Best Wedding Venues in the Shenandoah
It’s no secret that I love the outdoors :)
Over the years, I’ve gone on countless adventures in the Shenandoah area with family and friends. One of my earliest memories as a kid is of hiking Old Rag Mountain with my Dad!
A few years into wedding photography I was stoked that I had a couple getting married at Skyland Resort in the Shenandoah National Park. That was the first of dozens of weddings in the Shenandoah National Park and the Shenandoah Valley. Today I want to take you on a tour of some of my favorite weddings from those areas.
My first wedding in the Shenandoah National Park.
Skyland Resort
The place that started it all for me is in the Shenandoah was Skyland Resort. Skyland is located about a third of the way from the northernmost part of the Shenandoah mountain range, just 20 minutes south from the Thornton Gap park entrance. It’s a collection of a visitor center, restaurant and also dozens of rooms and cabins for people to stay overnight.
Couples can have their wedding ceremony at either the lush forest amphitheater or the Pinnacles lawn overlooking the valley. Most choose to have their guests stay nearby in the cabins over the wedding weekend, which is a unique advantage of Skyland that most venues cannot provide. The visitor center restaurant provides delicious food throughout the day and guests never tire of things to do with the many hiking trails, horseback riding, epic views, and waterfalls to explore nearby.
This is a venue where I’ve been blessed to capture many wedding stories alongside the incredible beauty of the mountains. See all the photos here from Shenandoah weddings!
A wedding at Big Meadows Lodge in the Shenandoah National Park.
Big Meadows
Just 20 minutes south from Skyland lies another serene venue, Big Meadows Lodge. Big Meadows is another gem in the Shenandoah National Park for more intimate gatherings. With a rustic lodge setting and a skyline view of the valley, Big Meadows is a perfect choice for smaller weddings and elopements!
A wedding at Marriott Ranch in Hume, Virginia.
Marriott Ranch
Northeast of Skyland and Big Meadows, close to route 66 in Hume, Virginia, sits Marriott Ranch, a bed and breakfast and wedding venue nestled on the eastern side of the Shenandoah mountains. What struck me the first time I photographed a wedding at Marriott Ranch was the sheer beauty of the rolling hills. I felt like I must be in Ireland or some other faraway destination! Marc and Nikki’s wedding there was a story of feeling tucked away in nature but only being 30 minutes from the nearest large city. A classic 19th century manor house, outdoor ceremony site with a view, and wood style covered reception area gives this venue a variety of places to tell your wedding story.
Wedding at Shenandoah Woods.
Shenandoah Woods
Just on the opposite side of the mountain on the western side not far from Skyland Resort, sits the beautiful Shenandoah Woods. This was another that surprised me with it’s beauty. The open-air multi-use facility and outdoor ceremony site make you feel like you’re right in the middle of the great outdoors while also being sheltered. Shenandoah Woods offers a number of cabins on site, checking off another big part of your to-do list and making everything very convenient for your guests.
Wedding at Belgravia Manor
Belgravia Manor
Also on the western side of the Shenandoah mountains, in Edinburg just off route 81, sits Belgravia Manor. This old manor house offers rustic and refined feeling with a view of the mountain just beyond the ceremony location. With 81 just nearby, everything is accessible and simple for your guests. Tanner and Lauran got ready on-site and only had to walk outside for their ceremony!
An elopement in the Shenandoah National Park.
Shenandoah Elopement
What if you aren’t looking for a traditional wedding and are choosing to elope? If that’s the case, then the Shenandoah area is perfect for you as well. The many beautiful locations and views make finding the right spot to say your vows extremely easy. In addition, Skyland, Big Meadows, and many others provide all the necessities for preparations and staying overnight in their rustic and modern cabins. Click below to see how I helped this couple from New York have the elopement they’ve always wanted in one of their favorite places, the Shenandoah.
An adventure engagement session in the Shenandoah National Park.
Engagement Sessions
Before the wedding day arrives, you might be thinking about having an engagement session in or around the Shenandoah mountains. In my opinion there is no better area! I’ve taken couples on hikes to waterfalls and epic views. We’ve enjoyed colorful sunrises and sunsets along Stony Man Mountain, and had the mountains for our backdrop from the eastern side of the ridge. There is no shortage of great locations for your adventure engagement session. Even if you aren’t the type for a long hike, Skyline Drive along the spine of the Shenandoah mountains is a road full of areas to pull off and see grand views of the valley.
Does this list get you excited for your next adventure? Are you considering an adventure wedding, elopement or engagement session? If so, reach out and let’s talk about how we can tell your story with awesome adventure photos!