Brides, listen up! If you've dreamed of a magical outdoor wedding nestled within a gorgeous garden property, look no further. Camellia Gardens could not have been a more perfect choice for my husband and I to host our wedding. After considering 89 other local venues (yes, that's right!), I convinced my to-be-husband to come look at Camellia Gardens with me despite our 'perfect date' already being booked. We both knew the moment we arrived to the property that we would get married there - no matter the date.

Why, you ask? Well the property is privately nestled back from the road and other distractions. You're immediately greeted by a tranquil, garden-style backdrop to host your exclusive event for just the two of you and your closest friends and family... as if the property was gifted to you for the day. The site choices for your various events are endless, and nearly impossible to choose from, as they all offer their own unique touch and beauty. My husband and I chose to host our rehearsal dinner at the air conditioned barn, wedding ceremony under the grand oak tree, cocktail hour within the "secret garden" as I have lovingly referred to it, yard games set up on the lawn, dinner shaded from the sun under the brand new white tent (adorned with gorgeous chandeliers!), and continued our dance party celebration on the open-air terrace beneath the market lights. And if you can believe it, there are yet more locations on the property to choose from. We also loved that it allowed the groomsmen and bridal party to spend the wedding morning onsite getting ready in the bridal cottage and groom's lounge. One thing that potential brides should know is that Camellia Gardens provides a beautiful backdrop that you can make into your own vision, no two weddings will look alike. Start dreaming up your day, it's so much fun!

While the property provides the beauty for your big day, it's Marilyn who provides the support and sincerity throughout your entire wedding planning journey. She responded to every email, call, and text with grace and joy. She always had an answer, or would go seek one on my behalf... sometimes with a ruler in tow. She offered ideas, advice, and opinions when we needed it and a constant professional demeanor from our first site visit (and my second-sixth visits) through to the very end of our wedding day. She was there cheering me on during my bridal portrait sessions and gave us newlyweds a cheer from afar as we recessed back down the aisle. I know she went above and beyond for us that day and we are so appreciative. Marilyn was a huge part of our wedding story! (Thank you Marilyn!)

My only regret is that our perfect day has come to an end and I can't seem to convince my husband to let us do it all over again next month :)

Photos by Click Away Photography

My husband and I got married at Camellia Gardens this past June and it was the most perfect venue for our special day! Marilyn is a wonderful person to work with and made sure everything was absolutely perfect for our wedding day. The bridal suite is spacious and comfortable, the groomsmen have a nice space to get ready, there are multiple ceremony spaces to choose from, and backup spaces in case of rain! There is also plenty of parking available and golf cart valets for guests which we loved. The landscaping is beautiful and very well taken care of which makes for stunning wedding photos. Our guests had a great time and commented on how awesome the venue was for weeks after. We are so happy with our choice to get married at Camellia Gardens and would highly recommend this venue to anyone looking for an outdoor, garden wedding in or around Charlotte!

This venue and the staff were so wonderful through the whole process!!! Marilyn is so lovely and was always super responsive to any questions I had. On the day of her and her staff took phenomenal care of the entire wedding party and the guests as well! I could not recommend them anymore!