Welcome Dinner | Terrain Gardens

A sneak peak into our Welcome Dinner — the perfect night together with family and friends to kick off our wedding celebration in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  We invited about 50 guests that traveled from all over the country to celebrate our wedding on February 19, 2020.

Upon entering Terrain Gardens on the chilly Sunday evening in February, (2 days before we got married) I could smell the crackling fire pit that looked so magical! Once inside the courtyard the large chairs circling the fire pit, each with their own cozy plaid blankets, look so inviting for s’mores later in the evening! YUM!! Inside, the vaulted room are most beautiful gigantic barn doors that frame the front of the room with perfectly hung twinkle lights throughout to make it extra magical.  I loved all the wood accents in this space — especially the wide plank wood floors, gorgeous built-in cabinets to display some of our favorite engagement photos and massive greenery pots dropped from timber beams above.

We chose farm tables and white linen runners down the center with a simple mix of greenery, baby’s breath and wax flower sprinkled through. I loved the simple and fresh elements along with votive candles in vintage jars sprinkled along the centers of each table.

I’ll share all the details below:

My Dad was MC for the night and we had a short program after everyone ate dinner.  Jareds family has a really fun tradition know as, “Sibling Gifts”. So each of his siblings gave me a gift tied to a memory or story from Jareds growing up years — some were funny, other were sweet but it was fun to receive such thoughtful gifts from each of them as a way to welcome me into their family.  And then, my siblings each gave Jared a gift that was tied to a memory from my growing up years.  Its was so fun and funny!! Such a fun tradition I got to be a part of!

We enjoyed the most delicious food together:

APPETIZERS: Harvest cheese display with Doe Run cheese selection, fresh fruit, pickles, nuts, preserves, baguette toast

FIRST COURSE: Flower pot bread whipped butter, kale caesar salad lemon anchovy vinaigrette, shredded parmesan, herbed crouton

ENTRÉES (family style): Green Circle Chicken Breast winter roasted vegetables, carrot puree, roasted garlic chicken jus & Red Wine Braised Short Ribs mashed sweet potato, crispy shallot, charred scallion W/ pasta pomodoro pecorino romano, basil

DESSERThot chocolatecreamsicle cheesecakecaramel crunch cream puffchocolate chip + black lava sea salt cookies’mores by the fire pit And then I was able to do a Daddy/Daughter dance with my Dad and Jared danced with his mom which then kicked off the dance party!! Such a fun night to dance to our favorite music with all my favorite people!!!I loved every moment!xoxo