Heartstone Lodge @ South River Highlands CountryRetreat

r guests were very complimentary and seemed to love it as much as we did. It definitely helped to have a picture perfect day in July!! We will always have a special place in our hearts for Heartstone and I know Caitlin and Ryan feel the same way!

wedding itself is as much as you want it to be. They can serve as day-of coordinators, or they can be completely hands-off and unseen. Because we wanted a casual ceremony and reception, we opted for the "hands-off" option. They were very respectful of our space and never once over-imposed themselves despite our use of the venue. We appreciated them trusting their venue to us. We had a beautiful wedding and were told by many guests that it was a" picture perfect and magical" setting.

nable and the venue was great for out of towners to stay. They ensured the venue was ready for our special day. I highly recommend this venue for value, scenery, and friendly staff. Most venues you rent for 8 hours then are kicked out, so it was nice to stay on property and enjoy it a few days. Made it much less stressful and was cheaper than the 8 hr rental facilities.

place. The photos on their website are just an inkling of how beautiful it is. The lodge and outbuildings seem a part of the landscape; historical structures are incorporated to preserve a character and charm that make this place truly special. Added touches such as the pergola, fish pond, sunken stone patio, meditation garden, and moon gate enhance any occasion, from a casual conversation to a cocktail reception. Further afield on the property are five historic cabins that can be rented and a meditation walk with gorgeous 360° views of the surrounding Blue Ridge Mts. The owners are accomplished artists and have tastefully adorned the property with their work. The center is maintained simply, and requires do-it-yourself arrangements for event hosting. There are two main event rooms in the Heartstone Lodge. The first floor room, complete with a grand piano, comfortably housed our small sized (50 guests) wedding, with plenty of room for a band and dancing after dinner. Large french doors open onto the pergola/patio, making it easy to incorporate both indoor and outdoor spaces. There is a well designed professional kitchen to one side, which pleased our caterer and us. Nothing is provided, however, except for the existing living room type furniture and folding tables and chairs. Everything except the grand piano can be moved around within the first floor, which also has a spacious entryway and guest bathrooms. The upstairs event room is more casually furnished, and almost as large. We were fortunate to have gorgeous weather for our wedding weekend, but the upstairs room was our rainy day backup for the ceremony, and would have been fine. We made good use of the two guest rooms, and third floor loft dormitory room provided in the lodge, as well as renting the 3 studios in outbuildings and 5 cabins. The cabins are excellent accommodations with total privacy. They are a couple minutes’ drive from the lodge (walking is not really an option) and well separated from each other; each one is a private retreat. There is plenty to do at Heartstone, between walks, and enjoying the many outdoor and indoor spaces. We rented some games that guests enjoyed on the lawn. Lexington has nice restaurants and shops, and we also visited Natural Bridge one afternoon. I’ve saved the best for last. Working with the manager, Lesley, to put together our vision for the weekend became a special part of our happy memories. Friendly, warm, upfront about exactly what is provided and costs--communication was always a pleasure, and questions were answered promptly. We worked with Lesley to schedule meetings with vendors at Heartstone, and sometimes she showed them around for us. We do not live nearby, so we appreciated that we were able to accomplish everything we needed to in 3 visits, which were always fun. I have to say, we found excellent talent within a 45 minute radius of Lexington, and the Heartstone management is happy to share recommendations. It was a pleasure to meet the owners, as well, for their vision and artistic talent are what make Heartstone special. Everyone at the wedding absolutely loved it, and we share many happy memories.