By Samantha Cart
Planning a wedding should be exciting and fun, but many times it can end up a stressful task that feels more like a chore. Brides and grooms are under more pressure than ever to throw a lavish event that reflects their personalities and entertains guests, all while remaining within a reasonable budget. Finding a venue for both the ceremony and reception, booking a caterer, worrying about lodging for guests—the stress of it all can be overwhelming. Whether traditional or destination, these unique, all-inclusive West Virginia locations make it easy to host an authentic, elegant and stress-free wedding.
The Bluefield Inn in Bluefield, WV. Photo by Hal Brainerd.
Bluefield Inn
Located in Bluefield, WV, the Bluefield Inn provides all-inclusive wedding services that are 100 percent customizable with as much or as little assistance as desired by the bride and groom. A smaller venue that is perfect for up to 60 guests, the staff prides itself on flexibility in working within each bride’s budget. As a new member of Select Registry—an organization for exclusive inns, B&Bs and boutique hotels—the Bluefield Inn offers brides the opportunity to do everything on-site. With six suites, customizable catering menus, wedding planners and a full liquor license, couples can check off their entire list at this one-stop wedding shop. With in-house catering and contracts with a wide variety of wedding professionals, including wedding planners, decorators, florists, photographers and deejays, owner Kitt McCarthy is proud of the amenities her inn offers for nuptials.
When a couple books the Bluefield Inn, complimentary wedding planning is included in the price. The upscale, elegant venue is home to beautiful décor, including original art and custom-made furniture, which leaves very little decorating to be done. If the couple prefers an outdoor space, the site has a garden and large veranda for ceremonies and receptions that can accommodate 36 seated guests. Many brides consider the location great for photographs, and popular backdrops include the curving staircase, fireplaces, fountains and pergolas.
McCarthy believes the inn is on point with current wedding trends. “Couples are moving toward smaller, more intimate weddings that reflect the tastes and personalities of the bride and groom and allow them to enjoy the day and actually spend time with their loved ones,” she says. “More and more brides are rejecting the formal rules and styles of the traditional wedding in favor of what is meaningful to them.”
Located just off I-77 and Route 460 and within two hours of four airports, the ability to stay on-site is a thoughtful convenience for out-of-town guests. There are also many local attractions for guests to enjoy in Bluefield, including running and biking trails, golf and antiquing.
Café Cimino Country Inn in Sutton, WV. Photo by Howie McCormick Photography.
Café Cimino Country Inn
Café Cimino Country Inn is an intimate, full-service wedding venue located in Sutton, WV. A turn-of-the-century estate on the banks of the Elk River, the extensive grounds are perfect for outdoor ceremonies. With an on-site wedding planner and special events coordinator at her side, a bride can easily plan a rehearsal dinner, ceremony and reception all at Café Cimino. The site includes one permanent tent that can comfortably host 60 guests, and couples can rent a second tent to accommodate a larger guest list of up to 125. The site has several venues to choose from and contracts with local businesses in an effort to make wedding planning easy and efficient. With on-site catering, a fully licensed bar and lodging, Café Cimino is a great place to host a wedding from start to finish.
According to owner Melody Urbanic, the reason most couples choose Café Cimino is the food and fully licensed bar. “We will customize the food according to the wedding party,” she says. “I am finding that a lot of couples are going for less formal party appetizers and portable finger foods so they can mingle instead of the full, formal sit-down dinner. We offer a delicious spread of appetizers, including antipasto, cheeses, olives, caprese salad, fruits, bread and bruschetta.” The inn does host a full sit-down meal for the more traditional couple, and their most popular meal is the crowd-pleasing classic Italian buffet, which, according to Urbanic, many couples opt for because it is easily adapted for vegetarian and vegan guests.
Café Cimino requires couples to rent 10 rooms in order to host a wedding, which includes the main house mansion, the carriage house and the brick cottage—perfect for a bride and her maids, parents, friends and out-of-town guests. Other unique amenities include the inn’s spa, where many bridal parties enjoy therapeutic massages before the big day, and the cedar-lined cigar room, which is popular with grooms. The 1898 home boasts a casual elegance with portico porches that give the feeling of a large family estate and has been recognized as a destination wedding venue and fine dining establishment.
The Forks Inn in Elkins, WV. Photo by Jackie Taubman.
The Forks Inn
The Forks Inn in Elkins, WV, offers couples lodging, catering, decorating and reception services with a view that makes it one of the most beautiful wedding venues in the Mountain State. The inn can accommodate up to 100 guests for both indoor and outdoor ceremonies, although most people choose the outdoor setting. “Our goal is to make the bride and groom’s wedding experience as easy and special as possible,” says owner Trevor Stalnaker. “We take care of absolutely everything so the bride and groom don’t have to worry about any of the details on their special day.”
A family-owned business, The Forks Inn brings together two generations in brothers Trevor and Drew Stalnaker and their uncle, Jon Eric Stalnaker, who also serves as the executive chef. “Because we are a family-owned business, the owners will actually be present in every aspect of your special day from planning to executing the day itself,” says Trevor.
The renowned restaurant allows brides and grooms to customize its traditional, French-inspired American cuisine. Chef Jon Eric grows his own herbs, smokes meat on-site and is known for a variety of homemade, seasonal dishes. With upscale appetizers, salads, entrées and desserts, The Forks Restaurant is perfect for engagement parties, rehearsal dinners and wedding receptions.
The inn offers five beautiful, newly renovated guest rooms with spectacular views of Kelly Mountain for the bride and groom, family and out-of-town guests. Just off Route 33, the prime location gives guests access to Canaan Valley, Seneca Rocks and Cheat River. Depending on the season, guests can spend their weekend whitewater rafting, hiking, biking, fly fishing, canoeing, kayaking, golfing and more.
Hillbrook Inn & Spa in Charles Town, WV. Photo by Bryan Zanella.
Hillbrook Inn & Spa
The Hillbrook Inn & Spa in historic Charles Town, WV, has been offering top-notch accommodations, fine dining, spa services and special events for more than two decades. In addition to being a unique venue, Hillbrook provides overnight accommodations in 19 well-appointed guest suites, on-site catering, a full-service bar and complimentary event planning services. Set on 30 beautiful acres that showcase the best of the Mountain State, the inn is ideal for intimate weddings, and a Hillbrook wedding won’t be a cookie-cutter event.
“Brides who select Hillbrook Inn & Spa for their wedding can expect a stress-free experience from start to finish,” says Guest Services Manager Marcy Deck. “Our complimentary event planner is with them every step of the way to make sure their special day is everything they dreamed it would be.
With accommodations for between 50-150 guests in the backyard tent, front terrace, three adjacent dining rooms and beautiful home, couples can customize everything from the venue to the menu. The executive chef works with the couple to set the menu of their choice, and the chef and culinary team take pride in creating delicious, elegant meals using local and seasonal ingredients.
Out-of-town guests can also enjoy a variety of local attractions in Charles Town, including award-winning wineries, the Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races, Summit Point Speedway and historic Harpers Ferry.
Lakeview Golf Resort & Spa in Morgantown, WV. Photo by Modern Dynamix Photography.
Lakeview Golf Resort & Spa
Conveniently located just off I-68 on Cheat Lake in Morgantown, WV, and only 10 miles south of the Pennsylvania border, Lakeview Golf Resort & Spa is not only one of the Mid-Atlantic’s premier golf destinations but also serves as an all-inclusive destination for unforgettable weddings. The resort’s wedding packages include everything from access to the bar, hors d’oeuvres and custom wedding cakes to decoration and clean up. All a bride has to do is drop off her specialty items, and Lakeview takes care of the rest. Other unique incentives include a bridal suite for the newlyweds, linens and chair covers, breakfast in bed the morning after the wedding and a complementary room block for guests at a discounted room rate. Brides are even treated to a maître d’ service with a personal wedding day assistant who will do everything from bustling the bride’s gown to getting her a drink.
“We consider ourselves the ultimate one-stop shop for weddings,” says Trent Krupica, marketing manager for Lakeview Golf Resort & Spa. “We are able to host your ceremony and reception, and in addition to that, we are a full-service resort with 187 guest rooms and 52 condos your family and friends can enjoy.”
Lakeview’s ballrooms, which offer stunning views of the lake and two championship golf courses, can accommodate up to 400 guests. The wedding specialists begin working with the brides and grooms from day one and guide them through food tastings, detail appointments and rehearsals. Choose from an outdoor ceremony on the 10th tee under a beautiful white gazebo and surrounded by stunning scenery or an indoor ceremony in the library with its original 1954 characteristics. Executive Chef Jessie Teasdale loves to customize menus, from a full gourmet meal to a delicious brunch, according to the bride and groom’s preferences.
Brides and bridesmaids can spend the evening before the wedding at Spa Roma, Lakeview’s luxury spa, which offers hairstyling, massages, makeup and nail care, while the groomsmen bond on the golf course.
The Mountain State is best-known for its people, and while West Virginia offers some of the most beautiful backdrops in the country for scenic weddings, it’s the people at these all-inclusive locations that will make any wedding day unforgettable.
