FAQ

Question

What are you doing to mitigate the impact of COVID-19?

Answer

As of late March, it seems as though the Omicron variant of COVID-19 is waning. We hope that risk levels by June will be much lower and that our small, outdoor event will be able to move forward as planned. That said, we ask that all guests over the age of five be fully vaccinated in order to protect the more vulnerable among us, including grandparents and young children who currently remain ineligible for vaccination. All of our vendors will be vaccinated. Check back here for updates as the spring progresses as stricter regulations might need to be put in place. **update as of May 23rd** We are in another COVID-19 surge. To reiterate: all attendees are fully vaccinated and many are recently second boosted. The ceremony and reception are entirely outside and there is plenty of room to social distance, but please do whatever you feel comfortable with in terms of masking and social interaction at any time during the event. We hope that everyone is able to attend but understand that unforeseen exposure in the coming days and subsequent positive tests might result in last-minute cancellations. If you feel sick on June 4th, please stay home to mitigate the spread. Stay well, everyone!

Question

Can I bring my kids?

Answer

Absolutely! There will be several young children in attendance so if you would like to bring yours along, please do not hesitate. The earlier scheduling and outdoor nature of the event are especially kid-friendly but if you'd rather leave them at home that's fine too.

Question

What are we eating?

Answer

The cocktail hour and dinner buffet will include seafood, chicken, and vegetarian options. Please let Elizabeth know directly if you require vegan meal choices. A children's menu will be available but kids are welcome to eat whatever they like.

Question

Where is the venue?

Answer

Hazel Dell is a horse farm that has been in the Noyes-Washburn family since the 1940s. The property was originally part of "Scott's Improvement," a 400+ acre tract of land owned by Aquila Scott that became the town of Bel Air in 1780. The farm has been known by its current name at least since 1868 when 56 acres were purchased from the estate of Otho Scott by Stevenson Archer, who built the main house for his wife in a Lowcountry architectural style reminiscent of her childhood home in Tennessee. The main house complex includes several outbuildings, some of which likely date to the Scott era of ownership. Roughly 35 acres of the original property remain intact and are some of the last undeveloped areas of land within the Bel Air city limits. The ceremony and reception will take place at the Clark House, an old stone dwelling downhill from the main house and farm buildings with a private entrance off of Hall Street. The origins of this house are unclear but it likely served as a caretaker's cottage. This house does not appear in historic property inventories held by the Maryland Historical Trust. The original part of the house was a single room with lofted sleeping area that has since been enlarged on either side. This house may pre-date the other standing structures at Hazel Dell.

Question

Did enslaved people live on the property?

Answer

This is entirely possible. The Scott family, who owned this parcel of land and much of the surrounding area at one point, were slave owners. Otho Scott (1797-1864) owned six enslaved people in 1860: two men, aged 25 and 12, and four women ages 20, 18, 16, and 6 months. While Otho Scott bought and sold hundreds of parcels of land in Harford County, the location of his primary residence remains unclear. According to maps from 1858 and 1878, Scott likely lived in what is now the Bel Air Memorial Gardens or even further north along Rock Spring Road in an area once known as "Frogtown." Stevenson Archer (1827-1898) was also a slave owner prior to purchasing Hazel Dell. In 1860, he held two adult women and five children in bondage. Whether or not enslaved people were physically present at what is now Hazel Dell Farm, the property was implicated in the institution of slavery by its connection to two prominent Maryland families. Otho Scott is famous for having codified the laws of Maryland in 1860, while Stevenson Archer served as a U.S. Congressman and Treasurer for the state. The built environments these men left behind illustrate the oft-overlooked history of slavery in Maryland, a state where many leading political figures were also enslavers.

Question

Why are we getting married here?

Answer

Jasper and his sister Sarah have been visiting their dad and stepmom at Hazel Dell since Jasper was 13 years old. We are grateful to the Washburn family for permitting us to hold our wedding on the farm, which has witnessed several Washburn nuptials over the years at different spots on the property. We chose the Clark House for our celebration because of its intimate setting and lovely gardens. Despite its early history referenced above, Hazel Dell's more recent past is brighter. During the 20th century, the farm was the home of Adelaide Newcomer Noyes (1904-1994), a passionate advocate for social justice, peace, and civil rights. To us, this place is special as the site of Sunday waffle brunches, holiday festivities, and many other family gatherings.