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Weddings

About

Bear Lake Reserve is a rural wedding venue located in Tuckasegee, North Carolina. Amidst the majestic Blue Ridge Mountains, this country-club estate is surrounded by a mixture of tamed and wild nature. Offering generous views of Bear Creek Lake, it is an ideal wedding getaway for couples who want to experience the best of rustic refinement surrounded by peaceful scenery.

Facilities and Capacity

There are a number of indoor and outdoor options when it comes to hosting your special day at Bear Lake Reserve. Mill Pond Pavilion is a self-contained rural timber cottage where outdoor receptions of up to 75 guests can be hosted in the vicinity of several serene ponds. With its sheltered pavilion, located beside the main building, there is extra room for guests to breathe in the fresh air while toasting your marriage. The Lake Club is a 14,000 square-foot location which is home to the Lakeview Wedding Lawn and Lakeside 54 Dining room - each of these settings can host 100 guests respectively. The Lake Club is also where The Point is located, a spacious room that can accommodate up to 200 people. Each area exudes a distinctive atmosphere, with a combination of interior and exterior charm. Depending on which site the couple opts for, white chairs and an elegant arch for the ceremony can be provided, while pristine white linens, flatware, sparkling glasses, and more can be laid out for the reception meal. A beautiful venue throughout the year, it looks most picturesque in the fall, with crunchy orange and brown leaves underfoot. Loved ones can enjoy a scenic stroll throughout the vast resort, including the many hiking trails and beautiful Bear Creek Park.

Services Offered

The experienced personnel at this countryside destination are on hand to bring your wedding dreams to life. With catering and bar service, Bear Lake Reserve provides dining and entertainment solutions for prospective newlyweds and their guests. Additionally, the venue’s staff oversee setup and cleanup on the day and provide everything from linens and flatware to seating and table arrangements. Seasoned servers will tend to your guests and ensure that events run smoothly from the first toast to the last dance. The in-house Venue Coordinators are also happy to work with outside vendors to coordinate your celebration appropriately.

Accommodation

There are over 40 different cottages and homes which can sleep anywhere between four and 14 people. These are suitable as romantic honeymoon suites for the newlyweds or as room for your guests to stay following the reception. Whether you opt for Whispering Falls Cottage, Woodland Court, or elsewhere, they offer relaxing retreats surrounded by nature’s peaceful embrace.

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Frequently asked questions

Do you have a site fee for wedding receptions at your venue?

Yes

What is the starting site fee for wedding receptions during peak season?

$10,000

What is the starting site fee for wedding receptions during off-peak season?

$3,999

Do you have a site fee for wedding ceremonies at your venue?

Yes

What is the starting site fee for wedding ceremonies during peak season?

$1,000

What is the starting site fee for wedding ceremonies during off-peak season?

$1,000

Which of the following are included in the starting site fee?

Chairs
China
Clean Up
Event Planning
Flatware
Glassware
Lighting/Sound
Linens
Parking
Set Up
Tables
Catering Services

Which of the following are included in the cost of wedding catering?

Server(s)

What is the starting price per person for bar service?

$25

Which of the following are included in the starting price for bar service?

Bartender(s)
House Beer
House Liquor
House Wine
Open Bar
Signature Drink
Specialty Beer

How many event spaces or rooms does your venue offer?

3

Describe your venue:

Country/Golf Club
Marina
Resort
Restaurant
Waterfront

What kind of settings are available?

Indoor
Covered Outdoor
Uncovered Outdoor

Which of the following wedding events does your venue service?

Ceremony
Reception
Bridal Shower
Engagement Party
Elopements
Rehearsal Dinner

What event services do you offer?

Accommodations
Bar Services
Catering Services
Clean Up
Event Planner
Event Rentals
Get Ready Rooms
Liability Insurance
Outside Vendors
Pet Friendly
Wifi

What catering services do you offer?

Buffet
Cocktail Reception
Dessert
Family Style
Hors d'oeuvres
Outside Cake
Plated
Server(s)
Stations

What bar services do you provide?

Bartender(s)
Cash Bar
Champagne Toast
House Beer
House Liquor
House Wine
Limited Bar
Liquor License
Open Bar
Premium Liquor
Signature Drink
Specialty Beer
Specialty Wine

What event items are available?

Altar/Arch
Audio Equipment
Centerpieces
Chairs
Decor
Furniture
Tables

What food and beverage items are available?

Barware
China
Flatware
Glassware
Linens

What transportation and access is available?

Parking
Shuttle
Valet
Wheelchair Access

What months are included in your peak season?

April
May
September
October
November

What months are included in your off-peak season?

January
February
March
December

Reviews of Bear Lake Reserve

Will
Will Sent on 01/24/2020
5 out of 5 rating

Best wedding venue ever!

Bear Lake Reserve's offerings as far as a backdrop for a wedding is the nicest that I've ever come across, our pictures also stand as proof. On top of that the staff is also incredible. Kelsie handled pretty much every detail of our ceremony and recommended the photographers, DJ, and officiant...there were all incredible. The food from BLR was also incredible.
Rachel
Rachel Sent on 06/27/2021
5 out of 5 rating

An Unforgettable, Perfect Day!

Wow! What a wild ride we had trying to plan our wedding. Our original date was May 2020...so we can all guess how that turned out. Kelsie was an absolute professional in helping us put everything on hold with minimal stress. We rescheduled our wedding twice in the uncertainty, and Bear Lake Reserve pivoted with us with unparalleled grace and understanding.

Finally, 2021 comes around and we picked up right where we left off to plan a safe and memorable experience for all our guests. On the big day, we didn’t have to worry about a thing except to celebrate and have a good time. Bear Lake Reserve surpassed our expectations 10-fold, and we could not imagine putting together our wedding without their help. The food was absolutely unmatched, and so many of our guests commented that it was the best wedding food and setting they could ever imagine.

If it was possible to give more than 5-stars, we would without any hesitation. If you are looking for your dream wedding to go off without a hitch, then Bear Lake Reserve is an absolute MUST!
Thank you so much Kelsie and the whole team at Bear Lake! We couldn’t have done it without you!!! 😊
Nicole
Nicole Sent on 05/16/2021
5 out of 5 rating

Intimate, Organic, Breathtaking

We held our wedding at Bear Lake Reserve and it was easily the best decision we ever made. BLR has something for every person from golfing, tennis, hiking, boating, lounging by the pool, kiddy pools and slides, great restaurants, and much more. We booked this venue as it is in the mountains, with lake access, could house 100 guests on site, and is dog friendly.

Kelsey helped us plan a 3 day event with a welcome reception, ceremony/reception, and a Lake day. She was amazing to work with every step of the way and helped us create an unforgettable weekend. She handled all of the rentals for table, chair, etc and helped us pick our food menu. We opted out of reserving a tent (against Kelsey’s multiple recommendations). When it began to rain during the ceremony, the BLR staff ran and gathered as many umbrellas as they could find so that the guests did not have to stand in the rain. She knew that we love white claw hard seltzer’s and surprised us with a white claw grab and go container (which was a big hit with the guests).

Cassye did a great job coordinating lodging for our 100 guests on BLR property and ensured that everyone had a wonderful lodging experience (including a sweet welcome gift at the cabins). Bartender Amber kept us laughing, happy, and full on great food and drinks for the week. For Golf with the Groom, BLR reserved the entire golf course for the men to use the driving range and play a round (this was easily the highlight of the weekend for them) and had more then enough brand new golf carts for the 20 guys. At the end of the reception, we led the way for us and our guests to have a celebratory jump into the pool. While laughing the whole way, the BLR staff quickly ran and brought towels for everyone. At lake day, Chef Alice realized it was one of the kids birthdays and baked an amazing cake and surprised her with it.

Countless examples of how the staff at BLR went above and beyond to ensure a great experience for all of the guests. It was intimate, relaxing, and we truly felt like we were the only guests there. We will continue to come back for vacations, and anniversaries, for years to come and have already booked our next visit.
S
Stephanie Sent on 04/21/2021
5 out of 5 rating

An absolute must!

Just wow... Bear Lake Reserve was an absolute delight. My wedding experience was exceptional and I have to say it was all thanks to Kelsie. She is a must if you’re having your wedding at Bear Lake Reserve.
Unfortunately, my wedding was moved 6 months due to the pandemic and what could have been a nightmare ended up being a smooth, supportive and joyful process all thanks to Kelsie. This venues fairy godmother is a MUST HAVE!
This woman ALWAYS knew what to do. When things didn’t go as planned, Kelsie was there with even better options and always had my back (as a bride.... this is key). She treated me like a friend and answered every call, every email and even FaceTimed me.
Her calm, supportive and reassuring demeanor allowed me to have the perfect day.
Have your wedding here and get this Angel!
O
Olivia Sent on 10/25/2020
5 out of 5 rating

Gorgeous Views, Friendly Staff, Great Food!

We knew we wanted to get married at Bear Lake just based on the drive up the mountain. The views are absolutely breathtaking! We had so many compliments from our guests on how beautiful the venue was. It's also super convenient that you/guests can rent houses on the property and stay all weekend. We worked with Kelsie to plan/coordinate everything at the venue. She was super responsive to all of our questions/needs and great at providing recommendations/suggestions. The venue was super flexible and worked with us to make everything happen just as we had pictured. The whole staff was very friendly and the food was so delicious!! If you're looking for a venue with amazing scenic views, great staff/planning, and great food, then Bear Lake is definitely the place! We loved it so much, we plan on going back for future vacations!
Heldreth
Heldreth Sent on 10/13/2020
5 out of 5 rating

the MOST beautiful wedding venue and best experience!

We got married a little over a year ago at the lake club and our friends and family are still talking about how beautiful the wedding was! Kelsie was so amazing and so helpful throughout the entire coordination and planning since we were out of state. You are surrounded by mountains from every view and the view of the lake was STUNNING. Bear Lake is really an unbelievable wedding experience and I recommend it to anyone!
A
Alison Sent on 04/13/2020
5 out of 5 rating

Gorgeous location, friendly staff

This location is unbelievably gorgeous and the event staff were great to work with throughout the entire wedding planning process. Our guests were blown away by how beautiful, secluded, and full of nature the venue was. But this type of amazing location doesn't come without some stress. Over the course the weekend, we had virtually no cell service, spotty wifi, and a power outage. If you're not a laid back bride, pick somewhere else. If you're the adventurous type, this place is perfect for a very special wedding location that makes for a true retreat!
K
Kelsey Sent on 11/27/2019
5 out of 5 rating

Amazing Wedding Venue!

We fell in love with Bear Lake during a family vacation before we were even engaged, so it was an easy decision to have our wedding here. The natural beauty of Bear Lake Reserve is exactly what I wanted, and our guest constantly told us how amazing the views were. Kelsie Rich was wonderful to work with. She answered all of my questions in a timely manner and even helped us with a last minute DJ issue.
T
Terry Sent on 01/10/2019
5 out of 5 rating

The most breath taking experience of my lifetime.

To call the experience my wife and I had at Bear Lake Reserve phenomenal, would be an understatement. Everything about Bear Lake was so far above our expectations its honestly hard to describe. The shear beauty of the venue, the pricing, the flexibility, the professionalism, their patience and understanding, their resourcefulness, the food, everything about it was incredible. We couldn't have made it happen if not for Kelsie Rich as well. What an amazing experience. If you are wondering if this is the right venue for you, look no further. IT IS!
S
Stacie Sent on 10/07/2018
5 out of 5 rating
Great time all around. The views were breath taking, food delicious, staff friendly. They were beyond expectations. They did their best and succeeded to accommodate all of our needs with great mannerism.
We're all about trust. Our community relies on honest reviews to help you make those big decisions with ease.

Awards

14

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Map

Bear Lake Reserve frequently asked questions

Bear Lake Reserve includes the following items and services for wedding events in its starting site fee:
  • Chairs
  • China
  • Clean Up
  • Event Planning
  • Flatware
  • Glassware
  • Lighting/Sound
  • Linens
  • Parking
  • Set Up
  • Tables
  • Catering Services
Bear Lake Reserve includes the following items and services in its wedding catering costs:
  • Server(s)
The bar service starting price at Bear Lake Reserve includes:
  • Bartender(s)
  • House Beer
  • House Liquor
  • House Wine
  • Open Bar
  • Signature Drink
  • Specialty Beer
The space offered by Bear Lake Reserve for wedding events is known for:
  • Country/Golf Club
  • Marina
  • Resort
  • Restaurant
  • Waterfront
Bear Lake Reserve offers the following indoor/outdoor options for weddings:
  • Indoor
  • Covered Outdoor
  • Uncovered Outdoor
Bear Lake Reserve offers the following types of wedding events:
  • Ceremony
  • Reception
  • Bridal Shower
  • Engagement Party
  • Elopements
  • Rehearsal Dinner
Bear Lake Reserve offers the following services for wedding events:
  • Accommodations
  • Bar Services
  • Catering Services
  • Clean Up
  • Event Planner
  • Event Rentals
  • Get Ready Rooms
  • Liability Insurance
  • Outside Vendors
  • Pet Friendly
  • Wifi
Bear Lake Reserve offers the following furniture and decor items for weddings:
  • Altar/Arch
  • Audio Equipment
  • Centerpieces
  • Chairs
  • Decor
  • Furniture
  • Tables
Bear Lake Reserve is recommended by 93% of couples who have used their services. Their overall rating is 4.7 out of 5 with the following breakdown: 4.8 in value, 4.7 in quality of service, 4.7 in flexibility, 4.7 in professionalism and 4.4 in average response time.
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