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Weddings

About

The Carolina Inn is an elegant wedding venue located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. It features numerous indoor and outdoor spaces, each with their own distinct Southern flair. This idyllic estate is nestled on the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill campus and listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Facilities and Capacity

This venue has a plethora of different function rooms, whether your wedding is large and extravagant or intimate. Their smaller spaces can accommodate other events including showers, rehearsal dinners, and farewell brunches. Couples who choose to hold an outdoor ceremony have a choice of two courtyards: the Annie Watts Hill Courtyard or the Bryan Courtyard. Both feature beautiful red brick and lush greenery, providing a picturesque backdrop for photos. Guests can then retire to the reception area, of which there are several options. The John Sprunt Hill Ballroom is the largest reception hall and has a maximum capacity of 450 people. Guests can dine and dance in luxury under its delicate chandeliers and enjoy a sizable pre-function area. Alternately, the Chancellor’s Ballroom is another classic setting for traditional ballroom weddings. The Old Well Room is a magnificent setting for an art deco-inspired wedding. It boasts terrazzo floors, crystal chandeliers, and surrounding parlors that can be rented for the occasion. The venue’s other rooms and parlors suit small events and parties.

Services Offered

The Carolina Inn’s staff are dedicated to hosting unforgettable weddings. The expertise of a professional event planner is offered to all couples who choose this venue. The on-site coordinator, Kristen, has a passion for each love story she encounters in addition to years of experience in the wedding industry. The inn also has a list of preferred vendors that can help streamline the planning process and reduce stress. They host an annual event showcase where couples can meet their potential vendors and view their work in person.

Accommodation

This destination features seven suites and 185 guest rooms for the convenience of those who wish to stay in the heart of Chapel Hill. Each room is equipped with modern amenities and designed in a refined, Southern style. Guests staying here overnight can choose to add breakfast with their room.

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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?

$3,000

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

No

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

Chairs
China
Clean Up
Event Planning
Flatware
Linens
Set Up
Tables

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

Cake Cutting
Server(s)

How many event spaces or rooms does your venue offer?

8

Describe your venue:

Historic Building
Hotel
Inn/B&B

What kind of settings are available?

Indoor
Covered Outdoor
Uncovered Outdoor

Which of the following wedding events does your venue service?

Ceremony
Reception

What event services do you offer?

Accommodations
Bar Services
Catering Services
Clean Up
Event Planner
Event Rentals
Wifi

Reviews of The Carolina Inn

A
Ashley Sent on 06/04/2023
5 out of 5 rating

Dream Wedding Venue

We hosted our wedding ceremony and reception at the Carolina Inn, and everyone there made our weekend so calm, memorable, and just perfect. The Carolina Inn has multiple spaces available for hosting ceremonies and receptions, and every corner of the Inn is so quaint! The walls of the Inn are really like a mini-museum filled with facts and photos of famous folks in Carolina history (we had a photo of Coach Dean Smith outside our suite, which delighted my husband, a huge Carolina basketball fan).

We worked with three members of the Inn's event planning team (Megan, Kayla, and Gabriela) at different points throughout the planning process, and all three of them were so easy and fun to work with! They were all easy to reach and able to answer any question that we had. On the day of our wedding, Kayla worked with our day-of-coordinator to make sure everything ran smoothly, even with a last minute pivot indoors due to weather! We LOVED our menu selections, and Kayla and the kitchen staff were awesome in making sure dinner stayed on schedule.

We also loved hosting our wedding at the Carolina Inn because my husband and I, as well as our friends and family, were able to stay right there at the Inn. Janis, at the Inn's front desk, did a wonderful job managing our room block and answering all of our questions re reservations.

We would highly recommend the Carolina Inn to any couple searching for a quaint, historic venue in Chapel Hill.
Kimberly
Kimberly Sent on 12/19/2021
5 out of 5 rating

The Carolina Inn is an absolute dream of a wedding venue.

The Carolina Inn is an absolute dream of a wedding venue. From the day I toured, we knew it was the place for us. For the last year, the entire team at the Carolina Inn has been extremely helpful with all of our questions and requests. Kelsey, our catering/wedding manager, was always responsive and worked with us and the chef to curate the perfect meal for our guests including all of the dietary restrictions we had! Our guests raved about how seamless the wedding was from the courtyard ceremony, cocktail hour in the black and white hallway, and then reception in the Hill Ballroom. As an added bonus, many of our guests were from out of town and were able to experience the magic and joy of the Carolina Inn at Christmastime. I cannot recommend the Carolina Inn enough! Even with multiple other events in December and the same day as our wedding, everything was flawless! We cannot wait to return for years to come to relive our wedding day.
M
Melissa Sent on 05/15/2020
5 out of 5 rating

Wonderful venue staffed by wonderful people

Carolina Inn is a beautiful venue. We loved having our reception there. The team of people working there are all very helpful and took care of things before I needed to ask. They were so helpful both day of and in the many days proceeding. I would also highly recommend their wedding showcase for anyone planning their wedding here. Tiffany and her team were great!!!
L
Lesley Sent on 11/13/2019
5 out of 5 rating

A dream location!

The most beautiful setting for a magical wedding reception!! Cannot express how pleased I am that this was the location for my daughter's wedding! From the moment you drive up you know it's special, as beautiful on the outside as in...what a place for pictures! The staff is amazing, make everyone feel special to be there. We had a private room for getting ready with the girls, and a room for family brunch the next day and every detail was exceptional and looked beautiful. Could not be any happier with the venue...and all the history and tradition, speechless!!
Rachel
Rachel Sent on 08/15/2019
5 out of 5 rating

Great experience!

We had a wonderful experience with the Carolina Inn! Kayla was a great venue coordinator and they were able to work with us to include some unconventional traditions to help create our perfect day!
L
Lauren Sent on 04/21/2018
5 out of 5 rating
Had the most amazing time at the Carolina Inn! To start with the front desk staff who were so helpful - Nils and his team know how to run that front desk- providing first class service. The reception with stations were truly amazing, food was delicious and the station attendants were so friendly. The bartenders did fantastic job of keeping the drinks flowing. Post wedding breakfast ran 1.5 hours over, but they never made a comment and made sure we were taken care of!!! Charmain was the best to work with- she really cares about what she is doing!!
A
Ashley Sent on 11/28/2017
5 out of 5 rating
The Carolina Inn is a dream place to get married. Charmaine and her team made amazing things happen! A southern soirée’s Gina was a god send as well! If you dream of a southern venue with amazing food and service and stunning ballrooms. Look no further!
K
Katie Sent on 04/18/2017
5 out of 5 rating
My husband and I used to dream of a Carolina Inn wedding, but we never dreamed of how perfect it would be. Everyone went above and beyond to make sure it was the perfect day. Heidi made our experience personal and made us feel like we were her only couple and focus at every step in the planning process. Heidi made outstanding recommendations to help us find the perfect vendors. We have heard from our guests that we "know how to plan a great party," but all the credit belongs to the Carolina Inn. They even made sure that we got to eat at the reception and had cake in our room after the wedding! Everyone (even with no connection to Carolina) should have their wedding here! We are looking forward to returning to celebrating important occasions for years to come!
H
Hilary Sent on 10/30/2016
5 out of 5 rating
We had our reception in the Old Well room, and it was perfect. We had the privilege of working with Kristen, who was knowledgeable, incredibly responsive, and really nice too! We were planning from out of town, and Kristen made the whole thing very easy. She even accommodated our requests for adding a certain beer to the bar (a favorite of the groom). The service at this hotel is incredible, and the decor is so beautiful I want to move in. Our food was amazing (we did stations, which got rave reviews from guests, and the late-night snack was a HUGE hit!). If anything went wrong, I never knew about it; the event was flawless. Thank you to Kristen and all of the amazing staff at The Carolina Inn - we had the time of our lives!
A
Amanda Sent on 10/24/2016
5 out of 5 rating
The Carolina Inn made my dream wedding happen! Thank you to Kristen and Tiffany especially for being so accommodating! I could never say enough good things about the Carolina Inn, it will always hold a special place in our heart!
We're all about trust. Our community relies on honest reviews to help you make those big decisions with ease.

Awards

98
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2018 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2016 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2015 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2014 Winner

Professional Network & Endorsements

1 Endorsement
Joe Payne Photography Joe Payne Photography Wedding Photographers

The Carolina Inn is such a fantastic venue. It has a truly unique vintage character in-line with its 1920's heritage. As a photographer, I can definitely recommend the Inn as a fantastic venue if photography is important to you. Aside from that, the planning staff are always so detail-oriented and personable and the food and service is top-notch across the board. Definitely one of my favourite places to shoot weddings in and I can't recommend it highly enough!

Map

The Carolina Inn frequently asked questions

The Carolina Inn includes the following items and services for wedding events in its starting site fee:
  • Chairs
  • China
  • Clean Up
  • Event Planning
  • Flatware
  • Linens
  • Set Up
  • Tables
The Carolina Inn includes the following items and services in its wedding catering costs:
  • Cake Cutting
  • Server(s)
The space offered by The Carolina Inn for wedding events is known for:
  • Historic Building
  • Hotel
  • Inn/B&B
The Carolina Inn offers the following indoor/outdoor options for weddings:
  • Indoor
  • Covered Outdoor
  • Uncovered Outdoor
The Carolina Inn offers the following types of wedding events:
  • Ceremony
  • Reception
The Carolina Inn offers the following services for wedding events:
  • Accommodations
  • Bar Services
  • Catering Services
  • Clean Up
  • Event Planner
  • Event Rentals
  • Wifi
The Carolina Inn is recommended by 93% of couples who have used their services. Their overall rating is 4.7 out of 5 with the following breakdown: 4.7 in quality of service, 4.7 in professionalism, 4.7 in value, 4.6 in average response time and 4.6 in flexibility.
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