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Pricing information

Price range: $4,050 - $5,350 Price range: $4,050 - $5,350
Couples usually spend $4,700 Couples usually spend $4,700
Reception
$5,200 starting price
Ceremony
$5,200 starting price
Reception
$2,700 starting price
Ceremony
$2,700 starting price
These prices are available for the months of April through October. These prices are available for the months of November through March.

Attributes highlighted by couples

Quality catering
Unique aesthetic style
Guests comfort
Amenities

About

On WeddingWire since 2012

James Monroe's Highland is a wedding venue located in Charlottesville, Virginia that services couples throughout Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC. The onsite team has been part of the wedding industry for over 25 years, and offers their picturesque, rural setting for soon-to-be-weds. With its flexible indoor and outdoor spaces, breathtaking views, and rustic aesthetic, couples are welcome to transform these grounds into their nuptial dream.

Facilities and Capacity

James Monroe's Highland features seven different event spaces to host celebrations of various sizes, from romantic elopements to receptions with up to 200 guests. You will have access to the extensive manicured grounds to host your special day, with the lush forestry and rolling hills as your natural backdrop. Flourishing gardens are present throughout the grounds, along with a mature white oak and grove of deciduous trees that make for romantic photo sessions. Receptions can take place under the large wooden pavilion, with exposed ceiling beams that can be easily decorated with bistro lights or elegant drapery. A climate-controlled, indoor event room is also present on the grounds, to host celebrations during any season. Large windows surround the space to bring in plenty of natural light, along with large ceiling lights to add a bright, welcoming aesthetic. Guests are free to step outside on the large porch and patio, and enjoy a relaxing cocktail hour under the sun. Ample parking is also available onsite, with wheelchair accessibility to ensure that everyone makes it to your celebration safely.

Services Offered

Couples are free to use any vendors they prefer, from caterers to florists, that will help them achieve their dream theme. Tables and chairs will be provided and can be arranged into any formation you prefer. From your rehearsal dinner to the last dance at your reception, the onsite team will work to ensure that you have an evening to remember.

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?

$5,200

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

$2,700

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?

$5,200

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

$2,700

Which of the following are included in starting site fee?

Bridal Suite
Chairs
Parking
Tables

How many event spaces or rooms does your venue offer?

7

Describe your venue:

Farm/Ranch
Historic Building
Museum

What kind of settings are available?

Indoor
Covered Outdoor
Uncovered Outdoor

Which of the following wedding events does your venue service?

Ceremony
Reception
Elopements
Rehearsal Dinner

What event services do you offer?

Outside Vendors

What catering services do you offer?

Outside Cake

What bar services do you provide?

Outside Alcohol

What event items are available?

Chairs
Tables

What transportation and access is available?

Parking
Wheelchair Access

What months are included in your peak season?

April
May
June
July
August
September
October

What months are included in your off-peak season?

January
February
March
November
December
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Any other questions?

Reviews of James Monroe's Highland

We're all about trust. Our community relies on honest reviews to help you make those big decisions with ease.
4.8 out of 5 rating
4.8 out of 5 rating
42 Reviews
96% recommend it
  • Quality of service
    4.7 out of 5 rating
  • Average response time
    4.9 out of 5 rating
  • Professionalism
    4.8 out of 5 rating
  • Value
    4.8 out of 5 rating
  • Flexibility
    4.8 out of 5 rating
This AI-generated summary gives you a snapshot of the overall ratings and feedback from the reviews this vendor has received.

Review summary

Powered by AI

James Monroe's Highland is a highly recommended wedding venue with beautiful scenery, historic grounds, and multiple ceremony and reception options. Reviewers praise the helpful and professional staff, particularly mentioning Jason as a favorite. The venue offers breathtaking backdrops for photos and has seamless event execution. The affordable prices and the opportunity to contribute to the preservation of Highland's education and preservation projects through a tax-deductible donation are also appreciated. Overall, reviewers highly recommend James Monroe's Highland as a magical and special wedding venue.

Review summary

Powered by AI
This AI-generated summary gives you a snapshot of the overall ratings and feedback from the reviews this vendor has received.

James Monroe's Highland is a highly recommended wedding venue with beautiful scenery, historic grounds, and multiple ceremony and reception options. Reviewers praise the helpful and professional staff, particularly mentioning Jason as a favorite. The venue offers breathtaking backdrops for photos and has seamless event execution. The affordable prices and the opportunity to contribute to the preservation of Highland's education and preservation projects through a tax-deductible donation are also appreciated. Overall, reviewers highly recommend James Monroe's Highland as a magical and special wedding venue.

Weddingwire
4.8/5 42 reviews
Google
4.5/5 809 reviews
Steven
Steven B. Sent on 06/03/2024
5 out of 5 rating

Grounds are breathtaking!

We cannot speak highly enough about this venue and the people you work with. My wife and I had were considering this without either of us having been there since our early teen years, which can be nerve wracking! The people in charge of events, Jason and Rachel, took that in stride and offered a video tour that really helped settle us and see what it could be.
The grounds are beautiful, with backdrops of the mountains in so many directions, and each section is wonderfully partitioned with box hedges. When you book, you get the entire space, which includes 2 potential outdoor ceremony sites, the garden right off of the house, access to the house for tours if you wish it, covered pavilion, and a barn that can function as another ceremony site/rain option. We had so many comments from guests about how stunning it all was!
Leading up to our wedding day, there was a potential for rain. Naturally, we both began worrying and reaching out to the venue, as well as panic buying umbrellas. Jason and Rachel were fantastic, reassuring us that they would help however possible, but also that they didn’t think the rain would hit until later in the night. Sure enough, we were lucky and the storm didn’t roll in until around 8, at which point most of our guests decided to dance in the rain and make the most of it! This venue truly is special, and we are beyond grateful that we found it.
C
Chelsea Sent on 01/12/2018
5 out of 5 rating
This venue is one of the most beautiful wedding destinations in Charlottesville, and is easy to work with, while not breaking the bank! Emilia and the rest of the event staff at James Monroe's Highland are very responsive, helpful, and professional. I am a wedding planner and coordinator based out of Richmond, and it is crucial to have a supportive venue when making plans for clients. If you want a historic venue with gorgeous views at a great price, look no further!
J
Julie M. Sent on 07/23/2023
5 out of 5 rating

Beautiful, historic venue with excellent Events staff

Couldn't be happier with our choice of James Monroe's Highland!! If you aren't excited about the idea of having just another generic, impersonal Virginia winery wedding and are looking for a location with a long history, character, and beautiful scenery, you absolutely need to look into this venue. Highland is a special place. The Highland Events manager (Jason) was super helpful, professional, patient with all my questions, and so very personable -our favorite "vendor" of all. The price was surprisingly reasonable compared to other central Virginia outdoor venues, and a large chunk of it is a tax-deductible donation that goes toward funding Highland's education and preservation projects - it felt amazingly good to invest some of our wedding money in this way.
Having an outdoor wedding can be nerve-wracking due to the unpredictability of weather, but we got lucky for our late April wedding. They have a backup indoor space in case of very bad weather, but honestly, it would've been a huge disappointment had we had to move indoors. The historic grounds were green and gorgeous, with brick walkways and interesting spaces at every turn. The long driveway up with framing trees is an iconic location for bride-and-groom photos. The secluded ceremony area (the Blue Ridge yard) surrounded by boxwoods and a white fence was an intimate setting for our wedding of 70 (it would've fit dozens more and they have a larger space if needed), with lovely, peaceful scenery as the backdrop. A charming garden area was the cocktail hour space (where guests have the option of taking a brief walk through the indoor exhibit spaces which are literally right there), and then a covered hilltop outdoor pavilion was the reception area. Although it sounds confusing, all these places are just a few steps away from each other (less than a 2-minute walk). Things ran smoothly, there were zero glitches on the wedding day thanks to the friendly Highland staff, and we and our guests loved the setting. It was magical.
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Awards

42
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2020 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2019 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2016 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2015 Winner

Real Weddings

Cat & Chad
36 photos · 09/21/2019
Adam & Kelly
15 photos · 03/25/2019
Bryan & Elizabeth
28 photos · 10/01/2016

Professional Network & Endorsements

7 Endorsements
Wedding Preacher for Hire Wedding Preacher for Hire Wedding Officiants

Love this venue. One of the great things about it is that, at least at the weddings I have officiated at there, the guest house--from the James Monroe era, is open to guests. What a great thing! Guests can learn about James Monroe, as they also connect with wedding guests. The staff is friendly and at the ready to take care of your every need. Can't wait for my next wedding there!

Amanda C. Blake Photography Amanda C. Blake Photography Wedding Photographers

Highland is truly a beautiful place. There's so many gorgeous locations for photographs - I am always finding a new spot every time I photograph a wedding there! I cannot wait to work there again.

Eve Watters Eve Watters Wedding Musicians

Beautiful setting, well-equipped with attentive service- and you can be part of history!

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