FAQs

Question

Can we bring our kids?

Answer

We love your kids -- we really do -- but we want our wedding to be your night (or weekend) away!

Question

Is there a dress code?

Answer

Cocktail attire for the ceremony and reception, please. A quick google search will help you identify what "cocktail" means... leave your blue jeans and sneakers at home. We've hired a great photographer and want to make sure everyone looks their best! The rest of the weekend is casual, of course.

Question

Is there parking for the ceremony or reception?

Answer

Yes, there is plenty of parking at Belmont. However, we have also arranged transportation from the Courtyard hotel, to the venue, and back at the end of the evening. We'll be adding more info to the "Travel & Lodging" page as arrangements are solidified.

Question

Tell us more about the historic Fredericksburg Baptist Church

Answer

Fredericksburg Baptist Church was built in 1804 and has a storied history. During the civil war, the church building suffered extensive damage as a result of an artillery bombardment and its later use as an army field hospital. Today, a cannonball from the Battle of Fredericksburg remains lodged in the church's steeple. Ryan and his family started attending FBC in 1995. Read more here: https://www.fxbgbaptist.org/our-history

Question

What is Gari Melchers' Belmont?

Answer

Gari Melchers Home and Studio, also known as Belmont, is a National Historic Landmark and museum. This 18th-century house was the home and studio of the popular American artist Gari Melchers (1860–1932) from 1916 until his death. It was given to the state of Virginia by his widow, and is now administered by the University of Mary Washington, which is in Fredericksburg. It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1965, commemorating Melchers' influential role in bringing American art to European attention. Gari Melchers was a popular, if not particularly innovative, painter, who was trained in Europe. In 1882 one of his paintings was accepted by the Salon of Paris, the most prestigious art exhibition of the period. Gari and Corinne Melchers settled at Belmont in 1916. His best known works include the murals depicting War and Peace in the rotunda of the Library of Congress in Washington, DC. Melchers' work contributed to a general increase of interest in the fine arts in the United States. Unlike most historic homes in the commonwealth of Virginia, it is not furnished with antiques that correspond to the house's origins. Rather, it is a snapshot of the international tastes and lifestyle of a famous artist, and is fully furnished with the unusual European antiques and objects Melchers and his wife collected. It is also an art museum with about 1,600 works of art, about 500 of which are Melchers’ paintings. Other works of art include his sketches and studies, works by other artists he collected, and paintings by his wife. As part of our cocktail hour, you will have the option to visit Gari's art studio, which is connected to our reception space. Learn more here: https://www.garimelchers.org/