The Emerald Woods is a beautiful historic venue in Western North Carolina hosting weddings, small personal retreats and private gatherings. Imagine getting married surrounded by forest on all sides, deer hidden in the woods and with the backdrop of a historic house that is hidden from view from the rest of the world. Your host, Lilly Bakken, purchased the property in August of 2020 and since then has renovated every room within the house and is now continuing to add to the landscaping with an abundance of flowering trees, hydrangea, dahlias and other perennials. Many outside seating areas have been added to the property, quiet little nooks for conversation and for guests to connect with each other. There are two main arbors -- one beneath an enormous magnolia grandiflora and one that can be placed anywhere on the property but looks stunning under the 250+ year old giant oak tree by barn. The trunk on the oak tree is 5 to 6 feet wide and the tree has an amazing presence as if from Outlander or Avatar.
The Emerald Woods is on the McDowell County Historical Registry as an original plantation house pre-dating the Civil War and was originally comprised of approximately 1500 acres of land. Toward the end of the Civil War, General Stoneman of the Union Army fired cannonballs into the southern wall of the house which has since been re-built. One of those cannon balls was given to Lilly as the new owner of the home/property. The property is elegant and comforting and is utterly surrounded by nature.
We welcome you to form your marriage in an intimate natural setting amongst deer, gardens and in complete privacy.
"The combination of historical preservation, modern art and timeless elegance is simply stunning."
