Riverdale UpdateThe Best of Philadelphia & Baltimore is in Lancaster, PA

62 Pitney Road - Lancaster, PA 17602 | info@thymeseasons.com | RiverdaleManor.com | 717-394-5554

SPRING 2016

Riverdale Manor is pleased to announce that we have been selected as a 2016 winner in The Knot Best of Weddings in three regions. We are among the very best of Central Pennsylvania, Philadelphia and Baltimore. In 2016, only 2% of the 250,000 wedding professionals listed on TheKnot.com have received the distinguished accolade. The Knot Best of Weddings provides a “by couples, for couples” guide to the top wedding professionals across the country, and is a must have when it comes to selecting the best-of-the-best wedding resources.

Riverdale Manor is also happy to announce that we have been inducted into The Knot Best of Weddings Hall of Fame. Only exceptional wedding professionals who have earned four or more The Knot Best of Weddings awards are inducted into the prestigious The Knot Best of Weddings Hall of Fame. WeddingWire has also announced that Riverdale Manor has been selected to receive a WeddingWire Couples’ Choice Award 2016 for the second year in a row. The annual award recognizes the top local wedding vendors from the WeddingWire Network who

demonstrate excellence in quality, service, responsiveness and professionalism within the wedding industry. Riverdale Manor has received the WeddingWire Brides’ Choice Award from 2012 to 2016. Riverdale Manor is recognized as part of the top five percent of wedding professionals in the WeddingWire local vendor community. The Couples’ Choice Award recognizes the best local wedding professionals throughout the United States, Canada and abroad. The WeddingWire Couples’ Choice Awards are awarded based on reviews from newlyweds, not by WeddingWire staff.

2016 marks the 10 year anniversary of Riverdale Manor opening on the banks of the Conestoga River in Lancaster, PA. Turn the page to follow us from our humble beginnings in

a small cafe downtown to now hosting some of the most prestigious events in the tri-state area. Also, find out how a simple sketch helped to change and enrich so many people’s lives.

10th Anniversary Special

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TABLE SERVICE AND ETIQUETTE

During dinner service, tables are served in numerical order. As a result, you should have all of the guests of honor seated at the lowest numbered tables. For example, parents and members of the bridal party should be seated at tables 1 through 4.

VISITING RIVERDALEPlease remember that you must always have an appointment to visit Riverdale Manor, even if you would just like to view the grounds. This goes for all visitors including parents, friends and vendors.

PLACE CARDS AND SEATING CHARTS

When preparing placecards, there are a few rules to follow: (1) Placecards should be presented to the Riverdale Manor staff in alphabetical order. (2) If you are serving a split menu (giving an entrée choice) to your guests you must provide a placecard for each individual. That individual’s entrée choice must be printed somewhere on the placecard. For example:

When serving a split menu, you must provide the Riverdale Manor staff with a guest list with each individual’s corresponding entrée choice in case a placecard is misplaced. If you are doing a station or buffet style event and would like to create a seating chart rather than placecards, we simply ask that that chart lists your guests alphabetically. This makes it much easier for each guest to find their name and corresponding table.

It is really remarkable that it has been 10 years since Riverdale Manor opened. Our journey began in 1993 when we moved from Baltimore and opened Thyme & Seasons Café and Catering in downtown Lancaster. We had a small 32 seat café and only 2 employees. As our catering business continued to grow, it was clear that we were outgrowing our space. At that time, we were also catering at many unique venues throughout Central Pennsylvania and noticed a significant trend toward clients wanting a unique special event venue. That is when we decided to develop our own special event venue and purchased the property in 2004. We started with a concept of what we wanted Riverdale Manor to look like. The concept was to create a “barn like” structure that utilized reclaimed and recycled wood to match the existing 18th century farmhouse. The project architect, Dick Levengood, did a couple of quick sketches and amazingly Riverdale Manor was born.

For the past 22 years, Thyme & Seasons Catering has had many very loyal clients that have contributed to our success. Perhaps the most noteworthy has been Evelyn Albert, the Executive Director of the Lancaster Bar Association. With only the most basic charcoal concept sketches, Ev Albert agreed to host the LBA’s annual dinner at Riverdale Manor, which was our first event when we opened in 2006. Since we opened Riverdale Manor, she has since hosted 10 annual dinners and her own wedding. Since opening in 2006, we have hosted 1,300 weddings and hundreds of corporate and nonprofit events and are truly optimistic about the next 10 years.

10 Year AnniversaryRiverdale Manor: A Retrospective

Something BorrowedRiverdale Manor has several bridal items that you are welcome to “borrow” from us for your ceremony and reception as a way to help simplify your day! For indoor use we have two white square pedestals with black marble tops that are perfect for ceremony flowers in the pavilion or the ballroom. For indoor or pavilion use, a black metal arched screen works as a ceremony backdrop – plus you are welcome to add flowers or candles to it. A black metal birdcage makes a ubiquitous card box, and you can always dress it up. Or try a chuppah frame, a simple wood structure for you to add drapery to or other décor. A rustic black shutter makes a great place card display, this one holds about 75 and features two chicken coop doors to hang photos, as long as you provide the pins or clips. Something Borrowed pictures are available at RiverdaleManor.com on the vendor page. We do ask that these items be returned at the end of your event in good condition and that you will be responsible for replacing them if they are lost or damaged.

CHANGING SUITE MENUS....Between salon appointments and getting ready for the photo-shoot, your wedding day will always be extremely busy. Along the way, many wedding parties forget to get something to eat! Riverdale Manor offers everything from mini-sandwiches, hors d’oeuvres trays and simple chips and pretzels for your bridal party to enjoy while you are getting dressed. These meals or snacks, ordered in advance, will please your bridesmaids and hold over the groomsmen until dinner time. No rumbling tummies during the ceremony! We will have the food ready to eat in either the brides, grooms or both changing areas to start the festivities. Some possible menu options include mini-sandwiches, white fruit, cheese and vegetable displays, plus an assortment of mini desserts. You can also order soft drinks and bottled waters to compliment these services. Some sample menus include:• Mini Sandwiches• White Fruit, Cheese and Vegetable Display• Triple Fruit Salsa• Mini Cookies & BrowniesAsk your event coordinator for other menu options.

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FRESH THOUGHTWith each Spring comes new life and fresh beginnings, an opportunity for change and improvement. To that extent, we welcome each season within our garden walls as another chance to benefit and appreciate one of life’s most simple pleasures. Fresh herbs such as parsley, basil, and cilantro can be seen sprouting next to a colorful array of tomatoes in our garden. Squash, eggplant, green beans, and many others emerge in abundance from humble beginnings. Combining these with locally purchased produce, we bring the freshest ingredients from the earth to your table.

Table NumbersRiverdale Manor supplies table numbers and stands for your use. Table numbers both guide your guests to their tables and they are used by our staff to get the proper meal to your guests. The combination of easy-to-read table numbers and straight forward place cards greatly increase speed and accuracy of dinner service. If you are making your own table

numbers, they need to be large and distinct enough for our service staff to be able to view them from across the room. It also helps if they are double sided. Some brides do choose to give their tables a name instead of a number. Please be advised that these tables will also have to be numbered in order for our staff to properly serve your guests.

Perhaps the most enjoyable aspect of our business is to sample and develop new recipes. At Riverdale Manor, we seek to strike a balance between classic favorites and the cutting edge. In that vein, we are thrilled to offer a host of new menu items as we welcome the 2016 season. No party is complete without hors d’oeuvres, and we’re certain your guests will enjoy our new selections as much as we enjoyed creating them. Figs, caramelized onions, goat cheese, and balsamic come together in a bite size pizza as a new house favorite. Blowing in on a west coast wind is our Baja Fish Tacos, crisply breaded and topped with pickled slaw and sweet ginger sriracha. Mini Meatloafs, Chicken Enchiladas, Cubanitos, and much, much more offer a wide array of culinary delights in a single bite. We also love adding new entrees and sides from a variety of culinary tastes to better enhance your dining experience with us. For a rustic treat, our Chicken Canponata is marinated in white wine and garlic, grilled

to perfection, and topped with a sensuous tomato and eggplant sauce. Our jaw-dropping Roasted Acorn Squash and fresh Burrata salad has a presentation that is sure to amaze, and a taste that will have them pining for seconds. Summer Succotash, Root Vegetable Gratin, or Grilled Green Beans with fresh thyme and lemon zest are a chromatic compliment to any entree, and certain to complete any meal with tasty satisfaction. Plenty of vegan and vegetarian options have also made their way onto the menu. Our new Eggplant Rollatini is sliced thin and rolled with a mushroom and chickpea puree, a mouthwatering combination that is sure to satisfy anyone’s inner vegan. For our vegetarian guests, we recommend our Polenta Vegetable Torte cheesy polenta layered with sauteed vegetables with many more to select from - all sure to please. Whatever the taste or preference, our goal at Thyme and Seasons is to create a one of kind culinary experience to satisfy and delight you and your guests on that special day.

The View From The Kitchen

Wedding TrendsWe love working with the vendors on our vendor list, not only because they provide quality and reliable services to our clients year after year, but they also create innovative and unique products and experiences for the clients. Please enjoy the following tips and hints from some of our favorite vendors on trends for 2016 that will make your wedding day beautiful and complete!

CAKESRenee Hackman, Bella Mansewww.BellaManse.com The old adage “opposites attract” rings true for wedding cake trends this year. From opulence to rustic, brides have many beautiful choices to pick from. Formal cakes with gold highlights, gold leafing, sequins and sugar flowers are quite popular in formal settings. Painted fondant florals and watercolor effects are soft, pretty and romantic. Right now, white-on-white and ivory cakes are beating out color. On the opposite extreme, rustic cakes rule! The naked cake - one without buttercream, or with just a hint of it - looks organic and yummy paired with fruit, herbs and florals. Textured buttercream is still wildly popular. The imperfect horizontal buttercream line design was the cake of the year for my brides in 2015 and that trend has continued this year. Ruffles and rosettes in buttercream also look very edible. Fresh flowers have always been gorgeous on cake designs; this year we have added unique succulents and woodsy touches. Fresh flower cascades are seeing a comeback as well. Dessert bars and cutting cakes are popular too, but there’s nothing more beautiful than the lovely silhouette of a multi-tiered wedding cake!

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LINENSClaudia Himes, Special Occasions Linenswww.SpecialO.com Pastel & LaceThis year, everything is moving toward soft with pastel blues and petal pinks filling venue spaces both rustic and elegant. We adore Moonstone Satin with Belgian Lace overlays, Blush Damask and Teatro, a sheer white with embroidered swirls finished with matte silver sequins. Delicate details add graceful beauty to wedding tables. Black & WhiteTimeless elegance of black and white linens, both solid and print, bring contrast and texture to create a dynamic wedding setting. Dress cocktail high tops in Tuxedo Plaid, cake and sweetheart tables in Cabaret black sequins, and buffet stations in Black Canopy Stripe. Mix in a bit of the feathery texture of African Grey and your reception room will command attention. Gold & GlitzThere’s no doubt that glamour is coming back, as mason jars and burlap step aside. European grandeur with damasks, jacquards and sparkle can work in a rustic setting, contributing a luxurious feel.

DESSERTSRiverdale Manorwww.RiverdaleManor.com Our 2016-17 dessert menu has grown even larger, and we are now offering the Dessert Buffet as a sure way to please all of your guests. If you like chocolate but your family is all about pie and your friends love cheesecake with fresh fruit but your groom only likes cookies and Grandma would be upset if you didn’t have a wedding cake... no problem! The Dessert Buffet makes everyone happy. We will prepare five different items for your guests to select from. This includes cakes like our insane Double Chocolate Cake that is dripping in chocolate curls or one of seven other cakes, one of eight different homemade pies, four different cheesecakes, variety trays of cookies along with fruit tarts and more than 20 different miniature desserts! One of the cakes we provide can serve as a token wedding cake for the sake of tradition and pictures, or you are welcome to provide a cake from our preferred vendors list or other licensed bakery. Talk to your coordinator about the endless possibilities we can create for your dessert buffet. Another fun idea is using dessert as a favor. We are happy to wrap up mini Whoopie pies, brownies, or cookies in individual bags to go, or we can use personalized bags or boxes that you provide! Your coordinator can assist you with this idea, too.

Riverdale Manor presents

The Winter White Special 2017

Events booked for January 1-March 12, 2017 will receive a $350.00 white chair ceremony set up credit from

Riverdale Manor & a $250.00 linen credit from Thyme & Seasons Catering

Clients will also receive discounts & special offers

from some of our preferred vendors during this time

period: Nathan Desch Photography, Lauren Fisher Photography, Tony

Gibble Photography, KM Keagy Photography, MattnNat

Photography, Cyndi Klose Photography, Petals with Style,

Theresa Gilberti ~ Officiant, DJ Freez, Top Hat Entertainment,

Occasions Disc Jockeys, Bella Manse Cakes, Rosie’s Creative

Cakes

Please contact these vendors directly for more information on

their special packages and offers

Riverdale Manor

www.riverdalemanor.com – info@thymeseasons.com

717-394-5554

62 Pitney Road – Lancaster, PA 17602

Riverdale Manor62 Pitney Road

Lancaster, PA 17602

www.RiverdaleManor.cominfo@thymeseasons.com

Phone: 717-394-5554Fax: 717-394-1174

Though it’s not warm and sunny at all Riverdale Manor ceremonies, despite the weather, every single wedding and reception has gone on as scheduled. Our coordinators will work with you to create a “Plan B” using indoor and undercover space that will be as memorable for you as if it were a perfectly sunny day. It has been our pleasure to read multiple thank-you notes and reviews from brides that begin with statements such as, “Although it rained, we held our ceremony in the pavilion and it was beautiful. We wouldn’t have changed a thing.” Careful planning with our staff makes weather adaptations go smoothly and you and your guests will barely notice there was a change. Our groundskeepers diligently work on making the ceremony sites as lovely as possible, but sometimes the sites need more time to dry out after the rain ends. It can just be too slippery or muddy for several days after severe storms and planning to use an alternate site for your ceremony prevents any last minute worries. We are looking forward to warm and wonderful weather for every ceremony in the future!

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Weather & Grounds Conditions

| All photography courtesy of Jeremy Hess, Lauren Fischer, Sanderson Images & Photography by Brea |

Your event coordinator will schedule your rehearsal as close as possible to your wedding day, and will give you a specific time for your rehearsal at your finalization meeting 8-10 weeks prior to your event. The specific times are based upon our availability. A separate contract that’s issued about two months prior to your wedding will be provided for the rehearsal date and time at no additional cost. It is important for your officiant to attend the rehearsal. We can only review general directions, not your vows and other personal details without them. Your officiant, bridal party, and any other individuals who are an integral part of your ceremony are asked to arrive on time. Consumption of alcohol at your rehearsal is not appropriate, most officiants will forbid this. Riverdale Manor provides the rehearsal time as a courtesy and the rehearsal cannot exceed one-hour. Musicians will not have time to learn music at the rehearsal so they must work out those details with you at a separate location.

When Can I Have My Rehearsal?