Wedding Bells in Paris …Virginia

By Heidi Baumstark

Destination weddings. They’re all the rage today. How about a wedding in Paris? Paris, Virginia, that is.

Tucked away in northern Fauquier County is the village of Paris, home to the renowned Ashby Inn & Restaurant built in 1829 and a chosen venue for weddings veiled in historical charm.

This tiny village dates to 1810 when the Virginia General Assembly issued a charter for a town at the intersection of Ashby Gap Road (which became Route 50) and the Dumfries-Winchester Road (which became Route 17). But the town was actually platted two decades earlier when in 1786, Peter Glascock acquired the deed from Thomas Lord Fairfax for what would become the town. The Paris Historic District is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is in the northern portion of the larger Crooked Run Valley Rural Historic District consisting of more than 18,000 acres.

What’s it like to plan a dream wedding in Paris? Elizabeth Olson, Ashby’s innkeeper and event coordinator, said, “The key is to understand the vision of the couple. Turning a couple’s dream into reality is the most
rewarding part of my job.”

Paris was officially named in 1819 to memorialize French aristocrat and military officer Marquis de Lafayette who toured the area after the War of 1812. Half of the town’s structures date between 1810 and 1850; one of those structures is The Ashby Inn & Restaurant. Regarded as one of northern Virginia’s premier dining destinations, The Ashby offers gourmet meals inspired by its own vegetable garden and locally sourced farm products and beverages. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served daily along with seasonal teas.

Carlos Moreno has been the inn’s operations manager since July 2017. His previous post was at The Fearrington House Inn outside of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, where he worked for 10 years with Tom Whitaker, Ashby’s chef since January 2017. Whitaker is originally from Hexham, England, in Northumberland County, home to a patchwork of castles, medieval ruins, and an abbey from the sixth century.

Whitaker said of The Ashby, “It’s a great little place—it really is. It reminds me so much of England.”

Moreno added, “Connecting with people, that’s what brings it all together. We have people coming for over 20 years. One couple got married here years ago, and then their daughter chose The Ashby for her ceremony.”

The venue can accommodate up to 120 wedding guests outside on the lawn and terrace with meals served buffet-style, or up to 60 guests with plated meals.

Whitaker says, “Pushing the envelope—that’s what we’re trying to do—taking dishes to another level using our own produce from our vegetable garden and food from local farms.” When it comes to preparing for weddings, he said, “It takes a village [our team] to make it all work. When it’s go time, it’s a great feeling when it all comes together.”   

The Ashby invites guests to chill in Adirondack chairs on the lawn lined with colorful flowerbeds and pastoral mountain views. On the main level of the inn, the library and upper dining room warm guests with wood-burning fireplaces and art pieces of horses and hounds reminding them they are in the middle of hunt country. Visitors can end the day with a soothing nightcap in The Ashby’s Tap Room downstairs with its exposed wooden beams and cozy fireplace.

For accommodations, the inn offers 10 rooms that vary in size and décor, each decorated with 19th-century pieces, including four-poster beds and views of Paris Mountain, Ashby Gap, and Sky Meadows State Park. The inn offers six rooms, including the Fan Room, which is usually reserved for the bride and groom and includes a balcony. A step away is The School House, which includes four luxury suites each with balconies and wood-burning fireplaces. A local treat in each room includes a handcrafted port prepared exclusively for the inn by Vint Hill Craft Winery in Warrenton. Part of The Ashby’s three-acre landscaped grounds includes the nearby chapel, Trinity United Methodist Church (built in 1893), available for weddings and special events.

Olson added, “Every wedding is different. It’s an incredible experience working with couples from start to finish. My job is to ensure the wedding day goes as smoothly as possible.”

Zack and Lauren Roscoe were married here on August 20, 2016. They chose Paris because they wanted an intimate setting. Zack said, “Our ceremony was in the chapel, and our reception was on the terrace at Ashby Inn. Toward the end of the evening, the staff created a bonfire on the lawn, and we made s’mores. The evening as a whole was amazing. And we joke with people that we got married in Paris!”

Paris, Virginia—a historical gem for weddings without having to travel the globe. About one hour west of D.C., The Ashby is a premier choice to “tie the knot” or mark any special anniversary or celebration. ML

To learn more about The Ashby Inn & Restaurant located at 692 Federal Street in Paris, visit www.ashbyinn.com or call 540-592-3900.