Golden Horseshoe Inn Reviews
Reviews
We're all about trust. Our community relies on honest reviews to help you make those big decisions with ease.
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Elizabeth Sent on 03/23/2026
A Dream Micro Wedding
My spouse and I had an incredible experience working with Heather and Monique from the Golden Horseshoe Inn. We initially were not interested in having an actual wedding—we were just going to elope and have a party later—but then I stumbled upon this gem of a venue and it quickly changed our minds.
I never knew planning/preparing for a wedding could be so relatively stress-free. Having all of the major details taken care of by the staff allowed us the time and joy of only needing to focus on the smaller and fun details such as guest lists, seating, and small, extra decorations for the lay-flat photos and table settings (which are all optional).
I also cannot say enough great things about the friendliness and helpfulness from Heather and Monique. They seamlessly walked us through every step, communicated well, and always made us feel at ease throughout the entire process. I would also be remiss not to praise Heather’s wonderful photography. We are so thrilled with the artistic quality of our wedding photos—hard to believe this is included in the package!
If you’re looking for a quaint and stress-free micro wedding experience, then I cannot recommend Golden Horseshoe Inn enough! We already have a friend booking their wedding with this amazing venue. -
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Liz Sent on 03/04/2026This is the place!
Get married here! I worked in hospitality and events before switching careers to healthcare and I CANNOT recommend Golden Horseshoe enough! Seriously, between the pre planning and day of coordination, by the morning of my wedding almost no questions came my way. We laughed, cried, danced, and got amazing photos! THIS IS THE PLACE!
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Ivy Sent on 11/08/2025Trying to convince everyone I know to get married here
My now husband and I were originally torn between two venues. I have always been the more indecisive one in our partnership, so I told him I needed to see the Golden Horseshoe in person before I could make a final decision.
From the second I walked in the door with my family, Monique made us feel so welcome. If you are on the fence, I highly recommend visiting in person so that you can experience the charm and warmth of the Inn for yourself!
Wedding planning is stressful, especially when you’re doing it from another state, as we were, but Monique and Heather were so kind, thorough, and responsive throughout every step of the process, which we truly appreciated. And on a misty fall afternoon at the end of September, all of that planning culminated in a day that was pure magic from start to finish! I honestly didn’t even mind that it rained and that we couldn’t have the outdoor ceremony that we had planned on because the staff at GHI was able to shift gears on a dime. Now, every detail of our rainy wedding day is precious to me, from the warm din of my loved ones audible from downstairs as I waited to walk down the aisle to the soft patter of the rain on the deck outside as the fairy lights twinkled invitingly at us from every corner of the room. Heather was even game enough to drive us up the mountain in the fog, and it resulted in some absolutely stunning photos, as you can see! Our whole day was a dream, and we can’t thank Heather, Monique, and the whole team at GHI enough for everything they did to help make it so special.
If you want a venue that will treat you like family while still behaving with the utmost professionalism and grace under pressure, look no further than the beautiful Golden Horseshoe Inn! -
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Alexis Sent on 10/26/2025
Incredible Experience!
Incredible! Hands down, absolutely outstanding. We really wanted a small, intimate venue, and this was beyond perfect. At first, we attempted to plan a DIY wedding, but after realizing how many different contacts and logistics that required, we quickly realized—absolutely not. Then, somehow, we found this amazing venue right outside of Shenandoah and immediately fell in love.
We ended up having 63 guests, and everyone had a fantastic time. Heather and Mo know everything—they anticipate and solve issues before they even arise. Their vendor contacts are phenomenal: the cake, the florals, and all of their staff were wonderful.
Heather’s photography was breathtaking. Our photoshoot in Shenandoah was pure magic, and she made everyone feel so comfortable in front of the camera. One of my bridesmaids even kept saying how much she wished Heather had photographed her wedding!
The dancing at the end was such a blast, and the entire day just flew by. Mo was constantly checking in, and all of our guests loved her—she somehow knew so many of them by name, which blew me away. Everything was seamless from start to finish.
I highly, highly recommend this venue to anyone. It truly was the most perfect day! -
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Robert Sent on 10/15/2025
This place is amazing!
My wife and I got married here on October 12, 2025, and there truly aren’t enough words to describe how perfect our day was. Mo and Heather are two of the most professional, creative, and genuine people we have ever met. From the moment we met them, we knew this was the right venue for us.
They were incredibly responsive and communicative and made every step of the process feel effortless. Both are so personable and easy to talk to, and they instantly made us feel at home.
As our photographer, Heather went above and beyond to make sure we had everything we needed and made us feel amazing during our mountaintop photoshoot. Mo handled so many details behind the scenes and was wonderful as our officiant. Her calm and experienced presence helped ease any stress and made the entire day flow seamlessly.
Thank you so much! -
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M Sent on 09/13/2025Our perfect day
After many weeks of trying to find an intimate venue and being overwhelmed with everything that comes along with traditional wedding planning, my husband and I found the Golden Horseshoe Inn. The all inclusiveness of it, from cake to flowers to photography to food to planning and officiant, truly is one of a kind and we felt the stress of wedding planning just melt away. Immediately after touring the venue with Heather, like, still in the parking lot, we agreed GHI was everything we were looking for and more. Once we reserved our date, we made the trip out to meet with Heather and Mo and plan out the finer details. They truly are the perfect team and were incredibly accommodating with fulfilling our wedding day requests and provided great feedback for us on our ideas, both in person that day and through email leading up to the wedding. The day of the wedding, the entire GHI team made us feel so loved and we felt so taken care of. It truly was stress free and felt like we were at home. Heather and her second shooters' photography is truly incredible, and they made us feel comfortable in front of the camera, and Mo provided a sense of calm and ease throughout the whole day. We'll look back on and cherish our wedding forever, and are so grateful to all of the GHI team for making our day so incredibly special. -
Erin Sent on 09/11/2025
Choose GHI for a stress free wedding
I cannot stop telling people how beautiful and stress free my GHI wedding was. I wish I could give more than 5 stars! I had many guests compliment the venue, the setup, and Heather as a friendly and helpful face and photographer on my wedding day.
Heather, Monique, and the rest of the team are true professionals that are not only attentive, organized, and dedicated, but they truly care about providing a special and stress free experience for couples and their guests. Walking into the venue on the day of my wedding to see everything already in place and looking beautiful was the best feeling.
The team guided us through every step of the process and answered all of our questions promptly. Pricing, details, and recommended vendors were all listed on their website and it made planning so easy. From first contact, to signing the contract, to planning, and then executing the on the big day, every step was so well organized and you can tell that the team are very experienced and successful at what they do.
Add ons like Heather’s photography package, fresh florals, and the mountain photoshoot made the day extra magical. I would recommend this venue wholeheartedly to any couple looking to have the micro wedding of their dreams. GHI did an amazing job and I will cherish the memories and photos from the day forever. -
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Alison Sent on 07/31/2025Thank you, GHI!
Choosing GHI for our wedding was the best decision we've made this year (after saying I do). If you're like me, you may think that what GHI offers is too good to be true and maybe you're worried that you won't get exactly what you want because it seems too easy and too affordable. Well, you couldn't be more wrong! Heather, Mo, and the whole GHI team exceeded all of our expectations and made this a magical, no-stress day. The venue, flowers, cake, and photos that come with this package were all top notch and we couldn't have done better with any alternatives. Trusting in the GHI team freed us up to focus on adding little, personal details and enjoying our family & friends. I cannot recommend this venue strongly enough! -
Jenika Sent on 07/01/2025
The Golden Horseshoe Inn is pure ✨MAGIC✨
If I could shout it from the Blue Ridge Mountains, I would: The Golden Horseshoe Inn is pure magic.
From the very beginning, Heather and the entire GHI team made us feel completely taken care of. Heather wears a thousand hats. Planner, coordinator, the most talented photographer and somehow manages to do it all with such calm, grace, and creativity.
And Mo—where do I begin? Not only was she our warm, engaging, and heartfelt officiant, she was also planning, coordinating, organizing, and setting up behind the scenes. Her ability to manage a room, guide a crowd (including wrangling our very large families - a true talent) and keep everything flowing was incredible.
Our wedding day was seamless, stress-free, and absolutely magical. The GHI team listened to every request, anticipated every need, and created the most elegant, cozy, intimate celebration. It never felt overdone or “trying too hard” just effortlessly beautiful and filled with love.
If you’re looking for a venue that truly understands how to host an intimate, heartfelt, and thoughtfully executed wedding, pick GHI. You won’t regret it. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for creating the best day of our lives. -
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Hallie Sent on 04/06/20253/29/25 Wedding
Heather and Monique do such an AMAZING Job (and all the other staff at GHI)! They truly make you feel so comfortable and special on your wedding day. They both have such wonderful personalities and we Absolutely Loved Getting to work with them. They helped make our day Perfect. They are also incredible with replies and questions needed before the wedding day
, and even provide you with a checklist to keep on top of things. We strongly recommend having a Wedding at the Golden Horseshoe inn, it was as stress-free as any wedding could be! We also recommend using Heather as the Photographer for your special day as well! Her skills and pictures are truly stunning and she will continuously hype you up during the photographs (Which gave me confidence while posing to get some breathtaking pictures). They even have a Blog part on their website to see photographs of previous weddings. We also did the Mountain Photoshoot which again was an awesome and fun experience! The venue itself is also Historic but has this wonderful charm to it. I also absolutely loved the the picturesque window with the curtains in the bridal dressing room. Seriously, our wedding could not have gone smoother here. Thank you so Much to Heather, Monique, and the GHI staff for making our dreams come true for such a special day
With Love,
Hallie & Dean Wathen
3/29/25 -
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Dawniece Sent on 07/27/2024An All-Inclusive Dream
From the moment we started planning our wedding, we knew the Golden Horseshoe Inn was the perfect choice. Our special day was nothing short of a cinematic masterpiece, and we owe it all to this incredible all-inclusive venue. Heather Tusing and her team went above and beyond to plan, coordinate, and execute our wedding to perfection.
A special shout out to Monique, who made our friends and family feel right at home with her warm and attentive service. Heather, the owner and our brilliant photographer and creative director, captured every magical moment with such artistry and passion. Her ability to bring out the best in us and our guests is truly unparalleled.
The Golden Horseshoe Inn created an unforgettable, glamorous, and heartfelt wedding day for us. We cannot thank Heather and her team enough for making our dream wedding a reality. If you're looking for a venue that offers exceptional service, breathtaking photography, and a seamless, stress-free experience, look no further than the Golden Horseshoe Inn. This place is truly a gem, and we are forever grateful.
With love and gratitude, Ahmad and Dawniece Lewis -
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Victoria Sent on 06/15/2024A perfect day!
Heather, Monique, and the entire Golden Horseshoe team gave us the most magical May wedding day (even in the rain). When we started our venue search nearly a year and a half ago, we quickly became overwhelmed at the options, cost, and general task of planning a wedding. We toured the Golden Horseshoe Inn on a rainy April day and knew immediately that it was the place for us. Monique was welcoming and helpful on our tour, so we knew we’d be in good hands. Overall, we wanted our day to feel intimate and stress free and the Golden Horsehoe Inn certainly provides that. We could not have asked for a better day and many of our friends and family remarked that it was the best wedding they’ve been too (they could be biased, but I happen to agree)! We chose to have Heather as our photographer and all of the pictures turned out lovely. We will enjoy looking back on them and reminiscing on our perfect day for the years to come. -
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Krista Sent on 05/24/2024
Stress-Free Dream Wedding
Finding a wedding venue that was as accepting as we are was a priority for us. The Golden Horseshoe Inn wasn't just accepting, they were incredible! From the very beginning, Heather and Monique made us feel welcome, supported, and excited about our big day.
What truly sets the Golden Horseshoe Inn apart is their all-inclusive approach. We were blown away by the beautiful location nestled near a national forest. The historic house itself provided a stunning backdrop for our ceremony and reception. This all-inclusive approach took away the immense stress of wedding planning, allowing us to truly focus on enjoying our day. Heather and Monique handled everything with such professionalism and care that we never once felt rushed or overwhelmed.
There's a reason why Golden Horseshoe Inn has such a stellar reputation! During dinner, I managed to get a small cut. Monique and the day-of staff were absolute lifesavers. They sprung into action, found a bandaid in a flash, and got me back to celebrating with my family in no time. It was a small moment, but it perfectly exemplified the attentiveness and care they put into every detail.
The best part? We were able to arrive hours before the ceremony and truly relax in the beautiful dressing rooms. This allowed us to savor the pre-wedding moments with each other without feeling rushed. Heather and Monique truly understand how important it is for couples to feel comfortable and stress-free on their wedding day. They go above and beyond to make sure of it. They even take the time upfront to ask thoughtful questions about potential guest dynamics and ensure they capture special moments with loved ones.
Heather deserves a special shout-out for her incredible photography skills. She has a knack for capturing genuine emotions and the joy of the day. It's clear how passionate she is about making couples happy on their wedding day, and it truly shows in her work.
We can't thank the Golden Horseshoe Inn team enough for making our wedding dreams a reality. They created a warm, welcoming, and stress-free environment that allowed us to celebrate our love with our family and friends in the most perfect way imaginable. In fact, we trusted Heather and Monique so much, we booked the venue without even seeing it in person! And let me tell you, it was one of the best decisions we could have ever made. If you're looking for an LGBTQ+ friendly venue with an all-inclusive approach and a team that goes the extra mile, look no further than the Golden Horseshoe Inn! We couldn't recommend it enough. -
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Casey Sent on 05/17/2024The BEST experience!
Booking GHI for our wedding was the absolute best decision! They exceeded our already high expectations for an all inclusive venue. We were able to plan our wedding in less than 4 months; from the beginning, Heather was so fun to work with. She has a personality that just exudes excitement for you and your day in a way that is contagious - you can't talk to her without becoming giddy about the day you are planning together. She answered all our questions and helped us to organize our vision for the day-of; she was so helpful and fun that we booked our date before we ever toured GHI! Our coordination meeting was the first time we actually saw the venue, and we were able to realize how great of a decision we made. Monique and Heather were solely focused on what we, as the couple, wanted for our day. They were attuned to our style, personality, and goals. They also considered details that I never would have thought of myself, both in style and in guest experience and safety/health (e.g., magnetic vs pin boutonnière). They cared so much to even ask about any guests with special considerations, physically or emotionally, and kept detailed track of anything and everything we told them. Booking with GHI allowed me to only focus on what I really wanted to, which was finding my dress, getting together a guest list, and arranging guests at tables. Otherwise, they handled it (according to what we had picked out)! At the coordination meeting we sat down, pointed at what we did and didn't like from a look-book, and from there it was all handled. It was so fun on the day-of to show up and have everything just be together, beautiful, and exactly like we had pictured it! Getting to surprise ourselves with what the flowers exactly looked like (we gave generally what we liked, but you don't pick and approve exactly the arrangement), how the tables came together, etc. was so fun. Monique and Heather on the day-of were still so extremely focused on making sure everyone, but especially my husband and I, had a good time. For example, it was cold and rainy on our day, and once we came inside following our outside photos Monique had a cup of coffee in my hands before I could even sit down! Similarly, following our ceremony she had a water in my hand before I could get anywhere! Monique even gave both my husband and I a small "coaching" session before the ceremony, where she hyped us up and simultaneously calmed us down, reminding us it wasn't a performance and it was about us! The entire day I felt so pampered and cared for by them. Beyond that, Monique showed her genuine care and concern for our guests. For example, one friend of mine was pregnant, and I happened to seat her at our last table to be served food (oops!), but Monique had already asked her which dessert she really wanted and, when their table was called, pulled her to the front and had set some aside just for her to make sure she got what she wanted! Decor-wise, we had some semi-specific ideas, like for our wedding favors (coffee mugs), that Monique was able to take and run with and completely execute it to our vision. In addition, Heather was an energetic, uplifting, and committed photographer; by committed, I mean she ran around in the rain with us to get photos so that we could have those memories! As someone who can be a bit photo-shy, Heather pumped me up so much that I couldn't help but to pose and smile and enjoy the attention. Heather was attentive all throughout the day to what photos we wanted, what would look good, and helping tell us where to stand, how to move, etc. - all without being overwhelming or pushy. We are two months out and both of our families are still talking about how wonderful it was, how easy it was for them, and how much they loved Monique and Heather! I agree, and am so glad to have been able to fully enjoy my wedding planning and my wedding day. We are so in love with our photos and frequently talk about how much fun we had on our day; even in all the rain! We would recommend GHI over and over again! -
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Kaylin Sent on 01/16/2024
January Wedding at Golden Horseshoe Inn
We cannot say enough good things about the Golden Horseshoe Inn. Heather and Monique do an amazing job at understanding the vibe you want for your wedding. It was as simple as giving Heather our wedding colors and she put together decor that we absolutely loved. I never worried for one second that the venue wasn’t going to be decorated to my liking, they have quite an eye for the details. The day of the wedding, they were so great. They took care of our every need and truly served us. They made our special day even more magical. We highly recommend them for your wedding venue! -
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Whitney Sent on 01/11/2024The best choice I ever made!
I cannot even put into words how special Heather and Monique are at GHI.
I was very hesitant to even have a wedding, so the thought of planning one sent me into an instant panic attack (typical millennial, right). I chose the afternoon tea wedding, and am so grateful I did. They bore the burden of all the details while ensuring I had a say to make it feel my own with my own special flare. The two of them make the perfect team, Heather was detail oriented and had the perfect vision while Monique was probably the only reason I made it through, she's so down to earth and helped calmed my nerves through the entire experience. They are truly good humans and the absolute best at what they do.
If you're like me and aren't one of those girls who dreamed their whole life of their wedding day and don't really have a clear vision or even begin to know where to start with planning your big day, I cannot recommend GHI enough, they help you every step of the way and the end result is breathtaking. -
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Brittnee Sent on 11/17/202310/10s Across the Board!!!
If you're looking for a wedding venue that's not only beautiful, but also has an amazing staff that goes above and beyond to make your special day perfect, I highly recommend Golden Horseshoe Inn.
From the moment we stepped onto the property, we were blown away by the stunning scenery and the attention to detail that went into every aspect of the venue.
But what truly made our experience unforgettable was the staff. They were incredibly friendly, helpful and accommodating every step of the way. From answering our endless questions to making sure everything ran smoothly on the big day, they truly exceeded our expectations. Their professionalism and warmth made us feel like family, and we were so grateful for their support.
Overall, our wedding day was absolutely perfect and we owe a huge thanks to the venue, Heather, and her wonderful staff for making it all possible. If you want a wedding venue that will exceed your expectations and leave you with happy memories for years to come, look no further! -
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Lindsey Sent on 10/09/2023Stress-Free Dream Come True
Don't hesitate to book this venue!
As an anxious, Type A millennial I was beyond stressed when I started planning my wedding. Trying to find an affordable, beautiful place to hold it was quickly becoming overwhelming when I found the Golden Horseshoe Inn.
Their website spoke directly to me, toting an all-inclusive experience with full planning, which was too good to pass up.
My now husband and I jumped on the opportunity for a tour and let me just say it was love at first sight.
Heather, Monique and their staff made our day absolutely perfect. We had our planning meeting in which we picked out flowers, our cake (which is included! Can you believe that!), linens, our photography package and goals; the whole kit and caboodle really. By the time the Big Day arrived, we had a full itinerary which made the day stress free as I knew what was expected of me, when and where I would need to be.
The space to get ready in was a blessing as well. The Cabinet of Wonders had everything, including a curling iron small enough to mimic my natural curls and tuxedo studs! Truly a lifesaver as the location is a bit out of the way.
Our wedding was everything I ever dreamed of. The team took care of everything! They even fixed the time that catering arrived to make sure everything was perfect for my guests!
We also purchased their photography and videography packages which we also absolutely love. We can't wait to see the rest of our photos and our video.
Overall, I'd give this place a 1000000/10 if I could. Absolutely perfect!
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Mikayla Sent on 08/26/2023
Truly the very best at what they do
Heather and her team made our day a dream come true. They made planning a breeze and worked with us the whole way to make sure the day was exactly as we wanted it. They were so warm and kind, and they all made the day so special. They wanted the day to go just as wonderfully as we did, and it showed in everything that they did. I am forever grateful to everyone involved at the golden horseshoe for giving us our picture perfect wedding. -
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Mary Sent on 08/18/2023Highly recommend GHI for the perfect micro wedding
Heather and her team exceeded our expectations. They listened to what we wanted and followed through to make sure every little detail was absolutely perfect. It was so nice to walk into the venue on the morning of our wedding and see it set up without having to lift a finger. It took all the stress out of planning a wedding and allowed us to focus on the fun details. In addition to the wedding details, the photos are incredible. The way Heather captured the details really tells a story and will allow us to relive this day forever. The mountain photoshoot was probably my favorite part of the day. Though it wasn’t the original plan, we decided to do it prior to the wedding so our guests wouldn’t have to wait. Having the private first look and that time alone together provided the perfect opportunity for us to have an intimate experience to enjoy each other before our family and friends arrived. Since our big day, we have had so many friends and family members comment on how nice the venue was and what an exceptional job Heather, Monique, and the rest of the staff did to make sure everything and everyone was well taken care of. We wanted a Micro Wedding without sacrificing the special moments, and GHI gave us exactly what we were looking for.
View full blog post of our wedding on GHI site:https://goldenhorseshoeinn.com/virginia-micro-wedding-mary-andrew-8-13-23/
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Emily Sent on 08/02/2023GHI is the perfect wedding venue
Five stars doesn't feel like enough for the amazing experience we had with the Golden Horseshoe Inn for our July wedding! We delayed wedding planning for a while after we got engaged because it made us anxious -- weddings are expensive and they are a lot of work. But with the Golden Horseshoe, we had a team of professionals help us to plan and coordinate the intimate wedding of our dreams for a small fraction of the money we would have paid to have this experience elsewhere. And this team is unmatched. Heather and Monique are a perfect planning duo, and they helped keep us on track every single step of the way with checklists and reminders, and a meeting that helped us to understand what it was that we truly wanted our wedding to be. Heather is also a truly amazing photographer -- we worked with her for both our engagement shoot and the wedding day photography and all of the images are phenomenal. She is very kind and disarming and was able to help both of us feel comfortable in front of the camera. She also was able to capture so many small and meaningful moments throughout the day. Monique was a wonderful officiant, and a perfect day-of wedding coordinator for us; whenever either of us needed direction or reassurance during the ceremony and reception Monique always appeared and pointed us in the right direction. So, if you're looking for an affordable, intimate, and absolutely beautiful wedding venue with a top-notch team of staff who will help you have the wedding day of your dreams, look no further than the Golden Horseshoe! We can't thank Heather and her team enough! -
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Alexandra Sent on 05/29/2023Beautiful and stress free!
We are so thankful that we found the GHI! My husband and I got legally married during the pandemic but wanted to bring our families together from different states for a celebration. It wasn't our desire to spend tens of thousands of dollars on a wedding and that was possible at the Golden Horseshoe Inn. We had a BEAUTIFUL stress-free wedding because of Heather and Monique and their team. It was exactly what we wanted, a celebration with our favorite people that was just as elegant and fun as much more expensive venues. The grounds are beautiful and Heather made us feel so comfortable as she took our mountain top photos. We cannot recommend this venue and amazing team enough! -
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Emily Sent on 04/02/2023
Could not recommend more!
If you are looking for the BEST place to have your intimate wedding celebration, this is it! We were drawn to the Golden Horseshoe Inn (GHI) by Heather’s incredible mountain-top photos, and were absolutely blown away with everything about our GHI micro-wedding experience. Heather, Monique, and the rest of the GHI team executed our wedding vision to perfection — they are not only incredibly experienced and professional, but were also a joy to work with throughout each stage from our initial planning to their behind-the-scenes action on our special day. Our ~20 guests had a blast and were extremely impressed too. Any question or update we communicated was responded to immediately, and our wedding day was worry and stress-free! We hands-down recommend GHI to any couple — if we could give them more than 5/5 stars we would. :) -
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Sarah Sent on 01/23/2023
Absolutely amazing!
Heather and her team are AMAZING - they think of everything and make the whole process easy and the event meaningful with tons of little extra touches! From the ease of planning to having everything pretty much included - it is definitely the best way to get the wedding of your dreams on a budget. Heather is an amazing photographer and her husband is a brilliant videographer. They provided exactly the right touches for our photos and video and were mindful of our concerns and shot in a way to minimize those. Don’t walk - run to book your perfect day with at the Golden Horseshoe Inn! -
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Zaysha Sent on 01/04/2023
Perfect Day
If you want a worry free day that is your way, the Golden Horseshoe Inn is the venue for you! While in the early stages of wedding planning, my husband and I were in between going to the courthouse or an intimate ceremony due to what we know weddings can cost. I ended up doing a goggle search for all-inclusive wedding venues and this place popped up. Please know that we both can become overwhelmed with endless options but Heather, Monique, and the whole team made wedding planning a breeze. Along with providing a detailed checklist, they have everything you need and are super flexible in accommodating any special requests. All pricing is straightforward and is right on the website! While most couples have nerves leading up to the big day, my husband and I can both say that our wedding day was perfect. We even received our photos about a week earlier than expected and are eagerly awaiting our video!
Thank you to Heather, Monique, and the rest of the Golden Horseshoe Inn team for making our day special!
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Heather Sent on 11/12/2022Dream come true wedding venue!
Our DREAM wedding was made possible by Heather, Monique, and all of the GHI staff! From the moment we visited for a venue tour, it was love at first sight. Heather is so sweet, personable, and has such a warm and welcoming presence- we felt at home immediately. During planning, they were there for us every step of the way. The execution of our vision was so perfect, it's just indescribable. Our wedding day at GHI was truly the best day of my entire life. My entire family also fell in love with the venue, the area, Heather and Monique, and everything about the all inclusive wedding experience. I absolutely CANNOT recommend them or sing their praises enough!! -
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Nicole Sent on 10/19/2022
Perfection!
Just got married here. Owners and staff were so amazing and accomadating. Super fun and helpful throught. Truly all inclusive with amazing pricea. Book them!!!! -
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Margo Sent on 10/09/2022Our Dream Wedding was at Golden Horseshoe Inn!
The Golden Horseshoe Inn made our wedding absolutely perfect! Our wedding date ended up being during Hurricane Ian, but Heather and the rest of the crew at GHI were able to not let the weather rain on our parade!
The value of their venue exceeded our expectations. Having a background in coordinating events and activities, I found myself wanting to help out on the day of our wedding, but they had everything under control, leaving not only us, but our families, to do nothing else but enjoy the day!
Their vendors who did our cake and the bouquet/boutonniere were so awesome. The cake was delicious and the flowers were beautiful! Heather and her husband also did an AMAZING job with our photos and videos. You can tell this is their passion, and we will treasure these mementos of our special day for the rest of our lives.
I also have to give a huge shoutout to Monique. She was the officiant for our ceremony, but also coordinated the entire day and kept everything running like clockwork. She is a gem! The rest of the staff also did an awesome job!
You will seriously not be disappointed if you choose Golden Horseshoe Inn for your wedding. The level of care and professionalism they will provide you, you can find nowhere else. We love you! -
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Brett Sent on 10/04/2022A stress free experience in a very stressful time!
My wife and I had the misfortune of getting married on the tail end of a hurricane. Fortunately for us, we booked at the Golden Horseshoe Inn! They made what could have been a disaster into a wonderful evening and our wedding went perfectly. The staff was truly invested in making it a seamless experience for us, and the photography and videography is a must have, I did not imagine how well everything would turn out!
If you want an inclusive, stress free experience there is no place I would recommend above The GHI.
I will update my post with some of the pictures once we get our full prints. -
Katie Sent on 09/20/2022
No Stress Wedding
From our first time meeting Monique and Heather, we knew they would cure our wedding-planning-anxiety. They explained the process and timelines, provided documents and helpful hints, but most importantly, they were always available to offer advice. Whenever we had a question, we'd receive a throrough email (usually within the same hour!) going over the pros/cons of why we might want to choose X or Y. Throughout the wedding, Heather guided us around for pictures and various breaks and Monique consistently checked in on us, making sure we had everything we needed or who we needed. It truly felt like a magical day because we were able to enjoy it - there were no surprises, no hiccups - just a wonderfully timed, planned, and beautiful event. On top of that, we received the highlights from our photos the next business day, which just extended the wedding excitement. The photos were thoughtful and exactly as you'd find on the website, in addition to Heather taking various requests throughout the day. I cannot recommend GHI enough for anyone who feels overwhelmed by the wedding planning process. -
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Madi Sent on 06/22/2022
Perfect in Every Way
If you are looking for a stress-free, beautiful, unique, and affordable venue, look no further. Heather and Monique have thought through everything you could ever need for your wedding day. As a bride, I felt heard, cared for, and beautiful because of these two. They left me with nothing to worry about so I could enjoy the best day of our lives. They truly love what they do, and it is evident in their service to you. Heather also takes BEAUTIFUL photos. She captured every detail perfectly. We will forever recommend this venue and Heather as a photographer. -
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![Audry]()
Audry Sent on 03/12/2022Perfect day...Heather and the GHI are the BEST!
We LOVED our elopement at the GHI. Heather was an absolute gift - she made everything easy and fun, from the booking to my 8 million questions leading up to the date, all the way through our ceremony and pictures. Speaking of pictures, she's insanely talented and captured some SUPER amazing shots! Monique officiated our ceremony and was also lovely! The GHI was gorgeous, a perfect space, and the day was perfect for us. For vendors that GHI partners with - the flowers were GORGEOUS and the cake was delicious. Also...do yourself a favor and add the mountaintop photoshoot if you can ;)
10000/10 would recommend Heather and the GHI!! -
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Destiny Sent on 03/07/2022Perfect in every way!
This is the most gorgeous spot with a fabulous team working with you the whole time! I don’t have enough words to compliment Heather and Monique. Our day was simple, stress-free, and perfect! -
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![Kitty]()
Kitty Sent on 02/07/2022The most beautiful wedding and breezy planning
We only had a three-week time frame, and originally, I didn’t think it were possible to put something together, But Heather and the team couldn’t have worked harder to of made it a beautiful day with not a single detail missed.
Everything is clearly outlined with what is and isn’t included in the wedding package, making it so easy to choose which package is right for you and any budget planning. However, they do have so many wonderful add on if there are additional details you request; like cinematography, extra cake tiers, bridesmaid bouquets and a candy buffet!– It was so lovely to have the choice of details we wished to add and tailor to us, compared to other wedding packages where you may pay for things that you may not want.
The communication from Heather and the team is outstanding, she provides a checklist to help support what you need to bring to the wedding and what information they require from you to get the wedding vision just right ! Heather was always on hand to reply to any questions via email, you can put your whole trust in this wonderful team to truly care about your day and get things perfect for you. If you are unsure about answering certain décor or music questions – The team have so many fantastic things on site that are readily available to avoid any planning stress at all! for us we couldn’t decide on music for the day, but Heather and the team have playlists readily available, I also couldn’t lace up my dress but Monique was on hand to help– you really don’t have to worry about a thing here!
We went for the Afternoon tea package, and it was absolutely perfect , the team were very mindful of our gluten free guest and what we could do to provide safe foods for them. The food is delicious and plenty to keep happy guests! But there is an option to bring two extra platters if you wish, but I wouldn’t say it was necessary. Also hands down the most delicious cake you will ever have. Book your wedding here at least for the cake!!
Photography is done by Heather on site, and you will get back the loveliest photos capturing all aspects of your day, we have already framed some of them as we are just so happy with the photos received. Even at such short notice Stephen the cinematographer was available and worked throughout the day to beautifully capture all the moments of our wedding.
We met up the day before with the team just to see everything come together and what little changes we could make, nothing was ever a problem for the team, everyone kept clear communication so we could know what was possible and what were any limitations if any.
It is little details like having a moment to steam my veil, or helping to set up an international video call that you know the team whole heartedly care about what they do for each individual wedding.
I couldn’t sing the praises of Golden Horseshoe Inn enough; I hope people will look to book a wedding here to have the joy and magical experience that we had on the day and when working with Heather and the team.
Thank you so much everyone for everything, we couldn’t be more grateful or appreciative of what you put together for our wedding day, we will always look back on this day with so much fun and happiness thanks to Golden horseshoe Inn ♥ -
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Cailin Sent on 12/22/2021
12.11.21 wedding
Heather, Monique, and the Golden Horseshoe staff were amazing. The details from the wedding planning session to the personalized ceremony created a perfect stress free day. Even when rain changed the ceremony location to indoors; the team worked seamlessly to move everthying inside. The photos Heather took were detailed and captured the love of the day. I cannot recommend the venue and photos enough. -
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Jarrett Sent on 12/18/2021
Perfect Cozy Winter Wedding
Our experience at Golden Horseshoe Inn was nothing short of wonderful. Everyone on the team was incredibly warm, welcoming, and very accommodating from our first time meeting with them to after the wedding. Heather and Monique were both so friendly, it felt like we had known them for years.
My wife has food allergies that can be very difficult to work around, and the team made sure to check in with us frequently during our special day, to make sure that we were doing okay and to make sure that we didn’t accidentally experience any cross contamination. The service was absolutely fantastic, and every one of our guests raved about how kind everyone that worked that night was, and how they all felt very well taken care and valued. Monique, the officiant, made us feel very at ease during our vows and later made a point of making all of our guests feel included in our special day.
Heather’s photography is amazing. The photos she caught of us felt like they truly reflected the love and happiness that was captured in that day, along with all of the little details that we worked together to create. The mountaintop photoshoot was incredibly fun and Heather did a lot to make sure we got everything we wanted and more from the visit. Her creativity, skill, and ability to make us smile throughout the shoot made the experience one of a kind.
We absolutely loved working with everyone at the Golden Horseshoe Inn, and would 100% recommend this venue to those looking for an affordable, beautiful location with warm and welcoming people. -
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Destinee Sent on 11/03/2021
Must have wedding planner/venue!
Heather and her team at Golden Horse Shoe Inn made our wedding day one we will NEVER forget! From the planning/communicating months before the wedding, drop off, and the day of our wedding, everything was phenomenal and ran very smoothly! Heather made our day so special and made sure the bride, groom, and families were all very well taken care of. Both bride and groom suites were stocked with wedding day emergency items that you wouldn’t even think to pack yourself, and each room was the perfect amount of space to accommodate you and your party. Their goal was to have a stress free wedding day for us and they did just that! Our wedding timeline helped us stay on track with time throughout day and helped ease our minds. Heather made sure to capture many photos and went above and beyond to find Jon and I the perfect spots in the mountain to get the perfect shots when it started to rain. Our wedding was on a Saturday and we received a great amount of sneak peak pics Tuesday evening and she did not disappoint!! They were breathtaking and made us so excited to get the rest of our pictures and video! Heather and Monique truly make a great team and will do anything to make sure your special day is everything you ever dream of! I cannot highly recommend them enough to take care of your wedding day, you will not regret it. We can not thank them enough for making our day so easy going and intimate for us -
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Richard Sent on 09/30/2021What a Magical Day
The Golden Horseshoe Inn was a recommendation from my wife's co-worker. We envisioned our wedding to be very intimate and personable, and thought the Golden Horseshoe Inn was a great fit. And wow - the end results were more than what we anticipated.
Heather, Monique, and Chrissy were awesome to work with! They were responsive, detailed oriented, and most importantly, very enthusiastic and passionate about making our day special. The venue had a homey feel to it where there is an initmate guest lounge and small bar area, dining room with curtain light drops that look gorgeous as the evening came, and two dressing rooms for the bride/groom that is stocked items for various emergencies - very thoughtful.
For our photography session, we were lucky to have a awesome weather with clear blue skies. Heather clearly took advantage of this, and her eyes during the photography session was spot on and truly captured that magical day. The end resulting photos were breathtaking. The day went flawlessly for us. Everything that Heather and Monique envisioned were fulfilled.
We highly recommend booking this venue and working with Heather/Monique.
To Heather, Monique, and Chrissy - thank you for making our day special and memorable. -
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Katie Sent on 08/11/2021Perfect in every way
If you’re a laid-back person like me and my husband and the thought of planning and coordinating a wedding sounds absolutely dreadful, but you still want a gorgeous and fun wedding, this is the perfect place for you! Heather and Monique are a dream to work with and made our wedding even better than we ever expected. They are both really great people who are extremely friendly and kind, but they absolutely WILL kick some butt on your behalf if they need to.
When my hair and makeup artist (not someone recommended by or affiliated with GHSI) didn’t show up, Heather and Monique called her relentlessly to try to figure out what was going on and when it was clear she was just not going to come and was not sending a replacement they tried to find me someone available in the area. Unfortunately, that didn’t work out but never fear; Heather and Monique are prepared for anything and had hair supplies available in the dressing room cabinet!
Heather is an amazing photographer who was able to hype me up enough to make me feel beautiful even without getting my hair and makeup done professionally.
Our ceremony was perfect, the decor was amazing, the cake was excellent too, and the visit to skyline drive is 100% way more than worth it.
If I had to do my wedding over again, I would pick Golden Horseshoe Inn without a doubt.
In summary:
Who should choose Golden Horseshoe Inn? A couple that is laid back and fun who has an idea of what they want but doesn’t want to have to coordinate a whole wedding, is willing to stand back and trust Heather and Monique to take care of the details for them, and is okay with just showing up and enjoying the beautiful day they will have planned for you.
Who should NOT choose Golden Horseshoe Inn? A couple that wants to be involved in every aspect of planning their wedding, has very specific ideas on how they want things to go, and will not be happy if things are not just the way they’d imagined it.
- Katie and Justin, May 14th 2021 wedding -
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Tylir Sent on 05/22/2021A day we will relive forever!
Where to begin!? We got engaged fall 2020 in the middle of uncertainty with COVID and had already decided on an elopement to include just our immediate family. Having worked in the wedding industry myself, I knew I wanted as little stress as possible when it came down to the planning and the actual day of. What stood out to me the most about GHI was the family feel and Heather's beautiful photography.
From our first inquiry to even after the event, Heather and her team provided amazing service and went above and beyond to make sure every detail was delivered. The planning could not have gone smoother...we even did everything via email! It was truly amazing to show up the day of our wedding, never having toured, and everything being EXACTLY as we envisioned. Down to the colors, the decor, the music playing, everything felt made for us.
As two very camera shy people, Heather and Stephen made us feel at ease. It takes a special person to make people look pretty when they are crying, she is just that talented! The photos and video of our special day will be memories that our families cherish for generations.
Not only did we feel catered to as the bride and groom, our families still rave about the venue and the GHI team. They felt welcomed, taken care of (without me even having to lift a finger!) and most importantly they had fun. The team even welcomed some very special visitors for our send off, which I will forever be grateful for!
If we could get married again, I would chose The Golden Horseshoe all over again. We can not recommend this wedding venue enough.
After you get married - be sure to stop by Blueridge Pottery next door for some keepsakes to remember your Virginia wedding. -
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Trisha Sent on 02/04/2021
A true gem!
I am emotional writing this review. We always wanted a large wedding but we decided because of the pandemic to downsize our wedding plans to 26 people. On Dec 13th the Governor decreased the restrictions to 10 people per gathering. As we both work in healthcare we totally understood this was necessary but what would that mean for our wedding only 3 weeks away? I reached out to Golden Horseshoe Inn desperately searching for a place to get married and to my surprise our date was available. We booked immediately! Heather was responsive to email and met all of my complicated request. After we booked I had the pleasure of browsing her blog post and videos. I felt like the weight of the world had been lifted. I am so thankful I stumbled across this gem and my only regret is we should have found it sooner.
As a native Virginians we have spent many years in the Shenandoah so this was a sweet surprise to see they offered mountain top photos. The flexibility of the packages provides something for everyone. Whether you are running away to the mountains to elope like I did or having a large wedding they can do it all. I promise you will not find prices as low as this anywhere in Virginia or North Carolina for this quality. I would have willingly paid double the price for the quality they provide.
The cake was the highest quality of wedding cake I've had. The organization of the whole day made me confident that I could just relax. Both the photographer and the videographer were extremely easy to work with. I felt like I have known them for many years and they knew my style and vision after a few conversations.
The photos and video are breathtaking. We even plan on showing the video at our reception for all those who could not join our zoom wedding.
I have been telling all my friends who are brides about GHI. I truly believe they are heaven sent. Heather is my guardian angel and saved my wedding day. I am forever thankful. I can't wait to come back in a few years for our vow renewal ceremony. -
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Colleen Sent on 11/30/2020
The Most Amazing, Stress-Free Wedding Venue
Heather, Monique and the rest of her team are absolutely amazing and I cannot thank them enough for everything they did to make our wedding day so special. When COVID threw a wrench into our original wedding plans, my now-husband and I reached out to GHI about their elopement options. We were on the phone with them for all of five minutes when we realized they were the perfect solution for us. We gave them one inspiration picture and a brief description of what we envisioned, and they ran with it from there! The end result was a personalized, special, intimate, perfect wedding day. In addition to being an amazing wedding planner, Heather's photography skills are second to none. I am so thankful that we have these photos to share with our family and friends and to cherish for years to come. If you are a COVID bride who is tired of having to plan and re-plan your wedding or are a bride who is considering a smaller wedding or elopement, I would HIGHLY recommend GHI. -
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Emily Sent on 11/12/2020Best.Day.Ever.
I can not say enough good things about The Golden Horseshoe Inn and my wedding day experience. From the first time I set eyes on this venue and toured the site, to the planning process and the big day, it was a smooth, fun, exciting and perfect experience. Heather, Monique and their team do a magnificent job at making you feel comfortable, keeping things going smoothly and making your dreams and visions come to life. They listen and respond in such a way that you know they love what they do and care about each and every couple that comes through their doors. I loved not having to worry about the cake, the flowers, finding an officiant, setting up and cleaning up. The bridal and groom suites are super cute. And the timeline/checklist they put together for us was exactly what I needed to stay organized. Heather was also our photographer and her husband, Stephen, was our cinematographer. The entire day they made every effort to capture all the special moments and truly made me feel like a star. My husband and I had the BEST experience. Whether you are looking for a small intimate wedding with close friends and family (what we had), or an elopement with just you and your significant other, they will surely WOW you. They made our wedding day so special and kept everything on schedule. Our wedding day sneak peak is absolutely amazing and I can’t wait to see the rest of the pictures and the video when they are ready. I just know they will be priceless. I highly recommend the GHI and would give them 100 stars ⭐️ if I could. -
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Kiera Sent on 10/21/2020An Absolute Dream Come True
Honestly, I couldn't be more thrilled with how our wedding day went. Unfortunately, my now-husband and I's original plans for a bigger wedding were squashed by Covid-19 and that was very disappointing for both of us; but, once we stumbled upon the Golden Horseshoe Inn, we then felt a glimmer of hope that all was not lost. We ultimately decided to elope on June 27th, 2020, which was definitely the best decision we could have ever made. Heather and her team were were amazing to work with and she has such an eye for detail. She was so bubbly and friendly; she's also an incredible photographer. Even months later, I still find myself in awe of the breathtaking photos she captured of our special day. Her husband also managed to compile the sweetest and most thoughtful clips together to make a wedding video that was even better than I could've anticipated. Overall, I can't say enough great things about this place and the love that emanates through the walls of the Golden Horseshoe Inn. Heather and her team made our wedding day so easy; we just had to show up and everything was already taken care of – food, decor, flowers, music, photography, videography, officiant, etc – and for such a reasonable price. It was so nice being able to just enjoy getting married and barely having to lift a finger. I would highly recommend this place to anyone interested in eloping or planning a smaller, more intimate wedding. You will not be disappointed!
xoxo -
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Julleny Sent on 09/29/2020Just Perfect
Just got married on 26th of September. Heather and Monique did such a great job of bringing our rustic wedding ideas to life. They were always in communication about prices, decorations, styles that we wanted. On the day of the wedding they went above and beyond to make sure things went smoothly. We had a great time and we felt comfortable that no one had to stress. Will highly recommend for elopement, boutique weddings,even pregnancy photos. We love you Heather and Monique.
Mr.& Mrs. Wain -
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Rachel Sent on 08/05/2020Beautiful mountain venue, breathtaking photography, simply perfect!
The Golden Horseshoe Inn is truly a piece of heaven on earth! It's hard not to start gushing about how magical our Elegance Elopement was, and how genuine, kind and attentive Heather and Monique were throughout the planning process and then on the day itself. The GHI team really is hacking the wedding industry in the most beautiful way! :)
From the moment we visited the GHI website, we fell in love -- the mountain location, the drop-dead gorgeous photography, the all-inclusive packages. Heather was incredibly attentive and communicative, answering my questions super quickly via email and just making us even more excited for the big day!
Upon arriving, we felt right at home. In our 8 years together, Ian and I never really had the chance to feel like guests of honor, and having the whole venue and day devoted to the two of us was so special. All we really gave Heather as inspiration for a theme was “hippie, rustic, boho” -- and she conveyed this PERFECTLY in the sweetheart’s table, décor at the outdoor ceremony site, everything! It was like Heather and Monique had known us for years. Monique was also our officiant, and she was super sweet and patient as she kept having to hand me tissues. :) While we enjoyed cake and champagne, Monique even surprised us by playing the soundtrack from the movie that brought Ian and I together and that Ian had mentioned in his vows. The entire GHI team is so thoughtful and makes you feel like VIPs for a day!
The bouquet, boutonniere and cake were simply gorgeous! I absolutely loved my bouquet and the cake was probably the best we’ve ever had. It was so special to have all these details taken care of and ready for us to enjoy so we could spend the day focusing on each other. Highly recommend the mountaintop photoshoot for truly epic shots! We also immensely enjoyed our stay in the Chestnut Hills Cottage as the honeymoon cottage add-on.
I haven’t even mentioned the photography!! Where to begin! Heather’s loving, warm personality is infectious, and she went out of her way to make us feel at ease in front of the camera and help us with natural poses, expressions, etc. The photos themselves are absolutely priceless and Ian and I will treasure them forever. We can’t thank the GHI team enough, and we'll be looking for excuses to come back soon! -
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Kira Sent on 08/04/2020Best day ever!
The Golden Horseshoe Inn is simply amazing. If there was such a thing as a "Midas Touch", Heather and her team at GHI have it. From our very first interaction via email, to our in-person visit and planning session, the entire planning experience was positive. The ambiance of the Inn itself is warm and inviting; our guests raved about the venue and the entire wedding. Heather and Monique are incredible--they think about the tiniest details to make the day extra special, including guest needs, themes, even props! Heather is an amazing photographer--taking lots of portraits can often feel like a chore, but she made us feel like superstars! We can't wait to see our photos and share with friends and family.
There were a lot of incidents leading up to our wedding, not including COVID-19, which required us not only to change the date but guest count, ceremony, etc. Heather was calm and talked us through the process, even reaching out to our caterer to make sure new dates would work. Our wedding day at GHI was the best day ever! Thank you so much! -
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Marlene Sent on 07/25/2020A Perfect Afternoon
The Golden Horseshoe Inn made having a beautiful, memorable wedding as simple and wonderful as it could have possibly been. Heather was absolutely incredible-- simply by showing Heather a few images she constructed the perfect theme for our wedding, including a beautiful cake and a gorgeous bouquet of flowers. She has an incredible eye for detail, and it helped in the dozens of amazing photos she took to commemorate our wedding. The incredible thing about having a wedding like this was that it was perfectly catered to us, and they were kind enough to move at our pace and slow down for us when we needed a break from the sun and even just to have a quiet moment together. In fact, Heather, Monique and Stephen may possibly be the three nicest people in the state of Virginia. I’m sure a small intimate wedding isn’t for everybody, but for us, the afternoon we spent at the Golden Horseshoe Inn was perfect. -
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Laura Sent on 07/06/2020Simply Amazing Experience for an Elopement
My husband and I got married at the Golden Horseshoe Inn last week, and I can’t begin to describe just how wonderful of an experience it was. I feel like five stars isn't enough!
I was looking for venues in Virginia that specialize in small ceremonies and elopements, and I thankfully came across GHI on Google. From the website alone, I felt like I found something special. Heather, GHI’s owner, does a fantastic job of providing all of the information you could want on the website. I submitted an inquiry through the website and heard back from Heather that same day. In the first email I received from her, I could tell that she loves what she does, and that she tries to make the planning experience as stress-free as possible.
We had about three weeks to plan the wedding, and it could not have been any easier. You’re provided with a planning guide that helps walk you through all of the decisions you need to make (e.g., cake flavor and style, colors for your bouquet, music to walk down the aisle). You’re also given a checklist which I found really helpful as my husband I worked our way through all of the different decisions. Heather was incredibly responsive while working through the wedding plans, and I was confident that she and her team would have everything in order when we arrived for our wedding.
The wedding day was spectacular. We were given a day of timeline, and at no point did we feel like we were being rushed. When we arrived, the venue was set up and Heather took us for a tour and make sure we liked how everything was set up. She and her team really had a good sense of our taste and there was nothing we wanted changed. Alan, the GHI officiant, did a wonderful job officiating the ceremony and welcomed the tailored ceremony script I had provided. After the ceremony, Heather and her team gracefully guided us through the rest of the afternoon—the toast, the cake cutting, the first dance.
And then we had fun going around the GHI grounds on a photo shoot. Heather is also a phenomenal photographer and when you get married at GHI, I strongly recommend adding on the photo shoot up on Skyline Drive. She has great locations picked out for photographs, and there was also something magical about standing on the rocks at one of the lookouts, enjoying the beautiful scenery with my new husband. We are so happy with the photo preview Heather gave us, and can't wait to see the final set!
Also, Heather has awesome vendors that she works with. My bouquet was breathtaking, and something I could have never dreamed up. I spent the two days after my wedding talking about how much I loved it. And the cake was absolutely delicious—I can’t wait to enjoy it again next year!
All in all, the experience with GHI was everything I could want it to be: stress-free and fun. I felt like we were in good hands with Heather and her team, and that was absolutely the case the day of our wedding. If you’re looking to elope or have a small, intimate wedding, please choose GHI. You won’t be disappointed! -
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Lisa Sent on 07/02/2020Pure Perfection!
Where to begin! From the moment we booked our vow renewal with Heather at Golden Horseshoe Inn we knew we were in good hands!! Heather promptly responded to all email inquiries, no matter how far away our day was or if I told her my inquiry was not urgent.
When we arrived at GHI on the day of our event, everything was PERFECT. Heather has a true gift for understanding the feel of the wedding and what it is the bride & groom are looking for on their wedding day!!! She ensured we had everything we needed...and her bubbling enthusiasm made us even more excited to be there and to share our day with the GHI family!
Monique's support in helping the bride get dressed, queuing up the music, and simply her beautiful, loving, kind, compassionate presence meant the world to us! She was even gracious enough to provide us with restaurant suggestions during our stay in Standardsville!
The officiant, Alan, could not be more perfect. He has such a kind, loving, joyful aura about him...where you know he is full of nothing but pure love! His eyes sparkle with excitement as he officiates your ceremony...and you feel as if you've known him for years!
Heather radiates joy, love, happiness, beauty, excitement...and all the good in this world! She is an accomplished and highly gifted photographer! The photographs we received from our vow renewal are far superior than the ones that were taken on our actual wedding day...by a photography company! Heather knows exactly how to help direct your pose and has a gifted eye for the perfect shot(s)!
Our FAVORITE part of all of this is how we were fully accepted into the GHI family upon arrival by Heather, Monique and Alan. You cannot find a better group of such loving, caring, compassionate, joyful individuals. The three of them made us feel special and loved...and we have accepted each of them as chosen members of our family. We cannot wait to go back to say hi!!
If you are thinking about booking your wedding or vow renewal at Golden Horseshoe Inn stop thinking about it and DO IT! You will NOT be disappointed!!!
To Heather, Monique & Alan: Thank you for ALL you did for us...and for everything you do for future couples. You all are AMAZING! (And you're a BIG deal!!) With Love in ALL Ways, Lisa & Brian Zimmerman. -
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Melody Sent on 05/12/2020I couldn't have imagined a more perfect day!!
Besides the GORGEOUS sunny day we had, Heather of GHI was to thank for our most wonderful wedding day! I emailed Heather about the Elopement Package 3 weeks before my wedding date of May 10th, and in just that short amount of time she was able to help plan and coordinate our beautiful day. She is extremely responsive to emails which I totally LOVED and answered all my silly questions with no judgment. Fast forward to our wedding day, the moment we arrived at the venue we fell in love with the quaint building. We were greeted by Heather and Monique and they were so lovely and attentive to our needs. Getting married amidst the COVID pandemic was of course not what we had imagined, but they handled the situation with such grace. The ceremony was beautiful, Heather's photography and attention to detail was amazing and bottom line we just couldn't have asked for a better experience at GHI! I feel so redundant but honestly, no couple can go wrong in choosing this place for their wedding! -
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Kim Sent on 12/10/2019Mini Winter Wedding- 12/07/19
I don’t even know where to begin! The venue was amazing and beautiful. Heather and Monique are an amazing duo! Both respond fast to emails, always willing to assist in anyway they can. Heather has a passion for small weddings and intimate moments that she captures with her camera. The officiant was wonderful, kind, and so very appreciative of being apart of our day. The pictures, food, linens, flowers, music, and centerpieces, everything that we wanted for our day came to life because of Heather and Monique. We are forever grateful for them. -
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Katie Sent on 11/10/2019Best day ever!!!
From the first moment we arrived at the Golden Horseshoe Inn and met Heather we fell in love. We knew that we did not have to look any further, for this was the place we were going to get married. Heather has one of the most wonderful personalities. She is upbeat, sweet, funny, and it is obvious she loves what she does. The venue is beautiful and was the perfect size for our smaller guest count. We had a great time at our pre-wedding session, picking out décor and discussing themes and colors. That session is when we met Monique, who is beyond fantastic. Heather and Monique are the perfect duo. They responded promptly to the countless emails we sent involving logistics and multiple questions. They far exceeded all of our expectations. When we arrived, the morning of our wedding, we were blown away by how marvelous the venue was decorated. It fit our ideas and personalities to a tee. The bridal bouquet was more beautiful than I ever could have imagined. Heather is an amazing photographer and we highly recommend doing the mountain top photoshoot. Not only are the pictures breathtaking, it was a great time to step away and enjoy each other. During the staged photo shoots, Heather made us all feel like we were the most photogenic people. She was able to capture all those small, special moments that we will treasure for a lifetime. Monique is a rock star. If there were any glitches during the day, Monique handled them, and we were none the wiser. Heather and Monique were a special part of our day and it would not have been the same without them. During the reception, Monique took it upon herself to play a song that was mentioned in the Maid of Honor’s speech. As a result, created one of the funniest and most memorable moments of our day and Heather was right there to capture it, in all its glory. We could not thank Heather, Monique, Alan, and everyone at GHI for making our wedding day unforgettable. So, if you are looking for a wedding venue that is beautiful, inclusive, stress free, and run by the most wonderful and brilliant group of people, then look no further for The Golden Horseshoe Inn is all that and so much more. -
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Amanda Sent on 10/30/2019Dream Venue
I just happened to find this place while searching on wedding wire. I knew it was our venue when I looked over the website. We did our tour and we both fell in love with the Golden Horseshoe Inn. From the first contact through packing up to leave at the end of our wedding day, Heather and her team made us feel so welcomed and so important. They do weddings all the time but they make you feel like yours is the only one that matters. They cater to your every need and make sure your day is everything you wanted. We had so many of our guests comment on how special this place is, and it really is. If you want an intimate, stress free wedding this is the place for you. -
![Crissy]()
Crissy Sent on 10/24/2019Amazing staff and beautiful venue!
Heather and the staff at The Golden Horseshoe Inn are absolutely amazing. They make the whole planning process so easy! They are there every step of the way and take care of absolutely everything. The venue itself is beautiful! You get the complete package here and amazing people to work with. Our wedding day was so perfect and there’s nothing to stress about. Heather photography is an added bonus! It was nice nice to have to find an outside photographer. We couldn’t have found a more perfect place for our wedding! -
Kristen Sent on 09/23/2019
Absolutely Stunning!
From our first step inside The Golden Horseshoe Inn we knew this was the place we NEEDED to have host our wedding! From the impressive Bridal and Grooms suites to the twinkling lights hung in the windows; the venue is simply charming. Heather and her staff are such a delight to work with and take the stress out of planning. I highly recommend you follow along with their blog and Instagram post to ensure you fall further in love with the venue and their work. If you want a magical, stress-free wedding then book this place! -
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![Jennifer]()
Jennifer Sent on 07/03/2019Absolutely amazing!!
Heather and the staff at GHI are the absolute best wedding preparation team you could ever ask for. Everything from start to finish was seamless. Heather is very prompt and responsive when getting back to emails and our wedding day went off without a hitch. I absolutely loved that I could be as involved as the planning as I wanted to be, or when life was pulling me in other directions there was never any doubt that Heather and her team had it all covered. I could not have asked for a better crew of folks to make our family feel so welcome that day. My parents were blown away by the hospitality and how everything came together. I can't recommend this venue enough!! -
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Katie Sent on 07/02/2019
A hidden gem!
There are millions of great things I could say about Heather, Alan, Monique, and the GHI Family! To start, I will say that it was very refreshing to work with a group of people who are truly genuine and a joy to be around. There wasn't a moment from the first tour, to the planning appointment, to the wedding, that we weren't smiling and actually having FUN in this whole process. The wedding industry can be very daunting, but GHI melts all of your stress and worries away throughout everything. When we went in for our planning appointment, it even further solidified our confidence in the GHI family to make our day absolutely perfect. They give you everything you could need to create the perfect wedding for you, and will help you make sure nothing is missed! If you have a creative spirit, Heather and Monique are excellent at playing off of your vision to help bring it to life. And while you are waiting for your big day, they are always a phone call or email away! On the day of the wedding, I could really feel the magic in the air the moment I stepped foot into the venue. Everything was set up so beautifully, and the team brought us so much cheer and energy that I thought I would burst from excitement. The entire day went by so smoothly and there was NOTHING that went wrong, or was out of place. Monique made sure everything happened as scheduled, and was there to support us and the wedding party the entire day. She is so easy to get along with and will make your day so fun! We didn't meet Alan until the ceremony, but he has such a calming presence that made all of the nerves from the day disappear. Our ceremony was beautiful and really captured our love for eachother. Heather is an AMAZING photographer and you can tell all of the love and passion she puts into not only her photography, but her phenomenal business. Our photo preview came in 3 days after our wedding, and we were blown away by what Heather had captured for us. I could never put into words how thankful I am for her and all that she has done for us! If you are looking for all of the above things (and more) and would like to have an intimate, unique, and stress-free wedding, then this is your place! There isn't much that they don't have covered, and they will surprise you with all they can do. They are truly a hidden gem in Virginia! -
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Danielle Sent on 05/26/2019
Dream Come True
This was perfect for my small intimate wedding ceremony! Heather and her team really made sure my day was perfect. As soon as I arrived, I was in tears when I saw how beautiful everything was on my wedding day! Heather was warm and friendly from our first meeting, throughout the entire planning process, and on my special day, which she photographed all the special moments for me! She did an excellent job planning, helping add special touches, decorating, and taking away so much of the stress that comes along with the wedding planning process. The venue is beautiful and is situated near the entrance of Skyline Drive. The officiant Allan delivered a beautiful service for us and was a delight to work with. Heather’s staff was also amazing, especially Monique who I could also marry! She made my day especially stress free, fun, and full of laughs! I highly recommend choosing GHI for your wedding! -
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![Antonio]()
Antonio Sent on 05/07/2019Absolutely Phenomenal
I can honestly say that I had one of the best wedding experiences because of this place. I could say so many wonderful things about the staff and the venue. They really did make my dreams come true and I am so grateful. From the bottom of my heart, I give them all the thanks. -
![Meghan]()
Meghan Sent on 05/06/2019They brought our wedding dreams to life!
Our wedding was absolutely wonderful! Heather was helpful from the very first day I reached out when we began planning our elopement. We are from Virginia but live in Indiana and even though we didn’t meet Heather or see the venue until the day of our wedding, it was everything we could’ve hoped for. We were able to enjoy every moment of our day because everything was ready for us. There was no stress because I knew I could count on Heather. My husband and I adore our wedding photos by Heather and wedding video done by her husband Stephen. We are so thankful to have them to be able to look back on our special day for years to come. We are so happy we got married at the Golden Horseshoe Inn and we wouldn’t have had it any other way! -
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![Alex]()
Alex Sent on 12/02/2018Beautiful November Wedding
We got married November 10th 2018.
Heather is very responsive to emails which I loved so much! And the wedding planning was so easy- I wasn’t stressed out about anything! I can’t express enough how awesome Heather and her team are. They made everything super pretty, and super easy! All we had to do was show up. I’m so grateful for them!! Our day was amazing, everyone can’t stop talking about our wedding how pretty it was and how amazing the team was. They made my day the best.
If you want a small amazing wedding this is the venue to book!
Also Heather does amazing work with her photography, she makes sure she gets the best light and the best poses. I appreciate her so much. Also they do video now- which we got I’m so excited to see how it turned out :)
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![Courtney]()
Courtney Sent on 11/02/2018Exceptional experience!
Our experience with the Golden Horseshoe Inn was more than we could have ever dreamed of! Heather was so throughtful and accommodating throughout the entire process. Her goal was to make this day perfect for us and she and her entire staff succeeded! We were able to soak in the day and enjoy every aspect of the wedding thanks to Heather’s planning! We were so thankful to come across a venue that has such a beautiful boutique feel. The guest are still raving about the venue and the service they received!
They also offer videography that is phenomenal! They captured raw feelings that will be cherished for a life time.
I highly recommend this venue! -
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Emily Sent on 10/25/2018
Best venue ever
Golden Horseshoe Inn turned my dream into reality. This venue did EVERYTHING for us! Our cake, our tables, all our decor AND even had a candy bar attached to our package for our wedding favors! They also walked us through all things wedding related! Hands down the greatest venue. My husband and I can not express enough to use this venue as your venue! Heather, Brittany, and Monique made our wedding INCREDIBLE and are the wedding planners included with the venue! -
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Brittney Sent on 08/19/2018Golden Horseshoe Inn was amazing from start to finish! My brother was the groom and as his best lady I was filled in on all the info and communication that happened from my new sister in law :) She was so happy with how things turned out! The staff is excellent! Polite, helpful, and so on top of everything. One staff member, Brittany Ann, turned out to be my name twin so I insisted on a selfie ;) The setting is intimate without being crowded and the scenery is really cute! They married outside on the deck that overlooks a small pond. My daughter and niece, both were flower girls, plus the ring bearer enjoyed playing in the little garden. The photographer there also made sure to take tons of photos, which is always a good thing as far as weddings go...you definitely want those memories later on! Thank you again to everyone involved in helping, it was a lovely day!!
-Brittney -
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Cole Sent on 07/08/2018We wanted to marry privately at our home. Heather, Alan, and Brittany made that happen in the most relaxed way.
Heather was a pleasure to communicate with about logistics and scheduling, and provided us with creative options for our ceremony. We're grateful for her enthusiasm, guidance and making the process an easy one.
Alan and Brittany arrived at our home and we spent time getting to know each other a bit. That extra time was wonderful. We connected quickly and easily, and moved into the ceremony feeling relaxed. Alan listened to us, our history, our wishes, and even though we had just met the connection felt warm and genuine. He even ad-libbed during our ceremony, recognizing the "time-warp" of high school sweethearts marrying later in life!
Brittany was delightful and enthusiastic! Similar to Alan, connecting with Brittany was quick and easy, and made for a relaxed ceremony and a fun photo shoot.
Thank you, thank you for making our wedding a private, personal celebration! -
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Stefanie Sent on 05/09/2018We knew during the planning phase that Golden Horseshoe Inn was the perfect venue for us! The location and house are gorgeous, and Heather and Brittany were beyond helpful and responsive! But that was just the beginning. The actual day of the wedding exceeded our expectations. The setup was stunning, Brittany and Monique were as helpful and delightful as could possibly be, and Heather, well her photos speak for themselves! Our guests received the best treatment in a relaxed, fun and joyous environment. The day want exactly as planned. It was truly the best day of my life, and the best wedding I've ever been to.
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