I got married at Seven Paths Manor last night, and I wish I could say the experience matched the beauty of the venue—but it didn’t. From start to finish, it was messy and stressful....
When we first toured, we were helped by Joseph, and he was absolutely amazing—so professional, kind, and accommodating. Honestly, he was the entire reason we booked this venue. Unfortunately, after he moved away, things went downhill fast. I can’t help but think most of the glowing reviews here are from before his time ended.
During my final walkthrough with Shayla, I left feeling anxious instead of reassured. I had prior written approval for our rental company to drop off items Friday and pick up Monday, but Shayla immediately said, “I would have NEVER approved that” and made it clear she had an event the next day. The entire tone of the meeting made me feel like my wedding was an inconvenience instead of a priority. She also made completely unprofessional comments about other weddings, even referring to people as “she-mans.” That alone speaks volumes.
She guaranteed the gates would remain closed during the ceremony and first look—yet during my first look, cars were freely able to rolling in. That moment that should have been private and emotional was interrupted by vehicles pulling up.
Then, 5 minutes before the end of the reception, I was suddenly told we couldn’t do the grand exit we paid extra for. We had fireworks, sparklers, everything planned and approved ahead of time. Instead, guests were directed to leave, and I ended my wedding night sobbing during a “private last dance” I didn’t even want at that point. My mom and bridesmaids stood alone with sparklers while I walked to the exit vehicle that no one even got to see. It was absolutely heartbreaking after years of planning.
There were several other mishaps throughout the day that reflected disorganization and poor communication. If it weren’t for my amazing husband, our family, and what the day truly symbolized, this would have been a -10/10 experience.
To future brides: if you’re in the Raleigh, Wake Forest, or Wilmington area, spend the extra money to book somewhere closer to civilization with a team that actually cares. They advertise shuttles—yet none are available on weekends. You’re required to remove all vehicles immediately or face fines, and there’s no realistic option for an after-party since the venue is so remote.
Seven Paths Manor is a beautiful property with so much potential, but the management and coordination ruined what could have been a perfect day.