Dream home becomes dream wedding site
January 7, 2010
Brownsville locals have long savored the beautiful view of the countryside below from the top of Washburn Heights. And now a new wedding venue, The Sanctuary at Washburn Heights, is putting the final preparations on its fabulous facility, so that new brides and grooms can have that breathtaking vista as the backdrop for their dream wedding.
Dawn and Ralph Seyler have lived in Brownsville for 24 years, and Ralph E. Seyler has owned his 10’acres of view property near the summit of Washburn Heights for 30 years. They are both retired, Ralph most recently after closing down his Albany steel fabrication business. The couple began construction on their dream home back in 2002. The four-level, oblong-shaped 5,600 square-foot home was designed by Ralph, which features three bedrooms, three full baths, and a kitchen which is a gourmet heaven (with double ovens, subzero fridge/freezer, professional grade prep sinks, and more!). The home is nestled high up among the firs, where they can always enjoy their amazing view of the valley below.
Dawn and Ralph designed their dream home with a long-range plan in mind to also open the site as a wedding venue. And with that goal in mind, they constructed nearly 10,000 square feet of decking around their home. The deck is surrounded by firs, with some trees growing up through the decking itself. Sunken pools and connecting creeks wind through and around the decking, creating a striking dynamic even without the amazing view. There is 2,500 square feet of paved courtyard, five different BBQs, and electrical work all around the decking, including the raised stage area just ripe for a live band.
“We’re just starting up now,” Dawn says of her business, which she and Ralph have named Sanctuary on Washburn Heights. Still under construction today is a water feature of two cascading pools, which will compliment one of the dramatic viewpoints where, Dawn says, “it looks as if you’re just standing on top of the valley.” The pools will be completed in May, just before the start of the spring wedding season.
The venue will be ideal for outdoor-only events of all types. Only the wedding party will be allowed into the Seyler home, although Dawn does say they’ve got a charming room just for the bride, as well as a changing room set up for the bridal party.
Dawn & Ralph have named their new business ResDes (Ralp E. Seyler & Dawn. E. Seyler), and named their venue The Sanctuary on Washburn Heights. They are expecting to offer an [i]extremely[/i] competitive rate of $2,000 for an all-day Friday, Saturday, or Sunday event, with discounts offered for events scheduled during the week. ResDes will be participating in the Oregon Wedding Showcase, in the Lane Events Center in Eugene this weekend (January 9 & 10, 2009). “We’re hoping to get some bookings at the bridal show,” Dawn says, adding that she expects to offer a celebratory discount for their first booking.
You can contact Dawn & Ralph by phone at (541) 466-5313, or by email at resdes@centurytel.net.
Local brides will certainly want to check The Sanctuary at Washburn Heights out during the Oregon Wedding Showcase. The must-see January show in Eugene is the largest bridal show year-around held south of Portland, and has regularly won “Best Of” awards from Oregon Bride Magazine. As many as 600 brides or more are expected to visit the show this weekend; tickets are available at the door, or can be purchased online at www.oregonweddingshowcase.com.
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