WRAL Azalea Gardens – One of NC’s Best Kept Secrets and Most Unknown Affordable Wedding Ceremony Locations in Raleigh
The WRAL Azalea Gardens are a beautiful Raleigh, NC wedding venue with a rich local history. The stunning, tranquil setting of the gardens combined with the history of giving back to the community make this venue extraordinarily special — we are so lucky to have something so wonderful right here in the heart of North Carolina!
About WRAL Azalea Gardens – History & Community Involvement
Capitol Broadcasting Company founder AJ Fletcher created the WRAL Azalea Gardens in 1959, three years after WRAL-TV went on air in Raleigh. Fletcher loved azaleas and finding new varieties to enjoy, so he decided to share that passion with the general public. He personally oversaw the installation of a thousand azaleas on the 5-acre property to create the gardens!
Today, the WRAL Azalea Gardens showcase a full range of flowering and non-flowering plants that are typical in Southern landscaping. Featured plants included azaleas, dogwoods, rhododendrons and hydrangeas. In 2000, the gardens underwent major renovations to accommodate the TV studio expansion — a new fountain and walkway overlooking the gardens were installed in front of the studios, and the new architecture was surrounded with planters and flowerbeds to blend in seamlessly with the natural landscape. In 2003, the WRAL Gardens received the Tree & Landscape Conservation award from the 21st Annual Sir Walter Raleigh Awards for Community Appearance. Today, Fletcher’s grandson, Jim Goodmon, oversees the development and upkeep of the beautiful gardens.
Each year, WRAL sponsors the annual WRAL Azalea Celebration, where WRAL-TV gives away over 10,000 azaleas to more than 100 non-profits all over the state of North Carolina in an effort to beautify the community.
Wedding Ceremonies at the WRAL Azalea Gardens in Raleigh NC
The WRAL Azalea Gardens offer a stunning, serene space for outdoor wedding ceremonies. Reservations for weddings may be made for either an 11 a.m. or 2 p.m. ceremony on weekends from March to September. Wedding parties will have access to the gardens for setup 90 minutes prior to the ceremony. Up to 100 chairs are provided, and this fall, the gardens are renovating the restrooms and dressing rooms! The renovations should be completed by March of 2014, just in time for the start of wedding season!
Mid-March to mid-May is the time of year the azaleas are at their most beautiful, with the third weekend in April being the peak. The gardens also offer free reservations for bridal portrait sessions.
