If you’ve decided that Asheville, NC is the perfect place for your nuptials, here are 10 Asheville wedding venues to check out as you plan your big day. This isn’t a comprehensive list but rather a few wonderful venues to check out and why we like them from a photography perspective. Naturally we’ve included photos that we’ve taken at each location.
- The Farm
- Mountain Magnolia Inn
- NC Arboretum
- The Ridge / The Venue
- Biltmore Estate
- Claxton Farm
- Yesterday Spaces
- Highland Brewing Company
- Crest Center
- Lake Eden Events
1. The Farm
This rustic gem is located a short distance from downtown Asheville in Candler. The Farm has cabin rentals on-site which gets an A+ from us for keeping your timeline stress-free. It’s easy to do the preparation photos prior to the ceremony such as getting ready, first look, and family photos. The ceremony site and reception area are in close proximity to each other so this keeps things simple. We’ve photographed a lot of weddings here and love the natural beauty, textured barns, horses, and of course the cute little chicken coop chapel :) And we can’t mention this venue without saying how awesome the food is here. The in-house chef will make sure your guests are well fed and satisfied.
2. Mountain Magnolia Inn
This gorgeous venue is in Hot Springs, NC less than an hour from Asheville. It’s too pretty not to mention and offers something unique with its historic Victorian house. We love the unique architecture of the house and well-appointed rooms. One of our favorite photo spots is under the giant walnut tree where ceremonies are held. Of course, there’s also a beautiful magnolia tree and landscaped lawns with a view of the mountains. The property is located on the French Broad River in a quaint little mountain town with train tracks that are still in use. Since you’re away from the city, it’s easier to see the stars on a clear night. There is also on-site lodging, and the chef makes amazing meals.
3. NC Arboretum
The NC Arboretum includes 65 acres of cultivated gardens. The well maintained landscaping and floral displays offer lots of color and variety for photography with lush greenery in the summer and booming fall colors in autumn. The outdoor lawn outside of the greenhouse is a beautiful setting for cocktail hour or receptions and we also love the intimate ceremony site underneath the arbor.
4. The Ridge & The Venue
Two separate venues owned and operated by the same lovely family, The Ridge is located in Marshall, NC and has some of the best mountain views for a ceremony location. We dig the tree line/wooded area right near the ceremony site as well. If you book The Ridge for your ceremony and The Venue for your reception, you get the best of all Asheville has to offer with mountain views plus a lively downtown scene. However, The Ridge will be opening a new indoor reception venue starting in 2019 and it will no doubt be beautiful–we’ve seen the renderings! The Venue is located in downtown Asheville on N. Market Street. This brick-paved street is one of the prettiest in town and makes a romantic scene for bride + groom portraits. Close by is Pack Square which features the most iconic buildings in Asheville such as the Jackson Building and City Hall. Great for wedding party and B+G portraits. Not to mention, the food at The Venue is amazing. Yummy vendor meals=happy photographers :)
5. Biltmore Estate
Perhaps the most famous wedding venue in Asheville, the Biltmore has a lot to offer and about 10 different venues on the estate. You will need to plan for extra time if you want to do photos in front of and around the house on your wedding day (especially during peak tourist seasons), so expect to book a wedding photographer for 8-10 hours to really take advantage of the grounds. There are plenty of nature scenes, including mountain views, as well as the French chateau architecture. Each venue has its own unique feel and vibe so there’s never a dull moment as far as inspiration and creativity. This venue is the epitome of romance and we always love working here.
6. Claxton Farm
Claxton Farm is just north of Asheville and it really feels like you are in the mountains when you step on to the property. There is a large flat clearing for the ceremony site and the venue has cute llamas, wooden fences, a fire pit, and a big pond with a gorgeous weeping willow tree next to it. This privately owned working farm is always a hit with wedding guests! Pure rustic goodness.
7. Yesterday Spaces
Yesterday Spaces is a 70-acre family farm with classic rolling hills. There are well-placed vignettes all over this venue perfect for wedding portraits. The old farmhouse on-site was built in 1911 and can be rented out (accommodates up to 13 people). It feels like you are stepping back in time surrounded by relics from that era as well as beautiful dark, bead board walls and ceilings. Right across the way from the farmhouse is the dairy barn which is a great backup in case of rain. It’s also a pretty spot for photos even on a beautiful day! Of course you can’t pass-up doing photos among the tree-lined path on the way to the outdoor ceremony location.
8. Highland Brewing Company
If barns aren’t your thing, check out Asheville’s first original brewery. Highland Brewing Company is family-owned and has industrial vibes plus interesting textures and lines for photos. The rooftop ceremony site is always a hit and the meadow at the back of the venue gives you some nice greenery to work with. We love the brightly colored shipping containers and beer cans. The indoor reception has really high ceilings and an upper area that looks down onto the main floor.
9. Crest Center
The Crest Center is one of numerous venues managed by M7 Events. There are two spaces available for weddings– The Crest Center or The Pavilion. Guests will enjoy the nice mountain view for the outdoor ceremony spots and you can also walk to a flat, grassy area for portraits where downtown Asheville can be seen in the distance. We dig the big rock wall right outside the venues and the grounds are nice and landscaped.
10. Lake Eden Events
Located in Black Mountain, Lake Eden Events is situated on a beautiful lake with on-site lodging and plenty of nature scenes and mountains surrounding the venue. We love the ceremony location and the cool old barn for an indoor reception spot. There are tons of locations for beautiful bride + groom portraits.
We hope you enjoyed this post about 10 Asheville wedding venues to consider. Of course there are other venues around town, and don’t rule out backyard weddings either! All of the images in this blog post are © Fete Photography. If you’d like any images for social media we kindly ask that you request them from us directly.
