About

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Winter Weddings

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Looking to have a relaxed, fun and affordable winter elopement or micro-wedding?

We're open all year. If you love winter and want to be outdoors for your wedding ceremony, let's talk.  Maybe you just want to get married soon - No problem!

Our new s’mores package is perfect for those who love the outdoors or want to have something different and unique. Perfect for just the two of you, for a family or small group of friends. 

We provide the s'mores, you provide the love, fun and emotion.

The S'mores Package includes:

  • Award-winning officiant, our own Humanist Celebrant Lois Heckman  to create a personalzied wedding ceremony  (more details upon request)

  • Signing and filing of your license (you must obtain your PA marriage license)

  • All the S’more ingredients needed 

  • Fire pit - under the pavilion, great regardless of weather

  • Real restrooms and support space + bridal suite

 P.S. - you can certainly elope here without the s'mores!

 I can also accommodate you at other locations in the Poconos.

physical and mailing address is:
127 Harmony Lane  Saylorsburg, PA 18353   

 

TO REQUEST INFORMATION:

Please use the contact form

For weddings or other services not at Harmony Gardens:

don't forget to include the location and date of your event.

 

INSTRUCTIONS FOR CLIENTS:

If you are already booked with Lois as your Celebrant or Harmony Gardens - scroll down to the bottom of this page for access to documents using a username and password provided by Lois

After logging in - look for a NEW ITEM in the menu bar: click on that!

 


Your wedding day is one of the most important days of your life, and the ceremony is the heart and soul. You deserve a wedding officiant who has the skill to express what it truly means for you.

Your ceremony can, and should be, an honest reflection of your world view, your taste and style and of course your love.  I am a professional officiant and create and clearly perform a unique, personalized ceremony - for you, your family and guests. You will have complete control and final approval of every word!

We can be as creative, formal, or informal, as you wish. I am an especially good choice to officiate for secular, interfaith, multi-cultural, and spiritual couples, giving you the opportunity to have your traditions and world view accurately respected. I am an especially good choice if you are looking for something NON-TRADITIONAL.

I am open to your path and will find the balance that may be needed to accommodate you and your families. 

I will listen to you and make lots of suggestions - and in the end, we will have the perfect ceremony. I am comfortable, sensitive and aware of the diverse needs of today's families. 

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Here's an article about wedding vows you may enjoy, recently published in Local Flair Magazine.

WHERE ARE YOU GETTING MARRIED?

I officiate in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania, at the area's finest venues -  Stroudsmoor Country Inn, Mountain Springs Lake, Skytop, as well as other interesting locations in and around the Poconos ... and at my own lovely outdoor ceremony site: Harmony Gardens

I ALSO CREATE AMAZING ELOPEMENTS.

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Here's how it happened...

Having officiated hundreds of weddings since 2005, I began to see a need that was not being met in the Poconos. The weddings I perform at beautiful venues like Skytop Lodge, Stroudsmoor Country Inn, Mountain Springs Lake, Shawnee Inn, and many more, are great for larger weddings and receptions. I love them all, and continue to officiate there. But it isn’t for everyone.

And then there is the timeframe. Most of these venues can book up a year or more in advance. You might want to get married very soon!

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Couples began contacting me to perform a wedding for just the two of them or with a few close family members and guests, and I began accommodating them in my home or in our garden. However, our garden, while beautiful, wasn’t truly set up for a ceremony.

That’s when, in 2009, my husband Kent, being the ever adventurous and ambitious gardener that he is, offered to create something designed especially for this purpose on our 25 acre property.

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And he did.  With input from my experience officiating at the many locations, and his gardening expertise, it all came to life.

We wanted it to be intimate, have a great entrance and charming features and details. We wanted it to feel spiritual, comfortable, quiet, and be full of trees, plants and flowers. And like everything we strive to do in our personal lives and business lives, we wanted it to be eco-friendly and well thought out. A lot to consider

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We hope we have succeeded in all that. What really makes it wonderful, though, are the couples who find their way here

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Always changing and growing, in 2015 we designed and built the amazing PAVILION to enhance your experience here even further. Every year since Kent has added more and more landscaping and features. 

Thank you for reading our story. 

    - Lois 

As featured in the Pocono Record newspaper (USA Today network)

We are relaunching the Pocono Wedding Talk column to be more inclusive of the topics covered. Welcome to Ceremony Matters!

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Funerals,  Memorials and Celebration of Life Ceremonies

For many reasons more people today are looking for services outside of religious traditions. But the ritual of a service or a ceremony is still important and should be deeply satisfying. I provide a personal, dignified end-of-life tribute. I carefully write and officiate a ceremony that accurately reflects the life and beliefs of the person who has died. I am able to suggest meaningful ways to honor and celebrate your loved one's life. Many of us have attended funerals that were less than satisfactory. My goal is to do all that is necessary to create a fitting service, with compassion and care. I am inclusive and sensitive to the diverse needs of modern families.

A Celebration of Life  can be scheduled any time after the death of a loved one. This gives people time to plan, especially when travel is involved. It also gives you time to honor your loved one in a way you may not have been able to - when the service is immediately after the loss. The Celebration of Life ceremony is becoming more popular today because it offers an opportunity to truly honor the life of your loved one in creative and inclusive ways. Having a funeral service and a Celebration of Life later is also an option. Graveside service only is another choice. 
 
Pre-planning your own funeral service is an amazing option not many consider! But think about it: together we can create the perfect ceremony to celebrate your life, once you've left.  With creativity and meaning, together we can craft something worthy of you. Read more about celebrant style funerals in the book: Stories from Funeral Celebrants, including a piece by Lois Heckman.

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Baby Blessing, Welcoming, or Naming
Whatever it's called, every culture has a ceremony to name or welcome a new child into the family and community.  With your input I will create a celebration that is right for you. Don't miss the opportunity to mark one of your most important milestones because you are not sure how to accomplish this - you can do it on your own terms, in a way that is honest for you, and I can guide you in this journey.
  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Renewal of Vows
It is my honor to help you find the way to express all that your marriage means. Whether you wish to have a more meaningful ceremony, after a simple courthouse wedding, or are celebrating many years of marriage - I can help make this dream come true.

What a wonderful way to honor a significant anniversary, and look back on your life together, or celebrate with family and friends if you did not have the opportunity when you signed your legal documents.

Transgender Naming Ceremony

I will create a custom ceremony to honor a person's coming into the fullness of their identity.  After going through the difficult process of transitioning, and coming out with a new gender, a trans person may want to bring together the family and friends who have supported them through the process to celebrate this important step in life. It can be a life-affirming experience.

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Watch this 1 minute video for a good overview of Harmony Gardens. Shot August 2023 by Peter Mackey 

For an elopement or small 'micro' wedding ... a garden is a beautiful place for it. 

If you are looking for an intimate outdoor ceremony site, Harmony Gardens may be perfect for you. Harmony Gardens provides a peaceful, natural environment, and a stress free affordable experience.

Ask about our S'MORES ELOPEMENT PACKAGE for something different!

Located on 25 acres in the foothills of the Pocono Mountains of PA, we accommidate from 2 to 35 people. Be as casual or formal as you wish! 

If your wedding is smaller, most resorts may not be a good fit.  Or if it's just the two-of-you, you still deserve a charming setting for this important milestone in your life.

Last minute? We can make it work! The fair price structure also (and importantly) includes award winning Celebrant Lois Heckman to officiate your ceremony!

Be sure to check out the PHOTO page for even more images.

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The main circle features a large white arbor with lights, over the altar rock. Next to it is our gorgeous PAVILION, where you can add a social hour, and also serves as the perfect back-up plan for rain.

Whether you are having a reception or party at home, hall or restaurant, or simply going out for a meal to celebrate, you may be having difficulty finding the right location for your ceremony. Perhaps you are planning a bigger event later. This is why we created Harmony Gardens.

Our ever evolving garden is featured in Bulb & Bloom Magazine and on the Monroe County (PA) annual garden tour.

We'd love to have you come see the garden but please make an appointment. We can also make recommendations for photography, accommodations, cake and bouquet delivery, local restaurants, attractions, and more.        

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Saylorsburg, PA  is 1 ½ hours from New York City and 1 ½ hours from Philadelphia; 45 minutes from Allentown and Scranton

Thank you to my partner-in-crime, husband of 45+ years and gardener Kent Heckman
Photographers including: Jill Katherine, Peter Mackey, Broady Photography, Gianna Leo Falcon, and many many others
Sonia's Sweet Inspirations
Bloom by Melanie
Harmony Gardens is fully insured. 
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Elope in the Poconos

Why Elope? There are many good reasons to elope, or just have a very small wedding. With Lois Heckman as your officiant you will have a customized, meaningful ceremony and you will be able to review what will be said and have input, assuring it will be a wonderful experience for this big milestone in life.

There are no witnesses required for your marriage license in PA - perfect for eloping! But we also accommodate up to 35 guests.

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Avoiding Conflict. We all know that family can be complicated, sometimes just too complicated, and eloping is a great way to avoid it. Which is directly connected to the next reason….

Stress. Planning a wedding can be a lot of work. Some couples may have neither the time nor inclination. I have witnessed more than one couple call off their formal wedding and ask to be married quietly in my garden. They simply couldn't take one more minute of family drama!

Expediency. You need to get married quickly, for reasons such as military deployment or other practical issues, like heath insurance. Or you just don't want to wait another minute!

Financial. You might prefer to spend the money on something else, like a down-payment for a house, or a trip. You may not want to go into debt for one big day. Our rates are very affordable.

Style. Perhaps you would rather not be the center of attention. There may also be cultural and/or religious differences that you don't know how to navigate.  You just want to be your true selves, and don't like to get all dressed up!  That's another wonderful thing about eloping – you can do it your own way! Anything from gowns to jeans is fine.

Romance. 'Just the two of you' is very romantic, and, if you choose, there is no reason why you can't have all the glamour as well: the dress, the flowers, the rings – just without the guests! If you've dreamed of a romantic getaway, this is it!

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How does it work?

Marriage is controlled by the states, so to get married here at Harmony Gardens you will need a Pennsylvania license.  

A license may be obtained in any county in PA and used in any other county. You have 60 days to use the license (not to be confused with the 3-day wait period to use the license). No witnesses are required in PA.  

Harmony Gardens was chosen as one of the 15 best places to elope in America!

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Year round ! Find out about our WINTER S'MORES ELOPEMENTS 

Contact Lois for a list of accommodations, activities, restaurants, photographers and more - all in in our area.

 #PoconoElopement  #ElopeInThePoconos  #Elope #AffordableWedding

Lois HeckmanAs a celebrant, I have the training and experience to write and perform weddings, and other ceremonies for all the significant, transitional times in our lives.

What is a celebrant?

Celebrants are trained to officiate personalized ceremonies. I studied at the Celebrant USA Foundation - an international leader in this field.  I now teach Celebrancy at the Celebrant Academy. The celebrant movement is growing as the need for unique and non-religious weddings grows.

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Why choose a celebrant?

If your ceremony is important to you, a celebrant has the skill and takes the time to understand your beliefs and values and officiate the ceremony with clarity and meaning. A celebrant also considers all the needs of the family and guests, and most of all, makes sure that your ceremony is a true reflection of who you are, and what it all means to you. Wouldn't you like to know what exactly is going to be said?  You will have control and approval of your script.

How does it work?

Please contact me by phone or email and let's see if we're a 'fit.' I would love to meet with you and explore the possibilities for your ceremony. At that time I will listen to you and then be able to suggest ideas that I think will work for you.  I always have a variety of ideas! There is no obligation. If you decide you would like to work with me, we'll go from there!

If you live out of town, but are having your wedding in the Poconos, I can also accommodate you; I have worked with couples from all over the country, and indeed, around the world. It all came together beautifully. If it's right, we'll make it work.