3 Most Photogenic Wedding Locations in WV

West Virginia is one of the most beautiful locations in the United States. It is no wonder John Denver compared it to heaven! The Great Smoky Mountains provide some of the most beautiful locations to get married. No matter if you are the indoorsy or outdoorsy type, there is no shortage of natural beauty in this state. In and around the Charleston area are the premier locations that provide some of the most amazing locations for your West Virginian photographer to grab phenomenal photos.

One of the most unique locations for a traditional Indian wedding you can find on the east coast is Parbhupada’s Palace of Gold. The Palace of Gold is located in Moundsville, WV – only 2.5 hours from Elkview, West Virginia, but it feels as though you are entering another country. Here every part of your wedding ceremony is tailored to your specific needs, you get a fully decorated mandap, and a pure formal vegetarian wedding dinner. The Palace of Gold is located amongst the Great Smoky Mountains providing the perfect lighting and scenic views for your wedding photographer.

If you are not one to enjoy the mountains in the background, there are a few other locations your photographer may want to get shots. The Palace of Gold also is home to award-winning rose gardens. If you are wanting to plan your wedding around the bloom schedule of the garden, the blooms begin as early as June and will bloom until late September. After grabbing some amazing pictures through the rose garden, you will find the path wandering to the Lotus Pond. The pond is covered in outstanding greenery with bright pink flowers.

If you are able to book a chance to get photos inside this beautiful West Virginian palace, you will find 31 stained glass windows, crystal chandeliers, mirrored ceilings, and a floor made of 52 varieties of marble and onyx. The windows throughout the palace are an amazing wonder to take in. The “royal peacock windows”, of which there are four, are each pieced together by hand and contain 1,500 pieces each.

This location is sure to be a West Virginia wedding photographer’s dream come true!

Celebrate your special day by getting married with the New River Gorge Bridge in the background! The New River Gorge was an amazing feat to build in 1977. For years, the bridge ass the world’s longest single-span arch bridge made out of steel. The bridge is 3,030 feet long and stands at a staggering 876 feet about the New River. This is a location no wedding photographer can ever get tired of photographing. Looking up at the amazing structure is something to marvel over, but driving over the bridge you feel as though you are at dizzying heights. A wedding photographer near you will be ecstatic to be able to capture perfect moments from a venue hosted by Adventures on the Gorge. ATG provides a beautiful remote deck overlooking the gorge. This location provides romance, easy access, and amazing natural lighting. If you and your spouse are the adventurous types, keep your photographer around to capture moments of whitewater rafting or ziplining through the gorge.

If you are tight on a budget, but looking for a stunning venue near Elkview, West Virginia, you should look into the West Virginia State Capitol building. The interior is a beautiful white marble with stately columns and arched doorways. There are a million white lights shining beautifully on each magnificent chandelier leading to a curved marble staircase, providing a majestic entrance for any bride to descend. The space provides you with enough room to seat 200 guests but can be intimate enough for a simple elopement. If you prefer to have an outdoor wedding, the perfectly manicured lawn with beautiful flower beds and a picturesque fountain provides the perfect environment.  No matter if you prefer the outdoors or indoors since the building is owned by the people of West Virginia, it is available for use free of charge. You simply pay for your own decorations. In a space that beautiful, it will not take much to prepare for your nuptials. There are a few rules you have to abide by in order to use the space: no open flames, no taping anything to the walls, no rice throwing, and absolutely no booze. Rules aside, there is no doubt, the West Virginia State Capitol Building will provide you with plenty of locations for your local wedding photographer to capture every moment.

Emily Schafer is a native of Charleston, West Virginia. She has years of experience providing couples with the perfect photos to capture their most important day. Contact Emily today to schedule an appointment to talk about her being your wedding photographer!