Sow Dreams, Harvest Memories
By Taryn King | Wedding photos by Maria DeForrest Photography | Venue and aerial photos by Delmarva Aerial 360
The year 2021 saw a lot of businesses shut down — through no fault of their own — thanks to ongoing pandemic restrictions and their impacts. But it also birthed numerous local businesses that managed to hang on through the worst of it, and came out on the other side stronger and ready to grow. Seed & Sapling, a private estate venue located near Frankford, is one such business.
On the difficulties and fears of opening a new wedding venue in the middle of the pandemic, owner Michelle Benton said, “I don’t think like that. I move forward. People will get married regardless of what’s going on in the world. My husband and I were both working full-time jobs, and every day we were out here moving mounds of dirt to get this place to where we envisioned it.”
The company motto of “Sow Dreams & Harvest Memories” was born from their own dreams of creating a unique and memorable wedding venue. Michelle and her husband knew exactly what they wanted to do with the property when they purchased it and built what is there today from the ground up.
The very first wedding held on the grounds was a surprise booking, with the couple showing up at the not-quite-finished property and insisting that this was the venue where they would be married. Michelle laughed when retelling the story.
“We were able to get the venue finished and the blacktop done in just under three months. It was quite the motivation!”
Another of the venue’s first weddings was that of Alex and Sophia, a local couple from Selbyville. When it came to choosing their venue, it was important to them to get married in a location that could accommodate an outdoor ceremony but had indoor space available if the weather turned sour.
A defining feature of Seed & Sapling is their variety of options for outdoor ceremonies and a mix of indoor and outdoor spaces for receptions. These include the venue barn (seating 165 guests) that opens out on one side to the courtyard and to a cocktail patio on the other. Additionally, a pretty bridge, rustic grove and the backdrop of a large tree overlooking sparkling ponds offer multiple spots for outdoor ceremonies.
The deciding factor for Alex and Sophia was the venue’s accessibility accommodations for Alex’s grandfather, and permission to have animals on the property and in the wedding. The owners were also amenable to multiple visits by the couple to map out their wedding plans and meetings with outside vendors.
When it came to decorations, the venue’s modern elegance served as a perfect canvas for the couple’s natural floral design, created by Bleached Butterfly of Berlin, Md., and accented with abundant greenery in a botanic style.
Catering was provided by La Vida Hospitality, but Michelle said she is happy to announce that new in-house catering is now available for upcoming weddings.
“Our caterers, chef Rosario Pensa and chef George De Angelis, offer an array of menu ideas to best suit what you want to serve your guests. Options will include freshly made pop-up pizza, barbecue, buffet dinners, stationed and butlered hors d’oeuvres, and plated receptions.”
Outside catering can still be accommodated, depending on circumstances. The venue does have a liquor license, which allows for bar-service vendors.
With little to no restrictions, Alex and Sophia were able to customize their wedding in ways that reflected and celebrated who they are as a couple.
“We tried to highlight things that were important to us (friends, family and fun). We really liked having the dogs involved, as well as having our grandmothers as ‘flower girls’! Instead of a flower bouquet, we both tossed a bay leaf bundle for good luck — a nod to my family’s superstition that if you got the bay leaf in Dad’s sauce, it meant good luck!” said Sophia.
The couple also had yard games and a beer-pong table available, and played with friends and family into the night, under twinkling café lights.
For pre-wedding prep, the main house has identical picture-perfect suites, with four bedrooms and a dedicated space with vanity mirrors and chairs for the bridal party to use while getting ready. A Seed & Sapling Spa Retreat esthetician is also available to give facials to the wedding party.
Grooms and their party are able to make use of the cottage for prep and relaxation, with a large flatscreen TV, bar space and a pool table that can be brought in. The cottage can also serve up to 50 people and opens out to a large hardscaped patio and firepit.
Additionally, within the main house is a large kitchen, open greatroom and an outdoor covered porch, which are perfect for rehearsal dinners or other gatherings of 30 to 50 people.
In total, the venue offers enough space to accommodate events with up to 300 guests. Some parking is available on-site, but guests can park next door at Indian River High School and walk onto the property through a short connecting trail, or take advantage of the venue’s cart service.
Planning services and coordination are available through Seed & Sapling with Melissa Florenza, owner of Belle of the Ball Weddings, and Erin Warner Baker of Life Simplified.
Another exciting development is the Seed & Sapling Spa Retreat, coming in 2024.
“Our long-term goal is for Seed & Sapling to be a ‘one-stop setup’ with everything from spa services and overnight accommodations to planning and catering, with multiple spaces that can accommodate any type of event.”
Weddings should be booked a year in advance; however, small pop-up weddings can be accommodated based on available openings. To book a tour of Seed & Sapling, visit their website at seedandsapling.com.
Vendor list:
Baked Dessert Café
Bleached Butterfly
La Vida Hospitality
Salon Art
Lovely Bride
Men’s Wearhouse
G.B. Heron & Co. Goldsmiths
Coastal Tented Events
