Walnut Hill Wedding Venue | Alexa & Eric

Discover Walnut Hill Wedding Venue 

There’s something special about a curving country road, baby blue skies and pastureland as far as the eye can see. We love the hustle and bustle of downtown Raleigh, don’t get us wrong. But, at Walnut Hill wedding venue, couples receive rustic romance without compromising the convenience of downtown Raleigh. Located just 20-minutes from the heart of downtown, Walnut Hill is one of North Carolina’s best barn wedding venues. 

Alexa Cotton and Eric Howe chose Walnut Hill wedding venue as the backdrop for their big day for this reason and many more. The couple invited friends and family to a ceremony and reception in the Carolina countryside on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2021. Fancy This Photographer, Sarah Martin, says the weather that day was perfect for an indoor-outdoor wedding. 

Sarah has documented a total of four weddings at Walnut Hill wedding venue. She used a Sony A7RIII camera to capture each magical moment of Alexa and Eric’s day. Every wedding Sarah witnesses at Walnut Hill feels comfortable due to tons of space and diverse photo spots. And yet, each Walnut Hill wedding has its own uniqueness. 

“No two weddings photographed [at Walnut Hill] have had the same flow nor the same placement of wedding parties and ceremony space,” Sarah says. “There are two houses for the couple to get ready in as well as two possible ceremony spaces. This makes each wedding seem special and unique to the couple’s tastes.”

Keep scrolling for more inspiration from this stunning Walnut Hill wedding planned and coordinated by The Gathering Co. 

Getting Ready at Walnut Hill

There are two separate houses for each respective wedding party to get ready in. The Estate House is perfect for brunch and beauty preparation. On the opposite side of the pond (literally), you’ll find the Hill House. This farmhouse is stocked. Guests of the Hill House get to enjoy a full kitchen, living room, private back porch, game room (with foosball table and air hockey) and three guest rooms.

First Look at Walnut Hill Wedding Venue 

Most of us have heard about the “first look” trend by now. Just in case you’re new here, a first look is when a couple decides to see each other alone and dressed in wedding attire before the ceremony. First looks are intimate and generally filled with raw emotions, candid reactions and romance, duh. 

For some, a first look relieves stress and pre-ceremony jitters. For others it’s a great way to get wedding photos done before festivities. Typically, first looks are coordinated by the wedding photographer and planner in tandem.  

Have you ever considered doing a first look with other friends or family members? First looks shared between father and daughter and bride and bridesmaids are growing more and more popular. Alexa chose to do a first look with her father instead of the groom. 

After The Makeup Addict finished Alexa’s bridal beautification, she met her father outside Walnut Hill wedding venue’s Estate House. The moment was magical. Alexa’s father’s face was filled with pride and joy at the sight of his daughter in her wedding dress.   

Interested in planning a first look(s)? Let our team at Fancy This Photography know. We’re happy to help you take care of the details. 

 Outdoor Ceremony at Walnut Hill Wedding Venue 

Alexa and Eric’s outdoor ceremony at Walnut Hill wedding venue began at 4:30 p.m. on Oct. 17, 2021. A young ring bearer and flower girl led the procession, which entered from the Estate House. Alexa was glowing as her father escorted her down a grassy aisle covered in white rose petals. 

Eric could not stop himself from smiling at the sight of his beautiful bride. A simple piece of white cloth draped from the branches of an enormous oak tree marked the altar. The white cloth caught the October breeze as NC wedding officiant, Hardison Perry, began the ceremony.

Fancy This Photographer Sarah Martin’s favorite moment from the day was taking photos of the couple after the ceremony. 

“While taking photos of Alexa by herself, Eric would stand off by himself just absolutely infatuated with Alexa, watching her have her photos taken,” Sarah says. “I was able to snap a few photos where you could see him doing so in the background.”

Meet Alexa & Eric’s Wedding Party 

Eliza Jones - Matron of Honor

Elisabeth Crawford - Bridesmaid

Katie Pullen - Bridesmaid

Elizabeth Howe - Bridesmaid

Blaire Howe - Bridesmaid

Jon Woodhull-Smith - Best Man

Zach Howe - Groomsman

Seth Howe - Groomsman

Patrick Frank - Groomsman

Mary Marshall and Copeland Howe - Flower Girls

Jackson Howe - Ring Bearer

Romantic Reception at Walnut Hill Wedding Venue

Following ceremony and cocktail hour, Alexa and Eric invited guests to a reception in the barn at Walnut Hill wedding venue. The newly built, white barn can seat up to 200 guests comfortably. Large windows and wood beams shine beneath the barn’s lights. One of the coolest things about this barn is that one entire wall can be opened to create an indoor-outdoor reception. Alexa and Eric’s sweetheart table was placed right in front of the open side of the barn. 

Each table was decorated in white and blue party rentals from Party Reflections in Raleigh. Cook Shack Catering provided dinner and guests enjoyed a diverse array of desserts by Edible Art Bakery & Cafe. Guests danced the night away to music by DJ Dow Oak Events.

We love Walnut Hill wedding venue! Click here to see Cassie and Jess’ special day.

Photographer //  Fancy This Photography
Venue // Walnut Hill 
Planner & Coordinator // The Gathering Co.
Caterer // Cook Shack Catering
DJ // Dow Oak Events
Cake // Edible Art Bakery & Cafe
Florist // Teacup Floral
Rentals // Party Reflections
Hair & makeup // The Makeup Addict
Officiant // Hardison Perry