Best Vineyard Wedding Venues in Charlottesville

Planning your wedding? You may be overwhelmed by the amount of choices you need to make, especially at the beginning. The biggest decision and probably one of the first, is what venue to book for your big day.

As a wedding photographer in Charlottesville Virginia for the past decade, I’ve had the privilege of documenting weddings all across the state and the East Coast. But honestly some of the prettiest venues in my opinion, are the vineyards in Charlottesville. These beautiful wineries attract both locals and destination couples alike, who have fallen in love with the quintessential beauty of this area. I’ve photographed weddings at quite a few vineyards in my career but if I had to pick the four best vineyard wedding venues in Charlottesville, I would choose these:

1. Pippin Hill Farm

At Pippin Hill Farm you’ll find some of the best mountain views, farm to table food, and breathtaking vineyard beauty that Charlottesville has to offer. Weddings at Pippin Hill are luxurious, relaxed, and curated to give every couple the celebration of their dreams.

Notable Features:

An exquisite hydrangea-lined pathway

One of Pippin Hill’s iconic features is a walkway at the end lined with beautiful hydrangeas. It is stunning in every season, with peak blooming season late June-July. It’s not just a great photo spot, it’s a welcoming touch for wedding guests to enjoy while walking in to Pippin Hill.

Beautiful Getting Ready Spaces

A lovely bridal suite isn’t a component at every wedding venue, but it should be! Pippin Hill’s second floor bridal suite was designed with a large bank of windows looking out into the front of the venue. The windows give a perfect view of the venue and hydrangea lined lane. Also, brides can watch their guests arriving, unobserved! It is comfortable, luxurious, and beautiful. You’ll also find a groom’s suite in the lower floor of the venue, a well lit private space for the guys to get ready and relax without interruption.

Breathtaking Ceremony views

Pippin Hill’s iconic ceremony views make it truly one of the best vineyard venues in Charlottesville. In the event of inclement weather, they have pretty options for indoor ceremonies as well!

Incredible Food

 Pippin Hill’s culinary team highlights the freshest ingredients from local farms, including their own Chef’s Garden, with a menu that transitions with the seasons to showcase their wines and vineyard-to-table approach. Pippin Hill couples can choose canapés, first course, a la carte, and late-night snacks from their seasonal menus along with bar package options. And trust me, their food really is all it’s cracked up to be.

View a gorgeous Pippin Hill wedding featured on Style Me Pretty here!

2. King Family Vineyards

Nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Crozet Virginia, King Family Vineyards is well known for their wine throughout Virginia and beyond. Attracting guests with their wine, polo matches, beautiful grounds, and fun family events throughout the year, there is always something new to enjoy. King Family Vineyards is also known as one of the best vineyard wedding venues in Charlottesville, a truly stunning wedding location boasting breathtaking wine country views.

Notable Features

Spacious indoor reception and cocktail hour accommodations

The Carriage House at King Family Vineyards seats up to 200 people, and includes their adjacent North gallery often used as space to host cocktail hour and bar service throughout the wedding. This spacious room gives guests and wedding parties ample space for reception happenings as well as the dance floor. The room is a blank canvas and features a beautiful stone fireplace and endless options for floral installations and decor.

Breathtaking mountain backdrop

The ceremony views at King Family Vineyards never disappoint. The Blue Ridge Mountains provide a stunning backdrop for an outdoor ceremony and wedding portraits. Believe me, the photos are to die for.

Accessibility

No long walks here! One of my favorite features of King Family Vineyards is how accessible and close everything is. The getting ready spaces, ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception are all held in and around the beautiful carriage house which makes it so easy for guests to relax and enjoy themselves. The property around look almost endless and gives weddings a luxurious and private feel.

View a garden party wedding at King Family Vineyards here!

Love the garden party look?

Here are some ideas for planning your dream garden party wedding!

3. Early Mountain Vineyards

Early Mountain Vineyards has it all. A beautiful garden location for outdoor ceremonies. A private bridal cottage, and a secluded Wine Library and Lounge for wedding parties to prepare. Cocktail hour options in the tasting room or the terrace, with everything is just a short walk from the entrance and the ceremony site. Well-known across Virginia for their wine and cuisine, Early Mountain gives both couples and guests a sumptuous experience from beginning to end.

Noteable Features

Award winning cuisine

 The folks at Early Mountain believe that “the best of Virginia wine is complemented by the best food the region has to offer.” Their seasonal menu is hand crafted with the freshest local ingredients that guests can enjoy paired with wine and a stunning view of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Their cuisine is reputable and highly recommended and their menu will leave a lasting impression on your wedding guests!

Stunning and spacious reception hall

The hall at Early Mountain can accommodate up to 200 guests and features two grand fireplaces, lovely chandeliers, high ceilings, tall windows, somehow giving both a magnificent and cozy vibe. Choose long tables and lots of candles for this reception venue, the aesthetic is just fantastic.

Unique and private ceremony site

Stepping outside the hall brings you to the terrace and the lawn, the perfect spacious location for outdoor ceremonies followed by a relaxed cocktail hour at sunset.

Separate Bridal Cottage

While the bridal cottage is not directly connected to the main event building, it is just a short drive and within sight of the venue! It is a private retreat for brides and wedding parties before the wedding, a quiet getting ready space that brides can enjoy without interruption, or a romantic honeymoon suite for newlyweds.

View a full wedding story at Early Mountain Vineyards here!

4. Trump Winery

Trump Winery’s 227 acre vineyard is the largest in Virginia and its French vinifera acreage is the largest on the East Coast. Trump Winery offers couples multiple ceremony and reception space options, including-my absolute favorite-their intimate, whimsical private chapel.

Albermarle Esate, the boutique hotel adjoining the property, offers exquisite spaces for getting ready, or dining and lodging with a private Bed and Breakfast feel. It’s a luxurious country estate with historic architecture at every turn. Trump Winery is one of Virginia’s finest; the perfect venue for a dreamy wine country wedding!

Notable features

The Chapel: a perfect spot for intimate ceremonies and portraits

The Chapel at Trump Winery boasts checkerboard gray and white marble floors, leaded glass windows, and a hand-painted mural ceiling featuring “The Story of Virginia” by internationally renowned artist Graham Rust. Stepping into the building feels like you were just transported to Europe. (As a classical violinist I would personally recommend hiring a violin/cello duo to play Handel from the balcony.)

The Grand Hall and Ceremony Terrace

Couples are offered a variety of spaces with the Grand Hall including three ballrooms and a wraparound terrace with breathtaking views of the vineyards and Virginia countryside. The terrace is a stunning spot for an outdoor ceremony, with the Reserve Room for cocktail hour directly beside it.

Albemarle Estate

Trump Winery’s boutique hotel, Albemarle Estate, offers guests world-class winery sophistication. The Estate features historic grand architecture, beautiful gardens, and luxurious accommodations. My favorite room here is their dining room, featuring hand-painted wallpaper from Paris and India and expansive garden views. It’s the perfect space for an intimate elopement dinner or a grand celebration. (If you book the Jefferson Grand Suite for your stay, it is sure to impress!)

A full wedding story from a sweet springtime celebration at Trump Winery here!

And finally…it’s important to remember this:

Before you officially sign that contract to book your venue, there’s something important to recognize; a simple truth that most photographers know simply from working in the industry for awhile, but many couples haven’t considered. You ready? Here it is: Your venue colors will become your wedding colors. Your venue’s aesthetic will become your wedding aesthetic.

As you plan your day and start your Pinterest mood boards and consult with your wedding planner, keep in mind that cohesive wedding design, feel, colors, and vision are all very much influenced by the colors and style of your venue. As you start to tour venues, keep that in the back of your mind. Look at the colors and light of the indoor and outdoor ceremony and reception spaces, and consider what the outdoors will look like in the season of year that you are getting married.

The backgrounds, wall colors, seasonal colors, outdoor spaces, are what will be in your wedding photos and the backdrop for every portrait. For a truly breathtaking wedding design, choose colors and florals that will accent this, not compete with it. For more of an in-depth read on this, read this post! A Simple Truth your Wedding Photographer probably hasn’t told you

These vineyard wedding venues combine some of the best features that Charlottesville has to offer, but Charlottesville has countless wedding venue options, so don’t limit yourself when it comes to research! Ultimately, when it comes to planning your big day, do what you love. You won’t regret it. And remember, I’m a photographer, so this post was written from a photographer’s perspective. I highly recommend hiring a professional planner and getting their advice on potential venues as well! (Some of my fave local wedding planners include Day By Fay, Walsh Events, and Mary Elizabeth Events.)

Was this post helpful for you? Read on for other wedding and engagement tips!

Best Places for Engagement Photos near Charlottesville

What should I wear to my engagement session?

Inquire here about wedding photography. I would love to capture your dream day!

Jessica Lapp is a wedding and portrait photographer serving clients all over the state of Virginia, including DC, Richmond, and Charlottesville. Elegant wedding photography on film and digital, for couples who want to remember the most beautiful day of their lives in an exquisite way. Learn more about the wedding experience here!

Charlottesville Wedding Photographer | Wedding Photography Charlottesville | Best Vineyard Wedding Venues in Charlottesville