fill our trips with as many activities as possible. One of the days in Maine, we drove three hours to Bar Harbor to hike Acadia National Park. There was plenty of ice and snow, but the views were stunning. After hiking down the mountain, only one place was open in town with coffee, and it was the worst burnt coffee you ever had. If only we had waited about 20 more minutes down the road, there was a gas station with much better coffee. Once we started traveling home the next day, the COVID-19 quarantines started, which made traveling a bit unsettling.
This was the first big trip Laura and I took together where we really bonded and grew as a couple.
A life goal of ours
Is to visit each National Park and every state in the US.
The dorkiest thing about us is
We love sci-fi shows/movies, talking too much about Bingley our Goldendoodle, and playing Pokémon Go.
We are regulars at
Udos bagels, The Gingered Peach, Nomad Pizza, and Wegmans.
We take pride in
Our back porch plants
Schedule
Saturday, October 2, 2021
Ceremony
3:30 PM to 4:00 PM
Join us for the wedding ceremony in the walled garden to the right of the mansion.
Semi-formal
Cocktail hour
4:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Join us on the back terrace of the mansion for cocktails (on the house), hors d'oeuvres, and lawn games.
Reception
5:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Join us in the mansion ballroom for a seated dinner and dancing. There will be an open bar.
Semi-formal
After party
9:30 PM to 11:59 PM
Since the state park asks all wedding guests to be off the mansion grounds before 9:30 pm, we will have an after-party starting at 9:30 pm in West Chester. Send us off with a toast and enjoy a night cap in a hip, private lounge. This will be a cash bar.
Travel
Flying There
We recommend flying into:
Philadelphia International Airport (~35 min from the venue)
Other airports nearby:
Harrisburg International Airport (~1 hr 30 min from venue)
Newark International Airport (~1 hr 40 min from venue)
Washington/Baltimore Thurgood Marshall International Airport
(~1 hr 50 min from venue)
Getting to your hotel from the airport
There are many ways to get to your hotel depending on where you are staying. There are several car rental options at the airport, and Lyft and Uber are relatively inexpensive ways to get to the area around Ridley Creek State Park or West Chester, PA ($42-$54 one way). If you are feeling more adventurous and are staying in the Center City area of Philadelphia, the Septa Airport Regional Rail Line will take you straight to Center City from the airport for only a few dollars! You can then Uber from the city or take the Market-Frankford SEPTA line to the Media stop of the Media-Elywn line (Trolley 101 or 102). You will still need to Uber from the Media stop.
Recommendations on Where to Stay
We recommend you stay in and around West Chester, PA, which was voted 2017 "Greatest American Main Street." The town has many cute shops, delicious restaurants, and neighborhoods with well-preserved historical homes.
The Glen Mills/Chadds Ford area also has multiple hotels that are an easy ride to the Hunting Hill Mansion in Ridley Creek State Park.
For the optimal Brandywine Valley experience, we suggest that you stay at a B&B in an old colonial inn.
If you want to experience Philadelphia during your visit, you should consider staying near the Rittenhouse Square neighborhood in Philadelphia for amazing dining and an easy walk to multiple museums and historical sites.
The Warner Hotel
This hotel no longer has any room in the Hester-Richter room block. Rooms are still available on Oct 2 after the wedding, but the hotel is booked Oct 1.
Alpenhoff Bed and Breakfast
This beautiful bed and breakfast is adjacent to Ridley Creek State Park. You could almost hike to the wedding (but we don't suggest it in heels).
Home2 Suites by Hilton Glen Mills-Chadds Ford
There are multiple hotels in the Glen Mills/Chadds Ford area. This one has a high rating and is near The Shoppes at Brinton Lake and Concordville Town Center. It is only a 17 minute drive to the Hunting Hill Mansion in Ridley Creek State Park.
Staybridge Suites Wilmington - Brandywine Valley
Another suite option in the Glen Mills/Chadds Ford area near The Shoppes at Brinton Lake and Concordville Town Center. It is only a 17 minute drive to the Hunting Hill Mansion in Ridley Creek State Park.
Hampton Inn & Suites Chadds Ford, State Farm Drive, Glen Mills, PA, USA
In the Glen Mills area near shopping and only 20 min from the venue.
The Inn at Whitewing Farm
A romantic 1700s farmhouse that is a 16-minute walk to Longwood Gardens and a 25 minute drive to the Hunting Hill Mansion in Ridley Creek State Park.
Booking Assistant - Find Hotels Near Our Venue
Suggested Stay:
Fri, October 01 - Sun, October 03
Newtown Square, PA, USA
Our Favorite Restaurants and Watering Holes in West Chester and Surrounding Areas
BREAKFAST
* Two Birds Café - A 5 minute drive outside of West Chester, this local restaurant has amazing double-fried home fries (mmm) and egg bennys ()
* Nudy's Cafe - You'll have to fight the college kids for seats, but the eggs benedict is worth it ()
LUNCH
*Opa Taverna - our favorite lunch place in town with the best Greek salad and great sidewalk views. Dinner is great, too! ()
DINNER
* Mercato - An Italian restaurant with nice outdoor seating, a pleasant ambience, and delicious ragu. ()
*The Social - This is our favorite place for a casual date night. It may not entirely be Southern food as they claim (no grits or greens), but the food is still delicious and there is often live music.()
* Four Dogs Tavern - In the historic Quaker villlage of Marshallton just 10 min outside of West Chester, this old tavern has a nice porch and great PA country views. ()
SWEETS
*Gemelli's Artisanal Gelato & Dessert Cafe - In Laura's eyes, this is the only place to get dessert in West Chester. It was named the best gelato in North America by the James Beard Foundation. Try the mascarpone-Nutella flavor!
*Eclat Chocolaterie - Declared by Bon Appetit Magazine to have the best chocolate in America. ()
COFFEE
*Gryphon Cafe () *Gemelli's Artisanal Gelato & Dessert Cafe
DRINKS
* The Split Rail Tavern - in West Chester
* Slow Hand Food and Drink - in West Chester
* Ram's Head Bar and Grill - Alex's favorite place to watch the Philadelphia Flyers and have a beer.
* Levante Stables - Outside of town, we recommend that you visit the Levante Brewing Company in these renovated stables and try their Cloudy and Cumbersome IPA.
* Revivalist Spirits - If you're up for a 30 min drive through PA farmland, this distillery is found in a classic PA stone barn outside of Elverson, PA and has a pretty great bourbon.
Things to do in and around the Brandywine Valley, PA
Q & A
For all our friends and family who have lots of questions, please check out our Q & A first!
I have a question not answered here; how do I contact you?
You can contact Laura at laura.hester87@gmail.com with any questions.
What COVID-19 precautions will you have in place?
We are actively following data on COVID-19, and our venue will enforce prevention measures in accordance with state and Federal recommendations. We will communicate with our guests about precautions as the wedding approaches. Our decisions will prioritize the health and safety of our guests. Although we are currently planning on an indoor reception, our venue has an outdoor reception option, if needed. We will make decisions about having the reception indoors or outside a week in advance of the wedding. We will follow the most recent guidance on masks at our wedding. If there are a high number of local cases within a week of the wedding, masks and hand sanitizer will be available and encouraged. All servers and vendors will be masked. Currently, we are not planning on offering SARS-CoV-2 rapid testing onsite. However, if case counts continue to increase, there will be optional rapid tests available for unvaccinated guests in the hour before the ceremony.
Can I bring a date?
Please check your invitation for your +1!
Is there transportation being provided between reception and hotels?
Yes, there will be a shuttle option coming from the Hotel Warner (downtown West Chester) in the afternoon before the ceremony and returning to the Hotel Warner after the reception in the evening. The Hunting Hill Mansion is a 20 min trip from the Hotel Warner (40 min round trip).
Please indicate in your RSVP if you would like to use the shuttle. The shuttle schedule is below.
Pickup from the Hotel Warner before the ceremony:
Pickup #1: 2:10p (one minibus)
Pickup #2: 2:55p (one minibus)
Pickup #3: 3:00p (one van)
Pickup from the Hunting Hill Mansion after the reception:
Pickup #1: 8:00p (one minibus)
Pickup #2: 9:00p (one minibus and one van)
Pickup #3: 9:40p (one minibus)
Where should I park?
If you choose to drive to the wedding, there is free self-parking in front of the Hunting Hill Mansion. An attendant will be at the edge of the parking lot to direct you to the ceremony site.
Are kids welcome?
Please check your invitation for your child's/children's names. While a few children will be a part of the ceremony, we cannot accommodate most children at our wedding and will not have baby sitting services.
Is the wedding indoors or outdoors?
Our wedding ceremony will be outdoors in the garden. If it rains, the ceremony will be indoors. The cocktail hour will be both on the back veranda and inside the mansion rooms.
Currently, we are planning for a reception indoors in the ballroom. The outdoor veranda and other mansion rooms will be available throughout the party. However, we are closely monitoring the situation with COVID-19 in PA and plan to follow all government guidelines. If restrictions change or cases increase past a threshold, we will hold the reception in a tent outdoors on the veranda.
What will the weather be like?
October is a beautiful time in Philly (except when a nor'easter blows through). During the day, the weather generally averages 65-75 degrees, but it will get chilly at night (as low as 55 degrees). Although our reception is indoors, please bring warm layers for the evening.
What should I wear?
The event is semi-formal to formal. The ceremony will be outside in the garden (fingers crossed), so consider this when selecting your shoes. Also, it could be chilly in the evening (as low as 55 degrees), so consider a jacket or shawl.
Will food be served?
There will be excellent food available including up to 6 hors d'ouerves options, a salad, and three different main courses, all made onsite by professional chefs. There will also be an open bar...enjoy!
What if I have a dietary restriction?
There is an option on the RSVP that lets you provide information on dietary restrictions. If anything changes after you RSVP, you can always email the bride, and she will communicate your restrictions with the caterer.
Will there be dancing?
There will be music and dancing unless COVID-19 restrictions change these plans. Be prepared for sappy country songs and line dances.
Is it okay to take pictures with our phones and cameras during the wedding?
We would love for you to take photos throughout the wedding. However, we ask that you never block the professional photographer or take distracting photos of the wedding party while the professional photographer is at work!
Will last names be changing after the wedding?
Laura will change her last name to Richter but keep the name Hester for her professional interactions.
Wedding Party
Joy Gary
Matron of Honor
Ryan Stanger
Best Man
Jessie Richter
Bridesmaid
Timothy Black
Groomsman
Laura Hansen
Bridesmaid
Justin Carley
Groomsman
Caroline Schwenz
Bridesmaid
Evan Laput
Groomsman
Laura Cure
Bridesmaid
Luke Navin
Groomsman
Kyla Kara
Bridesmaid
Patrick Stephens
Groomsman
Madeline Gary
Flower Girl
Frank (a.k.a. Frankie) Gary V
Ring Bearer
Pastor Tracy Troxel
Officiant
Registry
We are registered at Williams-Sonoma, Pottery Barn, and Amazon. We are thankful for your help as we start our new home together. However, your presence is enough of a present to us!
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