Intimate Weddings at Hill House: Ultimate Guide
Durham, NC Intimate Wedding Venue Spotlight
Welcome back guys! If this is your first time here, hey! I’m Dareece, a bridal hairstylist based in Durham, NC. It’s no secret that I love elopements and intimate weddings. It’s something special about being able to celebrate nuptials with your inner circle in a space that allows you to truly interact with all your guests and be present in the moment. Having said that, where do you host an intimate wedding in Durham, NC? Let’s start with Hill House, one of my favorite wedding venues in Durham.
About Hill House Wedding Venue
Hill House is a Spanish style mansion, located on Duke Street, right outside of downtown Durham. It was built in the early 1900’s for the Hill family and sits on four acres of expertly manicured lawns and trees. There are countless ways you can utilize the space in and outside of Hill House to accommodate your intimate wedding needs. I can assure you this venue has all the things, including: getting ready suites, indoor and outdoor ceremony space, a gorgeous covered porch, and more!
What do i love about Hill House?
I love this place because of the architecture, historical features and beautiful landscaping. There are hardwood floors throughout the entire home and original woodwork that is unique to the time period it was built. Tons of natural light from the large windows give the home warmth and energy. But the best feature of all is the staircase!! I know, I know: who gets excited about some stairs? Well, you just have to see them for yourself to realize how grand, opulent and majestic they are. I want an exact replica in my home! Lol! The stairs are perfect for taking newlywed photos, bridal portraits and pictures of the bride going down to meet her beloved. It’s worth scheduling a tour to see them in person and then, you’ll know. ; )
What’s special about weddings at Hill House?
To me, it’s the historical charm, vintage romance of the space and the beautiful outdoor setting. Also, the fact that this mansion once belonged to an actual family makes this venue a bit different than a purposefully fabricated wedding venue. It’s like you’re stepping back in time to a different era and imagining how things were then. Also, the proximity of Hill House to downtown Durham is spectacular, allowing you to continue the festivities later into the night.
Where can I have my ceremony at Hill House?
If you love the historical style of the interior, you can have your ceremony in the main hall in front of the fireplace or in the front room to the right when you first walk in. Remember, this is for an intimate wedding, so you will have the perfect amount of space for chairs and flower arrangements to be set up. You could even get creative and exchange vows on the landing in-between the flight of stairs or at the bottom of the stairs. If you want to have an outdoor intimate wedding ceremony, no worries, Hill House has the space for that. The grounds are immaculate always, no matter what season you host your wedding. There are plenty of outdoor areas to choose the perfect ceremony location. Some couples have chosen to wed outside on the large, covered front porch, especially if rain is in the forecast. Behind the main house is a small pergola that can be turned into a lovely space for exchanging vows or for the newlyweds to steal away from their guests and have a moment to themselves right after the ceremony.
What about cocktail hour and the reception?
Once the ceremony is complete, you and your guests can transition to the dining room or one of the other spaces on the first floor for cocktails and socializing before the reception. Cocktail hour can also take place outside on the lawn or the covered front porch. Hill House supports a nice flow of inside and outside gatherings simultaneously. Dinner can be set up in the dining room, one of the rooms on the main level that is not used for cocktail hour or you can have dinner outdoors if weather permits. I imagine fancy dinner parties with dancing, live music and great food have taken place here and your wedding celebration will fit right in! I’ve only seen Hill House during the day time, but I imagine that if you get proper outdoor lighting, this would make the mansion look magical at night. As you can see I have a very vivid imagination!
What type of couple will love Hill House?
Couples who love Durham, NC, history, elegance, romance, vintage vibes and architecture will love Hill House.
Dareece, tell me about the bridal suite.
I’m so glad you asked!! If I don’t notice anything else about the wedding venue I’m working at, I will always pay attention to the bridal suite, or the lack thereof….side eyeing venues without at least a table…I digress. Even though I’m all for elopements and intimate bridal parties, I still understand the need for space to spread out with other family/friends who may be with you while you get ready. Hill House not only has a lovely bridal suite on the second floor at the end of the hallway, but they also have a second room connected to the bridal suite. It’s great if you just need a minute to yourself but you don’t want to leave that area of the house. There is plenty of seating in both rooms, a large walk in closet, a huge full length mirror and an adjoining bathroom. Plenty of natural light comes in to the bridal suite so your makeup artist will love this venue. And most importantly, there is a small table for the hairstylist to set up!!! Yay!!
Any Insider Tips?
There is a small parking lot on the property behind the house, as well as plenty of free on street parking. Downtown Durham is literally a couple minutes away, just in case you want an after party or guests need to uber to/from their downtown hotel. The bridal suite bathroom upstairs is a whole bathroom complete with a tub, while updated bathrooms downstairs can accommodate several guests. Access to the venue can start Friday if you are having a Saturday wedding. There is an abundance of natural lighting from the well placed windows.
What is the cost to have your wedding at Hill House?
That is a good question. You guys know I am a respecter of budgets and I want you to get the best value for your coins. I reached out to Hill House for accurate venue rental pricing as of January 2025. This is their response:
“The best and most popular option is our Saturday wedding. You get the main floor of the house, the veranda, and grounds for the ceremony and/or reception. The bridal party has access to the getting ready suites on the 2nd floor for the entire day. All wedding packages come with the use of our tables and chairs and clients can add on things like linens, dishes, or a small sound system if they want. Our Saturday package also includes access to the house on Friday for vendor deliveries, setup, and a rehearsal. We can host up to 150 people and the cost is $5000.00.”
Now, I know that we are price conscious when it comes to weddings because simple things like a veil can turn out to be $7,598,434 before tax and shipping!! But honestly, I think this is an excellent price point for all that is included, based on pricing I’ve seen at other venues. Especially with access to the Hill House starting the day before so you can set things up and not rush on your wedding morning. Again, everyone’s budget is different and you have to do what’s best for you and your soon to be spouse.
Hill House intimate wedding venue details:
Location: Three minutes south of downtown Durham, NC
Address: 900 S Duke St, Durham, NC 27707
Phone: (919) 682-0449
Email: events@hillhousedurham.org
Website: https://hillhousedurham.org
Capacity: Up to 150
Events Hosted: Ceremonies, wedding receptions, rehearsal dinners, engagement parties, cocktail hours
Amenities Available: Kitchen, butler’s pantry, catering kitchen, getting ready suites for brides and grooms, large covered porch, outdoor space, free on site parking; Rentals of linens, glassware, tables, chairs, serving dishes and cutlery
