When we left off, Mr. Panther and I had officially booked a venue without a) being engaged or b) having seen it. No big deal. The venue is only one of the most important parts of the wedding.
Luckily, when I arrived at the Inn at Longshore—even though it was the middle of winter—it was everything Mr. Panther and I had imagined. Phew!
Yay, we’re here! (personal photo)
Oooh, um, snowy! (personal photo)
There’s the ceremony site! (personal photo)
OK, I admit it was tough to picture what this frozen tundra might look like in July. But the interior really was beautiful. The Inn at Longshore is very old—it used to be a country club where F. Scott Fitzgerald was a member!—and it’s got that historic feeling.
This is a view of the whole ballroom from a raised area on the side, which is where our photobooth will be! The stage in front was a major deciding factor for Mr. Panther. (personal photo)
Even the bathrooms are pretty! (personal photo)
So, the venue visit was a success, and I went home really excited about our choice. But you ladies might not be convinced by my crappy Cyber-shot photos, so here are some pro pics to give you an idea of what the Inn might look like all decked out in midsummer.
Now that’s a ceremony site! (Source)
The cocktail hour will be on the lawn next to the ceremony area. (Source)
Yum, ballroom. (Source)
Beach! Boats! Rocks that will probably destroy my shoes! (Source)
A view of the Inn from the lawn. (Source)
Now that’s what I’m talking about! (Source)
So that’s our wedding venue! Not too shabby for something we picked off the Internet, right?
Did any of you ladies pick your venue without seeing it? How about without visiting any other choices? For those of you who went the traditional route, how many venues did you visit before you made your choice?
I am very convinced. It looks so glamorous, but completely not fussy. Well done google ninja!
The inside is gorgeous! You’re gonna be able to do so much good stuff with it!
We did most of our research off the internet, then decided we couldn’t handle doing things sight unseen and decided to get married in California instead. Though more lenient liquor and curfew rules might have had something to do with that…
We did only visit three places… we knew the third was the one, and canceled the appointment we’d made for later that day.
Your posts are making me so homesick, though! Those shots where you can see the lines of trees all the way across the water? I grew up behind those trees! Feel free to PM me with any questions about Westport… we’re not getting married out there but I know the area pretty well.
That is beautiful! I picked ours off the internet too so hopefully it will rock as much in person when we get down there! 
it is beautiful! I love everything about it. Your wedding is going to be gorgeous!
This venue is so pretty, I think you made a good decision!
Love it! We had a blast exploring the rocky beach when I was a bridesmaid for my sis. The pictures were priceless. Congrats!
water, roaks, boats? yes please! what a stunning locale for your special day, panther! the photos are going to look soooo pretty….
mr. ostrich and i also picked our wedding venue without seeing it in person. since we’re having a destination wedding in hawaii, even a quick weekend scouting trip costs a pretty penny! so we did lots of research {and watched one of our favorite funny movies, “forgetting sarah marshall!”} and finally found our place. and we adore it!
@Entangled: Wow, that must have been a pretty awesome childhood, you lucky girl! I’ll remember you when I start coming up with lots of Westport questions … 
@Miss Meerkat: Can’t wait to see yours! I find that trusting your gut tends to be successful.
@Miss Ostrich: LOVE “Forgetting Sarah Marshall”! Why can’t I find your post about your venue? Did you write one??
Looks like the perfect place to host a wedding! I would do it just for those chairs! I would have killed for those (maybe not, but you get the idea!).
@Miss Panther: Aw, thanks. It’s a fantastically gorgeous place to grow up, but it was actually pretty boring. Unless you’re right downtown, it’s not a great place to be when you’re too young to drive. Definitely let me know if you have any questions – now that I’m so far away I get much more attached to home than I was as a kid.
I’m pretty sure Longshore is where my parents wanted me to get married, by the way. It is gorgeous.
Your venue is incredible!! I would have booked it in a heartbeat.
I love the older feel of the Inn, and with a view of the water, its incredible!
I can’t believe you took bathroom photos! That’s hilarious (oh and they totally are pretty!)
That ballroom is gorgeous. Great outdoor space! It’s going to be loverly
Love the venue! Totally gorg! The place is totally classical elegant. Nicely done!
Mrs. Panther, Atlanta GA/Westport CT Age and Occupation: 24, Web Writer Fiance's Age and Occupation: 25, Music Recording Engineer Engagement Date: March 13, 2010 Wedding Date: July 2011 Venue: The Inn at Longshore About Me: I'm a total goofball who goes through life at a breakneck pace, trying not to knock anything over. I tend to fall in love with everything I encounter, but more than anything, I love my two little kitties, Bela and Josie, and my big kitty, Mr. Panther! As a wannabe crafter, I'm still waiting for my artistic talents to emerge. (Any day now, really.) In the meantime, I spend my days eating anything put in front of me, buying every pair of shoes I see and absorbing wedding inspiration from every inch of my surroundings. Mr. Panther and I are hardcore New Englanders planning Connecticut nuptials from our new home in the Dirty South, and can't wait to mix our newfound love of classic Southern charm with some modern city touches.
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