“Our Reunion-Style Wedding at Hawkesdene I’ve struggled to put this experience into words because so much can’t be fully captured. My husband and I feel incredibly grateful to have celebrated with family and friends at this stunning estate and charming town—truly the most fun experience! Reunion-Style Wedding for 100 Guests (No wedding package, no weekend venue rental, and we were legally married beforehand to enjoy the day stress-free.) Weekday Wedding: Sunday–Tuesday (Monday was a holiday). Full Estate Rental: We covered the entire property, including optional cabins, but skipped the wedding package so we could fully host guests. DIY Ceremony: No designated aisle or seating (just a few chairs for family). It turned out beautifully! No Decor Needed: The venue is breathtaking, so we skipped decorations. Floral Rentals: Used Something Borrowed Blooms—absolutely perfect. Incredible Food: Every meal was amazing (menu below). Cost: Clearly listed on their website—no hidden fees. Tip: Get event insurance when hosting at an estate. Unexpected things can happen, and it’s peace of mind for you and the next couple. We always envisioned a wedding weekend instead of a single day. Since we live far from family, we wanted quality time together. After extensive research (and almost giving up), we found Hawkesdene on VRBO while considering an elopement in the Georgia mountains. It was the only venue that allowed us to host guests while staying within budget. Itinerary Sunday Whitewater Rafting (10 AM): Nantahala with Carolina Outfitters (highly recommend!) Breweries (1:30–3:30 PM): Hoppy Trout (great private room) & Snowbird Mountains Brewery (provided kegs). Check-in (4 PM) Dinner (7 PM) Champagne Toast at the Peak (7:45 PM): ½-mile hike—steep but worth it! S’mores & Activities (9 PM) Monday Breakfast (8:30–10 AM) Waterfall Hike (10:30–11:30 AM): 1-mile in, 1 out—rain made it tricky but worth it! Lunch (12:30–2 PM) Lawn Games (1:30–3 PM) Ceremony (5:15 PM, DIY setup) Cocktail Hour (5:30 PM) Reception & Dinner (6:45 PM) Evening Activities (8:30 PM) Tuesday Breakfast (8:30 AM) Check-out (by 11 AM) The Food The food was phenomenal—to flawlessly cook this much fish deserves an award. We skipped a cake and were thrilled with the chef’s dessert selections. Menu: Salads: Greek & Balsamic Entrees: Salmon (Night 1), Honey-Balsamic Chicken (Night 1), Trout (Night 2), Steak (Night 2) Sides: Squash, Green Beans, Sweet Potato, Mac & Cheese, Asparagus, Broccolini Logistics & Final Thoughts Jami & Rob were fantastic. If you choose Reunion Style (no wedding package), be prepared to handle logistics yourself. It worked perfectly for us but isn’t for everyone. Their website outlines everything—read it carefully! Alcohol: We used Appalachian Beverage in Ellijay (they have everything). We provided a small amount of liquor, but most guests got their own—so refer back to my event insurance note! Soak it all in. This place is truly magical—like the Disney of wedding venues. We wouldn’t change a thing, and our guests still rave about it. Highly recommend for a unique and unforgettable wedding weekend!”

“What an absolute pleasure to get to work with Melanie and her husband! From start to finish they were the sweetest people! We were in constant communication and Melanie was quick to respond to any of my questions. I knew this was the venue for us the moment we pulled up. The views are absolutely breathtaking pictures don’t even do it justice. Not to mention the cute highland cows who absolutely stole the hearts of all our guests (including myself). Melanie set up everything exactly how I wanted and even has tons of decor you can choose from! Thank you so much for making our special day so perfect everything was absolutely beautiful!”