Historic Charm and Modern Flare

Last night was the Open House for Savannah's new boutique hotel, Avia. Situated in the Historic District, between Bay and Congress, it is conveniently located only steps from City Market, Broughton Street and River Street. This new, modern venue and the Victorian District's The Mansion on Forsyth Park offer the Savannah wedding customer a surprising, yet harmonious, contrast to the historic charm of Georgia's first city.

Avia will be hosting its first wedding on Valentine's Day...how festive! They offer a couple of options, from an intimate package including a 3-course meal in their modern and comfy dining room to a larger affair in their Grand Parlor. We had the opportunity to sample some of their menu items, including mini grilled cheese triangles served with tomato or lobster bisque (v-good). But don't fill up on grilled cheese, because all of their wedding packages include...drum rooooollll...a cake from Custom Cakes. That's no joke, kids.....not at all.

Their guest rooms are spacious and beautiful, but the addition of "hosting suites" to the room mix really amped up their wedding party appeal from our perspective. With separate living and sleeping areas, including expanded kitchens, they would be a great place for the bridal party to relax and get ready together before the ceremony OR for the bride's or groom's parents to host out-of-town guests for cocktails as they arrive in town.

From one modern Savannah wedding venue, we travel up Whitaker Street, and around the park to The Mansion on Forsyth Park. A vision in red brick, a wedding at The Mansion is a kin to a wedding in an art gallery + great food + beautiful guest rooms (and hallways, and stairwells, and elevators). They too have a wonderful Intimate wedding package in addition to the Classic option in their Viennese Ballroom, which is hard to match...this is not your average hotel ballroom.

Photo Credit: Donna Von Bruening Photography

The Mansion's bridal appeal can not, however, be fully explained without mention of the Marble Garden Courtyard. The white marble floor and chandeliered tent don't need much decoration to provide an elegant ceremony venue right there in The Mansion.

Photo Credit: Nichole Barrali Photography (top), timwill fine art weddings

We could write every day about the historic features that make Savannah such a popular wedding destination, but these newer additions to the city (post 1733) don't hurt.