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Covington Gardens
7119 Racine Rd, Pleasant Garden, NC 27313, USA
Covington Gardens
7119 Racine Rd, Pleasant Garden, NC 27313, USA
Wedding venue in
Pleasant Garden, NC
Starting at
$4,500
·
Up to
250
guests
·
Private garden estate
★
4.9
/5
couple sentiment
Loved for
privacy and tented reception
Location
Pleasant Garden, NC
(
20
min
from
Greensboro
)
Vibe
Typical Investment
$4,500
to
$9,200
Rain Plan
Covered pavilion serves as full rain backup
Catering
Outside catering allowed. Bar service in-house.
About the author,
Patrick Meehan
Co-founder, Total Weddings
Hey, I'm Patrick. My wife and I own Total Weddings. I pay attention to the parts that actually affect how your wedding feels, not just what looks good online. I am not affiliated with Covington Gardens, and this guide is not sponsored. It exists to help you make a confident decision and avoid surprises later.
Stress level
Covington Gardens is a low-stress venue depending on planning quality. The property itself is extremely well designed for weddings, but because it is not all-inclusive, couples rely more heavily on their coordinator and vendors.
The venue requires a professional planner or coordinator, which helps reduce risk. When supported by an experienced vendor team and realistic timeline, the day flows smoothly.
Stress typically increases only when coordination is weak or transitions are poorly planned.
Guest experience
Guests typically experience Covington Gardens as a private estate rather than a commercial venue. The progression between ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception keeps the event dynamic and engaging.
The environment feels calm and intentional, and guests are not navigating crowded public spaces or shared facilities.
The experience is strongest when the timeline is structured properly and transitions are clearly planned.
Rain plan
The Garden Pavilion serves as the primary rain backup and can accommodate both ceremony and reception. Because it is permanently covered, rain rarely disrupts the overall flow of the day.
Couples can move the ceremony into the pavilion if needed without requiring major structural changes or guest relocation.
This provides significantly more reliability than fully outdoor venues.
Photo & video notes
Covington Gardens is extremely strong visually because of the variety within the property. The pond ceremony space, open meadow, Hansen House, and pavilion all provide different visual environments without requiring travel.
The bridal suite also creates strong getting-ready photo opportunities because of its natural light and neutral design.
The biggest advantage is how separated the spaces are. Photographers and videographers can work efficiently without interfering with guest experience, and couples don’t feel rushed moving between moments.
How the day typically flows here
Covington Gardens is designed to move guests naturally through the day. Ceremony at Carter Pond creates a strong starting point. Guests then walk through the trees to The Meadow or Hansen House for cocktail hour, which creates separation between ceremony and reception.
From there, guests transition into the Garden Pavilion for reception. Because the pavilion is already covered and prepared, the transition feels smooth instead of rushed.
This venue performs best when couples embrace that progression instead of trying to centralize everything into one space.
Pricing
Covington Gardens operates on a venue rental model with pricing based on day of week and season. Peak-season Saturdays currently range from approximately $9,000 to $9,200, while weekdays begin around $4,500. Peak season runs April through June and September through November.
The rental includes full access to Hansen House, Carter Pond, The Meadow, and The Garden Pavilion during your contracted time. Couples also have the option to add extended access, rehearsal dinners, and guest house accommodations for a more complete weekend experience.
Because catering, bar packages, rentals, and coordination are handled separately, total wedding cost varies depending on guest count and vendor selection.
Venue rental at Covington Gardens includes access to all primary event spaces, including Carter Pond ceremony area, The Meadow cocktail hour space, Hansen House, and the Garden Pavilion reception area.
Furniture is included for up to 200 guests, including ceremony chairs, reception chairs, round and rectangular tables, and cocktail tables. The pavilion is permanently covered by a 50×80 tent, which provides reliable weather protection.
The venue also includes two getting-ready spaces, rehearsal access, and portrait session access. A venue host is present during the event to support venue logistics and ensure policies and property needs are handled.
Covington Gardens requires couples to hire a professional wedding planner or month-of coordinator. This is not optional. The venue host ensures the property runs correctly, but they do not manage the timeline or direct the wedding.
Catering must be provided by a licensed and insured caterer. Covington Gardens provides a preferred vendor list but does allow outside caterers if they meet requirements.
Bar service is handled directly through Covington Gardens and cannot be outsourced. Couples select from the venue’s bar packages.
Additional costs may include rentals beyond included furniture, décor, lighting, entertainment, and transportation depending on wedding design and guest count.
Worth it when you value privacy, outdoor atmosphere, and guest experience.
What couples tend to love
Couples consistently talk about how peaceful and private the property feels. Because Covington Gardens sits on its own land and hosts only one event at a time, the day feels fully yours. Guests are not navigating hotel lobbies, shared spaces, or multiple events happening nearby. Everything feels contained and intentional.
The ceremony location at Carter Pond is another major highlight. It comfortably accommodates up to 250 guests, and the water, fountain, and surrounding trees create a naturally beautiful backdrop. Many couples don’t feel the need to add elaborate ceremony structures because the setting already provides visual impact.
The Garden Pavilion is one of the biggest reasons couples choose this venue. It allows you to have an outdoor reception without the stress of watching the weather forecast all week. It is fully covered, spacious, and large enough to handle full receptions while still maintaining an open-air feel.
Couples also appreciate the flexibility. Covington Gardens allows outside caterers as long as they are licensed and insured, which gives couples control over food and overall budget. At the same time, the venue provides the physical infrastructure, furniture, and layout needed to execute a smooth wedding day.
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Overview
Covington Gardens is a purpose-built outdoor wedding venue that was clearly designed around how a wedding day actually flows. The property spans more than seven private acres and is divided into distinct spaces for ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception. The ceremony most often takes place at Carter Pond, which can seat up to 250 guests and creates a calm, natural focal point with water, trees, and a fountain. From there, guests are led through the trees into The Meadow for cocktail hour before transitioning into the Garden Pavilion for reception. Nothing feels forced. Each part of the day has its own environment.
The Garden Pavilion itself is a 4,000-square-foot covered reception space under a permanent 50×80 tent. It gives you full weather protection while still feeling outdoors. This is one of the biggest strengths of Covington Gardens. You get the open-air atmosphere couples want, but you don’t carry the same weather risk as fully exposed outdoor venues.
The venue also does a great job of taking care of the couple experience. The bridal suite was built intentionally for wedding mornings, with makeup stations, large windows, and space to actually relax instead of feeling cramped. Hansen House provides additional indoor space for cocktail hour, getting ready, or simply creating variety throughout the day.
This venue works best for couples who want a true outdoor wedding without sacrificing structure. It is not an all-inclusive ballroom, and it is not a blank field. It is a curated estate designed for weddings, which means your vendors and timeline matter, but the foundation is already strong.
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