At Alpine Park and Gardens on North Proctor Road in Columbia, owner Barry Homan has created a sustainable oasis of plants, trees, water features, and custom buildings that has hosted over 800 weddings in the past 30 years. There are many things that set Alpine Park and Gardens apart from other local “country” wedding venues; we’ve picked three things that couples might really be interested in when planning an upscale, outdoor wedding.
A Natural, Unique Setting
At the Park, they don’t just “bring the outdoors in” with French doors and flowery décor. There are so many lushly planted, thought-fully planned outdoor spaces around every corner, that guests can spend the whole day exploring the natural landscape and never feel trapped or stuffy. Check out the Japanese Garden that has been maturing and expanding for 20 years. Feed the fish down at the lake or send the little ones out to the playground. Find a quiet moment with an old friend in one of many secluded seating areas, or warm up at the fire pit as the sun sets. Even the parking lots are integrated into the terrain and well-managed trees.
The Park started as an outlet for creativity with natural terrain and scenery enhancement, tree management, garden design, and building with locally-sourced construction materials. Hosting weddings and other events became the way to justify all the hard work and experimentation going on at the Park, and to have fun throwing a party every weekend. Now, events are scheduled from March through November, giving the landscape time to rest, and Barry time to plan the next projects. Coming soon: an outdoor game room with corn hole, horseshoes, bacchii ball, and yard darts all installed – so guests don’t have to pack in the games – and after that, a 3-5 hole disc golf course will meander through the trees.
Flexible Plans
Everyone has their own idea of a “perfect wedding” and the crew at the Park believe flexibility is the key to making a couple’s day perfect. Need to hang 1,000 origami cranes? No problem. Want the rustic luxury of a barn wedding but you’re worried your guest list is too small, and will feel awkward in a big space? The Park has structures and spaces for any size party from 2 to 200. There aren’t a bunch of rules about decorating, locked-in vendors, or hours at the Park. The staff believe in coordinating and working with you – on budget, family dynamics, negotiation tactics, engineering – no wedding is the same, and that’s what keeps them motivated and engaged.
Sometimes the biggest stressor when planning your big day is figuring out where to put people to avoid conflicts with a divorced or blended family, or that Aunt that NOBODY likes but who NEEDS to be invited. The Park has you covered with outdoor, naturally socially-distanced options that allow guests to form their own small groups around different activities and out of sight-lines of other groups. There’s no one-size-fits-all at Alpine Park and Gardens, but there is absolutely room for everyone. Everyone, plus fireworks!
Down Home Cookin’
While couples are free to bring in outside caterers, Barry also enjoys cooking for events. Using his favorite appliance – the smoker – he can build a delicious meal around anything from prime rib to hamburgers. Barry’s gramma, a true “country lady”, worked in a restaurant for 40 years, and Barry honors her legacy and teachings when cooking. Using traditional recipes, the simple but well-thought-out menu items are made from scratch, presented beautifully, and guaranteed to please.
Reach out to Barry via phone at 573-443-7106, email, or on Facebook for more information, and to see how he can help you plan your special day.
Insure with the People you Trust
Whether it’s protecting your plans for your big day (YES, we sell Wedding Insurance!), or protecting you on your everyday commute, the agents at Kasmann Insurance are on call to help get you the best rates for the coverages you need. Give us a call at 573-442-1105 to review your policy, go over any changes to your home, vehicles, drivers, or lifestyle, or just to say hi! We love what we do, and it shows in the quality service we provide.