Put some English into ‘your day’

Every bride wants her wedding to be the most special occasion in her life, something that stands out above all other events. Cookie-cutter weddings just don’t fit that bill. For a bit of difference without the expense of travel, Waynesboro and Staunton offer hosting choices for weddings to step into another country and a bygone era.

Ashton Country House in Staunton and the Belle Hearth in Waynesboro are both bed-and-breakfasts that provide a taste of the English countryside and a simpler lifestyle, something a harried bride-to-be might relish after many months of frenzied event planning.

Richard Chamberlain, of Ashton, and Linda Mieleczasz, of Belle Hearth, both spent more than 5 years living in England bathing in the country’s historic charm and both owners returned with more than enough physical reminders of their excursions to provide the quaint, country ambience for wedding guests to travel in time and place.

Ashton, bought in 2007 by Chamberlain, a statistician and project management director, is located on Middlebrook Road just inside Staunton city limits and occupies 24 acres of rolling hills. The main residence has a working chicken coop where fresh eggs are obtained daily, a gazebo and an old horse stable, which is just about finished being renovated.

The home, built from 1860-1869 and occupied during the Civil War, was virtually untouched physically during any local skirmishes. Though built in the Federal Revivalist style, the home’s décor is from the Victorian era of the late 1800s, early 1900s. The residence offers six rooms, with private baths, to the bride and groom and their guests, with three porches available for relaxing and viewing the mountains that loom right behind the old stables.

Stepping outside, though the sounds of civilization can be faintly heard in a distance, the quiet calm of the breeze blowing through the trees adds to the serenity.
“We’ve scheduled four weddings in the last two weeks,” said Chamberlain. “Two in April and two in October.”

Only a few steps from the main home lies the barn, with its immense outdoor patio reaching out to invite those brave enough to dance the Cha-Cha or Hokey Pokey, or to just sit by the seven or eight raised rectangular fire pits. A kitchen sits alongside the patio waiting to serve guests with a meal prepared by the proprietor or catered through a local company.

Located on the first floor is the Barn Owl Pub, an old-style English pub, with its bar made of old stable wood and local winery corks. Décor includes a handmade chess set that Chamberlain constructed, a cookbook by him and various other reading materials and images from the home country. Guinness beer in the fridge completes the a guest’s virtual transportation across the pond.

A portion of one wall also hosts reminders of Chamberlain’s other love, Harley Davidson motorcycles.

Upstairs on the second level, is a conference center, where business meetings will be scheduled, but where Chamberlain says a wedding of about 50 people may be held.

Pets may be accommodated, but call ahead first.

The Belle Hearth Bed and Breakfast, in the heart of downtown Waynesboro, offers another chance for respite after hectic wedding planning.

Mieleczasz, along with her husband, Wayne, bought Belle Hearth in 2004. The former dental assistant and ex-Federal Express employee liked old houses, especially those in Victorian style. They searched the East coast from Maine to Georgia in search of a BnB.

They decided upon Belle Hearth because of the area, but pondered giving up the lives they’d had.

“Fortunately the market was prime in 2004,” said Wayne. “But we had a meltdown at the hotel after we signed the papers.”

“It was scary,” said Linda. “We were quitting our jobs, moving south away from family and friends and we had rental houses ourselves to sell.”

Considering the sacrifices their immigrant great-grandparents had made to travel across the Atlantic from Italy and Poland, the Mieleczaszes decided to brave the unknown to make new lives in a new world.

“We took the plunge and have never regretted it,” Linda said.

“And the commute is great,” said Wayne.

Built in 1909, the home has five rooms that have been decorated with accents and furnishings that Linda collected herself while living in England. Each room has its own bath and all but one, have their own fireplace. A total of seven fireplaces in the residence add to the warm, country feeling. A full size swimming pool in the gardened backyard offers cool liquid solace from the sun’s summer rays.

Though the Mieleczaszes’ cat, Mrs. Mosby, also occupies the home, there are no provisions for visiting pets.

“We’ve had people here who ranged from 18 to 94 in age, and from all over the world: Australia, France, Germany and the Brits. Everything from the West coast to around the corner,” said Wayne.

Three small weddings have been held at Belle Hearth over the years along with a couple that celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary.

“Its for more casual, smaller weddings,” said Linda.

For more stories from The News Virginian’s 2009 Bridal Guide, click here.