Luxe Virginia Venues for an Elegant Formal Wedding

You’ve been dreaming of a formal wedding day full of glamorous gowns and dashing tuxedos. Now, it’s time to choose a venue that lives up to your daydreams. These Charlottesville-area wedding venues hit all the high notes – from gracious professional service to gorgeous architecture and exquisite landscapes.

The Inn at Willow Grove

You and your guests will be pampered all weekend at this four star-rated boutique hotel in a beautifully renovated former plantation house. The Inn features a gourmet restaurant and will soon unveil a new luxury spa. If you’re planning an outdoor formal wedding, you won’t find a more perfect spot than their Boxwood Garden. The Inn at Willow Grove welcomes Virginia wine country destination weddings of any size.

14079 Plantation Way, Orange, VA innatwillowgrove.com

Farmington Country Club

Toss your bouquet from the balcony in a room designed by Thomas Jefferson. Farmington claims a history unlike any other private country club in America, with buildings dating back to the 1700s and a long tradition of gracious Southern hospitality. They offer a variety of ideal settings for your big day, including an elegant formal ballroom and their perfectly manicured North Lawn.

1625 Country Club Circle, Charlottesville, VA www.farmingtoncc.com

Featured wedding: Lindsay & Matthew’s Farmington Country Club Wedding

Keswick Hall

The sky’s the limit at Keswick Hall & Golf Club, a world-class luxury resort in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Keswick’s experienced professional staff is ready to host the most lavish affairs. You can customize your entire wedding weekend with tailor-made experiences. Private yoga classes for the ladies? Fly fishing for the gentlemen? Wine & tapas tastings to welcome your guests? Yes, yes and yes.

701 Club Drive, Keswick, VA www.keswick.com

C-Venue simplifies your search for your perfect venue. Call 434.531.3247 or email barb@barbwiredllc.com to get started.

Historic Wedding Venues in the Charlottesville Countryside

If you’re looking for a wedding venue with distinctive character, a historic building or estate can be just the right touch. Your guests will imagine the love stories of a bygone era as you surround yourself with the romance of the past. Of course, it’s important to choose a well-maintained venue that includes a few modern comforts. Below are some of the best historic venues within a short drive of Charlottesville, vetted by our experienced team of wedding planners.

The Lafayette Inn & Restaurant

Established in 1840, this historic landmark once welcomed stage coach travelers en route between the central Piedmont and the Shenandoah Valley. The building served as a Civil War hospital and later became home to the first local telephone exchange and the local newspaper.

Colonnaded porches surround the red brick walls of the three-story Federalist structure. The rooms are filled with natural light, antique furnishings, and numerous fireplaces. It’s a boutique wedding venue ideal for intimate weddings or larger groups.

146 East Main Street, Stanardsville, VA www.thelafayette.com

Highland

America’s fifth president, James Monroe, lived at Highland with his family from 1799 to 1823. His daughter Eliza was married on the estate in 1808. Recent archeological work on the estate continues to uncover new details about the president’s life.

The extensive grounds feature a choice of locations for your ceremony and reception. Popular spots include the Hilltop Pavilion, surrounded by rolling hills and mountain views; the rustic Event Barn, with indoor seating for up to 150 guests; and John’s Garden, an elegant floral and herb garden adjacent to the historic Presidential Guest House.

2050 James Monroe Parkway, Charlottesville, VA highland.org

Montalto

The “High Mountain” commands sweeping views in every direction, encompassing Monticello as well as the City of Charlottesville and the Blue Ridge Mountains. Thomas Jefferson acquired 483 acres on Montalto in 1777, during the same time period that he built Monticello.

Charlottesville’s most famous architect never built any structures on Montalto, but in 1908, the owners at that time built “Repose,” an 11,000-square-foot American Country house. The house was carefully restored by the Thomas Jefferson Foundation in 2011 and now merges state-of-the-art technology with the warmth and elegance of the home’s original design elements.

1400 Mountain Top Farm, Charlottesville, VA www.monticello.org/site/visit/montalto-overlooking-monticello-home-robert-h-smith-center

Michie Tavern

The Tavern’s original proprietor, William Michie, signed the Albemarle Declaration of Independence in 1779. His upstairs Assembly Room served as a political and social gathering spot for the surrounding countryside. In 1927, the building was painstakingly moved 17 miles from its original location to the foot of Carter’s Mountain, where it became accessible to tourists visiting Monticello.

A taste of the 18th century awaits you, with servers in period attire ready to recreate the ambiance of a country inn. Guests may take a guided tour of the historic building before enjoying a Southern buffet in the candlelit dining rooms.

683 Thomas Jefferson Parkway, Charlottesville, VA www.michietavern.com

C-Venue simplifies your search for your perfect venue. Call 434.531.3247 or email barb@barbwiredllc.com to get started.

Hidden Treasure: Cunningham Creek Winery

Tucked away in the rolling hills of a hundred-year-old family farm, Cunningham Creek Winery is a charming new wedding venue in Central Virginia.

Before it was Cunningham Creek Winery at Middle Fork Farm, it was the Bragg Farm for over a hundred years. Instead of grapes, there were fields of cows and hay. In 2011, Bruce and Debby “retired” and joined with long-time friends Rick and Sara to give the beautiful rolling land new life.

After a year and a half of preparation, they planted the first grape vines in 2013. Today, Cunningham Creek Winery at Middle Fork Farm is once again a vibrant working farm. You’ll find eleven acres of Chardonnay, Viognier, Pinot Gris, Cab Franc, Merlot, and Petit Verdot grapes as well as strawberries, pumpkin fields, more than 30 Kiko-Boer goats, and two very busy and happy families.

Cunningham Creek is a friendly gathering place where the owners welcome you like family. You can even bike there! It’s located right on U.S. Bicycle Route 76 (the TransAmerica Trail), just 20 minutes from Jefferson’s Monticello.

The on-site farm store features local and seasonal products to pair with Cunningham Creek’s excellent wines like the Herd Dog Red (Cabernet Franc) and Cycle 76 (Pinot Gris).

A beautiful newly-built tasting room, surrounded by lovely vineyard views, can welcome up to 50 guests for a seated reception or 80 guests for cocktails. Lawn space nearby can accommodate a tent for up to 125 guests. The property also features a cozy one-bedroom cottage available as a bridal or honeymoon suite.

Be the first of your friends to choose Cunningham Creek Winery for an unforgettable Virginia wine country wedding.

To inquire about booking your event, please contact Barbara Lundgren at 434.531.3247 or barb@barbwiredllc.com.

Cunningham Creek FAQ

Cunningham Creek Winery – 3304 Ruritan Lake Road, Palmyra, VA 22963

C-Venue simplifies your search for your perfect venue. Call 434.531.3247 or email barb@barbwiredllc.com to get started.

Best of Borrowed & Blue 2017

It's award season, and the Barb Wired team is thrilled to be walking the red carpet. This year we received a Bronze Medal in the Best of Borrowed & Blue awards for Charlottesville. In a town full of top-notch wedding professionals, this is a true honor.

The Best of Borrowed & Blue awards are extra special, because winners are voted by the wedding vendors we work with every day. We pride ourselves on having great relationships with all of the best local vendors – so we can confidently recommend the venues, photographers, florists, DJs, and others who will help create a perfect day for our couples.

"Our experience with Barb and her group was nothing short of fantastic from start to finish... Barb kept everything organized and stress free while giving us great recommendations on vendors and input on design, while also taking my ideas with highest priority." – Beth & Kyle

Visit Borrowed & Blue to see more of our featured weddings and reviews.