By Nikki Perry, Tourism Director, Braselton Visitors Bureau
When my best friend, Ashley, asked me to be her maid of honor I vowed to her that from this day forth I would help her with all the wedding details until the day she said I do. Little did I know how much fun it would be planning a destination wedding in Braselton, GA.
As any good bride, Ashley had begun her wedding inspo-board months before she was engaged (on the private setting of course) but in her perusal of gorgeous pictures, picture-perfect venues in Braselton, GA kept rising to the top. We made arrangements and set a day to visit this enchanting town in North Georgia.
First on the list was The Venue at Friendship Springs, a modern design with floor to ceiling windows and fun lights that can be set up to look like the night sky or any variety of funky designs. The entire venue is amazingly customizable, with spaces available for 100 guests on up to 500. What Ashley and I were most excited about was their state-of-the-art technology. We were picturing childhood photos and videos scrolling across their jumbo-screens, and the lights dancing in unison to the DJ’s music, not to mention the ease with which they could accommodate toasts and all the nitty-gritty technology that is sure to ruin your big day if not planned for. We also loved that the friendly staff seemed to be able to make any of our crazy ideas possible. The Venue is certainly a venue of distinction and perfect for creative brides.
The search for the perfect space continued to The Braselton Event Center, charmingly located in the heart of downtown Braselton. This historic old, Southern home was built in 1916 by one of the sons of the town’s founder and namesake, William Harrison Braselton. We walked the property and marveled at the French doors, wrap-around veranda, lush gardens, and ornate time-period decor.
We loved the fact that we could combine indoor and outdoor in this venue. Whether they choose a garden wedding, saying “I do” under a trellis dressed in floral garland and moving the party indoors for the reception while twirling to their first dance under the glistening chandeliers in the ballroom. Or using the onsite wedding chapel for a comfortable indoor wedding and hosting an indoor/outdoor reception where guests could enjoy the evening air on the wrap-around porch and come inside when they’re ready to dance. The icing on the cake is that the facility provides a complimentary limousine for the new Mr. and Mrs. on the big day. Braselton Event Center is Southern elegance through and through.
Our mouths dropped as we arrived at our final destination in search of the perfect wedding spot as elegant vineyards masterfully led us toward a 17th Century-style French Chateau on 3,500 acres at Chateau Elan. We had drooled over photographs of this place, but they certainly did not do it justice. As we met with the wedding coordinator, we soon realized that the hard part would be determining which of their stunning options we liked best. There is the Rose Vineyard offering breathtaking views of the Chateau and the rolling vineyards, the glass-topped Atrium, where the bride makes her entrance by way of a grand double staircase, or the industrial-chic Winery Pavilion, featuring twinkling lights, exposed beams, and a wine barrel backdrop, and dozens of other options and customizable features. Chateau Elan handles the catering and it doesn’t get more farm to table than serving guests wine made on-site. The fact that there are luxurious suites on-site makes it even easier for the wedding party to fully enjoy the Big Day.
We found three incredible venues, now comes deciding which to use for the various wedding events. There is no doubt that each will be spectacular.
Nikki Perry is the tourism director for the Braselton Visitors Bureau Authority, the official destination marketing organization for the Town of Braselton. She has lived and worked in Northeast Georgia for 20 years, telling local stories through journalism, local government communications, and tourism marketing. Nikki lives with her husband and three children on Lake Lanier.
