Brittany and Mark’s beautiful mountain wedding in Highlands, North Carolina can be summed up with two phrases: elegant style and intimate moments. After their Florida-based venue canceled their wedding, these Florida natives took their amazing wedding photographer, and a handful of guests and headed to the hills for a small, intimate wedding at Rockwood Lodge (owned by Old Edwards Inn). You’ll love the rick reds and lush greenery the couple chose to style teh venue and those mountain views are exceptional!
Brittany + Mark
Rockwood Lodge Highlands NC
May 13,2017
Wedding day weather: Rainy all day, but cleared up for ceremony
Number of guests: 20
Your budget: 15,000-20,000
Biggest splurge: Venue
Biggest savings: We didn’t hire a DJ or bartender and we opted for handmade decor items, including a wedding cake made by the mother of the bride.
Why did you choose the Mountains for your wedding?
I had booked a wedding in Florida, where I live, but my venue came back and basically said sorry we can’t do your wedding anymore. At that point, I decided I wasn’t planning another large wedding and decided I would rather have an elopement style wedding with close family/friends. If I could go anywhere I asked myself, I’d get married on a mountain.
Wedding day theme:
OUr wedding day theme was natural. The lodge at Old Edward Inn is a rustic mansion so we played off of the venue’s naturally beautiful details with greenery. We didn’t end up spending much on decor because we felt we really didn’t need it in a place like this. My bridesmaids wore long, grey dresses, and the groomsmen donned black. I chose a more formal dress to make it feel more elegant against all of the rustic features of the house.
Where did you find your inspiration?
Mainly pinterest
How did you choose to personalize your wedding?
I think that by choosing a 20-person guest list our wedding was already very personalized. I knew that I would be happier with a smaller wedding, less stress, less running around the day of trying to greet all of your guests. No strict schedule either. We did what we wanted when we wanted since we had the house all to ourselves.
What was your favorite part of the reception?
The speeches. The best man totally surprised me with his speech and actually made me cry! Which was super sweet. I didn’t expect that kind of reaction from his speech at all.
What are three things you’re super glad you did?
- Intimate guest list
- Hired amazing photographers
- Chose the venue I did. It is so beautiful and unique
Anything you wished you hadn’t worried about?
Honestly, I wouldn’t have changed a thing, I would do it all over again
What was the biggest challenge in planning your mountain wedding and how did you overcome it?
I live in FL, so we never even saw the lodge in person. I trusted the pictures and descriptions of each guest room to plan out the wedding and decide who would sleep where. I had to envision the house and the decor I wanted to use, then travel with all of our stuff to Highlands. I would say that was the most stressful part, the feeling of unknown- but I’m glad I didn’t see the house in person until we arrived in Highlands. It made the feeling of being there even sweeter.
How did you find and choose your vendors?
I chose my photographers first, I actually had booked them for my original wedding in FL. After that got canceled I went back to them and said look I think we’re changing things up a bit. They were so excited to travel with us! All of the other vendors- officiant, wedding musician, hair, and makeup were found using wedding planning websites. I researched each vendor and picked from there. We hired a chef to cook in the house for us for the reception, we actually hired him by the recs from Old Edwards Inn who property manages Rockwood.
What is your best piece of advice to other mountain brides who are planning their weddings?
If you’re going to go up to the mountains, pick the most beautiful place you can. After all the work is done, the day is over, what is left is your pictures. Make them speak volumes. Go small if your budget is a concern. For me budget was something I worked around, I decided that the venue was the most important thing to me. I fit Rockwood Lodge into my budget by only having 20 guests. Don’t feel like you have to invite everyone to your wedding, it’s what you want. Once I came to terms with that I was completely comfortable telling friends and distant family that I would be having a small wedding. They got over it.
Highlands, NC Wedding Vendors
Photographer: Miranda Grey Weddings | Baker: Mother of the Bride (DIY) | Florist (bouquets and boutonnieres): Fiddlehead Designs | Officiant: Richard Burton | Venue: Rockwood Lodge (managed by Old Edwards Inn) | Musicians: Greenville Wedding Music | Catering: Marty Rosenfield (no website) | Calligrapher: Ink’n Pen (used for entrance sign) | Invitations / Stationery: Swell and Grand via Etsy | Rentals: Professional Party Rentals | Bridal belt “Victoria”- via Etsy JaneGardnerBeading | Veil: YourHeirloomVeil via Etsy | Bulk Floral:The garland on the dining room table and small flower arrangements were purchased from Sams Club. I would HIGHLY recommend the wedding garland. Ships to you, stays looking nice in the box for a couple of days, even after sitting out it can stay good for quite a while. | Hair:Tiffany Howell (no website) | Makeup: Sarah Barnett (no website)