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Award winner thanks to recommendations from couples on WeddingWire.com.
  • 2023
  • 2022
  • 2021
  • 2020

Nantahala Weddings & Events

From 2 to 118 guests
Ceremony/Reception
Outdoor
Get Ready Rooms

Why couples loved this venue

  • Unique aesthetic style
  • Guests comfort
  • Amenities
Carrie
Brittany
April
Erik
Heith

Recommended by 98% of couples

About this venue

Fall Special: Book any 2027 multi-day wedding package and save $1,000!

Why rush the best day of your life when you can turn it into an unforgettable, extended wedding weekend?

Perched at 3,500 feet, Nantahala Weddings & Events is a private destination venue overlooking Nantahala Lake and the Smoky Mountains of Western North Carolina.

Here, you can unplug, celebrate, and truly connect with your closest friends and family—without ever feeling rushed.

Your Private Mountain Oasis:

  • Say “I do” against a breathtaking mountain-and-lake backdrop, followed by a reception surrounded by lush gardens and romantic café lights.
    When you book Nantahala, the property is exclusively yours. There are no other events and no noise restrictions, so you can dance, gather around the fire pits, and enjoy the evening on your own schedule.

The Multi-Day Retreat — 3 or 4 Days:

  • Turn your wedding into a vacation with unlimited gatherings throughout your stay. Host welcome drinks, a rehearsal cookout, the main celebration, late-night fire-pit conversations, and a slow final morning—all in one beautiful place.
  • Onsite accommodations for up to 10 guests are included, with space for up to 10 additional guests onsite. Just across the street and along the same mountainside—some connected by trails—we’ve counted more than 100 additional guest beds within a mile.

The One-Day Celebration:

  • Enjoy an expansive 8:00 AM–10:00 PM rental for couples who want a full-scale mountain wedding within one seamless day, at $6,750-9,750.
  • For something smaller, our ceremony-only elopement and minimony packages start at $750-$3250 for three hours with just the two of you.

The Intimate Elopement & Reception:

  • Enjoy a thoughtfully paced seven-hour celebration from 3:00–10:00 PM, including time to get ready, a scenic ceremony, dinner in the Reception Pavilion, toasts, and dancing for up to 30 guests—all for $4,750.

Everything You Need:

  • Choose from more than 150 trusted local vendors, or bring your own favorites through our open-vendor policy. Reach out to request our local vendor list.
    Turn your weekend into an adventure with nearby rafting, hiking, ziplining, scenic rail excursions, or a sunset lake cruise. You can even take on the Adventure Wedding Dress Challenge!
  • We proudly welcome all love, offer ADA-accessible spaces and accommodations, and invite your four-legged family members to join the celebration.

To schedule a tour, visit the Contact Us page on our website or follow the instructions on page 7 of our brochure. We would love to show you around and let you experience the magic of Nantahala in person.

Features

Veteran-owned

Woman-owned

Small team (2-10 members)

Experience

  • 11 years in business

  • We speak Chinese, English, German, Japanese and Spanish

Links

Visit website

Weddings at this venue

Molly & Josh's wedding
Molly & Josh
18 photos
Becca & Andrew's wedding
Becca & Andrew
18 photos
Nick & Jacqueline's wedding
Nick & Jacqueline
47 photos
Cait & Ryan's wedding
Cait & Ryan
100 photos
Wendy & Sean's wedding
Wendy & Sean
30 photos
Veronika & Seth's wedding
Veronika & Seth
104 photos

FAQ

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

No

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

$8,750

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

$7,750

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

No

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

Bridal Suite
Chairs
China
Flatware
Glassware
Parking
Tables

What is the minimum number of guests required to book your venue?

2

How many event spaces or rooms does your venue offer?

11

Describe your venue:

Campsite/Cabin
Garden
Park
Waterfront

What kind of settings are available?

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?

Accommodations
Get Ready Rooms
Outside Vendors
Pet Friendly
Wifi

What catering services do you offer?

Buffet

What bar services do you provide?

Outside Alcohol

What event items are available?

Altar/Arch
Audio Equipment
Chairs
Dance Floor
Decor
Lighting
Tables
Tents

What food and beverage items are available?

China
Flatware
Glassware

What transportation and access is available?

Parking
Wheelchair Access

What months are included in your peak season?

June
September
October

What months are included in your off-peak season?

April
May
July
August
November
illustration question

Any other questions?

Reach out about anything you didn't see answered here—no question is too small!

Reviews of Nantahala Weddings & Events

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

Beautiful, well‑maintained mountain and lake venue ideal for multi‑day stays with on‑site lodging and many photo spots. Staff are responsive, provide clear planning tools and vendor recommendations, and handle logistics like shuttles and accessibility. Guests praised the food and the relaxed, memorable weekend.

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.

Beautiful, well‑maintained mountain and lake venue ideal for multi‑day stays with on‑site lodging and many photo spots. Staff are responsive, provide clear planning tools and vendor recommendations, and handle logistics like shuttles and accessibility. Guests praised the food and the relaxed, memorable weekend.

Weddingwire
4.9/5 83 reviews
Google
4.9/5 297 reviews
Carrie
Carrie Sent on 04/17/2026
5 out of 5 rating

The Best Decision We Ever Made

Jess and Jody...I can't thank you enough for such a special weekend. We were able to check in early even though someone was there the day before us! The grounds were absolutely beautiful, clean, serene, and so peaceful. We did yoga with Jess the morning before the wedding at the Chapel in the Sky and it was so peaceful and she was very grounding. The grounds and houses were kept pristine clean and was just the magic we had expected. Bless them, because I am so type A and had a million and one questions and they treated me with such kindness, compassion, and patience while I planned a wedding states away. They were extremely accommodating and helped us with whatever we needed. It is just like a home rental so if you are having a large group of people there bring some paper and plastic utensils, napkins, and paper towels but that was no biggie and they let us know that!! Everything was communicated so clearly, instructions were very clear. Every recommended vendor we chose was superb. Their website links of recommended vendors important and helpful information was so detailed and beyond what any venue will ever give you. So kind, thoughtful, and considerate and they all worked so well together we did not have to worry about a thing on the day. The pictures were stunning, the grounds were a great place to hang out with our closest friends and family for the weekend and worth every cent for what you get, actually, overly an economical price for everything that you get. We were having doubts about the wedding just because of the destination part and thought maybe we should have done it somewhere else...but the second we got there to the moment we left we KNEW we made the right decision to create such a memorable, beautiful, and relaxing weekend where you can really make the place your own. Again, Jess and Jody, we cannot thank you enough, you both were so amazing and kind and thoughtful and we truly appreciate all that you offer and helped us to create.

Caterer: Tracey Passmore
Bartender: Tanner Moore
Decor: Jennifer Moore
Planner: Avail Weddings
Photo and Video: Amy Weits Photography
Transportation: Always on Time Transportation Service
Florals: Harpp Flower Farm
Hair: Brandi from Bella Color Studio
Dress: Bridal Coutore of the Palm Beaches
DJ: Jennifer and Justin from Spinfire Entertainment
J
John Sent on 10/01/2026
5 out of 5 rating

the BEST mountain venue option

I cannot express how HAPPY we are to have chosen Nantahala Weddings as our venue. As a young couple that has never planned a wedding before it can be very daunting. Jody and Jess made everything EASY and were very kind, helpful, and thorough. You can literally plan your entire wedding directly off of their website from vendors to guest lodging. Any questions our guests had we were able to simply refer them to the website every time. They have a perfect and well thought out solution to every possible situation you come across over the course of the event. And their price point relative to surrounding venues is unbeatable, especially for a multi night stay (which was so wonderful for our out-of-state guests to actually relax and not worry about travel for a few days and truly take in and enjoy the entirety of the event). Not to mention all the closely surrounding activities we were able to do with our families the days around the wedding day we were there. Boating, restaurants, hiking, kayaking, zip lining, rafting, scenic look outs, exc. They have 3 separate internet hook ups to keep service at all times on the property, but as soon as you see this place and are there with your family you wont feel like using you phone for anything but the camera. They have handicap accessibility in their FieTop Suite which made our grandparents stay a breeze. Also the FieTop’s large common area with a kitchen, indoor picnic style seating, large patio doors, and a patio overlooking a smoke free fire pit was an excellent way to have 3 separate hang out areas all close connected enough to allow everyone to be included and could choose where they were most comfortable without feeling they were far from everyone else. Come wedding day, the shuttle ride to the Chapel Site is extremely helpful and every guest came up with a smile on their face from the fun ride and the kindness of these ladies. We needed little to none of our own decorations because the ones they have there for you to use are so beautiful and so many options. The view of the lake is BREATH TAKING. At the ceremony site, there is a very wide, clear view of the lake, not just a sliver through some trees. And they have a separate area called the secret garden part way up with a table and chairs that all of our guests loved to have coffee at in the mornings and view the lake right near their cabins without having to go up to the ceremony site. There are multiple areas around the venue to set up different things and have plenty of room to set up different photo-ops, more private hang out areas, exc. We are both just sitting here making this review rambling more and more about everything that was so wonderful. As soon as you tour the venue and talk with Jess and Jody, their venue is the OBVIOUS choice. We wouldn’t have wanted to have our special day anywhere else. If we could give 10 stars we would and would do it all over again ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
G
Greyson Sent on 04/17/2026
5 out of 5 rating

Breathtaking venue & Incredible staff

Amazing location for the views alone, but Jess and Jody really helped in making the day incredibly special. They were both EXTREMELY accommodating even when the weather wasn't.

Not only was the venue incredibly peaceful and serene during a chaotic weekend+, but there were just so many behind the scenes details that were handled expertly by the Nantahala Weddings and Events team that I'm sure I'm not even aware of.

I hope to return frequently.
Brittany
Brittany Sent on 12/13/2025
5 out of 5 rating

A Hidden Gem in the Mountains — Absolute Perfection

Nantahala Wedding Venue literally took our breath away. We felt like we struck the jackpot when we found this gem—and then we met the owners, Jodie and Jess. Jackpot twice.

This was the very first venue we toured, and after the visit we knew immediately it had everything we wanted. We were looking for something different—getting married in the mountains felt perfect—and we wanted a space where our family and friends could spend more than just the wedding day together. Nantahala checked every box.

Jodie and Jess are incredibly kind, professional, and responsive. Anytime I had a question, they replied immediately or were just a phone call away. Their vendor recommendation list was fantastic (we used it heavily, and our vendor team absolutely crushed it).

Everyone had to travel for our wedding, so having it at Nantahala ended up working perfect. Having the ceremony and reception in one location made everything so seamless. The Chapel in the Sky is a bit of a hike (for the everyday person), but they offer ATV service for the bride and for elderly guests or anyone who needs assistance, which was such a thoughtful touch.

The reception space is stunning—it felt like we were tucked into a fairy cove surrounded by twinkle lights. Being in the middle of the forest also meant no noise concerns at all.

For couples with many out-of-town guests, we could not recommend more to host a rehearsal dinner or gathering on site. It allowed us to spend quality time with everyone without feeling burnt out on the wedding day.

Originally, people didn’t understand why we wanted a mountain wedding—until they saw the views. Our guests are still talking about how beautiful it was. Our wedding day was everything we dreamed of and more, thanks to this incredible venue and its amazing owners. We’ve already planned to return to the area for our first anniversary!
J
John Sent on 04/06/2025
5 out of 5 rating

A Place Truly Worthy of Your “I Do”

My wife and I got married at Nantahala Weddings in September 2023, and we honestly can’t say enough good things about the experience. From the moment we arrived, the setting took our breath away—Lake Nantahala and the mountains surrounding it provided the perfect, peaceful backdrop for our day.

The venue itself is magical. We used the Chapel in the Sky for our ceremony, and it felt like something out of a dream. The entire property is beautifully maintained and thoughtfully designed to create an unforgettable experience, not just for us as the couple, but for our guests as well.

The team behind the venue made everything run smoothly and truly cared about making our day special. Every detail felt personalized and intentional. We also want to give a special shout-out to our caterer, Tracey, who stepped in later in the planning process and delivered an outstanding meal. Literally every guest raved about the food, especially the appetizers and bisque, and she even went out of her way to prepare a special late-night meal for a child in our family who wasn’t feeling well. That kind of thoughtfulness speaks volumes.

Looking back, we feel incredibly lucky that we found this place. It’s not just a venue—it’s a destination that brings people together in the most beautiful way. We’ll forever be grateful we got to start our married life in such an amazing place.
S
Smithcaaron Sent on 08/19/2023
5 out of 5 rating

Amazing Venue

Nantahala Weddings Venue by far exceeded our expectations! The views and atmosphere at this venue are spectacular. We could not have asked for a better experience we shared here for our Elopment. Jody, Jennifer and staff are very skilled in helping to make sure your dream becomes a reality at this Venue. Thank you Jody and everyone else at Nantahala Wedding Venue for Having April and I at your Venue. Truly we both couldn't be more pleased. We highly recommend anyone looking for a venue to put this as your first choice.
April
April Sent on 08/19/2023
5 out of 5 rating

Gorgeous Venue! The perfect spot for a wedding.

The perfect wedding venue! Chapel in the Sky is absolutely stunning. We had the perfect elopement with a few friends and family. Jennifer made our dream come true with the beautifully decorated awning and she even drove our elderly guests to the top for us! She is so sweet. Jody, the owner is so wonderful too!!! She is professional, personable and strives on making what you want happen. The staff is excellent. Hands down! The bridal suite and man cave were perfect, too. This venue is the most gorgeous, hidden gem I’ve ever had the pleasure of visiting. We are grateful to be married at such a beautiful place. The memories we made there will last us a lifetime. Thank you, Nantahala Wedding Venue! 10 stars!
Erik
Erik Sent on 08/19/2022
5 out of 5 rating

Nantahala Weddings!

As a wedding vendor, I can confidently say this venue and the staff deserves a 10 star rating, 5 doesn't cover it! Beautiful and accommodating are the only words to describe.
Heith
Heith Sent on 06/06/2022
5 out of 5 rating

Wedding at chapel in the sky!

Great place to have a wedding! My wife and I just got married at Nantahala Weddings two weeks ago and had the best time. The vendors list from Jody ( the owner) were amazing and the nicest people in the world. I would suggest Tracey Passmore for the caterer. Tracey and her husband did an amazing job with BBQ and very professional. Jodie McCord did great with the flowers and we both really enjoyed how she used a lot of natural flowers from around the area and from her very own farm. The wedding cake from Sally White was not just beautiful but also tasted like heaven. Shayla Khalife made the planning process easy and smooth on the big day. She was definitely a pleasure to work with. Last but surely not least, Mike Waller, the photographer for our wedding was a great match for us and went above and beyond! He was a pleasure to work with and went out of his way the next day to get our pictures up at Wayah Bald and the waterfall close by to the venue. On our wedding day it was raining, the one day out of the whole week but Jody was prepared with a very nice clear canopy setup at the Chapel in the Sky so we could still have our ceremony. Overall, we both were very impressed from beginning to end and couldn’t have asked for a better place to have our wedding. Thank you to all the vendors and Jody, you all truly made our day special!
Dana
Dana Sent on 05/29/2022
5 out of 5 rating

Fairy tail wedding

This Venue is a fairy tail! What dreams are made of! The owner, Jody, along with staff will do anything to make your day special. Stayed the whole weekend and was able to just relax and be present. To be surrounded by this much beauty of nature is worth 10 fold what we paid for this venue! Loved our big day and will be back to Nantahala to visit whenever we can
We're all about trust. Our community relies on honest reviews to help you make those big decisions with ease.

Awards

83
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2023 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2022 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2021 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2020 Winner
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Team

Jody Hafey
Jody Hafey
Owner
Jess Hafey Kawamura
Jess Hafey Kawamura
Business Partner

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Nantahala Weddings & Events frequently asked questions

Nantahala Weddings & Events includes the following items and services for wedding events in its starting site fee:
  • Bridal Suite
  • Chairs
  • China
  • Flatware
  • Glassware
  • Parking
  • Tables
The space offered by Nantahala Weddings & Events for wedding events is known for:
  • Campsite/Cabin
  • Garden
  • Park
  • Waterfront
Nantahala Weddings & Events offers the following indoor/outdoor options for weddings:
  • Covered Outdoor
  • Uncovered Outdoor
Nantahala Weddings & Events offers the following types of wedding events:
  • Ceremony
  • Reception
  • Elopements
  • Rehearsal Dinner
Nantahala Weddings & Events offers the following services for wedding events:
  • Accommodations
  • Get Ready Rooms
  • Outside Vendors
  • Pet Friendly
  • Wifi
Nantahala Weddings & Events offers the following furniture and decor items for weddings:
  • Altar/Arch
  • Audio Equipment
  • Chairs
  • Dance Floor
  • Decor
  • Lighting
  • Tables
  • Tents
Nantahala Weddings & Events is recommended by 98% of couples who have used their services. Their overall rating is 4.9 out of 5 with the following breakdown: 4.9 in quality of service, 4.9 in average response time, 4.9 in flexibility, 4.9 in professionalism and 4.9 in value.
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