The Sutherland Estate and Gardens | Wake Forest Wedding Venue
Well Friends, it’s Wedding Venue Wednesday again and you know what that means! Another new amazing venue blog to share with you! This week we are taking you to The Sutherland, a unique 18th century estate and gardens, just a short drive from nearby Raleigh, NC; Durham, NC; and Cary, NC! Featuring more than six acres of ancient oaks, stately magnolias, and exquisite gardens, this historic estate is a dream wedding venue! See for yourself!
Bill and I absolutely love photographing Jamie and Marc’s wedding last year and can’t wait until our next wedding here this fall!
How did The Sutherland, as a venue, get started?
Ashlee Adams and Jennifer Jones were best friends and always talked about starting a business. After a year or two of contemplating numerous options, saw a need for an event venue when Ashlee started planning her wedding. We presented our idea to Mrs. Gayle Adams (Ashlee’s Mother) and soon after found the property that was owned by family friends. Once we found out they wanted to move, we knew it was a done deal! The Sutherland was born.
Tell me about your favorite wedding last season, or a part of one that was unique.
It’s very hard to pick a favorite! At The Sutherland, every wedding is unique in it’s own way. If I must pick a favorite it is the wedding of Caitlin and Jacob Harry on November 18, 2017. The walled garden was beautiful for their fall wedding as the leaves of the Japanese Maples were very vibrant and the and Encore Azaleas were in full bloom. I advise every client to ensure their wedding day is a true reflection of who they are as a couple. I ask couples, “If you could write a review of your wedding from the perspective of your guests, what words would you like them to use when describing your wedding? What do you want your guests to remember from your wedding day?” I tell engaged couples that when making their plans they should keep a priority of personalizing details by picking out their favorite things. The reason I choose Caitlin and Jacob’s wedding is because this is exactly how they made their plans. This couple had a very clear vision of what they wanted for their wedding day. The look was primarily white with greenery and a pop of merlot. They wanted everything on their wedding day to feel very fresh and clean. Purple Poppy Florist carried out this vision perfectly! They chose linens, china, and flatware from CE Rentals that created a neutral palate for seeded eucalyptus with a pop of bold, wine colored flowers. Caitlin loves salad! For their menu, they chose food stations with one featuring salad. Jake loves donuts! They had a donut wall displayed by Greenhouse Picker Sisters. They also love succulents which were featured on a ladder display for guests to take home with them. While Caitlin and Jake were very gracious with including their family in quite a lot of the planning, at the end of the day they ensured their final choices reflected their wishes for their wedding.
How far out should a bride pay a deposit to secure your venue for her wedding day?
We typically do not give tours to clients who want to book any further out than 18 months. It simply leaves too much time for worry and stress. Our clients get the full package here and we want them to be relaxed and enjoy this special day. We recommend booking our venue anytime between 12-18 months out to ensure a date around your desired time of year.
What is included when a couple books your venue for their wedding?
All rentals at The Sutherland include the following:
Exclusive use of the 6-acre estate including the enclosed pavilion with HVAC
Use of the private Bridal Suite in the main house and Groom’s Quarters in the Settler’s House
Beverages for the wedding party and family while getting ready
12 Hours of Full Event Production Services with a Sutherland Event Producer prior to the event
Direction of a 1-hour rehearsal
Bridal Portrait Time (3 hours of exclusive use of the property)
Ceremony chairs, reception tables, and reception chairs for up to 200 guests
Hi-top cocktail table chairs, cake table, sweetheart table, and banquet tables for vendor setup
Ceremony and reception setup and breakdown
Wedding day direction and reception coordination provided by The Sutherland Event Producer
Full support staff including Parking Attendants and Event Manager/Closer
We are also happy to customize our packages to create the desired level of planning for each client. We have all-inclusive packages and we can also simply rent the space and recommend vendors to chose from. We have 200 ceremony chairs, 200 reception chairs, tables for seating for 200, full planning services, rehearsals, bridal site beverages, bridal portrait access and much more are all included in the basic pricing.
How do you help couples customize their wedding?
Some other questions we ask the clients are, “What family traditions would you like to include on your wedding day? How would you like to commemorate your family members who cannot be in attendance? What do you enjoy doing together as a couple and how we can incorporate these activities into your wedding day?” We can do as much or as little as they desire. Some clients want us to handle it all…and some want advice along the way. We can do it all or help steer as needed.
What’s one interesting fact about The Sutherland?
We believe we have one of the oldest buildings on our site in Wake County. The original house on the property, which we call the Settler’s House, was the main home with Colonel Sutherland first owned the property and dates back to 1786.
We believe we have one of the oldest buildings on our site in Wake County. The original house on the property, which we call the Settler’s House, was the main home with Colonel Sutherland first owned the property and dates back to 1786.
What do you have planned for the future?
This marks The Sutherland’s 10-year Anniversary! Since opening in 2008, The Sutherland has been the venue of choice for 350 couples! We will be hosting a party to celebrate our success in August 2018. All previous clients who have held an event at The Sutherland, their family, friends will be invited to celebrate with us! Lots of fun things are planned….stay tuned for updates on that one!
How many guests can you accommodate?
All of our gardens, patios, and pavilion (enclosed with HVAC or open) can accommodate all types of events. If the weather is nice, we have the ability to open the doors on the pavilion to make it an open-air facility. Many of our areas can accommodate from 10 to 350 guests. You can view these areas on our website by visiting our gallery or on our Facebook page.
What makes The Sutherland unique?
There are a ton of things that set up apart….our planners on site, the attention to details, our Southern charm, the historic nature of the property, our resident ghost……But we truly love seeing the couples and their huge smiles at the end of the evening….making dreams happen is our business and our passion.
You can read more about The Sutherland on their website or contact Christy: e: christy@thesutherland.com p: 919.556.0140 to set up a tour and coordinate everything you need for your wedding! She is so fantastic to work with! Best of luck, brides-to-be!! xoxo
Want to see more of our favorite venues in the Raleigh-Durham area? Check out The Oaks at Salem, The Highgrove Estate and The Stockroom
Follow Bow Tie Collaborative:
I love the way this blog is written – it’s clear, concise, and easy to understand.
I appreciate the positive and uplifting tone of your blog.