A Wedding and Reception Dream Destination
Holds ceremonies and receptions
Bill Wells
OWNER
Typically responds within 24h
The Gaines Estate includes a restored 1917 mansion and newly built 4,000 square foot reception hall located in downtown Fayetteville, WV. Experience the beauty and old world elegance of the 192 acre Gaines Estate while enjoying Fayetteville’s unique restaurants and shops and the area’s natural beauty and world class outdoor recreation in the nearby New River Gorge National Park. We are a full service wedding venue that offers in-house catering, complete bar services and furniture and decorations for the ceremony and reception. As part of our venue fee, our wedding coordinator will help you plan your wedding and will be on site the day of to make sure that things go smoothly and to allow you to enjoy your wedding day. Contact Bill Wells at 304-382-7509 or at bwells7027@gmail.com to make your reservation or to schedule a site visit and consultation.
Amenities + details
Amenities
Ceremony Area
Covered Outdoors Space
Dressing Room
Handicap Accessible
Indoor Event Space
Liability Insurance
On-Site Accommodations
Outdoor Event Space
Reception Area
Wireless Internet
Ceremony Types
Civil Union
Commitment Ceremony
Elopement
Interfaith Ceremony
Non-Religious Ceremony
Religious Ceremony
Second Wedding
Vow Renewal Ceremony
Settings
Backyard
Barn
Farm & Ranch
Estate
Garden
Historic Venue
Park
Trees
Venue Service Offerings
Bar & Drinks
Destination Weddings
Destination Wedding Packages
Destination Wedding Planning
Food & Catering
Planning
Destination Wedding Planning
Wedding Design
Rentals & Equipment
Tents
Service Staff
Transportation
Any questions?
Meet the team
Bill Wells
Owner
Long term friends, Bill & Sally Wells and Richard & Melissa Stephens formed Cascade Properties LLC in 2012 to purchase the fire damaged Gaines Estate and restore the house and grounds for use as a full service wedding venue. The restoration of the house and construction of a new reception hall were completed in May of 2020. Since then we have hosted over 130 weddings through the end of 2024. The Gaines Estate opened as a restaurant in 2
February of 2024.
Reviews
5.0
out of 5.013 reviews
Your trust is our goal. Our community relies on honest reviews to help
you make those big decisions with ease.
Review Summary
This AI-generated summary is a snapshot of this vendor's ratings and feedback.
The Gaines Estate is highly praised by multiple reviewers for its flawless coordination, exceptional service by staff members like Ally and Alison, and delicious catering and drinks. Guests continue to rave about the food and service, emphasizing the thoughtful and attentive approach the venue takes towards weddings. The beauty of the venue, the southern charm, and the warmth of the staff, particularly Ally, contribute to stress-free wedding days and memorable experiences for couples and their guests. Overall, The Gaines Estate is recommended for its stunning setting, excellent service, and dedicated staff.Alexis H
5.0
12/01/2025
We could not be happier that we chose The Gaines! From start to finish everything was flawless. Ally and her team went above and beyond in every way possible (they even put my veil...
on for me!). Their coordination was smooth, attentive, and genuinely thoughtful. We felt supported, celebrated, and cared for, never once like “just another event.”
The catering and bar service were truly exceptional. Our guests are still raving about how delicious every dish was and how fantastic the drinks tasted!
We truly cannot recommend The Gaines Estate more. They made our day even more magical.
Lauren G
5.0
11/15/2025
We had our wedding on November 1st at The Gaines Estate and everything was absolutely perfect! The coordinator, Allyson, was truly amazing, and she made the day stress free for me ...
and ensured everything went according to plan! I can’t thank her enough for all she did to ensure we had the best day possible. I highly recommend The Gaines Estate and Allyson to anyone still looking into wedding venues, you will not be disappointed!
Any questions?
Olivia S
5.0
8/09/2025
We had our wedding at The Gaines Estate, and everything went wonderfully! I received so many compliments from guests about the amazing coordinator, Alison. Not only did she make th...
e planning process stress-free for me, but she also helped ensure our guests had an incredible day, which I truly appreciate (I had several guests come up to me and say how awesome she was). We chose the Italian dinner because I’m usually not a fan of wedding food and thought it was a safe option, but it completely exceeded my expectations! I had no idea they made their own noodles, and they were absolutely delicious. Literally the only complaint I might have (which is only half a complaint) is in the 30 day meeting when I expected to pay the other 50% of the deposit, I was told I already had. It turns out I hadn't, so we owed a little more than expected after the wedding after already reallocating those funds. I would say that is mostly my fault though, I should've double checked something like that I was just being budget avoident at that point, LOL. At the end of the day it is a small business, and I was one of manyyy of their June brides, and I think they did a great job. Also shoutout to whatever the tent company was, because I had to get one at the last second and they got it worked out, so ily tent men.
Brett S
5.0
10/16/2023
I simply cannot say enough good things about this place and these people! My husband and I got married here on 10/7/23 and it was an absolutely stunning experience. Between Bill, S...
ally, Ally and Melissa, it was a well oiled machine who only had one goal, which was to make my dream wedding come true! By the end of the experience these people felt like friends that I could reach out to at any time with silly questions or even little laughs throughout the whole process. If you want a beautiful place in a beautiful state, this is your pick!
Leanne H
5.0
9/14/2023
Ally, the coordinator for the Gaines Estate helped me feel at ease throughout the wedding planning process and helped my wedding day go smoothly. The estate is breathtakingly and m...
y husband and I feel very lucky to have gotten married here. 🤍
Lilly R
5.0
8/24/2023
The Gaines Estate is southern charm right in the center of the mountain state. The beauty of the venue makes it so easy to create the most stunning wedding day with minimal need fo...
r decoration and extras. The staff goes above and beyond to make sure every detail goes to plan, and the coordinator Ally goes out of her way to make the day perfectly executed and stress free for the bride and family. I spent my entire wedding morning relaxing, spending time with my bridal party, and getting ready without concern because the staff was working hard behind the scenes to meet my every need and desire. This is the perfect venue, the total package. Our guests loved having access to the charming house for cocktail hour, the reception space was perfect for dinner and partying, and the stunning backyard was perfect for exchanging vows. If you are considering The Gaines Estate for your wedding day, I highly recommend.
Carrie L
5.0
6/26/2023
The Gaines Estate venue and staff were absolutely amazing at coordinating and hosting our dream June wedding. As someone who desperately wanted an outside ceremony, the venue coord...
inator, Allyson, assured me that moving the ceremony indoors due to rain would be no problem. The space was beautiful, and Allyson made sure that anything my husband and I wanted, we got. There isn't a doubt in my mind that the wedding day went so smoothly because of her, and the owners were so accommodating to whatever our needs were. I would recommend this venue ten times over to anyone searching for the perfect wedding space.
Valerie B
5.0
7/22/2022
The venue is absolutely gorgeous! Bill, Sally, and Mariah were very helpful on our wedding day.
Lori H
5.0
12/01/2021
This venue had it all for the reception and also for a wedding. The staff was amazing and the room looked gorgeous. The price was affordable for the venue and extras to make our ...
evening enjoyable with less stress.
Lauren I
5.0
6/17/2021
This venue was absolutely perfect for our wedding day. As a couple who enjoys adventuring outside, but also wanted to entertain our guests in an elegant atmosphere, The Gaines Esta...
te delivered ten-fold. We were able to enjoy all the outdoor pursuits that we love (mountain biking, climbing, etc) in a place we hold dear (Fayetteville/New River Gorge) on Friday and Saturday, and then provide our guests with a beautiful event on Sunday in the form of our wedding. Having Mariah as our point person was key - she was assertive, calming, and ensured that our wedding timeline and event atmosphere in general went as we hoped. My husband and I both loved the many different areas of the Estate that we were able to use - the Walnut Grove for our ceremony, house and lawn for our cocktail/appetizer hour, and the pavilion for our dinner/reception. I also enjoyed getting ready in the fantastic Bridal Suite, and my bridesmaids (sisters) did as well! The owners were so kind and available to help at any point in the evening. I couldn’t have asked for a more fantastic wedding, or more supportive staff/help. Thank you for giving us (and our guests, who keep raving about the wedding) such a special day!
Melanie W
5.0
6/17/2021
Bill, Sally and Mariah were an absolute joy to work with! My wedding was a dream come true. This venue has it all. My husband and I had a beautiful outdoor ceremony in the walnut g...
rove, guests enjoyed a lovely cocktail hour in the upscale and newly renovated 1920's mansion, and everyone had a fabulous time eating and dancing in the brand new, spacious pavilion. We also can't wait to receive our wedding photos of the two of us on their antique couch in the back field. We used The Gaines Estate's caterer - Dobra Zupas - and could not have been happier. The food was delicious and our guests were impressed. Mariah, the venue coordinator was wonderful and made sure every detail was taken care of. We highly recommend booking this venue for your fairytale wedding!
Kassidy G
5.0
9/27/2020
Absolutely beautiful! Everything was handled the day of and I couldn’t be happier with how it went. Definitely a memorable night.
Response from The Gaines’ Estate on 09/28/2020
Thank you Kassidy, we appreciate your kind words and we were thrilled to be a part of your...
special day!
Richard, on behalf of the entire Gaines Estate team.
Gloria J
5.0
7/23/2019
Bill has been very helpful and courteous while providing information about the beautiful Estate. I highly recommend anyone that is needing to host a wedding, party, or conference t...
o look at the Gaines Estate for their venue.
Want to book a visit?
Start the convo
*=Required
Use this secure form to reach out and share your wedding vision.
The Gaines’ Estate
Bill Wells
|
Owner
Typically responds within 24h
Wedding vendors in Fayetteville
The Gaines’ Estate
Why use The Knot to message vendors?
Messaging our verified vendors on The Knot is free, safe and secure. Conveniently track vendor messages and planning details all in one place. Our mobile apps make it easy to stay in touch with vendors while you're on‑the‑go. For personalized pricing and package details, sending the vendor a message is the fastest way to get info.