The Best Outdoor Wedding Venues in North Carolina

It’s hard to imagine a more perfect place for an outdoor wedding than North Carolina! This gorgeous state is all about diverse landscapes, including famed beaches, the Blue Ridge Mountains, and lots of scenic vineyards and parks. You’ll love the options available for outdoor wedding venues in North Carolina, ideal for celebrating your love surrounded by natural beauty. 

The seasonal charm of the state also opens up so many options for wedding planning — imagine a beachfront summer wedding, a spring garden wedding with vibrant pink and pastel blooms, or the vibrant fall foliage of a cozy fall mountain wedding. 

For a romantic wedding like no other, here are some of the best outdoor wedding venues in North Carolina, ideal for stunning landscapes, candid and natural photography, and luxurious hospitality. 

1. The Chesapeake at Corolla

@thechesapeake

If you’re searching for a luxury North Carolina beach wedding venue, you absolutely NEED to see The Chesapeake at Corolla. The high-end Outer Banks mansion is right on the water and is basically a wedding dream come to life.

It’s technically a private home that you can rent out, with 24 bedrooms, a private pool that’s so photogenic, and a huge wraparound deck with views of the famous sand dunes that the Outer Banks region is known for. 

The Chesapeake at Corolla wedding venue actually went viral on TikTok a while ago, and honestly, I wish I’d known about it for my own wedding! You can host an intimate beachside wedding here, with all of your friends and family staying with you — this is so fun and convenient for your guests, and you’ll love that you’re all staying in one house so you can celebrate and soak up the quality time together.

Having the ability to have an event within your rental home opens up so much flexibility (no worries about planning shuttles to and from your venue or restrictions on catering or vendors). Instead, you can make your wedding as unique as possible!

The interior is stylishly furnished, and outside you’ll have 3.5 acres of space to enjoy. The staff here are actually specialists in weddings, so they can easily help you bring your vision to life. 

As your wedding photographer in North Carolina, we can take such romantic and timeless photos here, including the soft golden sunsets over the sand dunes and the stylish timber architecture featured throughout the home’s decks. 

2. The Bradford

@thebradfordnc 

The Bradford is an elegant European-style wedding villa, just outside of Raleigh. Although it looks like a historic mansion, it was purpose-built in 2013! This is unique in that it offers you all the charms of a historic estate, but matched with all the modern amenities and comforts. 

You can host up to 200 guests at The Bradford. This venue only accepts a limited number of weddings per year, allowing them to focus on delivering bespoke, high-end experiences for their clients.

The immaculate Front Garden or Side Garden are both popular choices for an outdoor ceremony, then dance the night away with a reception on the terrace, illuminated by twinkling fairy lights. 

Weddings at The Bradford photograph so beautifully as well. Set within the North Carolina countryside, we can shoot in the wooded areas or meadow on the property, or the grand fountain within the home’s entryway is such an iconic place for a romantic kiss! If you’re imagining timeless garden photos, rich in natural light, The Bradford could definitely be the venue for you. 

3. The Merrimon-Wynne House

@merrimonwynne 

Couples seeking garden wedding venues in Raleigh, NC might love The Merrimon-Wynne House. Built in 1876, this historic home has been beautifully restored and offers lush garden spaces for both your ceremony and cocktail hour. 

This venue is ideal for weddings of 50-250 guests and is conveniently located within historic Raleigh, meaning lots of accommodation options are within walking distance or just nearby. 

For your ceremony, The Lawn is a beautiful choice — a lush green garden space where you can say your vows under a canopy of pecan trees, so quintessentially Southern! You can also plan an outdoor reception here, just made for a balmy summer night, with a fabric marquee and lawn games available if it suits your style!

Or, the historic Carriage House is ideal for an indoor reception, a chic white space that really comes alive with your choice of florals and decor. Whatever your vision, you can be confident that the team here can bring it to life — they’re consistently given high praise for delivering perfect weddings, so it’s no surprise that it’s one of the most popular venues in Raleigh!

4. The Biltmore

@biltmoreestate

There is literally nowhere else in the state (or country) like The Biltmore Estate! Built in the late 1800s by the Vanderbilt family, this majestic estate is actually America’s largest home! But just as stunning as the home’s architecture and period furnishings are its gardens, making it one of the best outdoor wedding venues in Asheville, NC. 

For a luxury outdoor wedding like no other, framed by the Blue Ridge landscape, getting married at The Biltmore is ideal for couples seeking an extravagant and romantic celebration in an iconic destination. After all, you only get married once!

With space for up to 600, this venue is ideal for large garden weddings, but there are lots of options for smaller celebrations too. I love the Walled Garden, a historic greenhouse space, or the Italian Garden, a European-style space for an outdoor ceremony featuring manicured hedgerows, water lilies, and a koi pond. Or, the Front Lawn is a pristine garden where you can say your vows in front of the home’s grand entrance.

For your reception, Deerpark and Lioncrest are both purpose-built ballrooms with exposed beams, floor-to-ceiling glass, and elegant decor you’ll love. And with lots of accommodation options on the grounds, your guests can stay in Asheville for the weekend and enjoy all the amazing restaurants and mountain views. 

5. The Lumen House

@thelumenhouseevents 

Seeking an architecturally dramatic, chic venue for your upscale celebration? In that case, check out The Lumen House, one of the most upscale garden wedding venues near Charlotte, NC. 

Perfectly positioned on 50 acres of countryside, this gem of a wedding venue can host up to 200 guests and can also sleep up to six guests in The Grove, their luxury rental home on site. 

The Grand Courtyard is designed for outdoor ceremonies, with an oversized statement arch set on a lush green lawn and a fire pit, overlooking the rolling hills of North Carolina. For your reception, both the Reception Hall and Greenhouse are absolutely stunning — smaller weddings of up to 50 are ideal for The Greenhouse, featuring an all-glass design and decadent chandeliers.

The hospitality is always impeccable here, and you’ll have exclusive use of the venue for the entire day. 

Your Lumen House wedding photos will be such a delight too, with this venue the perfect setting for creating modern, dramatic, editorial style images. 

6. The North Carolina Arboretum

@thencarboretum

For an iconic garden wedding, the North Carolina Arboretum is always a fabulous choice! Located in Asheville, there is such a wide range of outdoor garden locations to suit weddings of up to 150 guests.

Ceremonies are gorgeous in the Heritage Garden, a serene landscaped courtyard with a timber pergola where you can say your vows. The Blue Ridge Court is another top option, with tall hedgerows offering privacy and a tranquil water feature — this spot also doubles as a great cocktail hour choice!

Receptions are held at the Education Center Veranda, a sheltered deck that opens onto the stunning Plants of Promise Lawn, a popular garden space. I also love that sustainability is super prioritized here, with all of the venue’s weddings designed to be as eco-friendly as possible. Their experienced planning team will help you bring your garden party wedding dream to life! 

Your North Carolina Arboretum wedding would be so gorgeous in late spring, as all the gardens will be in beautiful bloom and the air will be warm enough to enjoy sitting outdoors. 

7. The Gardens at Gray Gables

@graygablesnc

Last but certainly not least, The Gardens at Gray Gables is a popular historic home and garden just outside Greensboro. Over time, the lovingly designed gardens and courtyards became popular for local weddings, and it’s now open to the public as a luxury outdoor wedding venue.

You can host up to 200 guests here, with several charming outdoor spaces to enjoy — the Southard Rose Arbor is a private and secluded ceremony space, with a paved walkway and tall oaks and evergreens offering shade. And for your reception, the elegant Brittain Patio is a huge marquee featuring a chandelier and lots of lovely flower beds. 

The Gardens at Gray Gables wedding venue is also just so picturesque and photogenic! You’ll love taking photos in the cute white gazebo, shaded garden spaces, and the stunning fishpond and terrace. 

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If you’re after a fun and friendly photographer, I’d love to be by your side to capture all the love and emotion of your big day! Please get in touch to book your North Carolina wedding.