At Mayhurst Estate, a family’s hospitality story shapes an Orange wedding destination

Jason and Casey Cashell bought Mayhurst Estate in early 2020, only weeks before the pandemic transformed travel and gatherings. Their plan for a Virginia bed-and-breakfast began with an unexpectedly difficult opening chapter. They kept building it around the interests that had brought them there: hospitality, historic architecture and family life.

Today, the Orange property combines overnight stays with weddings and other gatherings. Its Italianate Victorian mansion sits within 37 acres of countryside, with gardens, a lily pond and woodland trails extending the setting beyond the house.

The owners bring different strengths to that setting. Casey, a photographer and educator, serves as executive director. Jason, the estate’s chief executive, brings interests in cooking, renovation and architectural history to its daily operation. Their own account of Mayhurst’s early years describes a business sustained through a demanding start by faith, persistence and help from others.

For wedding parties, the estate’s nine on-site rooms offer a practical advantage alongside the architecture. Some of the people closest to the couple can prepare and stay at the same property, with time together extending into the following morning.

The grounds provide several ways to gather, including a courtyard, veranda, game lawn and fire pits. Sailcloth tent options add another setting for outdoor celebrations, with configurations and weather arrangements discussed during planning.

Those details make Mayhurst more than a backdrop for a ceremony. The house, overnight accommodations and outdoor spaces allow a celebration to have several chapters in one place. Behind them is a family-run hospitality business whose own story began with a leap into uncertain times.