4.5 out of 5 stars and 20 reviews Best of Weddings (1x).
4.5
(20)135 Forrest Hills Road, Dahlonega, GA
About this vendor
A 140 acre resort for weddings and receptions as small as 20 to as large as 200. Two picturesque wedding gardens plus farmhouse style chapel and three reception venues all on site guarantee the perfect size and style you're looking for.
Family built, owned and operated, means the rates are affordable and can be viewed online now.
Guest accommodations, romantic honeymoon cabins, restaurant and on site activities can easily turn your wedding day into a wedding weekend event. Schedule a tour today!
Amenities + details
Ceremony Area
Dressing Room
Handicap Accessible
Indoor Event Space
Liability Insurance
On-Site Accommodations
Outdoor Event Space
Reception Area
Wireless Internet
Covered Outdoors Space
Ceremony Types
- Civil Union
- Commitment Ceremony
- Elopement
- Interfaith Ceremony
- Non-Religious Ceremony
- Religious Ceremony
Settings
- Ballroom
- Country Club
- Garden
- Hotel
- Mountain
- Religious Setting
Venue Service Offerings
- Bar & Drinks
- Cakes & Desserts
- Cupcakes
- Other Desserts
- Destination Weddings
- Destination Wedding Packages
Awards and Affiliations
2022 'Best of Weddings'
Best of Weddings
The Knot independently assesses vendors for this award—it’s never self-reported. We base it on firsthand experiences from real couples and guests, and they must have a 4.5-star average across 7+ reviews in the qualifying year.
Reviews
Your trust is our goal. Our community relies on honest reviews to help
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4.5
out of 5.020 reviews
Review photos
Showing slide number 1 out of 9
We got married at Forrest Hills using the Princess Package, which included a carriage ride, 2 nights in a cabin for us, the photographer (including engagement photos), florist, cak...
e, and DJ. The vendors contracted with the venue were great and I have separate reviews for them. The location was absolutely stunning. We had a lot of guests traveling from out of town, so we rented a lodge on property for the whole weekend, and it made everything so much easier and more special. We had s'mores at the fire pits Friday night, our wedding Saturday, and a lovely included breakfast Sunday morning for everyone staying on site.
We did the Chuck Wagon Roast for the rehearsal dinner for 26 people, including 9 kids. We ride 3 horse drawn carriages to a creekside that had a live guitar player, and very good outdoor BBQ.
Communication with the venue wasn't always the easiest leading up to the wedding so I do recommend hiring an outside coordinator to help ensure nothing is overlooked, but the venue itself and the overall experience made it worth it, especially for a wedding with many out of town guests.
The lodges and cabins are a little older and musty, but they have done some renovations. Some of my guests stayed in a renovated lodge and said it was really nice.
I was a Forrest Hills bride in May 2025. It’s taken me a while to write this because the experience was so bad that I just wanted to block it out, enjoy being married, and reflect ...
on what I wanted to say.
From our first tour to our wedding in May, we worked with three different coordinators: Levi, Jackie, and Sheri. When we signed the contract, we agreed to automatic monthly payments with the remaining balance drafted two weeks before the wedding...
But just three days before the wedding, Sheri called to say we owed over $2,000. I was shocked. I reminded her our contract outlined automatic monthly payments, but she claimed we’d been paying in “chunks,” which wasn’t true. She asked for credit card statements to "sort it out before Saturday." So there I was, crying and panicking, spending hours combing through statements to prove our payments. I tried calling Sheri back multiple times, but she had left for the day and no one else was available. I felt helpless and scared they’d cancel our wedding over a mistake that wasn’t ours. Eventually, they blamed Levi (who wasn’t even present when we signed the contract). Not keeping proper track of payments is a terrible business practice.
Then came the wedding day.
We were told we could begin setup at 8 a.m. We arrived at 10:30, and the reception hall was still dirty and decorated from a prom the night before. The ceremony gazebo still had dead, rotting flowers from a previous wedding. We had to remove old decorations and reset everything up ourselves, which threw our timeline off. My mom almost missed our first look and private vows!
Throughout the day, most interactions with staff felt cold and unfriendly as if we were a burden they couldn’t wait to get rid of. I admit we were behind schedule due to the set up delays and weather, but we still left on time, and there was no need to be so cruel.
A few weeks later, the owner, Michelle, called to ask how the wedding went. I cried while telling her how hurt and disappointed I was. But every time I brought up a concern, she responded with, “That’s not how my staff said it happened.” Remember she called me (not the other way around)... she didn’t seem interested in actually listening, so what was the point?
The venue is of course beautiful and the food was delicious... but that was not worth the stress and awful experience.
The memories of our once-in-a-lifetime day are tainted by Forrest Hills and the regret of booking with them. I’m sharing this in hopes of helping other couples make a more informed decision and avoid terrible experience we had.
The venue is truly beautiful and was a lovely setting for our wedding—but unfortunately, the planning experience was frustrating. Partway through, our experienced coordinator was r...
eplaced with someone much less familiar with weddings, which led to several mistakes on the day (including my partner and I seeing each other before our first look). I also had to repeatedly remind the venue of details from our original contract, as I was sent revised plans with incorrect meal choices and start times. When I raised concerns, the owner (who was unexpectedly involved throughout) dismissed them rather than acknowledging the oversight.
Additionally, I was told I could use the bridal salon at the reception to change, but someone unexpectedly entered while I was there, which led to an uncomfortable and upsetting moment.
Our photographer and DJ ended up taking on some coordination tasks, which they did professionally, but it wasn’t their role. I later learned some vendors have had similarly tense experiences with management. If I had known how difficult communication would be—especially with the owner—I likely would have booked elsewhere. Gorgeous venue, but the planning process needs serious improvement.
Forrest Hills Resort was absolutely perfect for our wedding. We wanted an atmosphere where our family and friends would be able to connect and enjoy the beauty of our special week...
end. The lodges that our family and friends stayed in created the setting of comfort and ease in visiting with each other. Being in the lodge setting helped our guests come together for casual encounters and nurturing conversations in a home setting. At night, some would use the fire pits, others enjoyed the jacuzzi. The grounds show off the dazzling wonder of the Georgia woods which were great for hiking and strolling about. All of our guests commented on how wonderful the whole wedding weekend was. They felt as if they had been on a relaxing, spiritual weekend retreat, full of love, happiness and the beauty of nature.
The staff went out of their way to fulfill any and every need. Having the restaurant close by was an added bonus for our guests. It was such a joy to be together for breakfast.
Levi is the “master of ceremony”! He is very detailed about what is about to happen and is quick to catch the essential details that others would miss. Not only is he very knowledgeable about who to use, Levi is also very creative in seeing what a bride’s vision is for her wedding. When my florist was failing to met the goal on my wedding day, Levi stepped in and saved the day! I feel as if I have found a lifelong friend in Levi!
Bob and I are forever grateful to all at Forrest Hills Resort for giving us the wedding of our dream!
I had an elopement ceremony here and it was everything I ever dreamed of. I got the times mixed up and showed up 30 minutes late, which I thought was right on time, and the origina...
l officiant had to leave without performing my ceremony. However she made sure someone else was there to complete the ceremony, which turned out to be perfect, especially for one of the most imperfect couples 😂. The ceremony space was very cute, even though the benches for the guest to sit on during the wedding could no way possible accommodate 8 full size adults. All of my guess basically had to stand while we got married, but the good part is the ceremony was approximately 10-12 minutes from start to finish.
The bi-level hotel room that we stayed in was very clean and spacious. The bi-level balcony was a major plus, even though the top balcony was shared. I just loved the fire place in the upstairs section of the hotel room. The only negative I could think of is that there is only one small bathroom downstairs, which really wasn't an issue.
This wedding venue is fabulous and the event coordinator, Levi Hansard, is phenomenal!! The facilities are lovely, enchanting and magical. The food is delicious and the staff profe...
ssional, patient and kind!! I cannot find enough good things to say except this place is a gem and I recommit highly!!
We booked this venue about a year before our wedding and Levi was very helpful and responsive to all my planning questions over the course of the year. I hired my own day-of coord...
inator but Levi was still there most of the day to make sure everything ran smoothly! We had also reserved the Mountain Laurel Inn for family and friends to stay for the weekend. The rooms are very spacious! Everyone said it was a beautiful venue, and I agree! I appreciate Levi and all the staff at Forrest Hills Resort for making our wedding day a dream come true!
Location:
Forrest Hills is located in North Georgia, in the Chatthooche National Forest. It is a gorgeous drive to get there, no matter what route you take. You don’t get good cell...
phone service here, but hopefully you’ll be too busy relaxing and/or having fun to need it!
Accommodations:
Our guests stayed in Mountain Laurel Lodge, Eagle’s Nest, as well as a cabin on site. Mountain Laurel is newly renovated and a comfortable stay. Plus it was great to have all our guests in one place and to not have to worry about how our guests would get back to their stay once our reception was over. The hot tubs and fire pit are great amenities, too! It was complicated organizing it with so many guests from different stages in our life, but everyone ended up where they need to be in the end.
Food and Beverages:
Our rehearsal dinner was on-site at Forrest Hills. Between that, our wedding reception, and the breakfasts each day, we didn’t have a single bad bite of food! Christy was amazing and covered anything we needed. We didn’t taste the food before the reception, but we were assured that you can’t go wrong with any food choice at Forrest Hills--and we completely agree based on our experience! They had our back every step of the way!
Wedding coordination:
We worked with Levi from the moment we inquired about the venue and he was amazing! We completely appreciated his style and choices, which let us stress less about the details. It was great to have everything on site. We were married at the Fox Hollow gazebo, which was gorgeous, and the Rose Garden reception room was exactly the vibe we were going for. Everything was on time and went off without a hitch! Levi helped with everything, from fluffing my train as I walked towards the aisle, helping my bridesmaid bustle my dress, and even serving food at the reception. We could not be happier with our choice of being married at Forrest Hills!
All of our guests asked us how we found this place because it was so perfect for us and our guests!
The wedding coordinator was amazing at communication, the location was beautiful, the staff so kind and freindly. The only downside is that we could not access the reception venue ...
earlier, as it is used for events on a daily basis. This is completely understandable but it lead to some stress not being able to trouble shoot technology etc. The internet is also quite spotty with it being a remote location, so playlists used for music should be downloaded or have a hot spot at hand to avoid any awkward silences.
Forrest Hills blew away our expectations as a venue. Everything was beautiful, the ceremony site, the reception area, and the rehearsal dinner area. The staff was exceptionally kin...
d and helpful. They were there when we needed them, out of the way when we did not. The food was delicious as well! Their amazing fried chicken was a huge hit. The lodging accommodations were ideal for the large group of people we had. Getting around was easy, and we had ample space for all the activities we had planned for our guests. We opted for the carriage ride entrance, and it was amazing! The owner of Forrest Hills was one of the carriage drivers he did an excellent job. Levi,the wedding coordinator, went above and beyond to make sure that we were well taken care of the entire weekend. Reggie, the head chef, worked with us to ensure that a guest with a life threatening allergy would have options for the whole weekend, which we really appreciated. It was a wedding to remember, our deepest thanks to Forrest Hills resort, the Kraft family, Levi, Reggie, and the rest of their fantastic staff.
Perfect for wedding and reception and a place to stay all in the same location. Without having to drive! They set up and take down, provide tables and food. Cabins are being remode...
led as they do need some updates but it’s definitely still worth it. The wedding coordinator is fantastic and helpful.
I had my wedding there in the secret garden on November 3, 2019. The grounds are beautiful and the wedding was everything we imagined! My husband and I could not have chosen a bett...
er place.
We were able to rent a lodge on the resort for the family and close friends to spend the weekend together. We had a great time in a relaxed setting. The venue has so many options f...
or any size wedding. The food is amazing! The staff made us feel so special the entire stay. Riding in and away on a horse drawn carriage was magical! Last but absolutely not least, the Wedding Coordinator Levy Hansard is the best! The interaction with him after visiting so many other venues was the reason we chose this hidden piece of heaven! I was able to be the bride while he handled every aspect of the wedding! It was perfect!
This place was everything we were looking for and so much more! Levi was a dream to work with and extreamly knowledgeable about everything. My Husband and I had a hundred questions...
, changed our preferences a couple of times and ended up with a wedding/reception even more beautiful and magical then we ever dreamed of. We live 6 hours away from Dahlonega, GA so everything was done by phone and email and Levi stayed on top of everything from day one. Some people thought I was crazy to choose a place so far away where I couldn't be more hands on. Levi was so open and accommodating through the whole process that I felt very comfortable and extreamly happy to be working with him. We went with the Secret Garden package which was perfect for our needs, budget and family size. The reception hall was decorated better than I ever could have imagined and the food was so delicious. We also took advantage for Forrest Hills week long promotion and Honeymooned in their Cupids Hideout cabin for a week. Everyone at Forrest Hills was amazing and friendly!! The staff was very knowledgeable about the area and had lots of ideas on things for us to do. Every morning we got an amazing breakfast that overlooked the spot where we got married which just made our stay even better!! I highly recommend Forrest Hills Resort as a wedding venue, Honeymoon destination or just for a quite place to get away from it all and relax. We will definalty be coming back to visit in the future!
My husband and I got married at Forrest Hills in April. Overall, I think everyone had a great time and I got lots of compliments on the wedding. The ceremony location is beautiful...
and the food was fantastic. I did have a few issues with the wedding coordinator, in that it didn't seem to matter how may times we met and discussed things, I had to repeat myself often, and things were still forgotten day of. That being said, all of the other vendors that the venue works with were great! The hair and make up artists from Jolie Day Spa were wonderful, the florist, Laurens Norton, was out of this world phenomenal, the baker, Donna Cauller, was fantastic, and I cannot possibly say enough good about the DJ, Tommy Pirone. All in all, the venue can offer great packages at great prices, just be aware that if you have any special requests, like a vegetarian meal for a bridesmaid, or wanting lemonade to be served, it will be like pulling teeth.
Good food, very beautiful,
I have no regrets about having my wedding here. Everything was excellent! A great site for those looking for a country/rustic wedding site.
Wow! Between the natural beauty of the fall leaves, and the fact that the small details were handled by a wedding planner, my wedding was magical! Get taken to the gazebo in a ho...
rse drawn carriage! Save money on flowers because the natural decor is better than any arrangement. Forrest Hills resort knows how to make your wedding memorable! The food was great and included breakfast for my friends and family that stayed in Mountain Laurel Inn! The staff was soo accommodating! I really couldn't have asked for more...oh, how about lounging in a hot tub on my wedding night watching a meteor shower! Yep, magical!
We had amazing food. They are wonderful
The food was excellent and the employees were super nice! We will be going back for a weekend getaway. The area was very quite and the square was close by as well!
Contact
135 Forrest Hills Road, Dahlonega, GA
Forrest Hills Mountain Resort