Brides Strike Gold with Spectacular Wedding Venue
By Shala Hainer
Besides the dress, choosing the wedding location is one of the most difficult decisions brides face. But couples don’t have to travel far to find a versatile venue suitable for weddings of different sizes, tastes and budgets.
Pine Mountain Gold Museum, a park owned and operated by the City of Villa Rica, helps brides bring a piece of history to their special day. The name is a bit misleading – the facility is much more than a simple historical exhibit.
“The Museum preserves, protects, and interprets the history of Georgia’s first gold rush,” says Wesley Berninger, museum director. “In addition to the Museum, we have 30 acres of forest, historic structures, gold and gemstone panning, a scenic train ride, live animal exhibit, farm and an apiary.”
It may sound unconventional to host a wedding at a museum venue, but the Pine Mountain Gold Museum offers affordable options to suit nearly any need. From a spacious indoor auditorium to spectacular outdoor areas, the Museum campus enables couples to take a wedding day out of their imaginations and see it come alive in person.
“Pine Mountain Gold Museum possesses a natural backdrop that truly sets us apart,” Wesley relates. “No other location, anywhere, can offer the same gorgeous scenery. The ruins of the Stockmar home site and the mining station are visually stunning.”
The Museum is creating a new train platform as well so the wedding parties and guests can enjoy the added fun and drama of riding a train to and from the ceremonies.
The History
Tales of gold in and around Villa Rica date back to the 1820s, although the first publicized gold rush in Georgia was in Dahlonega in 1829. The southern gold rush lasted through most of the 1840s. The Villa Rica area hosted 19 commercial gold mines, but only the Pine Mountain Gold Mine was still being commercially mined after 1900.
Even the city’s name is based in the gold rush. First known as the mining town Hixtown, in 1832, the name became Villa Rica, which is Spanish for “City of Riches,” because of the gold mined there.
The Venue
Pine Mountain Gold Museum is located on the site of the original gold strike when the mine was active, and it’s West Georgia’s only authentic 19th-century gold stamp mill. Guests can tour intact ruins of the mines, ride the train around the mountain to enjoy the scenic views, pan for gold and gemstones, learn about the farm animals and explore the trails spanning the nearly 30-acre park.
While weddings aren’t on the typical activity list, they have been on the Museum’s radar since the beginning. “We have offered weddings since the creation of the Museum,” Wesley explains. “The problem is that most folks either do not know, or do not associate us with that special opportunity. This is something we are trying to change. We want people to think about using the site for more than typical recreational activities like tours, hiking and history.”
Most weddings at the Museum are smaller, around 50 to 75 guests, although Wesley says the venue can accommodate as many as 200 guests, particularly because the site offers multiple indoor and outdoor locations. Onsite parking is free and was recently expanded.
“Generally speaking, we handle smaller ceremonies,” he relates. “This is all by design because part of the appeal and charm of the site is the unique and warm surroundings. There are almost no limitations on location choices at our venue. Most folks prefer an outdoor setting near the pond, the homesite ruins with all the intricate stonework, or in the forest. If it can be reached safely, then we can probably make it work.”
He adds that the auditorium inside the Museum building has hosted weddings and receptions.
The venue has an extensive preferred vendor list, choosing vendors who share the same goal of making sure each bride, groom and guest has an excellent experience. They also negotiate rates with nearby hotels, so couples using the venue can offer affordable lodging for out-of-town guests.
As an added bonus, wedding parties and guests can take advantage of the unique activities at the site. “Anyone that is a registered guest of the wedding party is extended a discount on Museum tour tickets, gold or gemstone pans, and train tickets,” adds Wesley. “We can usually provide special tours and demonstrations if given advance notice. If the wedding organizer wants to combine activities for the guests as part of their package, we can negotiate an inclusive price as well. In fact, most folks do just that.”
Some brides shy away from outdoor weddings because of the unpredictability of the weather, but the Museum already has a plan in place. “We have an auditorium that ceremonies can be quickly moved into should weather prove to be a problem,” Wesley says. “There is also a covered stage and pavilion on site.”
He says many brides ask if bugs are a problem with weddings in such a rustic, secluded area. “We are a natural area, and we do not treat the forest with chemical pesticides, or other invasive methods,” explains Wesley. “While we cannot guarantee there will be no bugs, it has not historically been an issue with previous events.”
Cost
Most weddings at Pine Mountain Gold Museum incur facility fees that are less than $1,000. There is a $50 wedding application fee, and a total rental fee of $600 with a 4-hour maximum. To use the auditorium as a green room, ceremony or reception area, it costs an additional $150.
For more information on booking a wedding, reception or party at Pine Mountain Gold Museum, contact Christie Frost at cfrost@villarica.org or 678.840.1445. Visit the website at www.pinemountaingoldmuseum.com WGW
