Charlotte and WEST NC venues

Letagrlshowu

Hi knotties! I am looking for some sound advice from those of you who have searched the state for the right venue. I am not getting married until 2012 but am getting an early start.
 Heres what I want: Outdoor rustic elegance. I want an outdoor ceremony, and would like an open air reception (covered), but not opposed to an indoor reception. I'm thinking rolling hills, stone exterior, updated barn. I want something a little formal but with comfort and enjoyment.
My budget is $14k and we are paying for it ourselves. I live in South Charlotte but am open to a destination in the mountains of NC or somewhere in between. 
 Any ideas? What have you all checked out? And can anyone give me prices of these places? I have seen 1812 Hitching post, which was pretty, but a little quaint for my tastes. I want a little more modern than that.
Any help is good help. We have decided to exclude hotels, but we are open to country clubs. I liked the Coker Ranch in Lancaster SC but its $2700 just for the site fee. And LOVED Saratoga Springs, but that was $6700 for site fee + a few more details, but not sure its within budget.
HELP

elizabethb3511

Dairy Barn?  Victoria Crow's Nest?  Have you thought about Freedom Park or another park in CLT?

Letagrlshowu

The dairy barn was very rustic, but not as elegant as we want.  Victorians crows nest was out of budget. And I'm open to a park, but when you add all the rentals liek tables, linens etc, that ads up quick. I'd liek to find a venue that at least includes tables and chairs, if not food too.

crlewis803

Not sure how far you are willing to travel but Rosa Lee Manor in Pilot Moutain, NC is beautiful. It is actually a bed and breakfast and you can rent out the entire facility for the whole weekend for under $6,000. It sleeps up to 12, has an outdoor gazebo area and has an open-air ballroom too. The website is www.rosaleemanor.com. The website does not do it justice. I'm planning my wedding there for this fall and the owners have been so helpful.

SD3194

I live in Western NC and there are a ton of pretty places here. Check out anything in Cashiers or Highlands area...beautiful. RomanticAsheville.com also has some good suggestions.

pathofdots

try carrigan farms in charlotte area.  they handle everything there and have a large rock quarry and fields where the wedding can take place. they even handle the tents for outdoor reception.

yjdkiy

Try the Arbors Events in Cleveland (about 45-60 mins north of Charlotte)

Rachel5527

http://www.castlemcculloch.com/weddings.asp

http://www.barclayvilla.com/weddings.htm

Those are both really awesome. Castle Ladyhawke is beautiful. Try M-7 Events, they do ALOT of stuff like you are talking about. I would check on Claxton Farms too for rustic outdoor settings. HTH!

Letagrlshowu

Castel Ladyhawke is magnificent! I also love Lake Lure Inn (which is much closer bto home) and Rumbling Bald Resort. I have appointments this weekend for the latter two. cant wait!!
Thanks for all the suggestions. Keep them coming.

kgorman307

My reception is at the Lake Lure Inn this October. I visited it unscheduled, on a whim after driving from Charlotte to see Rumbling Bald & loved everything about it. I also found it to be a little less expensive than what Rubling Bald quoted. Since you're getting married next year, not this year, Rumbling Bald may be a little more feasible for you than it was for us. Our visit was weird. They were in the middle of a huge renovation, and we had to show ourselves around. They don't require an appointment, but there was no one there to answer our questions; the girl at the front desk had no idea what renovations they were doing, what it was going to look like when finished, or an exact timeline of when the renovations would be complete. Scary!! Plus she acted like she never saw a wedding there, which I thought was odd. I've seen gorgeous wedding photos of the venue, but the fact that the ceremony space is right next to the boat launch kind of weirded me out. I didn't visit it, but I did talk to someone at the Waynesville Inn and she was really helpful and nice - and she even followed up with me after I told her that I fell in love with the Lake Lure Inn and booked there.  Hope your visits went well & good luck!!

Letagrlshowu

I did go visit both. Renovations we still being done at Rumbling Bald, we were allowed too close to it, and showed ourselves around. I really liked it, and it was a little more private than Lake Lure, but I did too fall in love with Lake Lure Inn. I had several email follow ups with Heather but ultimately concluded that it was out of my price range- they both were.