Unique Reception Sites in Pennsylvania

You're engaged, the date is set and the gown shopping has begun. Now it's time to start looking for everything else, like for starters, the reception site.

Some places may be booked only months in advance but other may take a full year to get into. Start looking early! Here are a few ideas for those Pennsylvania brides out there that would love to get married in a unique location.

A Day at the Museum-

The University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaelogy and Anthropology
The Lower Egyptian gallery of the museum has room for 180 guest for a ceremony and feature a gigantic sphinx. The Chinese Rotunda will seat up to 300 guests. Enjoy a delicious menu of food made exclusively by the museum's caterer.
http://www.penn.museum/ for more information.

The National Civil War Museum
Located in beautiful Reservoir Park, Harrisburg, Pa. Their banquet room is great for a reception for up to 250 people. Not only are there great places to take memorable photos on the grounds but explore the history of the Civil War on this special day.
http://nationalcivilwarmuseum.org for more information.

The Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania
Have your reception in the Railroad Museum’s impressive Rolling Stock Hall a unique and impressive venue. Located amongst scenic Lancaster County farmland which allows your guest to enjoy a weekend full of activities in the Lancaster area.
http://rrmuseumpa.org for more information.

Stop and Smell the Roses-

Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library
Located in the Branywine Valley makes this site perfect for those with families in the New York, Washington, DC and Pennsylvaia areas. Many different wedding packages to choose from along with a long list of locations throughout the facility. A great location for anytime of year.
http://www.winterthurweddings.com for more information.

Bowman's Hill Wildflower Preserve
This unique venue is located in Buck's County about 2.5 miles from New Hope, Pa. Use the Captain James Moore Pavilion which holds up to 100 guests or hold your ceremony at the intimate gazebo in the woods with 20 of your closest friends.
http://www.bhwp.org for more information.

One of my Favorites
Cameron Estate Inn & Restaurant
I'm a bit partial to this spot since this is where my husband and I were married 6 years ago this coming May.
Located in the countryside of South Central Pennsylvania this space can be solely rented out just for you and your guests or the on-site facilities can be used for day of events like the ceremony and reception. The staff at the Estate has been planning weddings for 10 years and the menus they offer are just delicious.
http://www.cameronestateinn.com for more information.

Inspiation Board for Spring 2011

The spring issues of bridal magazines have been hitting the shelves since the beginning of the new year. Well, I can't say I haven't been inspired. Maybe I miss all the fun I had putting together my wedding, six years ago this coming May.

Putting together inspiration boards is always fun and very helpful when planning your own wedding. I've made many of these over the years while working in the fashion industry. If the big companies out there use the inspiration they find in magazines, why can't you!

Don't hide your clippings, swatches and tear sheets from magazines away in a binder. Pin them on the wall, tape them to a big piece of foam core or lay them on the floor of a spare room. You may have too many ideas to start, but seeing it all spread out in front of you will help you narrow down the best ideas and discard the ones that just don't seem to fit.

Make it fun, even your husband to be can get involved!


Here is the first of many Inspiration Boards I hope to add to my blog over the next year.

Vendors and Designers represented:

Dresses- Priscilla of Boston and Melissa Sweet, priscillaofboston.com
Save the Date Napkin- Ditto Paper. dittopaper.com
Paper Globes- Picture from Tomme Hilton Gallery, tommehiltongallery.com
Bouquet- Amy Osaba, amyosaba.com
Shoe- Kate Spade, katespade.com
Cookies- Rolling Pin Productions, rollingpinproductions.com
White Garden Rose Cake- Sweet & Saucy Shop, sweetandsaucyshop.com
Beaded Handbag- Unknown
Vintage Brooch- Megan Hamilton Weddings, meganhamilton.etsy.com

Coming Soon! The Honeymoon Tote

Turn your Custom Wedding Gown Sketch into a tote bag!! I'm calling my new addition "The Honeymoon Tote".

This is a handcrafted tote bag with your Custon Wedding Gown sketch proudly displayed on the front of the bag. Carry this tote on the beach with you while you honeymoon with your new hubby. Just another way to remember your special day and do so while lounging on the beach or at the pool.


The tote is made (not purchased from another retailer) in two sizes with heavy weight canvas and features a grosgrain ribbon accented handle. Your sketch is printed on colorfast fabric sheets and sewn into the bag. This allows you to wash the bag if necessary.

Brides, you can also have your gown sketched with your bridesmaid dresses and give each girl her very own tote filled with goodies to show how much you appreciated all their help on your special day.

The Knot.com - Wedding Obsessions Blog

A specail thanks to The Knot.com for including a small feature about my Custom Wedding Gown Sketches in their Wedding Obsessions Blog.

Please check out the link by clicking on Wedding Obsession Blog above.

Weddings Magazine 2011 Issue

I've been waiting and waiting for the 2011 issue of Weddings Magazine to arrive. Since it is not published in this area, only Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill and the North Carolina Coast I was pleasently surprised to see the full magazine online and ready to view.

Flipping page after page I finally came upon what I had been waiting for, for months. Megan Hamilton Weddings, Custom Wedding Gown Sketch, has made it in the new issue. Yeah!!





Special thanks to Sam from Bliss by Sam Weddings , Wedding Consultant/ Planner for the Durham, NC area for contacting me and making this happen.

Beaded Beauties

Well it's been quite a while since I have had the time or the inspiration to do some blogging. I am going to try to post something atleast once a week. So here it goes Week #1.

Leave it to Martha Stewart to inspire me. I was browsing through my huge file of clippings from old bridal magazines,"Keep everything" is my motto, you never know when it will come in handy, and I have happened upon some gems that should keep me blogging for a while.

BEADED FLOWERS! Beatiful to look at and a unique way to make something specail for your wedding that will stand the test of time. Your beaded bouquet can become the "something old" for the next generation.


(Clipping is from an old issue of Martha Stewart Weddings Magazine)
See first hand how to make these beaded beauties at http://www.marthastewart.com/article/beaded-flowers

OR
For those of us with no time or patience check out this etsy shop Budding Creations for her awesome beaded bouquets. Very reasonable prices and she's even having a Holiday Sale until Nov 30th.

My Sketchbook

I thought it might be nice to showcase my Sketchbook of Custom Bridal Gown sketches and Bridal Gown and Tuxedo sketches I have done over the past few years. I will add more sketches as time goes on.

Please note the sketches you see are not my original designs. These are representations of designer gowns. If you are interested in having a sketch done of your gown please check out my web site Megan Hamilton Weddings. I would be more than happy to work with you to create a keepsake of your own.

Custom Wedding Gown Sketches make great gifts for: The Bride-to-be, Anniversary's, Valentine's Day, Birthday's or just because.