Maybe you are drawn to Cairnwood Estate’s romantic second-floor balcony, its vast lawn and adjacent gardens. Perhaps it’s the history or the mansion itself.
Photo: Cairnwood Estate
However, no one knows their wedding venue quite like the venue manager or director. Working onsite, giving tours to engaged couples and overseeing events on the property provide great insight: when the light hits just right, the best spot for sunsets and favorite locations that stand out from the rest. That’s why we asked the expert Shannon Walko, Cairnwood Estate Director for her favorite spot at this elegant and unique Montgomery County wedding venue in Bryn Athyn, Pennsylvania in the Philadelphia suburbs.
Photo credit: Bruce Cronlund/Cairnwood Estate
Here is what Shannon had to say:
“Without a doubt, my favorite spot on the Estate is the enclosed Fountain Garden. The grounds and gardens of Cairnwood Estate are the products of two giants in American landscape architecture: Fredrick Law Olmsted and his first apprentice and later partner, Charles Eliot. Olmsted is widely recognized today as the founder of landscape architecture in America, developing some of the nation’s most notable parks, public and private grounds. Charles Eliot was a preservationist working to establish the Trustees of Public Reservations in the 1890s.
Photo: Cairnwood Estate
Each year, our professional landscape team fashion lush gardens that complement the manicured lawns, winding paths, and surrounding forest. Cairnwood’s enclosed Fountain Garden, with its formal plantings and sunset views, features a charming antique tiered water feature. This outdoor room provides the perfect setting for an intimate cocktail party at dusk and looks amazing with bistro lighting!”
Photo credit: Rebecca Barger/Cairnwood Estate
