Marriott Ranch: Charming Wedding Ranch Venue with Epic Blue Ridge Mountains View
It’s all about those wedding venue views. For this Virginia ranch venue, the sights are pretty epic. Nestled in the foothills of the cascading Blue Ridge Mountains, Marriott Ranch is a Virginia wedding venue that doesn’t have a single bad angle. Which is perfect of course for wedding photos! We got to explore the venue from every viewpoint, capturing as many moments as possible at this wedding ranch venue!
Why a Wedding Ranch Venue in Virginia Was Their #1 Choice
Nicole and Matt did their engagement photos on the cold winter streets of Baltimore (with their pup!) so this sunny fall outdoor wedding was the perfect contrast. Two key components stood out to them when choosing Marriott Ranch of Hume, Virginia as their wedding ranch venue:
- Mountains: “The scenery is what drew us to the venue, along with the relaxed feeling of being there for the whole weekend. The reception pavilion is also very understated in a beautiful way.”
- Outdoors: they chose “olive/forest green, with blush and neutral tones. We absolutely love the outdoors and these colors felt very representative of nature’s beauty (the bridesmaid dress color is literally called ‘forest’!).”
The lawn in front of the Manor House with its gorgeous views of the Blue Ridge Mountains was a no-brainer for the ceremony. The house itself seats up to 50 guests for a smaller wedding and includes fireplaces and an open staircase. It was the Pavilion (seats up to 150 guests) with outdoor and indoor spaces that provided both the reception space (they had 100 guests) and rain plan spot (also options for outdoor tent).
Another bonus to the Marriott Ranch Virginia venue was all that is provided by the venue itself to ease burdens placed on the couple. The venue includes a getting-ready space for the entire wedding party: the ladies chose the historic Manor House while the groomsmen gathered in the white Farm House. Here’s more that the venue includes:
Marriott Ranch Quick Facts
- 4,200 acre working wedding ranch venue that includes a riding stable.
- All-inclusive wedding venue: food, beverage, staffing (serving/setup/cleanup), bar/cocktail hour hors d’oeuvres.
- Includes all rentals: chairs, tables, chinaware, flatware, glassware, and linens.
- Three customizable wedding packages ranging from full two days, full one day/night or a one-day wedding/reception (no overnight). Packages start at $7,000.
- Inn at Fairfield Farm offers 12 guest rooms (breakfast included) and a complimentary stay for the newlyweds on their wedding night.
- The venue can host other events like a bridal shower, rehearsal dinner, or next-day brunch.
All the Little Details that Told This Couple’s Story
The big details that were most important to this couple was time spent with family and friends, the act of becoming husband and wife, and the atmosphere of their wedding ranch venue that they described as “pure beauty and happiness.” Sounds like the perfect recipe for a wedding day!
Some of the touches that these two added were personal vows during their first look that included having both their parents present. Otherwise it was their love of travel, nature, and adventure that was clearly represented in so many different ways:
Wedding DIY Elements
- Special table numbers each with a name, photo, and date that Nicole and Matt visited different national parks.
- Cornhole boards decorated with their wedding crest as a guestbook.
- Custom drink for cocktail hour named after their dog: Ryder’s Refresher.
- Combined guest favor/seating chart using custom luggage tags.
- Cupcakes and popcorn for the guests while the couple had their own cutting cake.
Why I Recommend This Wedding Ranch Venue
The rolling hills of this wedding ranch venue are surrounded by epic views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. This makes it so that literally anywhere on the property is amazing for a first look or other portraits.
Even though some of the speeches ran long in their wedding timeline, we still were able to squeeze in the tiniest bit of portraits in the sunset. Fortunately, the sun had come out earlier in the day and we just enjoyed the pretty blue hour. With or without the sun, the venue has beautiful views for all types of lighting.
No matter how beautiful a location, if working with the venue staff is a bad experience, I won’t want to return anytime soon. Luckily, the Marriott Ranch Virginia staff was so wonderful and on top of everything. I can recommend this venue not only for weddings, but also the rehearsal dinner or even a day-after session. I would love to shoot there more!
Is going out into nature on the table for your wedding day? Whether it’s an adventure elopement or wedding, I’m there!
The Team
Venue/Caterer | Marriott Ranch
Coordinator | Emerald Events
Videographer | HS Studios
HMU | Updos for I Dos
DJ | Elegance Band (from Big Ray and the Kool Kats)
Cake | The Cake Boutique
Dress | Garnish Boutique Designed by Stella York
Florist | Samantha Greenfield Designs in Floral Artistry
