Photo courtesy of Camelot Manor.
Camelot Manor, formerly known as the Archer House, is a newly-restored 1880’s home in Westover, a few miles east of Chelsea, for hosting weddings and other events.
Just a half an hour from downtown Birmingham, a few miles east of Chelsea, sits a newly-restored 1880’s home for hosting weddings and other events.
Camelot Manor, formerly known as the Archer House, is listed on Alabama’s Register of Landmarks and Heritage. This mansion has belonged to Charlot Denny and her husband Gene for the past year and a half.
“I always wanted to do something along this line,” Denny said. “We started looking for a property a couple of years ago. One afternoon, we happened to see the for-sale sign in the driveway and walked through.” The couple saw the property’s potential and made an offer on the spot.
Denny said she and her husband chose to call the home “Camelot Manor” for a number of reasons.
“I grew up in a neighborhood called Camelot Woods,” she said. “That was my home for all of my life, and I have such sweet memories there.”
The romance of the Camelot story also inspired the Dennys when they decided to create a wedding venue. “We want to make our bride and groom feel like the queen and king,” Denny said.
They immediately got to work to restore the old home to its former glory.
“What we tried to do was keep the historic charm yet keep it up to date,” Denny said.
The interior area is over 4,300 square feet, and the home sits on two acres, allowing it to host intimate gatherings both inside and out.
They painted all of the walls and ceilings white to brighten up the home. Next, they transformed the space into the ideal wedding venue.
They gave the bride — or, as Denny likes to call them, “the queens” — the entire upstairs. They are provided several rooms with comfortable couches, a refrigerator, a microwave, a glam space with floor-to-ceiling mirrors and anything else they would need to get ready for their special day.
Grooms can also look forward to having their own space to hang out before the big day. The groom space is a round table-themed room that is both comfortable and entertaining, including a private bar and flat-screen TV, Denny said.
The renovation extends to outside of the elegant home as well. The couple have added grass, planted flowers, created garden areas and set up a swing and sitting areas, Denny said.
Also outside is a large cathedral-like pavilion, Denny said. It has the same “Southern feel” as the home with its white columns and tin roof.
The staff at Camelot Manor pride themselves on having almost anything couples might need on the property, such as a butler’s pantry filled with floor-to-ceiling shelves of silver.
“We have six children, so we know what weddings are like,” Denny said. “We have the tables, chairs and every kind of prop that could be needed.”
Denny said that couples may use these items at no extra cost. If brides are looking for something they do not have, Denny enjoys finding these items for them at antique stores. “We just want to give them whatever makes their day special,” she said.
Even in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the venue is beginning to book quickly, Denny said. She has been able to fit in engaged couples who have had to cancel or change their wedding plans due to the threat of the virus.
Couples can now book Camelot Manor for Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. To practice better social distancing, they are encouraged to make use of the outdoor pavilion, Denny said. The staff wear masks and there are sanitizing stations throughout the home.
“There’s been a lot of work to do,” Denny said. “But it’s very rewarding to get to know these families. I fall in love with these young couples.”
To learn more about booking a wedding or event at Camelot Manor visit camelotmanor.net.
