Greetings, friends and family. After fielding lots of questions from individual folks, we decided to post this guide to what we have planned for the weekend of June 5-7, so that all who are coming can plan accordingly, and any who are waivering might be talked into joining us. What we envision for everyone is a beautiful, relaxing weekend on Highland Lake in Flat Rock, North Carolina, near where Elizabeth grew up, with good food, good drinks and good music. And in the middle of all that, late Saturday afternoon, we'll stroll out on the lawn by the lake and get hitched. So here's the deal, and if any questions remain unanswered, let us know.The Location
All official wedding activities will take place at the LakeHouse Lodge & Spa on Highland Lake in Flat Rock. Some of you are staying with us at the Lodge or in one of the cottages on that property, while others have booked a room or one of the "garden hamlet cottages" on the adjacent Highland Lake Inn property. If you need lodging at the Inn and haven't booked yet, contact Steve Collins at 828.692.1359 (ext. 701) -- the sooner the better -- and let him know you're with the Feichter-White wedding party so that the three-night minimum will be waived.Here's how to get to the Lodge from Atlanta (you can drag the map with your mouse or click the "My Saved Places" link at the bottom for written directions):
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And when you see this entrance, you'll know you've arrived:
Activities On Friday, June 5
If you make it up on Friday afternoon or evening, we're planning to have a very casual gathering at the Lodge at 7PM, with local barbeque (and veggie-friendly alternatives) from the Hubba Hubba Smokehouse in Flat Rock and one or two of our favorite brews made by the Highland Brewing Company in Asheville. As the evening wears on, the beer flows and the music gets a little more uptempo, it's always possible a dance party could break out.
Activities On Saturday, June 6
Saturday is wedding day, but before all of that gets underway in the late afternoon, the day is yours, and we want you simply to enjoy a day in the gorgeous mountains of Western North Carolina. There are lots of activities to choose from. If you're feeling lazy, you can hang out at the Lodge all day, swim in the pool and take a kayak or paddle boat out onto the lake. If you can, bring something to contribute to a picnic lunch.
And of course, it isn't called the Lakehouse Lodge & Spa for nothing. If you want to get a massage, manicure or any of the other spa services, you'll need to book that in advance. A menu of services is here, and Vickie Miller at the Lodge (828.693.5070) will gladly take your reservation and make sure the proper staff is on hand.
For those who prefer to stretch their legs, there are excellent hiking opportunities nearby. Dupont State Park, near Brevard, is only about 25 minutes from the Lodge, and offers hiking for both the serious and the casual hiker. We especially recommend the Five Falls Loop, which takes you past five waterfalls -- including the spectacular Triple Falls -- and can be done in two hours or less. As hikes go, it's a heck of a payoff for just a little bit of effort. But that's just one of many beautiful routes to choose from at Dupont. Just ask Vickie at the Lodge for driving directions to the Hooker Falls parking lot, and hit the trail.
Others of you may want to head into quaint downtown Hendersonville, which is less than 10 minutes from the Lodge and a great place to stroll, browse the many specialty shops and galleries, or just grab a bite to eat. And whether you're into shopping or not, you simply can't leave town without hitting a true Western North Carolina / East Tennessee institution, the famous Mast General Store, which was founded in Valle Crucis, NC, near Elizabeth's hometown of Waynesville, in 1883, and has a location in downtown Hendersonville.
The Wedding
Which brings us to the main event. Plan to be dressed -- "casual wedding festive," says Elizabeth, which means look good, but no ties required for gents and no heels for ladies (we will be on a lawn, after all) -- and down by the lake by about 5:15 PM for a glass of champagne and to grab your seat. Our brief ceremony will be at 5:30 PM.
After the ceremony, while we take a few photos, all of you will return to the Lodge for drinks and hors d'oeuvres. And then at 6:15 PM or so, we'll all join up by the lake again for a buffet "farm to table" dinner, featuring traditional Southern fare with a contemporary twist, made from meats, fruits and vegetables that are all sourced locally. We're really looking forward to the food.
And you can't have a real North Carolina mountain wedding without some first-class bluegrass, so we've booked High Windy from Hendersonville to come and play for us Saturday night -- slow and pretty during dinner, maybe, but a little rowdier as the night wears on.
Activities On Sunday, June 7
On Sunday morning (precise time TBA, depending on how late we go the night before), Elizabeth's wonderful business partner at CCO, Dominique Love, her husband, Mike Greto, and their new little man, Hampton, will host a pre-departure breakfast at the Lodge. We hope all of you who stuck around overnight will come grab a morning bite with us before you hit the road and head for home.
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So there you go. We're so excited to have you join us for a lovely weekend in the mountains. Frankly, we can't imagine a better way to celebrate our commitment to each other -- among our family and friends, in a place that we love so much.
We'll see you soon,
Frank & Elizabeth
