Wedding Flowers at Highlands

Highlands offers a rare intersection of refined European hospitality and the untamed textures of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Designing here requires a strategy that respects the 33 acres of manicured gardens while bringing enough scale to compete with the vast mountain vistas. We know this venue well from our work here and understand how to navigate the logistical nuances of its multiple estates.

The Spaces

The Orchard

This is the quintessential Highlands ceremony spot, tucked under a canopy of fruit trees with a pond and a classic bridge. The natural architecture of the trees creates an intimate, shaded environment that feels worlds away from the main resort.

• What works: Low-profile floor meadows and “nests” that wrap around the couple. These designs feel like they are growing out of the orchard floor and don’t interfere with the low-hanging branches.
• Skip: Tall, narrow pedestals or heavy acrylic stands. They look out of place in such a soft, natural setting.
• Watch out: The ground can be uneven near the tree roots. Ensure all structures are shimmed and leveled for stability.
• Budget hero move: Focus your entire ceremony budget on a lush semi-circle of ground florals. It creates a high-impact focal point for photos without needing a massive, expensive arch.

The Pavilion

The Pavilion is the venue’s most versatile reception space, featuring iron chandeliers, wooden beams, and walls of windows that retract to let in the mountain air. It bridges the gap between a traditional ballroom and an outdoor terrace.

• What works: Large-scale hanging installations. The wooden beams are sturdy and provide excellent rigging points for greenery clouds or suspended floral planks over the head table.
• Skip: Small, delicate centerpieces. The volume of this room will swallow them. If you want low arrangements, they need to be dense and lush.
• Watch out: Wind. When the windows are retracted, the Pavilion becomes a wind tunnel. Avoid top-heavy centerpieces on narrow bases.
• Budget hero move: Greenery on the chandeliers. It draws the eye upward and fills the vertical space for a fraction of the cost of full floral installations.

The Barn

Recently renovated, The Barn offers a more structured, rustic-elegant atmosphere. With its stone fireplace and high-beamed ceilings, it is the most “indoor” feeling of the primary spaces but still maintains a connection to the landscape.

• What works: Fireplace installations. The stone mantel is the natural heart of the room and deserves a significant floral moment, whether it’s a full runner or a climbing “growing” installation.
• Skip: Too much burlap or “country” rustic decor. The Barn is sophisticated; the florals should be “mountain-chic” rather than “farmhouse.”
• Watch out: The lighting can be moody. Use flowers with some luminosity—whites, creams, or pale yellows—to ensure they pop in professional photography.

What Works at Highlands

Framing the dark-framed windows. The Pavilion and Dining Room feature large windows with dark, architectural frames. Placing tall, airy arrangements or floor-to-ceiling floral “trees” in front of these frames creates a stunning contrast and integrates the outdoor scenery into the reception.

Tonal, garden-inspired palettes. With 33 acres of gardens, the venue provides a lot of color on its own. We recommend a palette that either leans into the seasonal blooms (like rhododendrons in spring) or stays classic with whites, creams, and deep forest greens to let the landscape do the talking.

Farm table runners. The venue frequently utilizes long farm tables. Lush, textured greenery runners interspersed with bud vases or low compotes work better here than traditional round centerpieces, as they emphasize the communal, estate-like feel of the property.

Ground-anchored ceremony structures. Given the mountain breezes and the “open sky” feel of the lawns, we prioritize heavy-based arches or floor-level floral crescents. These are safer against the wind and provide a more organic look than top-heavy structures.

Textural mountain foliage. Incorporating local textures like smilax, pieris, and even subtle touches of dried elements connects the designs to the Appalachian setting. It makes the flowers feel like they belong to the Highlands, not like they were shipped in from a generic wholesaler.

Budget Guide

The character of Highlands is defined by its “refined wilderness” aesthetic, which allows for both delicate garden details and massive, architectural floral statements.

Tips

Plan for varying terrain. Many of the ceremony sites, especially in The Orchard, require a walk over grass or stone paths. Ensure your floral team has the right carts and enough hands for a multi-trip load-in.

Prioritize the “flip” potential. If you are using the Pavilion for both ceremony and reception, design your ceremony pieces to be easily moved to the fireplace or the cake table during the cocktail hour.

Check the mountain breeze. Even on a clear day, the elevation means wind is a factor. We always weight our pedestals and anchor our arches to the ground with hidden stakes.

Coordinate with the garden schedule. The venue’s landscaping is world-class. Ask your coordinator what will be in bloom during your month so your floral colors don’t clash with the vibrant azaleas or hydrangeas on-site.