Jung and I photographed a wedding in DC in January and our bride and groom chose to offer their guests various food stations at the reception.  Everyone loved it and I was thrilled to see stations when I photographed Aldie’s 2nd Annual Options and Upgrades Event, catered by Jeffrey Miller Catering.

Placed throughout the mansion, were 8 food stations, 3 dessert stations, passed desserts and 3 drink stations.  As guests entered the Great Hall, lit by a romantic summer fire of candlight, they welcomed the refreshing sight of Hibiscus Iced tea, Lemonade and Minted Water and Seafood Martinis.

Guests then proceeding into the library, were they continued feasting at a pasta station, complimented by a vodka lemonade station.  The ballroom held the grandest display of interactive stations including a Mexican Grazing Station, a Vietnamese Summer Roll Station, a Raw Bar, a Blini Bar and Pork Chow Fun Station.

As guests finished their meals, Cheeksecake Lollipops, Mini Frozen Sorbet Pops and Peruvian hot Chocolates were passed.  Guests could also indulge in either a free flowing fountain of Chocolate or Carmel, an Espresso/Cappuccino Bar and leave with a warm mini donuts fried to order.

It was a full house and everyone left happy!

Click to see a mouth-watering slideshow of the different stations offered and for pricing information, please call Kimberly Bates at 215-348-3509.

The holidays are in full-swing and Aldie Mansion is particularly beautiful during this time of year.  I love seeing the snow on the roof and the lights twinkling inside.  I love the sound of the floors creaking beneath my feet and the warmth that envelopes me as I walk in thru the stately front entrance.

Aldie Mansion was built in 1927 by William Mercer Jr. (brother of Henry Mercer) and his wife, Martha Dana of Boston and replaced the previous structure handed down to them by William Jr.’s parents.  Martha continued to live in the house after William passed away and was well known for throwing lavish Christmas parties.  Her most famous Christmas party was held in 1941 when the Von Trapp family sang in the great hall.

Martha died in 1960 and bequeathed Aldie Mansion to the Catholic Archdiocese, which used the mansion first as a seminary and later as a drug and alcohol treatment center.  In the 1980′s, Aldie was abandoned, vandalized and burned.  After many changes of hands, Genuardi Markets, Inc and Vesterra Corporation sold the property to the Heritage Conservancy for $1.  In 1991, the Conservancy, with the support of the community, complete a 3-year capital campaign to restore the mansion.  Aldie now houses the business offices of the Heritage Conservancy and is rented for weddings, receptions, meetings and community events.

Since we are now Doylestown community members, my family and I recently attended the annual Christmas at Aldie Community night where we indulged ourselves on sweets, listened to the local high-school choir sing Christmas carols, made a Christmas ornament, learned how to make a bat house, watched a rescue dog presentation and played instruments at a sing along.  I’m so thankful to the Heritage Conservancy and the community for resurrecting Aldie so that we can enjoy it today.

To schedule your holiday event at Aldie and dine on exclusive caterer Jeffrey Miller’s cuisine, contact Kimberly Bates or Shelley Nohowel.