Early Mountain Vineyards

glamorous after just decorated a little by flowers and candles. But this was not the end—EMV had much more than the Event Hall! All places such as the Tasting Room, Patio, Gallery, and Wine Library were so stunning that all guests enjoyed the place so much. My favorite no doubt was the fully decorated and functioning Cottage. My ladies and I spent a wonderful and relaxed afternoon there while getting-ready, as well as took hundreds of beautiful photos. It was pricey, but I did believe the experience deserved every penny. Also, we saved quite amount of money on florist, rental, and catering as tables, chairs, and many decors were already included in the package. In addition, one night stay at the Cottage was too! During the planning process, we worked with Maggie and Taylor, and then Sara and Margaret after Maggie's departure. They were all professional, responsible, flexible, and willing to help. Most importantly, they worked as a team. All information was shared so there were no hiccups during the transition.

ough it was an early fall wedding, and the great hall has an almost cathedral feel to it. They allowed us to set up our giant Jenga set outside which was a big hit, and they didn't mind our ring bearer being a golden retriever puppy. As far as communications and payment goes, they were easy to work with and very prompt in responses. The cottage you stay in on your wedding night is so cute and cozy, it was all perfect for us. We love Early Mountain and highly recommend it to anyone!

, especially since we had our Ceremony at another location. But it was just perfect and worth the splurge!

in the bridal cottage starting at 12 pm the Friday before my wedding which made everything so much easier. the cottage is great and the perfect space to get ready with your bridesmaids (including THREE bathrooms!). We had a chance of rain on our wedding day but I wasn't even worried because EMV has such a great indoor space. In fact, that is one of the main reasons why we chose it. It is a gorgeous vineyard and all of our guests were raving about how beautiful the space was. We ended up having our ceremony and cocktail hour inside and it worked out perfectly. They have a huge kitchen for any catering company and most importantly, their wine is delicious! One of my guests even said "I don't usually like VA wine, but this is really good!" I can't say enough good things about EMV. I am so so happy we chose to have our wedding there, it was perfect. If you are looking for a vineyard setting, it is definitely the best option in Charlottesville.

s worth it. We were married on a Sunday evening, so there was a little savings there. But we spent that savings having the winery close an hour early so it wasn't a crazy late night for people who wanted to go to work on Monday. And be prepared to book at least a year in advance!

g from the moment that we first stepped into the tasting room. The interior event space was just as beautiful as the exterior, as it provided a great backdrop for us to be able to design our ideal layout. An added bonus to the venue was the fact that it had an easy yet still beautiful backup plan in place in case of inclement weather that wouldn't cost extra. I can't possibly describe how happy my husband I were that we came across EMV during our search for venues.

other places really didn't stand a chance. We drove down from Annapolis Maryland to check out the vineyard and I had mentally signed the contract as we drove up before we even parked. Everything from the manicured lawn with beautiful flowers, the vastness of the vineyard and the rolling hills, to the stone and brick on the main building, was enough for me... Then you walk inside and you're done..."where's the contract!?" It's 5 stars in every area (except value). To be clear, the place is absolutely amazing and breathtaking and the service you'll get from Maggie and Delores is top notch and incredibly professional and super responsive (and we asked a ton of questions via email - all answered right away), but the price tag is quite steep. With that said, if you have the budget to go for it, you won't be disappointed. We heard from several quests at our wedding that it was the most beautiful wedding they had even been to. Of course, as a bride who worked for over a year on this day, that was music to my ears, and the location is largely what made the wedding as beautiful as it was.

anned to have the cocktail hour outside after the outdoor ceremony, but due to uncomfortably warm weather we opted to have cocktails indoors (luckily, we had rented out the beautiful tasting room). From the stunning reception hall to the outdoor fire pits to the inviting, comfortable cottage that serves as a space for the bride and her bridal party to get ready and a honeymoon suite for the couple, the whole place is thoughtfully designed to make hosting a wedding as stress-free as possible. The staff was pleasant, professional, and helpful. They responded quickly to any questions we had along the way and were always accommodating. The only comment I have that approaches a criticism concerns the value---while we found the venue itself to be superior to the other winery venues we visited closer to Charlottesville (we visited a total of 6 or 7), I was surprised to learn that the price was as high as or higher than similar venues closer to town (and, therefore, to hotels that can accommodate large room blocks). If you're planning on providing transportation for your guests to get to the venue, it's worth factoring in that cost. But keep in mind that Early Mountain also offers amenities you'll pay extra for elsewhere, such as chairs for both the ceremony and the reception, tables, and decor items---not to mention a honeymoon suite! Overall, we felt like Early Mountain Vineyards was the perfect place to get married. Countless guests (and vendors) commented on how beautiful the venue was, and the thoughtful details that make it such an excellent event space helped our wedding go seamlessly. I would recommend it without hesitation to anyone looking to get married in the Charlottesville area.

a, nothing came close to EMV. We were immediately blown away during our initial visit, beginning with the gorgeous tasting room when you walk in, followed by the breathtaking wedding event spaces. We wanted to get married in March and weather can be unpredictable, so our venue needed to have space to host the ceremony and reception indoors and the Event Hall at EMV was perfect for both. It actually snowed the Thursday before our wedding, and it didn't matter at all! There was ample space to host our 115 guests (majority of which traveled from South Florida) in a cozy, romantic, beautiful and unique atmosphere that everyone absolutely LOVED! Some of our engaged friends actually told us they had “venue envy” after seeing EMV for the first time! And, as if that weren't enough, access to the Bridal Cottage and Lounge/Library made our day that much better as the entire bridal party (not just the Bride and Bridesmaids) got to hang out and relax at the venue before the festivities began. As other reviews have stated, EMV was worth every penny, especially considering all that is included in the rental fee. Aside from the quality and charm of the venue itself, the EMV staff was INCREDIBLE - we chose EMV more than a year in advance and Maggie (our Event Coordinator) was wonderful and super responsive the entire time. We also worked with Nicolette, who was also awesome, so no matter whom you work with at Early Mountain, you will be in good hands! EMV was the perfect setting for our perfect day and we could not have been happier with our choice. We loved it, our guests loved it, and our vendors loved it too! We are now members of the wine club and are planning to stay in the Bridal Cottage for our one-year anniversary. Needless to say, we are huge fans of EMV and could not have imagined getting married anywhere else!

oor ceremony and were so happy with the outcome. My vision was winter wonderland theme, and to be honest I didn't want to overdo it becuase EM already has so much natural beauty. The staff was wonderful throughout the entire planning process. Maggie, one of the wedding coordinators was very organized, honest, and friendly. Every visit/meeting with her, I could tell she really enjoys working with brides. The bridal cottage on-site was such a cozy spot for my girls to get ready, and the perfect escape for Mr. & Mrs on the wedding night! We chose to have liquor, beer, and EM wines. We picked two reds and two whites, all very good and popular among guests. We truly love EM and plan to spend more time their as husband and wife, and will never forget our special day!

, the grounds and spaces are so beautiful and unique and are the definition of a "wow factor". I stayed at the EMV cottage both the day before and night of my wedding and it made my experience so relaxing and special- my bridesmaids and I had so much fun getting ready there- it really is the perfect place to prep for a wedding and a romantic getaway to spend your first night married. Everyone at my wedding raved that EMV was the most beautiful venue they had ever seen and I couldnt agree more- I cannot wait to go back again!

y responsive and was very helpful during the planning process. The day of the wedding, our wedding coordinators and Nicolette worked to make our day unforgettable! All that EMV has to offer (reception space, tables and chairs, patio with heating lamps and the views) made our wedding that much more amazing! We were blown away with all of the details which were highlighted and they made sure our day went according to plan. We also used the cottage Friday and Saturday night. Friday night the bridesmaids and myself stayed and got ready there on Saturday. The cottage is beautiful and has the perfect amount of space for all of us to get ready including the makeup and hair artists. We were blown away by the small touches in the cottage including the coffee maker and coffee, creamer, snacks, etc. Throughout the wedding and after, our guests were raving about how amazing the venue and reception space was. Guests mentioned it was the most beautiful space they have been to! We could have not been happier. Overall the weekend was amazing and it would not have been the same if we got married somewhere else. I would highly recommend EMV to all brides!!!

a more unique, picturesque setting that you will fall in love with immediately - it is worth the couple miles of driving, and there are countless bed and breakfasts in the vicinity for your guests to make a complete weekend out of your wedding. If the beautiful setting were not enough to convince you, the wedding staff (in particular Nicolette) is extremely helpful and responsive with everything from recommendations, logistics, ideas, and anything else you might have questions about. If we could give six stars on service, quality, and value, we would - the staff, setting, and everything “extra” that you get is that amazing and takes additional work off your plate. Early Mountain Vineyards is worth every penny. Our recommendation: Go to Early Mountain Vineyards as your first stop, sit down, do a wine tasting, and cancel all the rest of your appointments - nothing else will come close. If you’re getting married in the Charlottesville area, you’re not going to find a more beautiful setting, more helpful staff, or get as many additional time, hassle, and cost saving things (like patio furniture, tables, indoor and outdoor chairs and cushions, and let’s not forget the beautiful, cozy guest cottage for the night of the wedding) than at Early Mountain Vineyards.

y and no one could tell it was a last minute change. We worked primarily with Nicolette and she is so organized, calming and informative! We were able to use a caterer that was not on their 'preferred vendors' list with no issue. They also allowed us to bring in much of our decorations and flowers the day before the wedding which was super helpful. My only issue is that I would have liked to have Nicolette at the rehearsal so we could go over a few details and discuss the inclement weather plan.

e the venue is definitely a little bit pricey, it certainly wasn't the most expensive venue we looked at and I think you get a great value since EMV provides all the tables and chairs for the ceremony and reception. They also have a great kitchen (no rentals needed!); in fact our caterer was relieved to hear our reception location because they enjoy working there. Another perk of this venue is the cottage where the bride and bridesmaids can get ready. The cottage has a kitchen, several bathrooms, and plenty of space to have your hair and makeup team set up to pamper the ladies. The guys get access to a "man cave" room downstairs with a big TV, perfect for them to finish getting ready and hang out before the ceremony. The ceremony area is set away from the rest of the tasting room area open to the public so you don't feel like you have wedding crashers wandering through or a bunch of strangers watching your ceremony. You can't help a few people looking on, but it was quiet and not a problem. Another great part was the owners decided to close the winery at 6 pm - thank goodness! That cuts down on time that you'd have to share the venue with anyone else. We worked mostly with Nicolette, although we worked with Delores as well. Nicolette was friendly and accommodating throughout the planning process, especially the month leading up to the big day. When she knew how frustrated I was with my day-of-coordinator, she really stepped up and helped coordinate and I had total confidence that with her help, everything would be pulled off smoothly. Other staff at EMV were pleasant to work with, but Nicolette really put my mind at ease and allowed me to enjoy my wedding.

d perfectly decorated. I can't wait to go back for other events!

ly furnished and convenient for a bride and her train.

gorgeous. The people there are amazing to work with. They were all super friendly and very accommodating which made our wedding planning experience memorable. We recommend Early Mountain Vineyard to anyone in search of a venue! If we had to do it over again, Early Mountain Vineyard would still be our number one choice.

one or the other, Early Mountain Vineyard has everything. It is rare you can say that you would be just as happy with the ceremony indoors as outdoors but we did and truly meant it. Everything about it is stunning and the attention to detail the owners and Event Planning team put into everything is noticeable. My husband and I have high standards of quality and never once were we disappointed. The cost is certainly not inexpensive but you get what you pay for and more. Having the flexibility to find our own vendors was perfect and it made our wedding that much more a reflection of who we are. I cannot say thank you enough to EMV, Maggie and Nicolette for what they did for us.

budget, every penny was worth it. Our guests raved about the location both inside and out. Picking this venue and working with the people at EMV was one of the easiest decisions throughout the entire process.

. My husband and I had looked at almost every vineyard in central VA and by chance we’d learned of EMV. As soon as we walked out after an initial tour he turned to me and said we have to have our wedding there even though, as many grooms, he was less than thrilled to tour locations for our big day and to say the least had been until that point underwhelmed by all other sites we had visited. The staff at EMV make the planning process easy and it was so nice having an entirely separate wing away from the main tasting room all to ourselves for our wedding. Further, the main hall and gallery are so beautifully decorated that you won’t even need all that much décor. This was especially helpful given that it ended up raining on our big day causing us to move everything inside in front of one of the great big fireplaces on site and surrounded by a hallow of lantern and candlelight (I don’t think it could have been more romantic). Also, EMV is surprisingly a great bang for your buck with all the extras they offer that would add up quickly if purchased/rented separately; EMV offers beautiful big farm tables, tons of available lanterns, stylish chairs that may be brought in from elsewhere on site for cozy seating areas around the fireplaces, a very cool, large fire pit, outdoor heaters, as well as the tables and upgraded chairs with cushions. I also loved that our guests could mosey around the vineyard and hang out at one one of the many firepits with Adirondack chairs and hammocks while listening the live music that always seems to be playing. Our caterer also LOVED the kitchen and prep areas that allowed us to save a bit of money since most of our food could be made on site. I’m so glad that we chose EMV for our wedding and would definitely choose Early Mountain Vineyard again if we had to do it all over again!

mmunicated what they needed from us. This venue is incredibly convenient; there is an outdoor and indoor ceremony space (in case of rain), elevators for the small staircases (in case of elderly guests), ceremony chairs and chiavari chairs included, and beautiful spaces for both the men and women to get ready separately! They also allow an outside caterer, and have no minimum fee on wine consumption. The only miscommunications we had were very minor and on the day of the wedding rehearsal - and our wedding went off seamlessly! This is an absolutely stunning space and in a very quiet location. There is simply no downside. I highly recommend this venue!

r recent wedding was more than I could ever hope for, from their accommodating staff to our stay in their beautiful luxury cottage. Everything was just perfect, their event coordinator worked with us through it all. I couldn't be more satisfied in saying that we shared one of, if not the best day of our lives with this excellent team of experts. Not to mention their wine selections are truly unique and wonderful. If you decide this venue isn't right for you, I'd say you're missing out, but at least plan a day trip and indulge yourself.

e wedding coordinator was gracious, patient, and offered a fresh perspective. The wedding and reception were wonderful due to the teamwork effort the winery staff had with outside vendors. Furthermore, there were no hidden costs with Early Mountain.

er in May can be a bit unpredictable, and many of the local vineyards provide – or accommodate – a tented ceremony/reception space but don’t provide enclosed/standing event structures. Early Mountain’s event space is quite unique in that aspect and provided just what we were looking for – a gorgeous, picturesque outdoor space (which we used for the ceremony and cocktail hour) and a breathtaking event hall (which we used for the reception). We found the pricing to be competitive but reasonable, and you really can’t beat what you get for the cost – Early Mountain provides tables and (chiavari!) chairs, and had other odds and ends we could choose to use if we so wished (including a trellis for our ceremony, two bars for our our cocktail hour, and lanterns we incorporated into our table centerpieces). We also had access to their guest cottage to get ready for the wedding (there are a couple of nice rooms within the main facility available for use as well), and for a fee you can stay the night in the guest cottage, which we did – and loved! Finally, you get a fabulous wedding coordinator (note: they aren’t wedding *planners*, but help coordinate with you and the vendors and stick around on your wedding day in case they’re needed). We worked with Nicolette who was completely amazing – she was friendly, responsive, and really helpful with recommendations for just about everything. We had a perfect wedding day and Early Mountain was the perfect backdrop for it!

d with many beautiful design elements. It was a pleasure working with the event staff who were friendly and very helpful. My guests were enchanted by the casual elegance of the winery and the gorgeous scenery. It was a beautiful day for our outdoor ceremony and the patio was the perfect place for the cocktail hour while my husband and I walked the picturesque grounds with the photographer. The baronial event hall is gorgeous. The winery provided white folding chairs and the arbor for the wedding and the tables and chiavari chairs with cushions for the reception. They also had provided lanterns, bars, and beautiful farm tables. Faux burlap tablecloths are available for rent. They have the most beautiful cottage on grounds that is available to the bride the day of the wedding. It was such a calming and relaxing setting to prepare for the big day. I opted to rent the cottage the night before and the night of the wedding for an additional fee and it was well worth it. Thank you Early Mountain Vineyards for providing the perfect setting for my romantic, elegantly rustic wedding! :-)

nt stone great room which can seat up to 200 people (eliminating any weather concerns), a large industrial kitchen, and French doors that lead quests to a large patio for cocktails and the breathtaking view of the landscape and ceremony seating. The guest cottage is every bit a gem and a delight for my daughter and her bridesmaids as they spent the day together getting ready for our late afternoon wedding. She and her new husband also chose to spend their first night together there and enjoy the breakfast table for two out under the apple tree and the view of the mountains. Delores and Nicolette, our event coordinators, were delightful to work with and bent over backwards to field questions and be flexible with special circumstances as they arose. They made us feel that we were their first priority and they took a personal interest in making our day go smoothly. I think there may have even been a few ceremony tears! Oh, and did I mention that they have a policy of one wedding a weekend- this is a true gift and allowed us the time to get set up and enjoy the process. The wedding was perfect, so many people commented that it was the most beautiful and enjoyable they had ever attended. We could not have been more pleased and highly recommend you put Early Mountain Vineyard on the top of you list!

ng compliments from our guests about how beautiful our wedding was! Nicolette and Delores were a huge help in making sure our wedding day was perfect. Nicolette is so sweet and was very helpful in answering all of our questions, providing what we needed, and offering suggestions for making our day run smoothly. Delores is also very knowledgeable and even stayed late one evening to help us make our wine selection. These two ladies work very well together and I didn’t have to worry about anything on the day of my wedding! We used the cottage provided by the vineyard prior to the wedding to get ready and then my husband and I stayed there the night after. The last thing we wanted to do was drive to a hotel after the wedding and the cottage is so cute and convenient we couldn’t resist. We also enjoyed breakfast overlooking the mountains in the morning. If you are looking for a BEAUTIFUL wedding venue any time of the year then you have to see it for yourself. You won’t be disappointed!! My husband and I plan to visit Early Mountain Vineyards soon to enjoy some wine on the patio.

eyards (EMV). They responded to my questions promptly, assisted with room layouts and helped me envision the flow of my big day! EMV’s bridal cottage to get ready in, and spend our first night as newlyweds was a true dream! The bridal cottage was able to accommodate not only a beautiful spread of food for my bridal luncheon, but hair artists and assistant, and a makeup artist! There was plenty of room for my bridesmaids and I to spread out, relax and enjoy the day while still having full bridal beauty staff on site and in the same location without being crowded. EMV also had a grooms corner, or a man cave for Jon and his crew to hang out in before the wedding ceremony, and this was away from the bridal cottage, and away from the commotion of the ceremony and reception hall, so they had some privacy as well and a location to store all the bridal party’s belongings while the event was occurring! EMV staff was also very helpful in getting a stain out of Jon’s jacket, because he had some red wine substance spill on his wedding suit! In addition, EMV was very helpful in coordinating and assisting with cleanup for the wedding reception. However on the day of my wedding, they dropped the ball in executing the “Big Day”. My major requests were not executed, and my family, my Mom in particular had to keep stopping what she was doing to redirect the staff and get the things done! My Mom should not have had to been an event coordinator on my wedding day when Early Mountain Vineyard has two capable women staffed for such a purpose and who you basically pay for. Both women were present on the day of the wedding, and things seemed to be going well, until we pull up for the wedding ceremony at 4:50pm in our limo and see there is a cocktail hour going on the patio and the reception doors are not locked. By EMV not following these two specific requests, my wedding was delayed to begin by 30 minutes, as I sat in a limo and watched the chaos unfold of my Mother trying to get people to go sit down in the ceremony chairs, and trying to find either Delores or Nicolette to assist her with this task. I also felt the sendoff for our wedding was hiccupped due to miscommunication between EMV staff and my bridal party, because the wedding ceremony was delayed by 30 mins. the entire evening schedule had been shifted slightly, and I feel as they were trying to rush the sendoff to catch up on time, and had my guests light the sparklers for the sendoff, while I was literally in the restroom freshening up to leave with all my bridesmaids. I feel this was a huge mishap because they should never have initiated the sparkler sendoff, or lite any sparklers before having a visual on both the bride and groom. This resulted in us having to do a second sparkler sendoff, which neither of our photographers was able to capture because they had already left. All in all, would I recommend EMV for another bride, Most definitely yes-just invest in a wedding planner!!!!!

about how much fun they had. Thanks Early Mountain Vineyards!!!

e event coordinators are two wonderful ladies that helped plan and make the day go smoothly, not to mention very accommodating to what we wanted. This location is perfect for a small, more intimate wedding or for a large wedding. My husband and I looked for months for the perfect place (mainly in Charlottesville, however, we just couldn't afford the prices). EMV was very affordable and was the only place within our budget that offered more than just the venue, hey offered first class hospitality. Honestly, in my opinion this venue could be charging even more and it would be worth every penny, but they choose to keep it more affordable and reasonable for couples. The staff is very honest and even gave me extra tips on how to keep the cost down. Although, we had a strict budget (no more than $15,000 for the entire wedding, including everything from dress, favors, catering, etc.) I was able to have my dream wedding and not go over that budget thanks to EMV. It was a true blessing for us to find this venue and will continue to visit it over the years as it is now in our history. The venue on a whole is maintained very well by staff and clean...I can't tell you when it was built, but I can tell you that it looks new throughout and the decor is exquisite. We particularly love the vineyards wine. This venue also has a cute cottage for the bride and groom after the wedding just up the road, which I would also recommend. If you are shopping around for wedding venues I would highly recommend you check out this vineyard. I hope that you fall in love with the venue as we did! Lastly, I hope this review helps and congratulations to your upcoming wedding.

plan a wedding with and I found that Early Mtn was just the opposite. They were very laid back, helpful, and attentive to my needs. If I had to recommend a place for any engaged couple, this would be on the top of my list!