The Trivium Estate and Conference Center re opened this year after a gorgeous renovation and upgrade provided by Moyanne.
Tell us about the history of Trivium
The Trivium was originally built in 1832 by Spottswood Brown. The Trivium originally served as a tavern catering to the families who would visit their sons attending the Bellevue School for Boys. The Trivium also once served as the home of the famous nurse, Virginia Henderson.
How many guests can Trivium accommodate for a wedding?
The Trivium can accommodate an indoor reception for 150 seat guests or 200 guests served buffet style with floating tables. The Trivium also has numerous outdoor locations that can be tented to serve larger receptions.
What makes Trivium special/different compared to other places (why should they pick Trivium for their event?)
The Trivium is different from other venues for a variety of reasons. We offer a beautiful venue on 11 landscaped acres with private lake, a beautiful view of the Blue Ridge Mountains, all located in a convenient location. The Trivium also offers four different outdoor ceremony locations, including a pond side gazebo. Our venue also welcomes outside vendors including caterers to help the bride and groom create their dream wedding day.
Is there anything else about Trivium that you would like to share?
The Trivium strives not only to offer a beautiful venue but, also superior customer service. Every member of our staff is excited to help with each event and is readily available to help on the big day in any way possible. To truly grasp what The Trivium has to offer we invite interested parties to schedule a private tour. We also encourage everyone to check out our website (www.thetrivium.com) that offers photos of events and aerial video of our entire property.
It’s winter, who wants to go tromping through the grounds of one venue after another? Starting today, I’m going to give you a virtual tour of some of my favorite venues! I’m going to start with the Clifton Inn, one of the few Relais & Chateaux Properties in the US. Here’s a little bit of their history:
Clifton boasts a remarkable historical legacy that begins with a direct link to Thomas Jefferson and includes a connection with one of the most colorful characters of the Civil War.
The original property was part of a 3,000 acre land grant belonging to Peter Jefferson. Through the Jefferson family, approximately 350 acres of the land was passed on to Thomas Jefferson’s daughter and her then-new husband Thomas Mann Randolph. It was on the central parcel of this land that Randolph built their home “Edgehill.”
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The stone foundations of the present main house were likely part of a warehouse that Randolph built to service his trading business. Randolph spent a great amount of time at Clifton while his wife Martha worked as hostess at Monticello.
Randolph’s Jefferson family ties were frayed and in fact broken in 1826 in a dispute over Thomas Jefferson’s will. When Randolph learned that he had been bypassed as executor of the will by his own son, Thomas Jefferson Randolph, the elder Randolph was furious and humiliated. So much so, in fact, that in 1826 he renounced his family, leaving Edgehill and moving ½ mile away to what is now Clifton. It was there that he lived in complete seclusion, spending his days and nights drinking and brooding while his health failed him. In March of 1828 he moved again, this time to the North Wing at Monticello, where he died alone only a few months later.
Clifton once again had a date with history during the Civil War, when it is said to have been the home of the “Grey Ghost of the Confederacy,” Colonel John Singleton Mosby. Mosby and his family were driven from their home in Middleburg and apparently sought refuge at Clifton. As the story goes, the colorful Colonel often sent them food and supplies and was careful to re-route his packages upon reports of Union soldiers in the area.
Following the Civil War, Clifton remained a private residence for more than a century until it was lovingly restored by its current owners into a five-room country inn. Three historic dependencies on the estate were restored to create nine additional guest accommodations in the original home and its outlying buildings, including the “Honeymoon Cottage” and “Livery Suites.”
I asked Clifton Coordinator some questions about the inn:
How many guests can Clifton accommodate for a wedding?
300 is our maximum.
What makes Clifton special/different compared to other places?
Clifton is a unique blend of southern charm & hospitality and luxury accommodations & service all set on a beautiful property which only feels like you are out in the country (since we are so close to Charlottesville). The modern clean lines with the eclectic decorations lends itself to most any wedding decor ensuring that the property becomes your own private estate for the weekend equipped with a full restaurant and staff! Guests are often surprised by how friendly (and international!) our staff is and we pride ourselves in making sure every detail of every event is accounted for. That is one of the reasons we have an event coordinator onsite who is familiar with the event and the property.
Is there anything else about Clifton that you would like to share?
I can honestly say that every member of our staff loves being here and doing what they are doing. Behind the scenes we are always working out details on events beyond what most clients would believe even if I told them. Our goal is to have the wedding couple be able to check in that weekend and know that everything will be taken care of from then on.
credits
venue: Top of the Town
minister: Laura
caterer: Catering by Uptown
dj: Norman Voss
florist: Twinbrook
lighting designer: Frost
How did you meet?
We met online on www.okcupid.com, a site which was free, something we both like. Katie joined because her friend convinced her, not wanting to join alone. Matt joined because he liked the interface. Katie never responded to anyone until Matt came along, being able to talk about her favorite author, Jack Finney. When we finally met in person a month later, our date lasted from 7 p.m. until 3 a.m. at IHOP.
The Top of the Town is an amazing venue! How did you choose it for your wedding?
We found the venue by accident. Searching online from the venue, we found it listed as one of the top, and when we finally got there, Top of the Town lived up to expectations and more. Katie was speechless.
Tell us how you chose the decor for Top of the Town.
Our decor was based entirely off of Christmas and the flower girl dress. Our colors were blue and purple with bubbles. Katie wanted twinkle lights everywhere.
Tell us about your dress and other fashion accessories. I loved the “bubble” look!
My dress was by Henry Roth named Zoe and my shoes were custom made cobalt blue Milk & Honey 2″ heels. I wore pearl and crystal earrings, my communion pearl necklace, and a pearl bracelet.
What detail did you like best about your wedding day?
Matt: The fact we got married was a big detail I liked.
Katie: I finally got to wear my dress and that we got married.
Tell us about the food!
The cake was lemon in the first and last tier and the middle tier was amaretto. Matt was sad that he did not get to eat the amaretto :(. The food was good, a ceasar salad and chicken and steak entree.
What was your favorite moment?
Matt: My best man’s speeches and just being on the balcony afterwards.
Katie: Going around town with the bridesmaids and taking pictures before the wedding and going with Matt to take pictures after the wedding.
And finally, what’s next for you as a couple?
Montauk!
click on this link to view the password protected gallery of all their images!
2011 has been an incredible year worldwide! From the Arab Spring to the Republican primaries, global warming to Steve Jobs death, and everything beyond and in between. Down in my little corner of the world, the studio enjoyed lots of weddings, engagement sessions, bridal portraits, babies, families, seniors and of course fine art work. While I can’t show EVERYTHING (or everyone) we photographed this past year, here’s a sampling of some of our favorites!
thanks to my new I Phone and the “PhotoBooth” app!
coming this week, Allegra’s Studio year in review
Gift Certificates to Allegra’s Studio are a wonderful holiday gift! They never expire and the recipient can use them when they want! Call us now and we can send you a personalized PDF that you can print and wrap for your special someone!
Thank you to all who came and donated to our Toys For Tots! Here are just a few of my favorite images:
Amy from the Arrangement Company who provided the gorgeous flowers at the studio that evening!
and here are some more of our fun visitors!
