Historic Ashland — Attraction in Hellam Township

My Husband and I got married at Historic Ashland on 4/16/23. I can not recommend this venue enough! This venue was a top contender right from the very start. They had several different packages that appealed to us as we were not sure how big of a wedding we were going to have initially. Right off the bat they were quick to follow-up with our inquiry and answer any questions that we had. Once you see this venue in person you realize how incredible and versatile it is and left no room for doubt.

For the staff: Leah is extremely attentive and personable to work with. You can tell that this venue is her baby and invests all the love and care that is evident through out the entire grounds and all the details. She is an incredible resource and I would also recommend reaching out early after you have booked this venue as she has great insights on the different vendors you can use to stay within your budget. It is one area I wish I utilized earlier on in the process.

Amanda was our Day of Coordinator and was incredible from preplanning, rehearsal and day of the wedding. She had everything and anything on hand that you would need. I have no idea if anything didn't go according to plan because she handled things effortlessly and from our perspective it was the perfect day with no hiccups. We actually were ahead of schedule all day which made for a very relaxed bride, groom and wedding party. We never felt rushed which I think really helped us soak in the whole day to its fullest.

Additionally, Leah and Amanda invited us to their private facebook group for couples getting married that which is a valuable resource on your own. They post updates regularly in there and you are able to connect and ask questions of other brides and grooms who are getting married or were married at HA.

For the venue: The mansion to get ready was amazing; very spacious, filled with light, convenient for our hair and make-up vendors and was a beautiful back drop for photos. The cottage which my husband and his groomsman/family used to get ready was the perfect size. They played darts, had a couple of pre-ceremony drinks and relaxed comfortably.

There are so many ceremony sites and back-up options to cater to your wedding vision. We had our April/Spring ceremony outdoors under the trees and pergola, had cocktail hour outside on the patio and lower lodge and then the reception upstairs in the lodge. Each location had their own feel and vibe that flowed effortlessly. It also was so convenient to have all 3 events in the same location.

Leah, Amanda and the whole Historic Ashland Staff really make you feel like family throughout the entire process and after. Following the day, I forgot my customized hanger that Leah so kindly found and mailed back along with a small gift that my husband and I both cherish and wear. You can not go wrong with Historic Ashland and if you choose them you will be forever grateful and happy that you...

Several months later, we continue to think back to our wedding and how special Historic Ashland made everything for us. The space was incredible and the staff attentive and caring. Leah and our day-of coordinator, Amanda, were a pleasure to work with! From the beginning when we toured Historic Ashland, Leah was easy to communicate with and still gave us a tour even though we showed up late having driven two hours to HA. I had a ton of questions for her when we were finalizing which venue we were going with and Leah hopped onto a call with me driving somewhere to make sure my questions were answered. From professionalism to personality, it is clear to see why HA has been a go-to venue for so many people.

The venue itself is amazing. Having the two locations to get ready—the mansion for the bride’s party and the farmhouse bottom floor for the groom’s party—was great. The mansion has plenty of space for prep and getting ready. The designated room for hair and make is a great addition. The room is big enough for four professionals to be doing hair and make-up (two and two) while also having space for the girls who were not getting anything done to also be in the room. There are three additional rooms on the second floor which were great to have for changing. There are also two bathrooms in the Mansion which is a huge plus. The farmhouse was a great location for the men to get ready in, with space to relax, have some fun, and get changed.

Since we had a winter wedding, it was great that the barn had a downstairs and an upstairs for the ceremony, cocktail, and reception. Leah did an amazing job having the barn restored. We didn’t have anything set up for the outside space on the ground floor but having that access for people to have indoor and outdoor space during the cocktail hour was super nice.

Having Amanda there as the day-of coordinator was a pleasure. From the day-of planning meeting to all the assistance on our wedding day, she was essential. We had a lot of items for decorating on our own and she helped unpack everything so it was ready to go for set up and then helped pack it up at the end of the day.

Amanda helped save the day by creating another bridesmaid bouquet when we realized we ordered one less than we needed. She went around to the different floral pieces in the reception/ceremony spaces and created a bouquet. She copied the look of the bouquet so well that no one noticed it was different. This really underlined how the HA staff helps make your wedding day special.

My husband and I highly recommend Historic Ashland for anyone looking for a venue that you’ll remember for...

Leah and Amanda, thank you for a truly fantastic wedding day that we both look back on and our guests wholeheartedly agree can be described as pure ‘fun’.

Venue & Owner (Leah) - First off, Historic Ashland is as beautiful as the images online make it seem. Take a look at HA's social media as well, because they have many videos/photos that can illustrate more details of specific areas you may be interested in! We had our initial tour in the fall of 2023 and were fortunate enough to have Leah be the guide. From pulling into the driveway and seeing the Mansion to walking in the front door, we could start to imagine what the day could look like. We liked how it was an exclusive event venue where we would be the only ones on the property, which was different than others we had visited. Reflecting, I'm so grateful for that, because we were their only focus, and they executed fantastically. From bonding over being TempleU Alumni to getting permission to have one lantern, my heart was sold. You can tell that Leah truly cares about the couples and events that the venue hosts as she was there in person and made a point to ask how everything was going and if we needed anything. It came down to cost, and whether we could swing it as it was more than other venues we were looking at, and I'm SO HAPPY WE DECIDED TO GO FOR IT! Going into the event all we wanted was to have fun, and it was everything we wanted and more.

Day of Coordinator - one of the BEST add-ons out there - I can see why it's required. Not enough words for how fabulously fierce Amanda is. On the day of, we had a U-Haul driven to a designated parking spot, and then everything appeared! One thing we didn’t think about that makes the day-of coordinator worth every penny is that it allows your family (and yourself) to be present and enjoy the day! After almost two years of planning and commuting 2 hours one way to the York area to meet vendors, having Amanda as the ‘head coach’ of the day allowed us to be present and have the time of our lives.

Highly recommend getting the candles and glass jars for the stairs between the upper and lower levels if that's your style.

The only thing I would say is that prior to the event confirm what the kitchen will and will not have such as hot beverage cups, silverware, plates - we supplied our own. Be aware that after cocktail hour and guests move to the reception area (upper level) the lower level...