From the time Matilda Reuter was little, she loved elegant gatherings at her grandmother's farm. "Family gatherings were always beautiful," she said smiling. "There were always gorgeous flowers, pretty china and crystal, and exciting, memorable conversations."

As Matilda grew up, her mother and father insisted that she and her siblings be home for family dinners… "This taught me how valuable and important conversations over a meal can really be."

She was the only college student who traveled to school with ten sets of china and linens. "Every party or get-together was an excuse to create an event."

There was no question about it. Matilda loved to entertain.

When she returned to Middleburg from working at Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina with her beau, Jonathan Engle, to take over the management of the Red Fox Inn & Tavern, (Jon running the kitchen, and Matilda responsible for the front of the house), she spent an impressive amount of her time helping guests find venues and special sources for every aspect of the weddings and celebratory events they hoped to organize in The Piedmont.

"I loved to help them," she remembered, "but in a few years, I realized that I was sending a significant amount of business to the many talented local and regional professionals whose work was not readily accessible to visitors without a personal recommendation."

When Matilda and Jon married, she chose the very best local sources she had come to know to create their beautiful wedding at her family farm. It was a spectacular ceremony with delicious food and beautiful flowers in a garden setting that was complimented with extraordinary antique furniture on the lawn for seating and serving. No one was surprised when it was featured in Southern Living Weddings magazine as one of the loveliest weddings of the year.

It began to dawn on Matilda that together with the other Studio Members, they could provide a unique and much needed service in Middleburg, by introducing visitors to all the exceptionally talented vendors and beautiful venues of The Piedmont in one charming place in the heart of town.

"Clearly, the local talent in our area is stupendous," she explained. "But, without a central location where they could introduce their special services, some would continue to depend on personal references to build their businesses."

So, the darling and driven young communications executive along with the other Studio Members drafted a plan for an event studio practically next door to the Red Fox. They envisioned a place where the very best wedding and event specialists could display and describe their offerings together.

"We wanted to create a charming environment that would please, intrigue and inspire individuals who want to create exceptional events," she continued. "After the logistics were in place, we went to work."

"Now that Middleburg Events Studio is open at 8 East Washington Street, it our pleasure to introduce brides and event clients to some of the most talented resources anywhere in the world, and to help ensure that people who want their wedding or special events to take place in The Piedmont know and can engage our local design talent and venues."

Middleburg Events Studio presents a unique glimpse into the world of beautiful weddings and events. Six talented local artists and artisans are the founding members of the Middleburg Events Studio. They include:

Rosanna Funiciello Smith of Bella Vista Rustic & Elegant Antiques; Jodi & Kurt Baier of Jodi Miller Photography; Holly Chapple of Holly Heider Chapple Flowers; Rachel Merkle of Miss Merkle Design, Party Rental Ltd. and The Red Fox Inn & Tavern.

Each member of The Middleburg Events Studio works together to create the delightful celebratory atmosphere that is already amply evident in the pretty, two-storied shop. In a lovely space defined by the palest lavender gray and creamy white walls, sparkly chandeliers, beautiful china, crystal and linens, plushy rugs and splendid antiques, the visitor will find classical and unusual pieces for events that may be ordered in small or immense quantities.

Furniture styles that span the design-scape and every era of silverware and serving pieces are available for rental at The Studio.

Floral arrangements that rival anything at the Palace de Versailles, linens that help create truly splendid table setting and small, incidental pieces that turn events into truly special occasions are everywhere in evidence.

"Although we recommend the Red Fox for rehearsal dinners and smaller events, we represent many more venues and vendors from which our clients may choose."

From the first floor reception room, to the back showroom, to the spacious, sunny conference room on the top floor, it is abundantly clear that this is definitely the place to plan every kind of spectacular party.

"I'm so happy to have the opportunity to create this business alongside my industry friends," Matilda says excitedly. "I grew up in Middleburg and I love it here. Even when I woke up every day in Asheville wondering how I could possibly be any happier, I missed home."

"When my enthusiastic best friend and college roommate, Becky Armstrong, said she was willing to leave her corporate career to manage The Studio, it made the entire enterprise come together."

For more information about The Middleburg Events Studio, please visit middleburgeventsstu-dio.com or telephone 540 687 5282.