Adventurous Wedding Venues in Northeast Tennessee Perfect for Outdoors Loving Couple
Northeast Tennessee is not only home to beautiful mountains and breathtaking lakes, but also to some of the most gorgeous and unique wedding venues that are perfect for adventurous couples and outdoors lovers!
I’ve compiled a list of my top favorite wedding venues (in no particular order) here in northeast Tennessee that are great for adventurous brides and grooms who are looking for a place to say their vows. These venues have lovely accommodations for getting ready, luscious outdoor spaces perfect for a ceremony, along with great reception options. I just love their unique and rustic outdoor features that lend to some amazing scenery and, of course, photographs!
***Please keep in mind that the venues listed below are based on my own personal opinion and experiences with the venues and their owners/grounds.***
The Millstone - Limestone, Tennessee
The Millstone is an old mill house (built in 1811) located in Limestone, Tennessee (just outside of Jonesborough, Tennessee)! The mill was powered by the huge water wheel and was used to ground up flour. The owners also once told me that a room in the getting ready area was used to house a very small post office!
They have a wonderful getting ready area in the second story of the mill house, along with a “man cave” in the basement with a penny resin floor. You can actually see the gears of the water wheel turning in the basement! They also have a beautiful tiny cabin that is often used for the bride to get ready and is a place for the newlyweds to stay the night, if they choose!
A branch arbor with lawn creates a great ceremony space close to a quiet pond and flowing stream. There is an open air pavilion attached to the mill house with extra brick patio space and bistro lights for cozy, romantic, receptions! They also just added a fire pit- great for making some late night s’mores!
Website: http://www.themillstonetn.com/
The Camp at Buffalo Mountain - Jonesborough, Tennessee
The Camp at Buffalo Mountain is an old camp turned venue nestled in the mountains of Jonesborough, Tennessee, and has SO much to offer! The Camp’s versatility, ability to house multiple families, and nature make this venue a fantastic place to get married. They have multiple ceremony and reception options, making for an easy rain plan and caters to your desired feel for the ceremony. Alison Lodge can be, “flipped,” from ceremony to reception to give you that cozy lodge feeling! They also have an outdoor pavilion and field that are perfect for outdoor occasions.
The Camp has another building called, “The Retreat Center,” that has a large, open, living room that is a great space for the bride and bridesmaids to get ready. This building also has 17 bedrooms- perfect for housing a large bridal party or family! Across the drive, they have another 5 bedroom home that works great to keep the groom separated from the bride. The Camp has packages to rent out the entire camp for the weekend so that you and your families and friends don’t have to worry about leaving right after the wedding! Their view of the mountains and pond really make it a great getaway to the mountains!
Website: https://www.thecampatbuffalo.com/
The Lake House - Piney Flats, Tennessee
This one is for all of the fellow lake lovers!
The Lake House is a gorgeous lakeside venue located on one of the Tri-Cities most popular lakes- Boone Lake! The Lake House is located in Piney Flats, Tennessee, which SOUNDS far, but is actually very centrally located within the Tri-Cities. It’s about 30min from Bristol, 15-20min from Johnson City, and 30 min from Kingsport. It’s also only 15-20min from Tri-Cities Regional Airport, making it a great location for family to fly to!
The property has its own fair share of history! The actual lake house used to be located closer to the lake bed, but when they filled the lake, they actually moved the house to higher ground, which has now been renovated and is the most gorgeous bridal cottage. After that, the previous owners turned the property into a campground. You can still see remnants of the campground- the way the land is leveled out and the electric hookups. This makes the property super unique and lends to great spots for photos and accessibility for having an outdoor rehearsal dinner!
There are a few ceremony sites to choose from on the property with the lake as the backdrop! They also have a dedicated reception space that is not only a great rain plan space, but a gorgeous, white filled, reception spot. This is where the groom’s suite is located and also has a bar area and full kitchen for the caterers. The owners are also incredibly sweet and very dedicated! They have golf carts on property to help make your day run smoothly!
Website: https://www.thelakehousetn.com/
The Waterstone Venue - Johnson City, Tennessee
This venue is seriously one of a kind and I still have to pinch myself that it’s in my backyard in Johnson City, Tennessee! The Waterstone Venue is a nature lover’s dream created from an old quarry that once served as a junkyard (although you’d never guess it). The same people who built the Millstone actually built and created the Waterstone venue, and I can tell you— they have literally thought of every little detail and designed almost every inch of this beautiful location!
The Waterstone offers several lodging options that double as perfect getting-ready locations! The bride and bridesmaids typically get ready at either the amazing hobbit house covered in grass and moss or their newest addition— the greek cottage! Meanwhile, the groom and groomsmen get ready in an ACTUAL treehouse. Hard to believe, right? The hobbit house overlooks the lake, and ceremony site, and gives an incredible view of the reception tent and flowing waterfall. You cross a beautiful stone bridge to get to the greek cottage, which adds a touch of modern flair. It really is a fairytale!
I’ve been lucky enough to photograph a few weddings here- all have been absolutely beautiful!
Facebook/Website: https://www.facebook.com/Waterstonetn/
Greenwood Oaks Farm & Venue - Afton, Tennessee
Greenwood Oaks Farm & Venue is a stunning white farmhouse venue in Afton, Tennessee (close to Greeneville, Limestone, and Jonesborough areas)! Owners Daniel and Meredith Shrader bought the farm a few years ago and renovated almost every inch of the building formerly known as Greenwood MFG Co! The white farmhouse with dark beams is not only prevalent on the outside, but also carries on to the inside of the reception building as well, as a nod to Joanna and Chip Gaines!
Greenwood Oaks offers plenty of ceremony options to cater to your tastes! Their first ceremony spot is located next to the farmhouse and offers a beautiful tree, wooden pews, bistro lights, and doors that open to make a grand entrance. The air-conditioned farmhouse is not only a reception space, but also a great indoor or rain option to relieve stress for winter brides or those rainy summer wedding days! Greenwood recently added a garden ceremony site complete with a zinnia garden, trellis, and a huge tree with hanging lights for a romantic setting. They’ve also added a dock to their pond for smaller ceremonies and portraits.
Daniel and Meredith are very hands-on owners and will be with you through the whole process!
Website: https://www.greenwoodoaks.net/
The farmhouse is a beautiful indoor/rain option and reception space!
Their dreamy dock location- perfect for small ceremonies or romantic portraits.
Sugar Hollow Retreat - Butler, Tennessee
Nestled on 300 acres in the Tennessee mountains, Sugar Hollow is not just a wedding venue, but a true retreat. Not only do they have a beautiful amphitheater perfect for outdoor ceremonies and Overmountain Hall for receptions, but they also have multiple lodges and cabins on the premises that are perfect lodging options for you and your family. You won’t have to worry about anyone driving to a hotel or Airbnb after a long, fun, day of celebrating! Sugar Hollow is located about 30 minutes from Boone, North Carolina, and about an hour from Johnson City, Tennessee, making it easy to find vendors in both towns but all the while still giving you the peaceful great outdoors and mountain scenery.
Sugar Hollow has talented coordinators available to help you through the whole planning process and on the day of. They also have a great list of recommended nearby vendors, making it even easier to plan a destination mountain wedding if you’re coming in from out-of-town!
Website: https://sugarhollowretreat.com/
Oak Meadows Farm - Greeneville, TN
Oak Meadows Farm is a gorgeous, family owned and operated, venue in Greeneville, TN that is perfect for outdoor loving couples!
This venue has so much to offer— not only a stunning ceremony site and grounds, but also elegant and quaint getting ready accomodations that are on-site making it easy for you and your wedding party. There is a beautiful brick home on the property that serves as the bridal suite— perfect for hair, makeup, getting dressed and getting the day started. They also have a cute groom’s cabin near the pond that is great for the guys.
The ceremony site is probably one of my favorite features of Oak Meadows Farm! It’s a beautiful outdoor ampitheatre that overlooks their expansive pond and view of the Greeneville countryside. The platform is perfect place to say your vows and become officially married! The pond also serves as a great place to have a first look, take photos with your wedding party, or take newlywed portraits together.
The reception area at Oak Meadows is located directly next to the ceremony site, which helps keeps your guests entertained and all together. Currently, Oak Meadows has a small concrete pavilion with beautiful cedar beams that makes a perfect cake cutting and dance floor location. The gravel drive is perfect for open-air seating with a view of the pond! They are currently constructing a larger reception barn to accommodate more guests and a better rain plan.
Chateau Selah - Blountville, Tennessee
Chateau Selah is a gorgeous and unique wedding venue perfectly perched on top of a hill in Blountville, Tennessee (minutes from Johnson City). It’s great location gives you sweeping views of the surrounding mountains— whether you’re getting ready for the big day in their gorgeous rooms, saying your vows in the courtyard, or whether you’re dancing the night away in their spacious reception pavilion! The stone architecture and wrought iron details really sets the Chateau apart! The reception pavilion has sliding glass doors that you can open for those amazing summer breezes and also has fans and heating. I love that this venue also offers accommodations for brides and grooms (or family and bridal party) to stay. If you’re also looking for a little getaway for you and your partner, you can book a stay at one of their rooms through VRBO as well!
Website: https://chateauselah.com/
The Side Porch - Gray, Tennessee
The Side Porch is a farmhouse + barn venue, but the barn is truly like no other! Located on a 17-acre property, the venue has the farmhouse bridal suite, an old carriage-garage just for the guys, and also a spacious, white washed barn to dance the night away at the reception! The owners welcome you in like family and are some of the sweetest people in northeast Tennessee. They literally put their heart and souls into the property and have made the experience truly like no other with their eclectic, bohemian, design and passion in what they do! They have multiple outdoor ceremony sites, with the option to move the ceremony into the barn if need be (perfect for those crazy rainy days). For photos, they have rolling hay fields, a forest with stream, a beautiful swing, the porches of the farmhouse, etc etc. The list goes on- it’s truly a photographer’s dream!
Pro tip: If you’re considering booking the Side Porch- be sure to contact them AS SOON AS POSSIBLE! Because of their vision and passion in the wedding industry, they stay booked (as they should be)!
Website: https://www.facebook.com/thesideporchTN/
Blue Mountanya - The Resort - Butler, Tennessee
Blue Mountanya is such a hidden gem in our area! It’s a family-operated wedding venue and resort nestled in our East Tennesee mountains with multiple lodging options and a breathtaking mountaintop ceremony site.
Once you enter the property, you’re greeted by the first luxury cabin— Emerald Point. Continue up the drive and you’ll find their beautiful Mountainside Event Barn, complete with lawn, band shell, and patio string lights that really set the mood for the evening! The barn has a stunning bar area, lounge space, and large reception area! The barn also has garage doors that you can open in the summer and let the breeze roll through!
Continue up the mountain road and you’ll get to my personal absolute favorite lodging home— Sapphire Ridge. This home is stunning all around— not only is the interior bright and open, but the architecture itself is very unique and beautiful. This is seriously my dream home, haha! The living room has a tall ceiling with floor-to-ceiling windows of the view overlooking Watauga Lake! The kitchen also opens up to a deck that overlooks the same view and is a perfect spot to have your coffee, do a first look and couple’s portraits before the big day! The bedrooms are equally stunning with the perfect rustic, modern, luxurious flare.
From Sapphire Point, keep driving up the mountain road and you’ll reach our final destination— Sunset Point. Sunset Point is Blue Mountanya’s ceremony site that literally sits on top of the mountain with a 180 degree view of Watauga Lake and Appalachian Mountains! They have gorgeous wooden doors that open up for the bride’s grand entrance and stunning wooden benches for guests. The ceremony deck is spacious for the bride, groom, officiant, and wedding party. Talk about a breathtaking place to say your vows!
Website: https://www.bluemountanya.com/
Sapphire Ridge
Mountainside Event Barn
Sunset Point
Other adventurous venues that I haven’t visited yet, but are on my bucket list:
The Barn at Bee Cliff - Elizabethton, TN
The Trillium - Sevierville, TN
Glamping Retro - Erwin, TN