Haywood Hall Museum House & Gardens Reviews

We were married at Haywood Hall in October 2022 and recommend it to anyone looking for a romantic, dreamy and quintessential Raleigh experience to share with your loved ones. After living here for years, we knew we wanted to share something really special with our guests. After numerous venue visits, we went to Haywood Hall and were enamored by this incredible gem of a historic site.

The grounds at HH are welcoming and offer variety for however you choose to set up your ceremony and reception all while being perfectly snuggled in a charming, downtown location. Upon entering the home, you are wrapped by the inviting interior from centuries past. Rich tones of blue and green, Federalist period furniture, carved trims and artifacts are found throughout, while the garden has a canopy of large trees and lights at night. The only tradeoff with this venue is that all tables, chairs, tents and serving needs must be brought in via an external vendor, but keep in mind that the aforementioned traits offer a stunning, built-in backdrop for your festivities so decor expenses can be kept to a minimum here.

Meeting with Caryll Poole, Event Coordinator at HH, is an absolute delight. She is the gracious, responsive and accommodating soul who communicates with you along the way. Ben, the on-site personnel on wedding day, was a superb presence to have just around the corner for any input or hiccups. Many thanks to them for showing the utmost care for our day!

To summarize, this venue was the best possible location for our fall wedding with moody, yet sophisticated elements. It photographs beautifully and our guests raved about their time. We felt honored to be there on our day and Haywood Hall now is a monument in our story that we will surely revisit throughout our lives.

I highly recommend Haywood Hall for any couple looking for an outdoor venue in downtown Raleigh. We chose Haywood because it was affordable and the house/grounds are stunning. We did not decorate at all and the photos are beautiful because the scenery is so nice all year round at Haywood. The tent rental recommended by the venue was seamless and Caryll at Haywood was very pleasant to work with. Even if the weather isn't perfect on your wedding day, there is so much space for tents in the garden that you will still be dry. And the house itself is very cool - all of our guests were milling around in there and talking about how cool it was. Great, hidden-gem sort of place steps away from the Capitol building.

I worked with Carryl and she is wonderful. We haven't had our wedding yet but already she's been so kind, flexible, and fun to work with. They're extremely professional and the venue itself is so unique and gorgeous with a ton of character. I love that it's right downtown but won't end up costing us an arm and a leg!

We loved having our wedding at Haywood Hall! When we were venue searching we were disappointed with how many venues basically control every aspect of your day for triple the cost (or more) or what you would get with Haywood Hall. We were able to select all of our own vendors, which kept costs down and we were able to keep the leftover alcohol we brought in for ourselves ;) Greg is super responsive and helpful in suggesting vendors.

With NC weather, anything can happen during any season, and this venue does not have another option for a rain plan. Just something to consider. The day before our wedding was 80 and sunny, our day was 65 and cloudy with a threat of showers, but it never happened. I recommend getting a clear tent because you can see all of the beautiful greenery in the garden! We could also see the PNC building lit up after it got dark.

Our guests were all from out of state so they loved being in Downtown Raleigh and also getting to experience a piece of Raleigh history. We received so many compliments on the house and the gardens.

Choose Haywood Hall! :)

We got married in a beautiful ceremony out front and had our reception in the gardens. This place is amazing for the simple fact that when you rent Haywood you honestly do not have to decorate because of the natural beauty it comes with. All of our guests loved the 'big white house'. Greg helps you out tremendously and even suggests vendors that he knows are within your budget. I would 100% recommend.

Such a special and beautiful venue right in the heart of downtown Raleigh. The house manager, Greg, is an absolute pleasure to work with--so accommodating and always available to answer questions and offer advice. We had a magical spring wedding in the garden and could not be happier with our choice of venue.

We had our ceremony/reception at Haywood hall and LOVED it. We had everything outside and the pictures do not do this place justice. The location is perfect, you will not be able to find something like this anywhere else in downtown Raleigh. It was great for out of town guests because there is an abundance of hotels for them to choose from and several of our guests made a weekend trip out of it. Even though you are in the heart of downtown it still has a secluded feeling because of the beautiful mature trees. I loved the historical and southern feeling of this house and it was so close to the Capitol we were able to take some photos there as well. The grounds are well maintained and gorgeous which allowed us to save money on flowers and decorations. We were able to choose all our own vendors instead of being limited to a select few the venue allows. This allowed us to control the total cost of the wedding.

Greg was a blessing to work with; he answered any question we had promptly and had a list of recommendations for vendors if we didn’t have an idea. We had our wedding on an April evening and was debating about whether or not we would need a heater and siding on the tent once the sun goes down. Greg was amazing and I decided last minute at our Rehearsal that yes we should get those items and he called the rental company himself and not only was able to get us the equipment but also a great deal!

There couldn't have been a more perfect venue! Between the house and the gardens, it all turned out wonderful! Greg was amazing from start to finish! Super helpful and always responded quickly! If you are looking for an awesome venue for a great price, pick Haywood Hall!

We had our wedding at Haywood Hall the first weekend in May - ceremony & reception. It was absolutely beautiful! We got lucky with the weather. Greg was very responsive and helpful. The grounds were manicured the day before and looked perfect. I couldn't have asked for a better setting!

Greg, the manager and resident of Haywood, could not have been more helpful. In the midst of an unexpected move to NYC due to work we needed all the help we could get and Greg went above and beyond. Also, his florist recommendation, Janet, was a complete miracle worker. I will never forget my bouquet- it was more than I could ever have imagined. She also helped us with all the set up and trash removal. The venue, vendors, and of course the weather all worked out to make our 4.30.16 wedding a complete success!

I had a wonderful wedding reception at Haywood Hall & Gardens. Our ceremony took place across the street at Christ Church and our guests came directly from the ceremony to the reception. The reception was indoor/outdoor and the outdoor portion was mostly tented due to uncertainty about the weather (and of course it ended up being a beautiful evening!). We were married in April and the gardens were just gorgeous! We hardly needed flower centerpieces, as the gardens were in full bloom.

I worked with the resident manager Greg very closely during our 16 month planning process. He made the grounds available to us with little notice on many occasions. He had a lot of insight about placement of tables, chairs, food stations, & tents. He made sure the grounds were clean and neat before our wedding weekend. He also went above and beyond on my wedding day, helping my bridesmaids keep their belongings secure, and generally helping keep the event flowing smoothly.

Haywood Hall is very special to my new family. My husband's mother is a Haywood and what is now a museum & gardens was once her family's ancestral home. It was touching to talk with and dance with so many members of the Haywood family at Haywood Hall. I would recommend Haywood Hall to anyone looking to get married in a beautiful indoor/outdoor space in downtown Raleigh!!

I got four compliments from nearly every guest on my wedding day: beautiful dress, good DJ, good food and BEAUTIFUL VENUE. Haywood Hall is truly a hidden gem in Downtown Raleigh. I never would have known it existed had I not thoroughly researched Downtown Raleigh wedding venues. The property is near the Capitol, but tucked away on a side street with an abundance of large oak trees, shrubs and flowers to block out all the city noise. If you're looking for a garden wedding in an excellent location, Haywood Hall is the perfect setting for you. Further, the groundskeeper, Greg Mobley, has an in-depth knowledge of local vendors and the downtown area. He's incredibly nice and willing to help in any way that he can. He referred me to the best florist, Janet Cross, and gave me some other helpful tips in the wedding planning process. For such a beautiful property in such a convenient location, the cost of hosting a wedding at Haywood is a bargain. One caveat is that you probably need a good year 1/2 to comfortably plan a wedding at Haywood since the venue doesn't come with anything but the property (you must book your own rentals, caterer, etc.). Another downside would be that the site doesn't offer the best rain plan. In the event of inclement weather, you would just have to order more tents for the backyard. However, if you don't mind a little extra work in the planning process and you're willing to "go with the flow" in case the weather doesn't cooperate, this couldn't be a more perfect venue for you and your guests.

It was an absolute pleasure to have our reception at Haywood Hall! The grounds/gardens are beautiful and especially so on our wedding day with all of the rain we had in weeks prior. Greg, who manages the home and events, was amazing to work with. I couldn't imagine working with someone more accommodating, flexible, patient, responsive and willing to help because Greg is truly the best of the best! We had 150 guests, which is pretty much the max capacity for this venue but I managed to come up with a design that was comfortable, even with needing to implement our rain plan. The inside of the home is gorgeous, so I highly recommend having an indoor/outdoor cocktail hour before the reception if your plans allow for it. That way, the guests are able to enjoy all that this beautiful venue has to offer. Greg, thank you again for a perfect, memorable day! This would not have been possible without all of your help!

We LOVED our wedding reception at Haywood Hall. Although it rained almost the whole night, we were prepared thanks to the groundskeeper, Greg. We had 104 guests, so we rented the 40x40 tent for dinner/dancing/bar and the 20x20 tent for the buffet/gift table. The gazebo was lit up that night, so when it stopped raining my husband and I jumped in there and get a few photos. The price was amazing for being so close to downtown Raleigh and we were allowed to bring our own alcohol, which also saved us a lot of money!

Greg was so wonderful to work with! He was very hospitable, accommodating, and flexible! The new lighting that was added to the gardens is wonderful; however, we left many lights off and supplemented with candlelight throughout the garden and it was just beautiful! So many of our guests commented on how gorgeous the grounds were! I thought that the rental fee was completely reasonable and I felt good knowing that my money was going towards the preservation of a historical venue in my community!

Greg is great and I had so many compliments on the venue :)

We had our September wedding at Haywood Hall, and it was such a wonderful experience! Our wedding had only 50 guests, so the venue was intimate and the perfect place. My husband and I loved that we could pick our own caterer and bring our own alcohol.

Greg, the site manager, bent over backwards to assist with the wedding. He was very responsive and flexible. Overall, the experience was great and I'd recommend Haywood Hall as a wedding venue to anyone looking for a cozy, outdoor wedding!

Greg, the Hall Manager,bent over backwards to assist with my wedding. I visited the hall probably 30 times in the last year and he was there everytime. He sent me emails and even called a vendor for me. I had a great experience largely because of him.

As for the hall---simply amazing. It is very well kept and cozy.

It was absolutely beautiful! I couldn't have asked for a better ceremony and reception venue. We were allowed to visit as often as we liked to get ideas for our receptions decorations. Everyone was very helpful!

A friend of ours suggested Haywood Hall while we were planning our wedding and I am so glad they did! It is such a beautiful place for an outdoor wedding in downtown Raleigh. We also really enjoyed working with Greg! I love his enthusiasm for both the home and weddings in general. He was so helpful and accommodating throughout the entire process, always answering his phone when we had questions. It did happen to rain on our wedding day, but Greg and our catering company did a fantastic job implementing a rain plan. The show did go on and everyone had such a great time! Many thanks!

We had our wedding at Haywood Hall and it was the perfect venue! Greg worked with us on all our requests and helped make the day perfect. Thank you!

Haywood Hall is a gorgeous place for a wedding! We had an evening party with a surprise ceremony in the middle of the party. Everyone we worked with was just incredible. They tried to accommodate our wish to make our night special.

i was planning my wedding from afar (nyc) and i booked this place after seeing some photos that my mother-in-law had taken. the house itself is quirky and beautiful without being stuffy. the gardens are well-kept but not perfectly manicured, which i like. this place definitely has some personality. the house manager we worked with, greg, was more than accommodating and was always available to answer our questions. the only thing that may be a problem for some people would be if you pick a time of the year when it might rain...the rain back up plan for this place is not ideal. so, i'd make sure that you check a weather almanac to see what the chances are that rain will fall on your wedding day. but, we got so many compliments on this venue and it's such a deal at a little over $2K!

Haywood Hall was an amazing venue for our ceremony and reception - the house and gardens were absolutely beautiful!

The Manager, Sheryl was wonderful to work with - she met with us multiple times before the big day to answer all questions we had and worked with all of our vendors to make sure everything ran smoothly.

Haywood hall and the staff there gave me my absolute dream day! i can't say enough positive things about it=i HIGHLY recommend it to any and everyone.