My wife and I are wanderlusts from Michigan who yearned for an intimate destination wedding. We…read morewanted a cozy wedding near the mountains at a venue that didn't break the bank. Weeks of searching online led us to Silver Lake Bed and Breakfast.
Silver Lake Bed and Breakfast is a 1750s log home that sits on a 100-acre farm outside Harrisonburg, Virginia. The house retains its original rustic charm, with hand-hewn beams and bluestone chimneys. The owners have made tasteful renovations over time, too- digital thermostats, glass walk-in showers, and WiFi. There are wide-open views around the B&B. On any given morning, you might catch a glimpse of a cow, a deer, or the friendly farm cat, Maple. There are lovely rolling hills in the distance. It's quiet and peaceful. You'd never realize that a city of 51,000 people is only ten minutes away.
It was everything we'd hoped to find.
Since we only anticipated about 40 guests, we qualified for Silver Lake's intimate wedding package. That package allowed us to rent all six of the B&B's guest rooms for our wedding party and parents. We were able to hold our wedding ceremony and reception on-site. Weather permitting, the ceremony would be held outside in front of a beautiful arbor overlooking the hills. We'd have our reception under a large tent in the backyard.
After confirming the cancellation policy a few dozen times, we booked before we ever set foot on the property.
The owners stopped responding after we signed a contract. Weeks went by. We repeatedly left voicemails and sent e-mails, and no response. Finally, our wedding planner had enough and visited the venue. That's when we learned the owners we booked with had sold the B&B. The new owners were taking the reins and would contact us soon.
Undoubtedly, this was an anxious time for us. In hindsight, it was the best thing that could've happened.
The new owners, Ben and Hannah, contacted us a couple of weeks later. They apologized profusely for the confusion and promised us an extraordinary experience. They delivered on this promise in spades!
Since taking over, they made many improvements to the property we enjoyed for our wedding day. We're grateful for their efforts and excited to see their continued progress! Ben recently refinished the front porch. It's a welcome and comfortable place to sit in a rocking chair on a chilly morning with a cup of hot coffee and a book. Their dining room features a giant, exquisite dining table that Hannah artfully decorates each season. It's a perfect place to enjoy a hot, filling breakfast and forge new friendships. Lastly, there are guest books in every room and the main dining room. We enjoyed reading about previous guests' stories and experiences. Hopefully, future guests will enjoy reading about ours!
Ben and Hannah worked seamlessly with our wedding vendors to arrange on-site visits and discuss logistics. They communicated constantly and accommodated every reasonable request. We are so grateful that a twist of fate allowed us to meet them. They politely stayed inside for our wedding ceremony, but we insisted they join us for our reception under the tent in their backyard. They cooked and cared for us for days; the least we could do was offer them the same treatment.
We are still determining when we'll return to Virginia, but we will undoubtedly stay at Silver Lake Bed and Breakfast when we do. We know we'll leave with full bellies and hearts. Thank you, Ben and Hannah, for letting us into your home, treating us like family, and providing an unforgettable wedding experience.
