After scouring the Internet looking for that perfect place where a
woman from Australia and a man from New York could hold a private wedding for 2, I finally had a short list of Inns and B & B's. Lake Louise BC, St Andrews NB, Manhattan NY and English County Garden located in Cape Breton.

When I first talked to Ian, I was immediately impressed as he patiently listened to my list of desires without interruption. After I had finished, he explained in detail all the different rooms and how he and his wife Penny could help make our wedding day perfect. As I said goodbye I was sold.

We arrived the day before we were to be married with an impending hurricane due. Ian introduced himself, reassured us not to worry as he had been watching the weather closely and had several back up plans to offer should it rain. Ian even offered to close his wife Penny's newly opened art gallery which is housed in what was once a church with a beautiful stained glass window, a very generous offer if needed.

Secluded and romantic, the Rose Cottage where we stayed, is tasteful and elegant in a rustic setting with every amenity including a stereo and CD's, TV and DVD player, wonderful art throughout the cottage and on all the walls, everything you could need is supplied.

Ian generously gave me the The Conservatory Room to dress in, he also hand made my bouquet from flowers from the garden. He was our witness and host, treating us more like family than a customer. Ian's wife Penny closed her gallery in order to come back and be the other required witness as well as take photo's. Grace Jones our lovely JP drove from Sydney and married us on the deck of the Rose Cottage, neither my new husband or myself could have wished for a more romantic place or nicer couple than Ian and Penny to help make our day perfect.

We were married at 4 pm and at 7 pm we went to the on site restaurant for dinner. I was still wearing my wedding dress and a wrap ( please go to English County Garden web-page to view the private, intimate and very romantic table with the beautiful napery and flatware we dined at over looking the garden ) Every course was a gastronomical taste sensation. We enjoyed an appetizer of delicious stuffed mushrooms, after which our palettes were cleansed with a lovely sorbet, a tradition that is sadly disappearing. Our entree was a Rock Cornish Hen with a red raisin sauce, almost to beautifully presented to eat and of course Ian was ready with the finger bowls as we finished our hens. The meal ended with rich velvet chocolate mousse, very good french pressed coffee and a lovely complementary glass of port.

Our wedding day was everything and much more than we had hoped for and we were grateful for all the extras that made the day perfect in every way due to our hosts hospitality and attention to detail.

I have worked in hospitality all my life and in Australia I managed a 5 star restaurant which was chosen as official restaurant for the Press Corp. in the Summer Olympics of 2000. From this back ground I highly recommend the English Country Garden for an overnight stay, but particularly for anyone who has something special they want to celebrate. You will not be disappointed and I have not even mentioned the amazing breakfasts we had.

Thank You again Ian and Penny for making our wedding day so very perfect