Insider Tips for Perfecting Your Goodstone Inn Wedding Experience
Written by Shayda Windle | Photos by Michael Butcher
Each year, guests from across the country come together at the Goodstone Inn & Restaurant in the heart of Virginia to celebrate weddings and witness couples exchange vows.
Goodstone Inn is set on 256 rural acres of forest, rolling hills, and farmland a few minutes north of Middleburg, and just over an hour from Washington, D.C. It features six historic guesthouses, elegantly decorated in English and French country décor, with 18 luxurious guest rooms, a farm-to-table restaurant, and a wine cellar containing 1,500 bottles of wine from around the world, making this the perfect, all-in-one wedding venue.
Special Events Manager Sophia Brown, who recently finished planning her own wedding, helps ease the process of wedding planning at Goodstone and hosts about 30 weddings a year at the Inn. From large-scale weekend celebrations with rehearsal dinners, welcome parties, and farewell brunches to intimate elopements, Brown says, “We truly understand the process from both sides of the aisle, so to speak.”
“Our most popular locations are the Ivy Wall for ceremonies and our Woodsy Garden for receptions,” Brown shares. “Each space evokes an enchanted garden feeling but is customizable enough to fit any vision or aesthetic.” For couples interested in an indoor reception, Goodstone offers the light-filled Conservatory and cozy Bistro. When both levels are combined, the venue can support around 80 guests.
When asked for advice on planning a wedding both successful and as stress-free as possible, Brown encourages, “Hire a wedding planner that you love and understands your vision!” Adding that, Goodstone is “a blank canvas for bringing in tents and décor, so using your imagination to trust the process is vital. This year alone, we’ve seen different color schemes, themes, and overall aesthetics of weddings, from classic garden parties to ultra-modern to pastel paradise. Since Goodstone is primarily an outdoor venue for our larger events, we always recommend planners familiar with the property or at least the ‘world of tenting.’”
In addition to Goodstone’s picturesque setting, their farm-to-table catering for weddings is a major attraction, with vegetables harvested from the on-site garden, dairy and eggs from local cows, goats, and chickens, and even honey from the farm. The distinctive touch of fresh farm-to-table menus makes Goodstone weddings truly unforgettable.
“Aside from the catering, couples are welcome to use any other vendors they would like, including planners, photographers, videographers, music, or entertainment, provided the Goodstone team receives their insurance information prior,” Brown notes. “We love creating new vendor relationships. The beauty of Middleburg is attracting vendors from all of Northern Virginia, Richmond, Maryland, and D.C., and we adore meeting them.”
For couples considering their options for 2024 and 2025, Brown shares that, now more than ever, the industry is “eschewing tradition.” In place of a wedding cake, perhaps, “serve crème brulee instead, … have a flower dog walk down the aisle, roast s’mores in your wedding dress; make your special day your own,” Brown lists enthusiastically. “With Goodstone being such a unique property, we can embrace all our couples’ special qualities.”
For her last piece of advice, Brown concludes, “Your wedding day is a day for you and your partner to have fun with your loved ones. Follow your heart in your decision-making, whether it be your menu, flowers, or first dance song. Let us and your vendors care for you and your loved ones so you can have the most memorable day possible.”
More information on weddings at Goodstone can be found at goodstone.com/wedding. ML
Published in the February 2024 issue of Middleburg Life.