Each year, Carole and I take a look at all the wedding venues in the immediate Roanoke Valley and we compare them among each other to present the top 5 each year.

This year is a bit different, we have six of the top best.

Why?

Because the 2nd and 3rd came in as a tie this year.

First, How We Judge Wedding Venues

We take our ultimate guide to Roanoke wedding venues list and compare the following pieces of information:

• Price (5 pts)

• Popularity (5pts)

• Amenities (5pts)

• Vendor Friendliness (5pts)

• Unique Features (5pts)

We award points in each category ranging from 1 to 5 stars and average all five categories to produce the top venues couples should choose based on our knowledge. We add up each category and base our opinions on the categories above.

Silver Hearth Lodge is still on the top of our list because of the price to value ratio, it’s popularity among local and destination couples and everything it has to offer.

This 40 acre ‘Disneyland’ is truly remarkable with everything you can think of and much more, easily holding 350+ guests, one of the largest in the region. Breathtaking views, tons of things for you and your guests to do, flexibility on your wedding ideas and it’s friendly atmosphere, SHL is one of the top venues in the region.

Pricing ranges from about $1,500 to $7,000 with most couples spending about $5,500 for their wedding day on the campus, it’s well worth the cost for the views alone. This is considered one of just two ‘destination wedding venues’ in our region of Virginia.

Carole and I have been to The Kyle House 24 times over the last few decades and this venue has grow on us time and time again. Owned by Schaal Events, this 1803’s Victorian house and general store is now home to one of the most popular wedding venues in the region.

While the cost is very affordable for the venue, you must use their catering when booking, but that’s not a bad thing. They offer a great menu and we’ve never had anything bad from them (their mac and cheese is amazing!).

The old barn has a very rustic charm to it with lights glowing up front, a painted hardwood floor and chandeliers and tulle in the ceiling. In fact, the main chandelier was once owned by Debbie Reynolds, for your Star Wars fans out there, that’s Carrie Fisher’s mom.

While not as large as Silver Hearth Lodge, this small venue would be great for under 100 guests (holds 150), but expect to pay a lot more for the catering as that’s where they get you, I’ve heard it can be upwards of $80 per person for plated dinners and about $40 for buffet.

The Woodland Place ties this year with 20 out of 25 possible points. My friend JD and his wife Samantha have taken this venue and elevated it to the next level with new landscaping, remodeling inside and brining life back into this older wedding venue.

They’ve updated the Bridal suite, the main hall and a few other areas of the 7 cares too. The facility can hold roughly 200 guests and the outdoor ceremony area has been updated with newer white padded chairs and gazebo for the wedding party.

We’ve enjoyed seeing this venue take shape in the last few years and it’s quickly gained our attention in this years top 5 wedding venues in the Roanoke Valley.

My good friend Mary Wray has one of the best wedding venues around, Wisteria Ridge. Facing the Blue Ridge Parkway in Callaway, Virginia, we’ve had the privilege of working one the very first weddings the venue had in 2014.

This is a great outdoor wedding venue with a large 40 foot by 100ft tent and concrete floor, a nearby pond with horse pasture on the other side, couples enjoy the mountain view, the relaxing atmosphere they have designed and the easy flow that everything seems to have on the property.

Each time we work there, it’s much like sitting on a porch, relaxing in a rocking chair and just soaking in the beauty of the Franklin County mountain-scape.

We love the large bridal suite area with large mirrors, air conditioning and a nice grooms suite/cabin, you can feel right at home in this wedding venue and we’ve placed it on our top 5 this year!

The Pavilion at Blackwater Junction is a fairly new wedding venue to the region and within the last few years, Melba and her husband have made a splash in the wedding community!

Located near Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia in Union Hall, this venue has beautiful views of Smith Mountain itself with rolling hills on an old farmstead. Lots of acreage, pond, old farmhouse with a new three sided pavilion, they’ve transformed this property into one of the regions best little venues that we simply enjoy visiting time and time again.

It rounds out the list with 15 or more points because of the great views that the venue has.

This transformed building was once a grand hotel and from the day it opened, they’ve been having weddings, We’ve done roughly 15 there over the years and each time, the grand old building continues to shine.

The Patrick Henry Ballroom has been a staple among wedding venues since the 1920’s and we love the ballroom with it’s Victorian style windows, tall ceilings, the newly remodeled bridal suite and second level mezzanine.

Although under 15 points, this property continues to offer that old school charm with newer 21st century amenities.

Other Notable Venues

Not all venues in our region make the top 5 and each year it changes, but here are other wedding facilities that we recommend with at least 10 or the 25 points.

There are plenty of other great wedding venues in the Roanoke Valley and we recommend many of them that are not listed above, anything above a 5 is considered above average.

Each year, the list changes based on changes made by the venue operators, the popularity of the venue, the overall price to value-added ratio and other factors.