Brasstown Valley Resort wedding photographer

Weddings at the mountain resort in Young Harris.

Brasstown Valley Resort and Spa sits on about 500 acres of rolling hills in Young Harris, GA, in the North Georgia mountains. It's a different scale from a farm or a private estate: a golf course, a spa, a lodge full of guest rooms, and enough ceremony and reception spaces that your day can move from a creekside vow to a black-tie ballroom without leaving the property.

If you've just come from the Brasstown Valley site, you've seen the panoramic views. I live about forty minutes north in Murphy, NC, and I cross the state line for weddings regularly.

What it's like to photograph here

The Sunset Terrace and the Waterfall Lawn. Mountain views in every direction. The last hour of light over the ridges is the reason to pick either one.

The Grand Ballroom. Tall ceilings and good light. It gives a reception a sense of occasion.

The Creekside Pavilion. Quieter and more rustic, with the sound of water nearby. A good fit for a smaller ceremony.

The Tack Room and the stables. Wood, leather, and horses. If you want a few pictures that don't look like a resort wedding, this is the spot.

Working with me at Brasstown Valley

I focus on the moments while you live them.

A resort this size has a lot of moving parts. The staff handle theirs well, and I handle mine: knowing how long it takes to get from the lodge to the terrace, where to put the family photos so nobody's squinting, and when to slip away with you for ten minutes of portraits.

I book a limited number of weddings a year, so I'm not running between three events that weekend.

Planning notes for a Brasstown Valley wedding

  • Pick your ceremony site by guest count. The resort's ceremony spaces range from roughly 70 to 250 guests. The smaller sites photograph more intimately.
  • Late fall gets cold. By late October, an outdoor ceremony up here can mean wind and temperatures in the 30s. Have blankets ready and think about an indoor first look.
  • Use the spa. Getting ready on site keeps your morning calm and keeps me close for the details.
  • Ask about the off-season. The resort has offered lower rates in some summer and winter months. Ask them what's current.

A story from a Brasstown Valley wedding

Outdoor wedding ceremony with a mountain view at Brasstown Valley Resort in Young Harris, GA, by Nathan Baerreis

Rebecca and David got married at Brasstown Valley at the end of summer, in what we hoped was the last hurrah of the heat. I see a lot of couples on one of the most emotional days of their lives, so when I say these two are the sweetest ever, trust me. In spite of the heat, they stayed joyful, kind, and very clearly in love. When the sun went down behind the ridges, they stepped out for a few last pictures, then went back in and laughed the night away. Music by CJ the DJ.

Couple silhouetted against a mountain sunset at Brasstown Valley Resort in Young Harris, GA, by Nathan Baerreis

Let's talk

Getting married at Brasstown Valley, or still deciding on the resort? Send me a note. I'm usually back within a day. If you'd like to see packages first, they're over here.

Also nearby: McGuire's Millrace Farm and Nantahala Weddings & Events.