Celebration Day Details
Our Biltmore Weddings Coordinator
Ms. Lauren Bazenas of Biltmore Weddings is our catering coordinator. She can be contacted at 828-257-5947 Email lbazenas@biltmore.com www.biltmore.com
Our Planner
Ms. Nicole Riley, of Verge Events, is the planner. She can be contacted at
828.398.0732 Email: hello@vergeevents.net. Their website is https://vergeevents.net
Our Florist
Ms. Ruth Guillot, of Smiling Petals Flower Shop, is providing the floral arrangements. She can be contacted at 843-379-6667. Her email is designer@smilingpetalsflowershop.net.
For routine purchase and delivery go to smilingpetalsflowershop.net
For weddings go to smilingpetalsflowershop.com
Menu Tasting
At noon on 15 July, we attended a 2 hour menu tasting at The Dining Room at The Inn on Biltmore Estate. Ms. Bazenas arranged the tasting. Our planner, Ms. Riley also attended. With the help of a maître d, a chef and two bakers, we sampled all the food and cake ingredients, except the prime rib, that will be served at the celebration. We were encouraged to request spice and seasoning changes. We also got to design the cake and decide what cakes, fillings and icings will be used. All of the food presented was exceptional.
We had to choose three of the four canapés. We decided to eliminate the grilled flatbread. It was a little too messy for finger food.
We left the bakers with our design and preferences. They may make changes if our preferences do not support the design.
Vow Renewal Rehearsal
On 22 September 2022 we had a Vow Renewal Ceremony rehearsal. The rehearsal took place on The Vista. Our wedding planner Nicole Riley supervised. The rehearsal went well. Afterwards we ate dinner together in the private dining room in Cedric's Tavern in Antler Hill Village on Biltmore Estate.
Arrival
It would be prudent to arrive at the Biltmore Estate gate by 4:45 PM. Admission will be free if your name appears on the gate attendant's list of guests. It will take five to ten minutes to drive from the gate to The Inn. You may drive to The Inn main entrance to discharge passengers. You may leave your vehicle with the valet or self-park. The parking attendants, doorman or bell staff can direct you to the Vow Renewal Ceremony on The Vista.
The entrance to The Inn at Biltmore Estate
Vow Renewal Ceremony
The Vista is a grassy area behind The Inn. You will be seated facing the southwest and the sun will be getting low in the horizon. You may want to bring sunglasses. A tent will be erected in the event of threatening weather. A string trio will be playing as you arrive for the ceremony. There is no seating protocol. Water will be available. We expect the temperature and humidity to be mild. A light jacket or sweater for the ladies may be wise. At 6 PM the trio will play the "Imperial March" from Star Wars and the ceremony will commence.
Although the format will be similar to a wedding, the ceremony will be a simple affair. There will not be the pomp and circumstance you would find at a wedding. We expect mirth, smirks and wise cracks, sarcasm and comedy. You are invited to make your opinions and comments known to all. The ceremony should be fifteen to twenty minutes long. After the ceremony the string trio will resume playing. We will try to take a few group photos before we move to the pre-dinner reception.
A view of the seating area on The Vista with The Inn in the background.
Pre-Dinner Reception
The pre-dinner reception begins at 6:30 PM and will be in The Gallery which is immediately outside the Vanderbilt Ballroom. The string trio will play while you enjoy the open bar and butler passed canapés.
The Gallery outside of the Vanderbilt Ballroom
Bar at the end of The Gallery
The Vista is adjacent to the Veranda and a short walk to The Gallery and the Vanderbilt Ballroom.
Dinner and Dancing
The doors to the Vanderbilt Ballroom will be open around 7:15 PM for those who would like to get a seat. We do not plan to assign seats except for the anniversary party. As soon as all are seated the DJ and Master of Ceremony will introduce the guests. Please stand, smile and wave when you hear your name. Then the anniversary party will be presented and seated. Dinner service will commence.
This will be a Stations Reception Dinner. Five stations will be positioned in an adjoining room. Guests may go at their leisure to the stations for the meal. Dinner service will last one hour and thirty minutes. At the conclusion of the meal we will cut the cake and have champagne toasts. There will be an open bar. After the dinner is cleared we will have the first dances and a few lighthearted activities followed by dancing.
During the dinner our DJ will be playing dinner music consisting of piano and dinner jazz. The dance music will be oriented toward the fifties through the eighties. We will attempt to honor music requests. Please send your requests to annbobinsc@outlook.com no later than 1 September 2022.
Bar service will end at 10:30 PM. We must be out of the ballroom by 11:30 PM.
Vanderbilt Ballroom
DINNER SEATING PLAN
We are not assigning seats. We have no idea who you want to sit with or not. The round tables are for the guests and the feasting tables are for the anniversary party. We would like the anniversary party to sit together. They will need to be together so that we can easily coordinate the post dinner events. Please help each other with seating arrangements. There are no bad seats.
The String Trio
East Coast Entertainment and Allegro Music provide the string trio. They will be playing a collection of classical, show and movie tunes. Click the button below to learn more about Allegro Music.
The DJ
East Coast Entertainment and DJ Ben Felton will be providing musical entertainment and master of ceremony services for the dinner and dance. Click the button below to learn more about DJ Ben Felton and see a video of him performing in the venue for our anniversary celebration.
