Darren Benbow met Lisa Brown after high school graduation, at a gathering of their friends in Long Island, New York. Immediately, Darren knew that there was something about Lisa that he had to get to know, so they exchanged phone numbers. Shortly after they started to date, Lisa moved from New York to North Carolina with her family to attend college. In many cases, a drastic move such as theirs would have lead to a bitter end; however, this was not the case. The move actually strengthened the couple’s relationship and lead to the fairytale ending most people only dream of.
Five years later, life started leading them in two different directions. Lisa made a move to Maryland, and Darren was still in New York pursuing a career in music, as a Motown Records recording artist. A big argument between the couple led Lisa to write a letter to Darren, which he never responded to. A few years passed and Darren moved to Atlanta and a desire to reconnect with Lisa was overdue. With a common name, such as Lisa Brown, his search proved to be harder than he ever could have imagined. He spent money on Classmates.com, US Search, and People Finder, but the results led to nothing. After years of profile searches, reckless emails, and chance meetings with her old friends, it seemed the search was leading to a dead end.
One day, Darren received an anonymous email in his MySpace inbox from a girl who claimed he dated her sister years ago. Forgetting she had a younger sister, he continued to correspond with the girl until realizing it was Lisa’s younger sister. She went on to tell him that Lisa had relocated to Atlanta as well, and lived 20 minutes from where he was.
Darren and Lisa reconnected the same night they spoke, and it seemed as though they picked up exactly where they left off. He always said that if he found her again, he would never let her go. Believe it or not, two years later they were married at Villa Serena.
Villa Serena is a stately Italianate mansion secluded in a magnificent 100 acre wooded estate overlooking pristine Black Shoals Lake. This European style stucco and stone villa, surrounded by multi-tiered terraces and lovely landscaped grounds, offers an exceptional location for hosting any important event. The manor house, a private residence, with its center courtyard, is the perfect venue for elegant candlelight weddings, lovely outdoor country weddings, ceremonies and receptions, luncheons, theme or holiday parties and corporate events, large or small. Numerous sites, with both lakeside and garden views, provide exquisite backdrops for your memorable occasion. Of the many wedding sites and locations all over Georgia, Villa Serena is the perfect site for an elegant outdoor country wedding, ceremony, and reception.
Villa Serena, known for its personal touch and refined ambiance, is guaranteed to surprise and delight both you and your guests. From exceptional cuisine to elaborate decor, the staff's personal touch will customize each event to the client's particular preferences. Located in the Greater Metro Atlanta, Georgia area; Villa Serena is convenient to many Georgia cities and counties. Some of these include: Athens, Atlanta, Augusta, Columbia, Conyers, Covington, Duluth, Gainesville, Lake Lanier, Lake Oconee, Loganville, Madison, Metro Atlanta, Monroe, Snellville, Social Circle, Stone Mountain, and Clark, Clayton, Dekalb, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Hall, Newton, Morgan, and Rockdale County. Conveniently located between Atlanta and Athens with easy access to Interstate 20 and GA highway 78, it is the perfect private location only minutes away from these metro areas. Welcoming not only area residents but also national and international visitors, the estate offers a unique and prestigious setting for your next memorable event. Villa Serena assures its clients that all who select this venue will surely "Celebrate the Moment and Cherish the Memory!"
