Why Your Guests Will Love Your Loudoun Wedding

Photo via JOFFOTO

Even though it is all about you… it’s not all about you.

It takes about… a week, maybe? A week, for anyone who’s planning a wedding to settle upon this fascinating realization. 

You choose your favorite foods, while also curating a menu that will appease all the specialty diets.
You pick a venue that makes your heart twirl, while also checking and double checking that it will comfortably hold everyone you hold dear (and everyone you’re obligated to invite).
You select a music option that gets your love in full swing, while also making sure that these are the tunes that will get people on the dance floor. 

This is what it takes to design a wedding that not only celebrates you and your fiancé(e) but also entertains the effusively adoring yet occasionally opinionated people in your fan club. 

And, another thing: it’s not just about the literal wedding, you’ll soon understand. It’s about the whole multi-day experience: where your guests can cheers to your love the day (and night) before, where they can explore while you get ready, where they can recover at brunch the morning after. 

It dawns on you that planning your big “day” actually means planning a mini vacation for all your friends and extended family, with a big party in the middle. With cross-country travel and not-so-minimal costs involved for your dearly beloved guests, there’s pressure to make their efforts to attend your wedding “worth it.” There shouldn’t be, but there is. And we get that. 

We’re here to tell you that — at a crowd-pleasing destination like Loudoun County, Virginia — it’s actually easier than you might think for your wedding to achieve “best-weekend-ever” status. From misty morning hikes to afternoons hopping between wineries to evenings of experimental yet seasonal cuisine, your guests might even want to extend their stay to get their fill of Loudoun.

Here are our top 5 reasons why Loudoun County has a reputation among wedding guests as a wildly popular place to say, “I do!”

Craft Beverages

Whether you go the “open bar” route is totally up to you. But, for your grown-up guests who enjoy a drink or two, Loudoun’s diverse craft beverage scene provides enough variety to entertain them for much longer than 72 hours. From cocktail classes to pitchers of wine slushie, we’ve got your 21-and-over crowd covered. Cozied up by a roaring tasting room hearth in  winter; lounging beneath the forest canopy rocking to an outdoor summer concert; wandering among the hops as the leaves begin to burst with autumnal tones… no matter the season when you say “I do,” Loudoun County’s 40-plus wineries and 30-plus breweries provide the perfect setting for guests to unwind from matrimonial festivities. Friends and family can kick back and let one of Loudoun’s top-rated tour services tote them around the vineyards or grab a wine trail guide or Beer Passport and they can explore on their own. And, don’t forget: serving local libations at the wedding is always a popular option, especially among consumption-conscious millennials!

The Scene

From a completely chocolate-themed restaurant to a presidentially-patronned tavern built in the 1700s — your guests will savor every chance they get to experience Loudoun’s acclaimed restaurants. Loudoun’s nightlife options will also keep the post-reception party going. (Think: pop-up bars, a progressive Thai fusion joint that hypes up its club vibes after dark, etc.) There’s even a golf cart service in downtown Leesburg that can scoot you from spot to spot until the early morning hours! And if you have guests seeking a little retail therapy after a big night out, Loudoun has tons of unique shopping destinations that fit the bill.

Adventures

If the thrill of eternal commitment gets your guests in the mood for an adrenaline rush, they can easily find a full spectrum of indoor and outdoor activities in Loudoun County. A ropes course with a million different climb combinations, whitewater rafting at the confluence of two rivers, axe-throwing and go-kart racing under one roof… you name it, there’s a place you can find even the most out-there experiences in Loudoun. Give your wedding guests the freedom to choose their own adventure as you embark on the greatest one with your lifetime partner in crime.

History

One of the most exciting elements of the wedding for many guests is hearing all about your love story, from your serendipitous meeting to the sweet proposal. Encourage these detail-driven attendees to dive further and explore the history-rich landmarks throughout Loudoun! Our county is dotted with iconic structures and designated areas — and full of experts eager to share our storied past.

Accommodations & Transport

Got girlfriends flying in from Georgia? A cousin cruising in from Colorado? Dad who just doesn’t want to drive back to D.C. at the end of the night? Show your loved ones traveling from near and far how much you appreciate them going the distance by making them feel right at home in Loudoun. With hotels that offer free shuttles from Dulles International Airport, the coziest countryside bed & breakfasts and nationally-ranked resorts — Loudoun’s got convenient and comfortable accommodation options galore. Your wedding guests will feel so welcome lounging indoor-poolside, wandering through enchanted estates and soaking up onsite spa luxuries… they might not want to leave Loudoun!

After your first rodeo with the whirlwind that is wedding season, you know full well that all the touching ceremonies and raucous festivities tend to blur into a mass memory of happy tears and bad dancing. But when you say I do in Loudoun, your wedding is guaranteed to stand out from the rest.