It was nearly four years ago when John and Bonny Bowens began welcoming brides and grooms to share their most special moment together in Holstein House Gardens.

The gardens had been the location for Victorian tea parties, garden parties and fundraisers. A friend suggested the Bowens open it for weddings. The suggestion seemed a logical next step and the Bowens are now blessed with being able to share in a most momentous occasion for young couples.

"(Couples) enjoy it and that brings pleasure to us," Bonny said.

About seven weddings are scheduled each summer. The various themed gardens are open to the party. In the back, the grounds offer the perfect ceremony setting. A grassy area is intersected with two rows of white rose trees leading to a white gazebo. Guests are led through a fragrant, vine-covered tunnel to their seats.

Wedding packages are $1,700 and include about everything but food and drink. Bonny is available for planning and staging and on the big day she and John wear uniforms.

"People often mistake us for park maintenance," Bonny said.

Bonny likes being involved and makes herself available as much or as little as the bride prefers. The fee includes all the wedding flowers, which are grown on site, arranged by Bonny. Special flower and color requests can be met with enough advanced planning - the 2009 calendar is nearly full.

"Pastels are out," she said. "Bold, bright colors are in."

As ordered, bold and bright is alive in her garden.

Weddings at Holstein House Gardens include more than just the rehearsal and big day. A reservation includes the entire grounds and serenity it may bestow for one week. Bonny encourages the couple and their families to take the time to visit the gardens and stream to de-stress.

"Even the mothers can come and sit awhile," she said.

During the summer John gives up his garage, which was built in 1995, to the bridal party. The area is transformed into a relaxing changing area with room for several attendants and even includes a baby changing table.

Inside the big, red barn is a fun and rustic changing area for the groom's party. Bonny gets a kick out of making it relaxing and stocking it with Tums and breath mints.

Evening weddings have become a specialty and John and Bonny have created a twinkling twilight effect in the gardens with lighting.

The Bowens like to have fun and see people happy. They get a kick out of being part of the events.

"I don't enjoy the formal, uptight ones," John said of the weddings.

Bonny prefers the elegant yet fun weddings, "Where the bride doesn't stress over every little thing." "We will do them for as long as we keep having fun," she added.

For more information or to reach the Bowens, visit www.holsteinhouse.com or call 753-4677.