OMG! Thanksgiving is around the corner, and it is not lost on me, as I sit down with my glass of wine to write this blog, that time has flown bye. Originally, this was supposed to be a love letter to The Summer Brides of The Manor, but alas, my best laid plans were derailed by many unexpected happenings…so, this blog is a love letter to feeling blessed by all the wonderful people that crossed the threshold of our properties on Potter Road this year.
Firstly, I would like to shout out to all of our guests of 2021. It has been a pleasure and privilege to share The Manor with you and we look forward to welcoming you back anytime!
I also want to extend a special acknowledgement to the members of the Wadsworth family. The Wadsworths were the previous owners of the property, and they sought me out in August 2020, shortly after we hosted our first guests, to book 4th of July 2021 week so they could re-capture their family tradition of gathering at The Manor as they had for more than 20 years.
At the beginning of the year, I don’t think anyone knew what 2021 was going to look like because COVID-19 changed the landscape of how we live. I am personally grateful for everyone who chose to make The Manor part of their story. It has been a revolving door of amazing guests from “friendcations”, staycations, and family reunions, not to mention the return of weddings!
I was so fortunate that in the early summer of 2020, our lake house neighbors (Diane & Jeff…who I didn’t actually know at the time) contacted me about renting that house for their daughter’s June 2021 wedding guests. I was thrilled to be asked, but unfortunately, their dates weren’t available. In one breath, I had to decline, and in the next I said, “we do have this other house that might work…it’s just not finished yet”.
Their accommodation booking became the beginning of our wedding events; it also started a beautiful friendship. While Diane’s daughter actually got married at The Chautauqua Institution, the Chautauqua Heights Manor estate was host to the wedding party, a 100-person welcome BBQ and many intimate events during their five-day stay; such as a bridal party brunch, champagne, hair & make-up sessions, and the wedding after party.
I cannot tell you how it warms my heart to see this home come to life again and be the center of its guests’ memories and story. As an interior designer, I see in full pictures and stories, which is either a curse or a blessing depending on who you ask in my life…especially my husband, who has to make it come true. During the renovation, I often day-dreamed of what the house looked and felt like over the last century with its occupants, and have concluded, the spirit of this house is transcending time.
Speaking of stories, all of our brides have been beyond warm and stunning and each one had a different story to tell. Our cottage saw a June bride, who was an area local, that just needed to have little place for her bridal party to gather, stay, and get ready for her big day. So happy our quiet secluded setting could provide that for her and her family.
Labor Day Weekend was the first full scale, 100-person, white tent wedding that hosted thirty family/friends in residence, the rehearsal dinner, the wedding and reception. Our bride, Maddie, was actually our second wedding booking, which she did right after the Christmas. God Bless her, she trekked up when we had at least 10-feet of snow and the house was in the tear down stage of last year’s Christmas décor. Honestly, it was a mess! Fast forward to September, The Manor was transformed into an elegant wedding venue. Maddie translated her wedding vision while embracing the eccentric vibe of The Manor to perfection with the help of exceptional wedding vendors (some of whom you can find right here on our site).
Our last September bride was Hannah, who is an extremely talented dressmaker from Rochester, NY. Hannah and Glenn (a French trained chef) threw an intimate wedding for family and a few close friends. They truly made The Manor the “backyard” wedding of their dreams.
As we closed out September with the weddings, we saw October blossom with weekend guests who wanted to hike, see the turning leaves, explore the wineries, and enjoy all the other fun fall happenings in Western New York. October was also the return of my favorite guest EVER, Ms. Marissa and family. Marissa’s 4-day jaunt was her third stay this year; her affection for The Manor inspires me every time she stays by re-seeing it through her eyes. Her eloquent words of their time spent with us pushes me to expand and rethink The Manor’s story and hopefully, translate it in the ever-evolving design.
It’s our guests and their stories that entice us to keep sharing The Manor. Seeing the photos shared from all of our brides and guests has been a privilege and true a pleasure. And on that note, I am happy to announce we are 90% booked for Summer 2022, and we have started booking 2023 summer and weddings. Not in my wildest dreams did I think I would be writing that to you a week before Thanksgiving!
Thank you and Happy Holidays from our family to yours!
Dearest Michelle,
Once again, you have outdone yourself. Your thoughts and sentiments brought a tear to my eye. We could not have asked for a more beautiful setting to host family and friends, many who have never been to Chautauqua. You did me proud, girlfriend! Chautauqua Heights Manor is magical…every room with its own personality and story. Each room touched by your charming decorating talents.
Michelle, thank you for all that you did to ascertain that Remy’s and Joe’s wedding reflected the magic of Chautauqua. I woke up on Sunday morning with a new son-in-law and a “bestie” for life! Love from the Steinhilber and Gugluizza clans! Diane
Awe Diane, I am truly touched! Forever will Remy’s wedding weekend be woven into The Manor’s story not to mention mine. Thank you again for trusting us!
Michelle this is so beautifully written and the design spaces you create tell a story while holding space for the history. I’m SO proud & love youuu to pieces. I can’t wait to see what you manifest next. 🤩💗✨