Contact us for more information at 828-279-4132 or [email protected]
Events for You Asheville
  • Home
  • Wedding Services
    • Coordinator or Planner ?
    • Remote Wedding Planning
    • What Does It Cost?
    • Miss Ellie's Wedding Planning Blog
    • Gallery
    • Floral and Decor Services
    • Marriage License Info
    • Wedding Planning Advice
    • Recommended Vendors
    • Free Wedding Planning Checklist
    • FAQs
  • Corporate Events
  • Other
    • About Us >
      • References
      • Social Media
    • Asheville Area Visitor Info & Weather
    • Parades
    • Party Planning Services
    • Memorial Services
    • Job Openings
    • Twenty Questions for Current Clients
    • Make a Payment
  • Contact

Planning a Wedding During a Pandemic

11/16/2020

 
How to safely have a wedding during COVID-19
BY GUEST WRITER LENA BORRELLI
Updated November 11, 2020

Planning a wedding during coronavirus is an entirely different matter than the traditional wedding. “In many places, gatherings numbers are restricted and many states are taking a phased approach, which leaves couples to face planning a wedding without knowing exactly what restrictions will be in place by the time their scheduled wedding happens,” explains Katie Elder, owner of the Overlook Barn, a premier wedding venue in Banner Elk, North Carolina.

A recent survey by Promoleaf shows that 39% of those polled favored social distancing being enforced at weddings, with 41% preferring that all guests wear masks and 34% preferring an outdoor venue for COVID weddings. The median preference for the guest count is 50 people, with less than 1% of respondents comfortable with 200 attendees or more.

“We’re seeing smaller weddings, more elopements, and those holding on for normality by pushing their wedding another year,” says SJ Meyer, who offers wedding planning and catering services through her business, Lickskillet Catering, in Fort Collins, Colorado. COVID affected Meyer personally, impacting her own wedding plans. She has been forced to infuse innovation and ingenuity when reshuffling her clients’ dream mountain weddings.

The pandemic has made for an entirely different wedding planning experience than most couples and industry professionals are used to. If you’re wondering how to plan a wedding during a pandemic, or even how to move in with your new spouse in the age of quarantine, here are a few pointers.
  • Initial wedding preparations
  • COVID-safe ceremony ideas
  • Preparing for a change of plans
  • If you’re thinking about postponing your wedding
 
Initial wedding preparations 
When deciding how to proceed with your wedding, communication is your best friend. Talk to your significant other about your individual expectations and how best to meet them. This is a very stressful and emotional time, and the additional emotional and financial stress can weigh on your relationship if you are not careful.

To better ground yourself, create a detailed budget for your wedding and stick to it. These are some great resources from sites like The Knot and Wedding Wire that will help you understand and stick to your budget.

Follow CDC guidelines As the country continues to fight the spread of coronavirus, experts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization continue to highlight the importance of wearing masks in public to reduce infection. Calls for strict social distancing can impact even the slightest details of your wedding, making things like cocktail hour, reception seating, and dinner service all complicated to accomplish safely.

Elder has really seen the impact of coronavirus on weddings held at the Overlook Barn. “Weddings also look different this year, masks, sanitizing, distancing, a focus on outdoor celebrations . . .” she explains.
She spoke with us exclusively, listing some of the precautions you can take to help mitigate the risk of COVID-19.
  • Require masks for all guests and, of course, all of the regular hygiene – regular hand washing, sanitizing stations available, etc.
  • Move as much of the wedding and reception outdoors as possible. (For her part, Elder offers a brand-new outdoor pavilion that was built to accommodate coronavirus wedding couples.)
  • Consider “guest pods” to reduce mingling in larger groups. These are seating pods of people together who are related or who already see each other regularly to mingle together throughout the event.
  • Increase airflow wherever possible by opening windows and adding air filtration in more confined spaces. Elder invested in HEPA filtration for their bridal suites.
  • Hand sanitizer has also risen in popularity for many wedding gift bags and favors.

Look into vendor guidelines
It is also important to thoroughly review vendor guidelines and procedures to ensure the safety of you and your guests. Brian Worley, owner and founder of Brian Worley Productions in Atlanta, walks through some of the precautions he and his team are taking.
  • Hand sanitizer provided around the venue
  • Social distancing the tables
  • Limited number of guests seated at each table.
  • Individually rolled flatware
  • All food stations must be chef attended and guests are not allowed to grab their own food.
  • All the bars had Plexi shield guards, much like the checkout at a store.
  • We are increasing the number of bars so that the lines do not build up.
  • There is only one bartender per bar, where in the past we have had two.

Don’t forget about the fine print in those contracts, either. “The very first thing couples should do is read through their contracts. Hotels have actually been very good about moving the wedding without issue, but I have run into some issues with other vendors who consider it a cancelation and rebooking,” says Keith Willard, President of Keith Willard Events and President of NACE’s South Florida chapter.

COVID-safe ceremony ideas Instead of extravagant wedding ceremonies, many COVID-19 couples are rethinking the traditional wedding approach. Smaller ceremonies are not only more affordable (a boon if you or your fiance were affected by coronavirus layoffs) and easier to manage, but they are considerably safer.

Outdoor wedding SJ Meyer recommends instead moving your weddings to an outdoor tent. And if you happen to already own the land where you put the tent, even better. “Since guest counts are also lower, couples are also finding it easier to throw a wedding in their yard, around the pool or in a garden” says Worley. However, he warns you need your outdoor space to be one that easily accommodates social distancing – and one with shade.

Wristband system Jason Miller, CEO of Promoleaf, comments, “A popular trend we’re noticing is simply a three-tier, plastic wristband system issued to each guest or event attendee based on their own comfort level.”  How it works:
  • Red wristband for high-risk guests that prefer social distancing of at least ten feet
  • Yellow band for regular social distancing preferences of six feet
  • Green band for those who are comfortable with a handshake or hug.

“As long as everyone at the event respects the comfort level of others, this can be a solution allowing you to be inclusive while enabling all of your guests to feel comfortable and welcome.”

Local venues Instead of the traditional church or hotel ballroom, consider new, creative venues that can accommodate your wedding. Places like local vineyards and breweries are on-trend and already institute heightened coronavirus protocols. Plus, they can usually accommodate outdoor gatherings.

Courthouse weddings If you are delaying your wedding reception but don’t want to wait to actually tie the knot, courthouse weddings are a quick, easy way to make your vows official while you wait for a larger celebration to follow.

Wedding Wire provides a handy guide to wedding laws for every state in the country so you can check your state’s laws and requirements before you head to the courthouse.

Elopements For some couples, an elopement can be just the ticket to a COVID-friendly marriage.
“Think outside the box,” says Meyer. “Another option is to elope and plan a party down the road for when there is availability.”

An elopement can be a stress-free way to approach your wedding by foregoing all of the traditional trimmings, such as seating, transportation and pricey venue rentals.

Places of worship Many couples plan to incorporate a specific place of worship into their ceremony. This could be a church, temple, mosque, gurudwara, or synagogue, but each of these may differ in how they are treating the coronavirus pandemic.

No matter what you decide, you should maintain regular communication with your venue to ensure that you are kept abreast of all developments and protocols as the pandemic progresses.

Fun ways to safely include loved ones

  • Virtual/ streaming wedding
Ivy Summer, the author of Poise Over Panic: How to Plan a Wedding in a Pandemic, has seen the coronavirus affect engaged couples in many ways. “There are couples who originally planned to host a bicoastal wedding reception, but those plans were inevitably disrupted by shelter-in-place orders and consequential travel restrictions,” she says.

Elder offers a way around this with an innovative new solution at the Overlook Barn. “Provide a livestream option,” she urges. “This allows higher-risk guests to stay home and still celebrate with the couple and also is a way to reduce your guest list of people who will be there in person.”

A lot of wedding videography and photography companies have updated their pandemic repertoire to including livestreaming services. Plus, livestreams are often recorded. These recordings are also easy to share after the fact, forever memorializing your nuptials in a way that you can enjoy again and again.

  • Drive-by wedding
Guests can visit a location between certain hours, driving by slowly while they greet the couple from the safety of their cars

Preparing for a change of plans

Flexibility is one of the most important things you can maintain when planning a coronavirus wedding. Says Meyer, “If you’re flexible about having your wedding on a weekday or end of the weekend, you not only save money, but might be able to have all the vendors you’ve previously booked and not have to miss out on nonrefundable fees.”

In case you do find yourself drowning in fees, leading wedding website The Knot has created a $10 million financial assistance program to assist wedding professionals severely impacted by the coronavirus.
Keeping guests informedOne of the most difficult parts of planning a wedding is maintaining communication with all involved parties. Not just guests, bud vendors, too.

Building a free wedding website can be a great way to instantly update all of your guests and vendors, keeping everyone in the loop. Your site will allow you to update all of your family and guests with a single post, freeing up more time for you to plan with your vendors. You can also give specific details and instructions surrounding coronavirus precautions so your guests will feel more comfortable supporting you on your big day.

Read the room
Before you make a final decision, Elder suggests going straight to your guests. “Send a quick survey out to your guests to gauge their comfort level in attending if you do not postpone; this will help you decide if postponement is right for you.”

If you do decide to change your date, Summer recommends that you reach out to your VIPs before setting a new date. “If you can’t imagine yourself getting married without them, then get in touch to ensure they’re available for your new wedding date.”

Wedding insurance
McCord Jones addresses the problems affecting the entire industry. “For vendors, they are in a hard place because their contracts do not address pandemics, and many couples are requesting all deposits and payments to be returned, as they may need the funds due to job losses.  This proves to be a nightmare for the entire industry.”

Wedding insurance could help. There is the traditional form of liability insurance that will protect you from liability relating to wedding-related accidents and injuries. There is also cancellation insurance, which can protect you financially should you have to cancel your wedding for any of the covered reasons.

If you’re thinking about postponing your wedding
When asked about what is missed most about weddings, Promoleaf’s survey showed that over half of respondents (53%) said what they miss most is hugging and interacting with the bride and groom, family and friends. Dancing, buffets and open bars, particularly among male respondents, are also very much missed. Postponing your wedding could allow you the opportunity to save that human interaction by choosing a date in the future.

Give yourself time to process
“A wedding is a huge life event,” says McCord Jones. “My best advice, as a former wedding planner, is to do some soul searching with your fiance on priorities which choice will grieve you most.”

There are also practical reasons for not postponing. McCord Jones says that in addition to the stress, a postponed wedding could impact financial and family planning goals. If you find yourself in the situation where your health insurance may be impacted by postponing your ceremony, consider a courthouse wedding or an elopement and save your celebratory reception for down the road.

Find support
Wedding websites like The Knot, Wedding Wire and Wedding Pro have always been popular forums for brides and grooms, but those forums have evolved into emotional support groups in the age of COVID-19. Websites and social media groups like those on Facebook are an excellent source of support from those who are experiencing many of the same challenges as you and your significant other.

“Take the time to mourn,” says Willard. “You are dealing with the loss of the anticipated experience. Months and years have gone by planning your wedding. It’s important to acknowledge these things and allow yourself to move on.”

Keep your vendors in mind
For many of Meyer’s couples, moving dates and locations have presented a serious issue. “Not all vendors are able to move to their new locations, or they are losing out on deposits from venues,” she says. “It costs more money and is a headache to get rescheduled.”

Work with your vendors to find the best solution for your wedding. Vendor contracts and cancellation policies may vary, but many wedding vendors are committed to executing their clients’ events.

As a wedding planner, Meyer recommends using professional services like hers to help with the rescheduling process. “If you have a wedding coordinator, talk to them and see how they can help.”

Make sure you have all your vendors onboard before announcing anything to your guests, cautions Melanie Levin, the owner and principal planner of LuckEleven Events in Los Angeles. An easy way to track this, Willard recommends, is a group message. “Get all of your vendors’ emails into one message.  This will dramatically reduce the amount of communication that you have to do with each of the vendors.”

Update your guests
Your wedding website can help here, delivering details about travel cancellation and refunds. Your coordinator may also be able to help negotiate hotel room blocks. But you also need to prepare to watch the guestlist dwindle.

Couples are dealing with new limitations and requirements being instituted by both new and old venues. This could mean significant changes to your guest list, whether it is due to space, budget, or illness. And you’ll have to accept the fact that some of your guests are uncomfortable with the idea of attending a wedding in a pandemic.

Reevaluate your budget
A wedding is a carefully balanced house of cards, and the slightest change can have significant bearing on your plans and budget. Regardless of whether you choose to postpone your wedding, you should take this opportunity to reassess your budget.

The average wedding in 2019 cost nearly $34,000, but coronavirus has introduced all sorts of new expenses that can seriously impact your budget. Many couples are using personal loans to help cover the new costs associated with their wedding plans.

Additional Resources
  • CDC Considerations for Events & Gatherings
  • WeddingPro COVID-19 Planning Resources 
  • Minted Wedding Planning Guide During the Coronavirus
  • Wedding Wire’s COVID-19 Wedding Advice Guide
  • The Knot Official Guide for COVID-19 Wedding Help

Lena Borrelli is a Tampa-based writer who specializes in personal finance, home improvement, and moving content. She's worked with leading industry titans, such as Morgan Stanley, Wells Fargo, and Simon Corporation. Her work has most recently been published on sites like Bankrate, The Simple Dollar, Fiscal Tiger, ADT, and Home Advisor, as well as many other websites and blogs around the world.

Click here to go to Part 2: After the Wedding...

A Guide to Asheville Wedding Venues by Photographer Jennifer Callahan

2/14/2018

 
PictureThe Ridge, an outdoor wedding venue just north of Asheville includes that quintessential view of the Appalachian mountains.
A Guide to Asheville Wedding Venues: A Photographer's Perspective
 
Since winter is a slower time for weddings in the Asheville area, I'm taking the opportunity to write from the perspective of an Asheville wedding photographer about some of the amazing wedding venues in western North Carolina. For this blog post I decided to focus on the Asheville and Hendersonville area. There are also many great venues near Cashiers and Blowing Rock, which I might post about at a later date. When organizing this post, I recalled so many places just in the Asheville area. I decided to focus on that. Having been a wedding photographer in Asheville for the last 12 years, it's amazing to see how things have changed. For the most part I've organized the venue information by the style of landscape provided by the venue. You'll see venues on the list of long respected places as well as some new places. The last few years have been exciting with so many new venues popping up. I love it! 
​
I'm posting this in January because I know so many couples are getting engaged now and starting their planning and venue search in western North Carolina. I married in 2017, and I know it can be overwhelming for couples to consider all the options and wedding planning can almost turn into a part-time job. I remember searching for venues online in the Asheville area, and often getting search results that were for venues that were hours away from Asheville. There were moments I felt I had wasted my time. This wedding venue guide for Asheville is great because everything I'm listing is close to either Asheville or Hendersonville, and no more than an hour away.

THE MAIN ADVICE I WOULD GIVE TO COUPLES STARTING THEIR WEDDING PLANNING:
  1. Start your planning by taking a balanced approach to finding your venue, caterer and photographer. Don't spend such a large part of your budget on one area that you don't have enough left for other areas that are important to you.
  2. After that, research florists and wedding planners. These businesses sometime do multiple events on weekends as they have multiple employees to cover a variety of events, so you don't have to worry quite as much about your date already being taken!
  3. When looking at a venue, check out the larger picture of what they offer. Do they include some things you would otherwise have to rent or do they include a day-of coordinator? In the end you may find they are the best option.
  4. If you find a vendor you love, go for it. You can always continue to search and find things you love, but take my advice as someone recently wed, over-searching actually takes the fun out of the wedding and can drain your enthusiasm.
  5. Read vendor reviews
If you're searching for a wedding venue and would like to get a photographers perspective, feel free to send me an email ([email protected]) and I'd be happy to make suggestions based on what you're looking for.

VENUES WITH SCENIC OVERLOOKS OF THE MOUNTAINS

1. THE RIDGE
HTTP://WWW.THERIDGEASHEVILLE.COM
o    Perfect scenic overlook for your ceremony
o    Beautiful house with wrap-around porch to great your guests upon arrival
o    New reception building with equally amazing views
o    Luxury venue
2. THE CABIN RIDGE
HTTP://WWW.THECABINRIDGE.COM
o    Breathtaking overlook of the mountains
o    Outdoor pavilion for your reception
o    Rustic Cabins
3. CHESTNUT RIDGE
HTTP://WWW.CHESTNUTRIDGE.EVENTS
o    at an elevation of about 3000 feet, the venue offer a scenic view and the feeling of also being right in the mountains
o    Indoor and outdoor options for the ceremony 
o    New venue with large event barn, and suites for getting ready
o    Luxury venue
4. PISGAH INN
HTTP://WWW.PISGAHINN.COM
o    A hotel and restaurant right on the Blue Ridge Parkway with an amazing, undisturbed view of the mountains, provides catering for events
o    Ceremony location is an outdoor scenic overlook
o    A wonderful new deck looks out over the mountains
o    The reception room has lots of natural light from large windows along two walls
o    Better suited for smaller to medium size weddings, as the reception room isn't large
o    However, if you have a more casual receptions where guests mingle and eat throughout the event room/deck and lawn area, then you would be able to have more guests (more than 35).
o    If you want a sit down dinner at your reception, the room will max out at about 35 guests
o    Green areas and lawns for guests to mingle around the inn
o    Budget friendly
5. CAMP CEDAR CLIFF HTTP://CAMPCEDARCLIFF.ORG/WEDDINGS/
o    Mountaintop views from a pavilion that features a high roof, wooden beams and stonework details
(Editors note: no alcohol)
6. BEND OF IVY LODGE
HTTP://BENDOFIVYLODGE.COM
o    Tranquil mountain setting
o    Scenic overlook
o    Accommodations for guests
o    Pastoral setting for intimate weddings
7. ENGADINE INN AND CABINS
HTTPS://WWW.ENGADINEINNANDCABINS.COM/WEDDINGS-EVENTS
o    Intimate B&B 
o    Outdoor venue
o    Two Scenic Overlooks

VALLEYS, MOUNTAIN VIEWS & PASTORAL LANDSCAPES

1. CLAXTON FARM
HTTP://CLAXTONFARM.COM
o    Pastoral landscape, rolling hills with a 360-degree view
o    Classic mountain views for the ceremony and reception, plus an event barn with porch
o    There is a reason this has been a classic venue for so long, it never disappoints 
o    Outside bonfire during cooler weather with smores
2. HIDDEN RIVER HTTP://WWW.HIDDENRIVEREVENTS.COM
o    Located in an open valley, surrounded by mountains
o    Tented Reception
o    Long respected venue in western North Carolina
Editors’s Note: All inclusive-catering, photography, coordinator, lodging, etc.
3. LAVONIA CREST
HTTP://LAVONIACREST.BUSINESS.SITE
o    Located just beneath Roan Mountain, a valley setting with tranquil mountain views
o    New venue, hidden gem so you can currently rent the venue for a great price
o    Reception style: outdoor pavilion and rented tent
o    Outdoor fireplace and fire pit 
o    Budget friendly
4. SHERILL'S INN AT HICKORY NUT GAP FARM
HTTPS://WWW.HICKORYNUTGAPFARM.COM/VENUE-LOCATIONS/
o    Tons of authentic charm and character
o    Historic, 1845 farmhouse setting
o    Views of hills and mountains
o    Boxwood garden pathways
o    Open field above the house for tented or open air reception
5. LAKE EDEN
HTTP://LAKEEDENEVENTS.COM
o    A classic venue in Asheville that offers so much
o    Mountain views, pastoral rolling hills, authentic red barn reception
o    The property has a large footprint with many wonderful features throughout the landscape 
6. IVY CREEK FARM
HTTP://WWW.IVYCREEKFAMILYFARM.COM/EVENT-VENUE
o    Farm themed, rustic venue in the countryside
o    down-to-earth, relaxed vibe
7. YESTERDAY SPACES
HTTPS://YESTERDAYSPACES.COM
o    Farm style setting with so many great features
o    Two residential homes to stay in on the property
o    Dairy barn, a great backup plan for you ceremony if it rains and if frequently used for the rehearsal dinner
o    Open field with mountains in the distance, used for ceremonies
o    Reception barn
o    An amazing tree-lined walkway to your ceremony. Historically this was a portion of the carriage path through the community in the 1800's...it's a fantastic feature!
o    Outside bonfire during cooler weather
8. LADY LUCK FLOWER FARM
HTTPS://LADYLUCKFLOWERFARM.COM
o    FLOWER FARM AND WEDDING VENUE
o    VALLEY SETTING WITH MOUNTAIN VIEWS
o    OUTDOOR EVENT PAVILION
9. THE WILLOW HOUSE
HTTPS://WILLOWHOUSEWEDDINGS.COM
o    Maggie Valley Area
o    Waterfalls and mountain views
o    Reception barn

BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY FOR ELOPEMENTS WITH SCENIC OVERLOOKS

1. CRAGGY GARDENS
HTTPS://ASHEVILLETRAILS.COM/BLUE-RIDGE-PARKWAY/CRAGGY-GARDENS-TRAIL
o    Well loved option with AMAZING views
o    Appealing because the hike is fairly gentle and it doesn't take long to get to amazing views (1.5 miles roundtrip hike)
o    Rock outcroppings allow for spectacular photos
2. BLACK BALSAM KNOB
HTTPS://ASHEVILLETRAILS.COM/BLUE-RIDGE-PARKWAY/BLACK-BALSAM-KNOB-ART-LOEB-TRAIL-HIKING
o    At 6000 feet, follow a pastoral trail over mountaintops with truly expansive views
o    Right off the Blue Ridge Parkway, you'll feel like your in another world, an unforgettable feeling for a ceremony
o    Evergreen forrest is part of the hike, with amazing pools of light breaking through for truly special photographs
3. ROUGH RIDGE
HTTPS://ASHEVILLETRAILS.COM/BLUE-RIDGE-PARKWAY/ROUGH-RIDGE-HIKE
Summit with rock outcroppings and wooden boardwalko    two-mile roundtrip hike
4. HAWKSVILLE MOUNTAIN
HTTPS://ASHEVILLETRAILS.COM/LINVILLE-GORGE/HAWKSBILL-MOUNTAIN-TRAIL
o    1.5 miles roundtrip hike
o    The views are truly breathtaking when you reach the top

URBAN SPACES IN DOWNTOWN ASHEVILLE

1. THE VENUE
HTTP://WWW.ASHEVILLEVENUE.COM
o    Large stylish venue
o    Vintage details through 13,000+ square feet of sectioned room
2. THE RHU
HTTP://RHUBARBASHEVILLE.COM/PRIVATE-EVENTS
  • New, private event space above The Rhu Bakery in downtown
  • Better suited for smaller weddings, less that 100 people
  • Industrial chic interior, beautiful textures throughout the space
3. ON BROADWAY
HTTPS://CELINEANDCOMPANY.COM
o    Classic Asheville venue
o    Large room with hardwood floor
o    Venue also provides the catering
4. ASHEVILLE SOCIAL HALL HTTPS://WWW.ASHEVILLESOCIALHALL.COM
o    New Venue
o    Great location with many large window on two walls
o    A large room that is a blank canvas for your wedding
o    Interior is warm and inviting
5. THE ORANGE PEEL HTTP://THEORANGEPEEL.NET/VENUE-RENTAL
o    Large, downtown music venue can be rented for private events
6. THE CENTURY ROOM HTTPS://PACKSTAVERN.COM/DOWNTOWN-ASHEVILLE-WEDDING-VENUE/
o    Located above Pack's Tavern
o    They provide the catering for their events
o    Warm interior details featuring exposed brick and wood bar
7. LEXINGTON GLASSWORKS HTTPS://WWW.LEXINGTONGLASSWORKS.COM
o    Glassworks gallery in downtown can be rented as an event space
o    Funky, industrial stripped down interior
8. HOMEWOOD HTTPS://WWW.MYBELOVEDHOMEWOOD.COM/WEDDINGS
o    Homewood isn't actually in downtown Asheville. It's in Montford, an historic neighborhood adjacent to downtown
o    It was hard to fit Homewood into any other category; it's a one of a kind venue and no list would be complete without it.
o    Historic stone manor with hardwood floors and a warm interior, the building is reminiscent of a castle
o    Outdoor location for your ceremony, with receptions inside
o    A classic venue I've loved since I moved here in 2004
9. EAST WEST VENUE HTTPS://WWW.EASTWESTVINTAGERENTALS.COM/OUR-VENUE
o  East West Venue is a large open room, a blank canvas, that's made very interesting through the East West Vintage Rental company which adds lots of eclectic personality and vintage details to the space
o  Affordable option suited for smaller wedding of about 50 guests, great for a fun indie wedding
o  Also have to admit this isn't in downtown, but it's very close in west Asheville and I wanted to get it on this list somewhere!
o  Also worth noting, Nikki who runs the event space and vintage rental company also does floral design–so you could work with her to fulfill so many of your event needs.
10.  SNAGGY MOUNTAIN HTTP://WWW.SNAGGYMOUNTAIN.COM
o    Beautiful mountain views
o    Suited to fun, down-to-earth weddings connected to nature

PRIVATE HOME RENTAL FOR PRIVATE EVENTS
I love the trend of renting private homes and having more time to put your wedding together and spend more time with friends and loved ones than you might get at a traditional venue where receptions usually end around 10:00 or 11:00. Here are a few places that have really stood out to me in recent years:

1. HART HOUSE
HTTPS://WWW.VRBO.COM/355839
o    Beautiful private home with a great yard for your ceremony and reception
o    Some views of the mountains from the front yard
o    Easy location to get to in the Fairview area
2. LAUGHING WATERS RETREAT
HTTPS://HICKORYNUTFOREST.COM/LAUGHING-WATERS-RETREAT-CENTER
o    Beautiful, wooded landscape that includes a creek and orchard
o    Large home and an area with an open, flat lawn that could easily accommodate a ten
o    Curving drive through a gorge about 30 minutes from Asheville
3. PINE HOLLOW
HTTPS://WWW.VRBO.COM/298951
o    Lovely home, ceremony and reception are usually held in the yard adjacent to the house
o    Also features a pond which is a nice background for photos
Editor’s note: In a private community. No parking
4. RIVER'S RIDGE LODGE 
HTTPS://WWW.RRLODGE.COM
5. HAWKS LANDING
HTTPS://WWW.VRBO.COM/967461
o    Beautiful estate setting with lots of green space and shade (a must have for spring and summer weddings)
6. MOUNTAIN JOY CABINS HTTP://MOUNTAINJOYCOTTAGES.COM
7. SCENIC MOUNTAIN RETREAT HTTPS://WWW.VRBO.COM/552737
o    A curving drive into the mountains, but fairly close to Asheville
o    A cool home with lots of windows and a large deck
o    From the large deck you have a great view of the mountains and Asheville in the distance
o    The main feature of the property for a private event is the deck 
o    The house would be great for a relaxed reception with guests mingling back and forth between the large deck and inside the house.
o    It's on a mountainside, so there's no yard or lawn for event activities
o    Also has a fantastic pool on the deck
6. BIG BUTTE RETREAT
HTTPS://WWW.AIRBNB.COM/ROOMS/22032328?LOCATION=ASHEVILLE&ADULTS=16&CHECKIN&CHECKOUT&CHILDREN=0
·  90 acres
·  Mountain views
·  Pond for swimming
·  Multiple cabins (14 bedrooms)

SUMMER CAMP WEDDINGS
Summer camps weddings are perfect for people who want to have a fun and communal experience at their wedding and there are several places in Western North Carolina that provide that experience:

1. DEERFIELDS
HTTP://WWW.DEERFIELDS.COM/WEDDINGS/
2. CAMP PINNACLE
HTTPS://WWW.CAMPPINNACLE.COM/EVENTS-FACILITY-RENTAL/WEDDINGS-AT-CAMP/
3. CAMP KANUGA
HTTPS://WWW.KANUGA.ORG/PLAN-YOUR-EVENT/WEDDINGS/
o    When you research Camp Kanuga, please note everything they include in their wedding packages. It's an amazing deal when you compare the cost of their catering to cost of catering in the general WNC area. 
o    They're affiliated with the Episcopal church, but they host every variety of wedding and or faith
o    Kanuga has a beautiful wooded campus with amazing evergreens
o    The property has a large footprint with many locations options for your event 
o    Guest can rent rustic cabins or stay in their newly renovated hotel 
4. CAMP HIGHLANDER HTTPS://WWW.CAMPHIGHLANDER.COM/WEDDINGS-EVENTS-RETREATS
5. CAMP WAYFARER HTTPS://WWW.CAMPWAYFARER.COM/ABOUT-CAMP/WEDDINGS-AND-RETREATS/
 
AFFORDABLE ASHEVILLE WEDDING VENUES
Some of these venues appear in other places on this list; I've added them here because they could potentially be more affordable options. When researching venues, you want to consider the cost of rentals you'll need that aren't provided by the venue. When you look at the cost of the venue in the bigger picture of your entire wedding, a place like Camp Kanuga is an amazing deal because of everything they include, plus their onsite catering is a remarkable deal in comparison to other options. Another option not on the list would be to have your ceremony at a stunning location on the blue ridge parkway (like Max's Patch) and then have a larger party at a home in the afternoon. You might also consider having your wedding on a Friday or Sunday, as rates could be lower for those non-peak days.

1. TIMBER HALL EVENTS HTTPS://WWW.TIMBERHALLEVENTS.COM
o    Rustic outdoor mountain setting with an event barn
2. WARREN WILSON COLLEGE
HTTPS://WWW.WARREN-WILSON.EDU
o    Hidden treasure featuring a garden, pavilion, some mountain views, and they also have a church if you want to choose that for your ceremony
o    There are lawns where you can rent and add a tent if you need one
3. PISGAH INN (HTTP://WWW.PISGAHINN.COM)
o    Blue Ridge Parkway hotel when amazing scenic overlooks
4. UNCA BOTANICAL GARDENS HTTP://ASHEVILLEBOTANICALGARDENS.ORG/WORDPRESS_3/FACILITY-RENTAL/RENTING-OUR-FACILITIES
o    Best suited for small, daytime weddings 
o    Amazing price
Editor’s Note: Strict rules regarding use of this public venue
5. YMI CULTURAL CENTER, RAY AUDITORIUM HTTP://WWW.YMICULTURALCENTER.ORG/FACILITIES
o    Historic building in downtown Asheville
o    Beautiful large room
o    This venue works a blank canvas for you to create your wedding
6. PEACEFUL HOLLOW HTTPS://WWW.PEACEFULHOLLOW.COM
o    Private home setting with a beautiful landscape
7. FRANNY'S FARM HTTP://FRANNYSFARM.COM
o    Farm themed, rustic venue in the countryside
o    Down-to-earth, relaxed vibe
o    Laid-back atmosphere
8. CLOUD NINE FARM HTTP://WWW.CLOUD9RELAXATION.COM/WEDDINGS
o    Farm themed, rustic venue in the countryside
o    Down-to-earth, relaxed vibe
o    Laid-back atmosphere
9. CHIMNEY ROCK STATE PARK
HTTPS://WWW.CHIMNEYROCKPARK.COM/SCHOOLS-AND-GROUPS/WEDDINGS-2
o    Affordable, sate park option
o    Venue has many years of experience doing weddings
10.  CAMP KANUGA
HTTPS://WWW.KANUGA.ORG/PLAN-YOUR-EVENT/WEDDINGS
o    When you look at everything they offer, including catering pricing, plus it a beautiful landscape you'll start to see what a great option this is
o    I HIGHLY recommend you research Camp Kanuga while looking for your venue
o    Endless opportunities for amazing photographs on your wedding day
11.  THE MASONIC TEMPLE IN DOWNTOWN ASHEVILLE HTTP://ASHEVILLEMASONICTEMPLE.COM
o    Historic building in downtown Asheville, the space is a blank canvas for you to style your wedding
o    Shay Brown Events, established and respected event planners/designers in Asheville, manage this venue
12.  ASHEVILLE SOCIAL HALL HTTPS://WWW.ASHEVILLESOCIALHALL.COM
o    Downtown venue, open room with great views
o    I'm imagining rates will go up as this becomes a more established place, now it's quite an amazing deal!
13.  LAUGHING WATERS RETREAT
HTTPS://HICKORYNUTFOREST.COM/LAUGHING-WATERS-RETREAT-CENTER/
o    Private home in a beautiful wooded setting
14.  TRICKLE CREEK FARM
HTTPS://WWW.TRICKLECREEKFARMNC.COM
o    Farm themed, rustic venue in the countryside
o    Down-to-earth, relaxed vibe
15.  WEAVER HOUSE
HTTP://WEAVERHOUSENC.COM
o    New venue which I'm guessing will open in 2018
o    Great location in downtown Weaverville, at the same time it is a private, garden setting with a beautiful new timber pavilion
o    I can't say how excited I'm am to see this venue and I highly recommend you check it out
o    I photographed this venue years ago and it's perfect from a photography perspective
16.  EAST WEST VENUE HTTPS://WWW.EASTWESTVINTAGERENTALS.COM/OUR-VENUE
o    Very affordable venue for 50 or less guests
17.  SNAGGY MOUNTAIN HTTP://WWW.SNAGGYMOUNTAIN.COM
o    Countryside venue with mountain views
o    Suited for a down-to-earth, fun weddings
o    Laid-back atmosphere

WATERSIDE VENUES
1. OLIVETTE
HTTP://WWW.OLIVETTENC.COM/EVENTS
Located along the side on a river, you feel like you're in a new world, though your just 15 minutes from Asheville
Truly amazing river setting with a gorgeous sunset in the evening
​Outdoor ceremony location with a pavilion for the reception
2. HIGHLAND LAKE INN
HTTP://HLINN.COM/WEDDINGS
o    Classic Asheville venue located on a lake
o    Lodging for you and your guests
o    Beautiful outdoor landscape with several options for the ceremony
o    Lodge, style building for the reception
o    The venue provides the catering
3. THE LODGE ON LAKE LURE HTTP://WWW.LODGEONLAKELURE.COM
Editor’s note: not currently available for weddings
4. LAKE LURE INN AND SPA
HTTPS://WWW.LAKELURE.COM/EVENTS/WEDDINGS
5. LAKE EDEN EVENTS HTTP://LAKEEDENEVENTS.COM/WEDDINGS
 
VINEYARD VENUES NEAR ASHEVILLE

1. ADDISON FARM VINEYARDS
HTTP://WWW.ADDISONFARMS.NET/WEDDINGS
o    Beautiful rolling hillsides
2. THE VINEYARDS AT BETTY'S CREEK HTTP://WWW.THEVINEYARDSATBETTYSCREEK.COM
o    Luxury venue with an amazing landscape and unmatched, rustic buildings, it's hard to do justice to the venue with words
3. POINT LOOKOUT VINEYARDS HTTP://POINTLOOKOUTVINEYARDS.COM/#BOOK-EVENT
o    New venue opening soon
4. BURNTSHIRT VINEYARD HTTPS://WWW.BURNTSHIRTVINEYARDS.COM
 
GLAMPING VENUES

1. BRAHMA RIDGE (HTTP://BRAHMARIDGEEVENTCENTER.COM)
o    Beautiful valley and mountain landscape
o    Onsite, permanent tent for recption
o    Glamping and cabin options
2. PAINT ROCK FARM HTTP://WWW.PAINTROCKFARM.COM
o    Located in the Pisgah National Forest along the French Broad River
o    Offers a variety of rustic camping and glamping options
o    Large, vintage barn restore with character for your reception
o    Pastoral landscape with large fields
3. JUNEBUG RETRO RESORT HTTPS://WWW.JUNEBUGRETRORESORT.COM/INDEX.PHP/WEDDING-EVENT-CENTER-ASHEVILLE-NC
o    Flat open field surrounded by mountian
o    Retro, vintage campers from the 1950's
4. ASHEVILLE GLAMPING HTTPS://WWW.ASHEVILLEGLAMPING.COM
o    A glamping venue that accommodates elopements and micro weddings

GARDEN SETTING

1. NORTH CAROLINA ARBORETUM
HTTP://WWW.NCARBORETUM.ORG/WEDDINGS-RENTALS
o    Amazing garden setting for small or large weddings
2. BULLINGTON GARDENS HTTPS://BULLINGTONGARDENS.ORG
o    An intimate botanical garden suited for smaller weddings, 60 or less guests
3. WEAVER HOUSE
HTTP://WEAVERHOUSENC.COM
o    In the heart of downtown Weaverville
o    An intimate garden setting with a beautiful timber pavilion
o    A new venue I highly recommend looking at
4. WARREN WILSON COLLEGE
HTTPS://WWW.WARREN-WILSON.EDU 
o    Best way to contact Liz Brace through email: [email protected]
o    A hidden gem to say the least!
o    Formal garden in the center of campus, beautiful
o    Some views of the mountains
o    Outdoor pavilion
o    Chapel on campus for a ceremony option
o    You can rent and use a tent on some of the open lawn spaces if you need to
o    Limited dates that often book quickly
o    Budget friendly
5. MOUNTAIN MAGNOLIA INN HTTP://WWW.MOUNTAINMAGNOLIAINN.COM/WEDDING.HTML
o    A great venue in Hot Springs that was hard for me to categorize
o    It's a charming B&B with gourmet dinning
o    They doing the catering for events
o    AMAZING old tree for your ceremony site
o    manicured gardens incorporated into the front lawn
o    Mountain view from the front lawn
o    Wooded pathway at the entrance to the venue with a charming stone wall
o    Unique, vintage red bride is a great background for photos
o    Receptions are tented on the side lawn

BREWERY WEDDINGS IN ASHEVILLE

1. HIGHLAND BREWING HTTPS://HIGHLANDBREWING.COM/ASHEVILLEEVENTCENTER
o    Most established and experienced brewery to accommodate weddings in Asheville
2. CATAWBA BREWING COMPANY HTTP://CATAWBABREWING.COM/CONTACT/BOOK-EVENT
o    Offers a rustic but refined room at the back of the brewery
o    Accommodates 75 to 120 people, depending on the style of event
o    I've always thought it would be great to have your ceremony at UNCA botanical gardens followed with a reception in this space, so much fun!
3. ARCHETYPE BREWERY HTTPS://WWW.ARCHETYPEBREWING.COM
o    Hip, industrial vibe in west Asheville
o    A great location for a reception and would pair well with a local food truck to do your catering 
4. GREEN MAN BREWERY HTTP://WWW.GREENMANBREWERY.COM/CONTACT/EVENTS
o    Several rental options at their large downtown Asheville location on the south slope
5. HIGH-WIRE BREWERY HTTPS://HIWIREBREWING.COM/RENT-OUR-SPACE
o    Industrial and rustic space
6. HABITAT BREWING HTTP://WWW.HABITATBREWING.COM
1.   Downtown Asheville

COUNTRY CLUB VENUES
1. BILTMORE FOREST COUNTRY CLUB HTTP://WWW.BILTMOREFORESTCC.COM
Editor’s note: Members ONLY
2. COUNTRY CLUB OF ASHEVILLE HTTPS://WWW.CCOFASHEVILLE.COM
3. HENDERSONVILLE COUNTRY CLUB HTTP://WWW.HENDERSONVILLECC.COM
 
LUXURY VENUES
  1. BILTMORE ESTATE
    HTTP://WWW.BILTMORE.COM
  • A venue that is unparalleled in Western North Carolina
  • It's an historic estate, it has a beautiful garden with pastoral rolling hillsides and views of the mountain, really providing everything you could imagine wanting for every style of wedding
2. GROVE PARK INN HTTPS://WWW.OMNIHOTELS.COM/HOTELS/ASHEVILLE-GROVE-PARK/WEDDINGS
o    Luxury, historic hotel overlooking downtown Asheville and the blue ridge mountains
3. THE FARM IN CANDLER HTTPS://THEFARMEVENTS.COM
o    Convenient location not far from Asheville and easy to drive to
o    Rolling hillside lead up to private cabins and event barn
o    Ceremonies held at an intimate gazebo in the lawn adjacent to the event barn
4. THE VINEYARD AT BETTY'S CREEK HTTP://WWW.THEVINEYARDSATBETTYSCREEK.COM
o    Also in the vineyard category, I had to include it here
o    Amazing landscape and views, but what I love about it as a photographer is it takes the rustic aesthetic and makes it so refined and visually rich
o    Accomodations for the wedding party

LODGE VENUES NEAR ASHEVILLE

1. THE LODGE AT BEAR RIVER HTTP://WWW.THELODGEATBEARRIVER.COM
o    Classic lodge structure
2. BEND OF IVY LODGE
HTTP://BENDOFIVYLODGE.COM
o    Very connected to the natural landscape
3. HAWKS LANDING
HTTPS://WWW.VRBO.COM/967461
o    Also a private home rental
4. THE LODGE ON LAKE LURE HTTP://WWW.LODGEONLAKELURE.COM
Editor’s Note: Not currently available for weddings
 
RANCH VENUES

1. TAYLOR RANCH
HTTPS://WWW.TAYLORRANCH.COM
2. CATALOOCHEE RANCH HTTP://WWW.CATALOOCHEERANCH.COM
 
B&B OR INN VENUES
​

1. THE YELLOW HOUSE ON PLOTT CREEK ROAD HTTP://WWW.THEYELLOWHOUSE.COM/BED-BREAKFAST-RATES.HTM
2. THE BUNN HOUSE
HTTPS://BUNNHOUSE.COM/EVENTS
3. THE INN AT GLENN ALPINE HTTP://WWW.INNATGLENALPINE.COM/DREAM-WEDDING.PHP
4. ENGADINE INN AND CABINS HTTPS://WWW.ENGADINEINNANDCABINS.COM
5. MOUNTAIN MAGNOLIA INN HTTP://WWW.MOUNTAINMAGNOLIAINN.COM
6. ALBEMARLE INN HTTPS://WWW.ALBEMARLEINN.COM/WEDDINGS-EVENTS#OVERVIEW
7. THE ORCHARD INN HTTPS://ORCHARDINN.COM/NORTH-CAROLINA-MOUNTAIN-WEDDING-VENUE
8.   Historic Echo Mountain Inn (http://www.echomountaininn.com/wedding-receptions-special-events)
 
Published with permission of:
© 2017 JENNIFER CALLAHAN PHOTOGRAPHY

    Tweet

    Author

    Miss Ellie is the perfectly proper wedding planner to whom we all turn for wedding planning advice.  To ask a question, just click the email button at the top of the page, or leave a comment and she will respond.

    View my profile on LinkedIn

    Categories

    All
    About Us
    Affordable Venues
    After The Wedding
    Anniversary
    B&B Weddings
    Blue Ridge Parkway Weddings
    Brewery Weddings
    Bridal Gown
    Bridal Salon
    Budget
    Change The Date
    Church Wedding
    Coronavirus
    Coronavirus Event Planning
    Coronavirus Wedding
    Corporate Events
    Country Club Weddings
    Covid 19
    Day-of Coordinator
    DIY
    Downton Abbey
    Elopement
    Emergency Kit
    Etiquette
    Farm Venues
    Frozen
    FTD
    Garden Venues
    Glamping Venues
    In The News
    Khalil Gibran
    Limos
    Lodge Weddings
    Luxury Wedding Venues
    Marriage Advice
    Mountain Wedding
    Non Profit Events
    Officiant
    Paying For Our Wedding
    Photography
    Private Home Weddings
    Ranch Weddings
    Religion
    Saving Money
    Say Yes To The Dress
    Scenic Venues
    Shopping
    Shuttles
    Snapchat
    Summer Camp Weddings
    Transportation
    Unique Ideas
    Urban Venues
    Vineyard Venues
    Waterside Venues
    Weather
    Wedding Ceremony
    Wedding Color
    Wedding Coordinator
    Wedding Decor
    Wedding Dress
    Wedding Flowers
    Wedding Invitations
    Wedding Loans
    Wedding Planner
    Wedding Planning
    Wedding Planning Advice
    Wedding Style
    Wedding Templates
    Wedding Theme
    Wedding Trends
    Wedding Venue

    Archives

    November 2020
    September 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    November 2019
    July 2019
    September 2018
    August 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    September 2017
    July 2017
    February 2017
    March 2016
    December 2015
    September 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    January 2015
    August 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.