Dreamy Wedding Venues in Cary, Apex and Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina
Choosing your North Carolina wedding venue is one of the biggest decisions you’ll make while wedding planning. That’s why Heart of NC Weddings is here to make it easier for you! Explore our picks for wedding venues in Apex, Cary and Fuquay-Varina, NC – each embodying elegance, romance and Southern beauty. Browse these Cary area venues to find the perfect setting for your dream wedding.
Historic Elegance in Downtown Cary: The Matthews House
Explore an elegant garden and historic home at The Matthews House in Cary. This intimate wedding venue has the best of both worlds: a beautiful landscaped garden for outdoor ceremonies plus a grand ballroom for indoor celebrations.
The heart of the venue is the fully furnished Southern mansion featuring a wraparound porch and Greek revival architecture. You can get ready at The Matthews House on the morning of your wedding and even stay the entire weekend. The home is flanked by gorgeous large oak trees and manicured gardens, blushing with beauty and a simple, yet undeniable charm. The Matthews House also offers a variety of wedding packages, including those tailored to elopements and small weddings.
The Matthews House is located on West Chatham Street, making it perfectly convenient to downtown Cary. The venue also offers dressing suites, event rentals, ample on-site parking and the option to use its in-house caterer.
Downtown Cary’s Upscale Boutique Hotel: The Mayton
Small town charm meets sophisticated luxury at The Mayton in downtown Cary. The upscale, independent boutique hotel is committed to personal service and aims to provide every guest with an exceptional experience. The venue has an intimate atmosphere for wedding ceremonies, receptions and of course, overnight accommodations. With four distinct event spaces, 44 cozy guest rooms and full-service catering and bar service on-site, The Mayton is the perfect setting to celebrate life, love and your happily ever after. The property is located on South Academy Street – walkable to a variety of neighboring boutique shops and restaurants in downtown Cary.
Classic Elegance in Cary, NC: Prestonwood Country Club
If you’re seeking a wedding venue that is the definition of classic elegance, Prestonwood Country Club is your place. Overlooking the rolling green hills of Cary’s championship golf course, this country club welcomes events of all sizes. For any grooms out there that love the sport, this is your ideal venue!
Prestonwood Country Club’s Grand Ballroom is the perfect location for large ceremonies and receptions of up to 1,000 guests. Its gorgeous decor includes a dramatic staircase, crystal chandeliers and soaring ceilings. The room also offers an expansive outdoor area with a beautiful view from the veranda. For more intimate celebrations, the main clubhouse features cathedral ceilings with exposed wood beams. From this room, you can enjoy a view of the award-winning golf course. It’s easy to see why this is a top Cary wedding venue.
A Luxurious Cary Wedding Venue: The Umstead Hotel & Spa
Tranquil and romantic weddings are a specialty at The Umstead Hotel & Spa. Tucked into a serene woodland setting in Cary, The Umstead offers a sophisticated ambiance, an artistic spirit and natural beauty.
The peaceful backdrop of the property’s expansive lawn is a perfect choice for an elegant outdoor wedding. Additionally, The Umstead features luxury suites and gourmet catering to ensure a wedding celebration or honeymoon to remember. The wooded grounds, lakeside terrace and elegant lawn are yours to fill with guests and loved ones for your special event.
Here, you’ll walk down the aisle-like pathway created by wide stone pavers. Behind your ceremony sits The Umstead’s private lake, surrounded by woodlands and accentuated with a dramatic fountain. Inside, the grand ballroom can accommodate parties of any size. This room features an abundance of natural light streaming in through floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the lake. The dedicated and experienced Umstead staff will work closely with you to bring your dream wedding to life.
Apex Wedding Venues
Historic Home Turned Apex Wedding Venue: The Upchurch
The Upchurch offers the perfect combination of vintage style and modern comfort – a refurbished historic home with a newly constructed ballroom and landscaped lawn. Built in 1905, the Upchurch-Williams home has a classic Queen Anne style. Today, the historic home has been named an Apex Historic Landmark and has been transformed into an event venue thanks to the efforts of former wedding photographer Cara Powell.
Among the property’s beautiful features is a conservatory-inspired pavilion surrounded by expansive lawns. As if restoring the home to its original glory wasn’t enough, Cara built an additional event space on the property featuring chic greenhouse stylings that compliment the more traditional Southern home.
Manor House Wedding Venue Near Raleigh: The Oaks at Salem
Love the Southern charm of barn weddings, but want a bit of elegance to balance out your big day? You’ll love The Oaks at Salem‘s historic home, brick walls, oak trees and rolling fields. Although conveniently located near downtown Raleigh and historic downtown Apex, this venue is perfectly secluded. With plenty of options for indoor and outdoor ceremonies, The Oaks at Salem can be completely customized to suit your needs. Surrounded by 11 acres of woods and beautifully landscaped grounds, the property provides perfect backdrops for a ceremony and reception, as well as plenty of opportunities to capture gorgeous photographs.
Top Fuquay-Varina Wedding Venues
Fuquay-Varina Wedding Venue: Donovan Manor
Jill Donovan decided to follow her dream of opening a wedding venue after more than a decade serving couples through her catering business, Donovan’s Dish. Donovan Manor‘s handsome main house has undergone a thorough renovation, now featuring an 11,000-square-foot ballroom.
Honorable Mentions: More Cary, Apex and Fuquay-Varina Wedding Venues
Chandelier Wedding & Event Venue
This 14,000-square-foot Cary wedding venue offers a little bit of elegance and a lot of personality, with ten sparkling chandeliers that give the venue its name. Luxury is the defining characteristic of this event venue that offers both indoor and outdoor ceremony spaces. The Chandelier can accommodate larger weddings of up to 150 guests for a seated dinner, with 4,000-square-feet of outdoor space to sprawl for cocktail hour or a standing event of up to 190. The venue also offers on-site catering from Fluent N’ Food catering, the business that the venue’s owners, John Ford and Natasha Ford, have operated since 2016. The catering and beverage services are provided through the on-site full kitchen and built-in bar.
Cary Country Club Venue: MacGregor Downs Country Club
This classic country club venue hosts weddings of up to 250 in Cary, NC. The main lodge itself has a traditional, Scottish-inspired design that exudes comfort and elegance. Plus, many elements like decor, party rentals, bar services and catering are included with your venue rental package.
