The 16 Best VRBO Wedding Venues in Virginia

VRBO is my go-to place to find epic vacation rentals for hosting a wedding. (Airbnb banned events at their properties as of 2020.) Luckily, a LOT of properties are cross-listed between the two platforms. 

Interested in other great wedding venues? Check out this blog post on the Best Wedding Venues in Roanoke.

VRBO Wedding Venue Checklist 

When you’re planning a VRBO wedding, here’s what to look for in a property. 

1. Is there a pretty, flat, outdoor space to host the ceremony?
2. Is there space indoors to hold the reception and ceremony, if needed?
3. What is the aesthetic of the space inside and out?
4. How close is the property to other properties?
5. Can all the guests stay on site? If not, are there places nearby for them to stay? 

My search for the 16 best properties to host your VRBO wedding in Virginia started with filtering this way: 

• Allowing up to 12 guests
• Checking “events allowed”
• Removing dates 

Some properties that do not explicitly say “events allowed” will allow you to hold small, family-only celebrations. If you find a place not on this list that you love, just reach out to the owners. Most will say “yes” to that type of wedding. 

But for the purposes of this roundup, I wanted to only include places that are “pre-screened” for events. As a result, many are associated with existing wedding venues or wineries. 

All photos in this roundup have been pulled from the VRBO listings.

Best Southern Virginia VRBOs for Weddings

Smith Mountain Lake

Aesthetic: Luxury lakehouse 

Sleeps: 18

Sq fit: 5,600

Possible ceremony spots: Back deck, back patio, boat dock, 

Views: Yes – lake + mountains

Special features: Outdoor built-in grill + bar 

Dogs allowed: No

I absolutely love this VRBO for a small wedding. I would say this property would probably max out at around 20 people. But it features absolutely stunning views and LOTS to do. There are complementary kayaks and paddleboards, game room, screening room, outdoor games, firepit and built-in outdoor speakers. It basically would just be an incredibly fun place to hang out with your closest friends and family for a weekend. 

Best Central Virginia VRBOs for Weddings

Lynchburg 

Aesthetic: Brick home + wood cabins 

Sleeps: 21

Sq ft: Estate – multiple properties

Possible ceremony spots: Wooded clearing behind home, pavilion 

Views: No – forest 

Special features: Home + four cabins, outdoor pavilion, church building with indoor dining room that can seat 24

Dogs allowed: No 

What this property lacks in views, it gains in amenities. Billed as a “family compound” it truly is that – with multiple beautiful cabins, a main home and two bedrooms in a renovated church. This property is designed for people to gather and enjoy their time together around food and fellowship. Unlike a lot of properties on this list, it has both ample outdoor space and indoor space for a reception, if it happens to be rainy on your wedding day. 

Lexington

Aesthetic: Cottage

Sleeps: 11 in main house + 12 in two other properties (total 33)

Sq ft: 2,500 + Estate – multiple properties

Possible ceremony spots: Back deck, pasture with mountain views 

Views: Yes – mountains

Special features: Two other homes on site for rent as well. You can find them here. Horse boarding available 

Dogs allowed: No 

This property is a great fit if you have a larger guest count. Unlike other rentals on this list that only allow people on site to stay, this one has hosted weddings with non-overnight guests. So book the three cabins for your wedding party and immediate family and then a tent can be erected in front of the main house for your reception. The property features panoramic mountain views and horse stalls for boarding your best pals. Since Lexington is a college town, there are nice hotels and other in-town options for overnight guests.

Massies Mill

Aesthetic: Chateau 

Sleeps: 18

Possible ceremony spots: Lawns, flower garden, meadow 

Views: Yes – mountains + flower garden

Special features: Next door to a flower garden and orchard

Dogs allowed: Yes with prior approval and hefty pet fee

I cannot believe I have never heard of Pharsalia because this is an incredibly stunning wedding venue and estate! This historic country home, which I first stumbled onto on VRBO, is called Foxtrot. It is located in Massies Mill – a small town about equidistant from Staunton, Lynchburg, Lexington and Charlottesville. 

This property is incredible. It’s luxurious and mountainous and there is a flower farm and an estate. It’s basically perfect no matter what your guest count – whether you are choosing an intimate 15-person dinner party or a 150-person dance party. 

Roseland

Aesthetic: Farmhouse 

Sleeps: 15

Sq ft: 3,000

Possible ceremony spots: Backyard, poolside 

Views: Yes – mountains

Special features: Saltwater pool, onsite hiking trails

Dogs allowed: No

Just down the road from Pharsalia is Elmwood Acres. Elmwood Acres is a historic farm home and is a good fit for weddings with fewer than 20 people. The property features stunning mountain views and a deep saltwater pool that is open in the warm weather months. This would be a great pick for people looking for an affordable place to host an intimate wedding with mountain views. 

Staunton

Aesthetic: Estate

Sleeps: 15

Sq ft: 5,500

Possible ceremony spots: Backyard

Views: Yes – mountains

Special features: Pool, onsite pavilion

Dogs allowed: No

This is the historic home associated with Gaie Lee – one of Staunton’s luxury wedding venues. While the house itself only sleeps 15, Gaie Lee can host weddings for up to 250. The venue features a long, tree-lined drive, mountain views, a reception pavilion and the beautiful, immaculate home itself. This is a good fit for anyone hosting a wedding from 15-250 people and who want both ceremony and reception on site. 

White Hall

Aesthetic: Manor

Sleeps: 14

Sq ft: 7,000

Possible ceremony spots: Front lawn, pondside

Views: Yes – mountains

Special features: Walking distance to two wineries 

Dogs allowed: No

This beautiful historic farmhouse is located walking distance from Grace Estates Winery. (You can see a wedding I photographed at Grace Estates here.) It features a beautiful long drive, mountain views and a luxury estate aesthetic. This would be a great pick for couples who are planning a gathering with fewer than 35 people and who want to be close to Charlottesville. 

Faber 

Aesthetic: Modern farmhouse 

Sleeps: 14

Sq ft: 2,300

Possible ceremony spots: Lawn, under tree 

Views: Yes – mountains

Special features: Panoramic mountain views 

Dogs allowed: Yes (1) 

This house is associated with a new wedding venue called Rock Spring Mountain. The house itself can sleep 14, but the wedding venue (which has no facilities) is advertised as up to 150. A tent can be erected on the property for larger receptions. The mountain views from this property are stunning and it’s a good fit for anything from elopements to rustic larger weddings. 

Wintergreen

Aesthetic: House – treehouse vibes

Sleeps: 14

Sq ft: 3,000

Possible ceremony spots: Deck, viewing platform for Raven’s Roost 

Views: No – wooded 

Special features: On resort property 

Dogs allowed: Yes 

This is probably my dream-home aesthetic. It’s natural, organic, upscale and peacefully wooded. The home itself is absolutely gorgeous, but there isn’t a good place on property for a ceremony outside of the deck. However, because the house is located within Wintergreen Resort, there are other options for a ceremony space. In 2020, the home owners association updated the deck for the Raven’s Roost viewing platform. Wintergreen Resort also has elopement and micro-wedding packages available for people who don’t want to DIY their wedding. Finally, if you want to do the wedding on the deck, you can get mountain views for your portraits by hiking a short (but steep) hike to “The Plunge,” which has incredible views of the mountains below.

Best Northern Virginia VRBOs for Weddings

Orange

Aesthetic: Farmhouse

Sleeps: 20

Sq ft: 3,000

Possible ceremony spots: Front lawn, back garden 

Views: No

Special features: Beautifully landscaped gardens and willow trees  

Dogs allowed: Yes 

Spotswood Lodge is associated with the popular central Virginia wedding venue The Market at Grelen. Another home, Boxwood Villa, is also owned by the same people. The VRBO listing above is for Spotswood Lodge, but if you’re having any kind of wedding on site, you’ll need to also book one of their wedding packages, which can be found here. These are truly beautiful, well-maintained historic properties, but they are probably one of the most expensive places on this list.

Purcellville 

Aesthetic: Farmhouse

Sleeps: 16

Possible ceremony spots: Front lawn, back garden 

Views: Vineyard

Special features: On-site vineyard, on-site chef, saltwater pool, associated venue

Dogs allowed: Yes (1)

Called the Gruner Bungalow, this large farmhouse is located on the property of Otium Vineyards in the heart of Northern Virginia wine country. It is adjacent to the wedding venue Tranquility Farm. All three – the bungalow, vineyard and venue are owned by the same people.

The Bungalow can sleep 16 and the immediate property can host events up to 50. A private chef is available to cater your dinner party and wine can be sourced from the vineyard. This is a great pick for people coming from DC or northern Virginia who are interested in a relaxing, luxury vineyard experience. 

Bluemont

Aesthetic: Manor

Sleeps: 14

Possible ceremony spots: Front lawn, deck

Views: Mountain

Special features: On-site brewery, on-site chef, pool

Dogs allowed: Yes 

Bear Chase Manor is the main house on the site of Bear Chase Brewery in Loudoun County. There is also another home on the same property that is called Raven’s Rocks Farmhouse. Both can host small events and sleep 14 people. The architecture of Bear Chase Manor is probably the most unique of any property on this list. It features an incredible expanse of windows, an upper deck with wrought-iron railings, and vaulted ceilings lined with wood. This is a great pick for people who love food and craft beer and want their friends and family to all be able to stay in the same place together. 

Bluemont

Aesthetic: House

Sleeps: 16

Sq ft: 10,000

Possible ceremony spots: Front lawn, backyard

Views: Mountain

Special features: Banquet hall, game room, on-site hiking trails

Dogs allowed: No

This is a massive home with plenty of space to spread out. It is a good fit for people with a small guest count who want a beautiful property for a casual celebration. The house has a banquet hall that is perfect for a reception. However, this VRBO has a long list of rules that must be followed by guests. As a result, I would recommend this only to older renters with no young children or people who do not plan on having music or alcohol present. 

Lake Anna

Aesthetic: Lakehouse 

Sleeps: 26

Sq ft: 10,000

Possible ceremony spots: Front lawn, private beach 

Views: Lake

Special features: Private beach, boat dock, slide, ADA accessible, kayaks and paddleboards 

Dogs allowed: No

This is an incredible home for people with a small guest count (under 60) who just want a weekend to play with their friends and family. It features a private beach, boats and paddleboards, game room and chef’s kitchen. 

Best Coastal Virginia VRBOs for Weddings

West Point

Aesthetic: River house

Sleeps: 12

Sq ft: 3,500

Possible ceremony spots: Back lawn

Views: River

Special features: River access, boats, dock

Dogs allowed: No

This is a beautiful riverfront property on the Mattaponi River – about 35 minutes north of Williamsburg. It is secluded and wooded and features panoramic views of the river. The property can host events with up to 25 people. The river is swimmable and the owners provide two kayaks. It would be a lovely, peaceful place to host a micro wedding. 

Cape Charles

Aesthetic: Villa 

Sleeps: 16

Sq ft: 3,000

Possible ceremony spots: Front yard, beach, deck 

Views: Chesapeake Bay

Special features: Beach access, ADA accessible 

Dogs allowed: Yes

This space is perfect for a micro wedding on the beach (fewer than 20 people). It has semi-private beach access and, unlike other houses on the coast, it is not right up against other vacation rentals. Have your ceremony on the beach and then retreat to the ample deck for a dinner party and first dances.