The Golden Horseshoe Inn
9 Golden Horseshoe Road • Stanardsville, Virginia 22973
434-566-2555 • goldenhorseshoeinn.com
Tucked into the mountainous region just south of the Shenandoah National Park, the historic Golden Horseshoe Inn was constructed in 1827 as a stagecoach inn for travelers venturing through the Blue Ridge Mountains. Nearly two centuries later, the brick structure now serves as a place of gathering once more, but this time for celebrations of the unions of couples. When Heather Tusing and her husband first took over the site, they initially pictured running a charming bed-and-breakfast. However, when the inn hosted its first elopement in 2008, Heather—a former voice-over and TV commercial actress—discovered her true passion, “creating beautiful, intimate matrimony experiences, centered around each couple and tailored to their personalities.”
So that brides and grooms don’t have to go through the headache and struggle of devising an over-the-top celebration of their union, Heather has carefully crafted a trio of packages for smaller gatherings with guest counts of eight to 70. The unique Afternoon Tea Wedding offers an all-inclusive model that transports brides, grooms, and 24 of their closest family and friends to a festive and refined indoor or alfresco tea party. Along with a stunning backdrop for their ceremony and festivities, this offering includes professional photography, socially distanced tables, refreshments, a wedding cake, and flowers.
“Part of our focus is to really simplify the wedding-planning process, narrowing details down and not letting a lot of ‘overthinking’ creep in,” Heather comments. “Having hosted and photographed hundreds of weddings over the years, we have been able to identify ‘pain points’ for our couples—hurdles many couples encounter in their wedding planning. Our all-inclusive model was born from watching those struggles. We think we have gotten to a wonderful place where couples still have the ability to make all the ‘fun decisions,’ like choosing their cake flavors, linen colors, and floral details, while knowing that all the not-so-fun parts of organizing a wedding were done for them.”
In keeping with Heather’s mission to reduce those pain points, she ensures that each couple can create the wedding of their dreams without needing to source décor, food, flowers, or photography from outside vendors. Whether a couple dreams of a vintage aesthetic or an elegantly rustic affair, The Golden Horseshoe Inn holds a variety of linens, trimmings, and dishes from which the hosts can select. An entire schedule is even drafted for couples who don’t want to have to worry about the timing of each momentous second of their big day. And Heather herself serves as the venue’s on-site photographer for each event. For services the inn doesn’t offer in-house, a list of vendors is available.
“The venue brings up in me a really grateful feeling, an amazement at being invited—and trusted—to share in a couple’s really important experience and day, from getting to hear the heartfelt toasts, to witnessing the special moments that no one else sees, to helping a couple feel like they are the only clients we have and that we are completely focused on their happiness,” Heather remarks.
For the menu, Heather works with brides and grooms to craft an appropriate teatime menu that reflects the couple’s tastes. While the food is purchased and sourced from local shops and vendors, Heather takes note of personal preferences, along with any dietary or allergy restrictions of those in attendance to keep everyone safe. Couples have a selection of black and herbal teas from which to choose to serve their guests—and Heather always makes sure there is milk or cream to add to their cups.
“There is just an innate elegance to hosting a tea,” Heather says. “The dainty china, the delightful patterns, the charm of using a special cup that has graced a celebratory table countless times over the years… an afternoon tea feels like something special has taken place, something where thought, care, and delicate beauty have all come together to create a special event. I think it is the perfect way to host a simple, yet very special wedding.”
The Golden Horseshoe Inn is open by appointment only from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday.
