Photo credit Anne Sampson
Garth Newel, Beyond the Music
Heather Brinkley, Garth Newel’s Director of Operations, treasures her collection of thank-you notes from people who have hosted weddings and other events at Garth Newel.
“I love helping people,” she explains. “It’s an honor to be included in their special moments. We start from their idea and make it happen, taking care of all the details so they can enjoy their vision without worry.”
Garth Newel was named a Top Wedding Vendor for 2025 by Virginia Living Magazine. We suspect it has something to do with the beauty of the setting, the variety of spaces available, the ease of organizing logistics, and the personal support from staff. For those who want to take their wedding to an even higher level, the Garth Newel Piano Quartet is available to perform.
“I’m a built-in wedding and event planner,” Heather notes. “Beyond everything that comes with our event packages, we work with some great vendors and can make arrangements for flowers, DJs, photographers, and officiants.”
Rachel Withrow of With You Events, a wedding planner, says Garth Newel is a great value not only because of its competitive prices but also because so much is included that often has to be rented separately. Tables, chairs, tableware, bar set-up, and more are part of the package, with a wide variety of linens available. The in-house catering from Garth Newel’s culinary team, Executive Chef Josh Elliott and Sous Chef Juston “Hot Rod” Hiner, is top-notch, she says, and the Garth Newel staff really delivers.
“The process is flawless, and the food is delicious. They set up a tasting with Josh in advance so the clients could make adjustments, and so they knew exactly what they were paying for. The Garth Newel staff are always responsive and collaborative—an extension of our team. They met me where I needed to be and did a great job of executing the details. My clients were thrilled.” There is a video of a wedding Rachel planned on the Garth Newel website, which is worth a watch if you’re considering holding your event here.
For many, the availability of on-site lodging in the Manor House, which can house up to 18 people, is a huge plus. The Green Room Apartment can hold up to 5 additional guests.
Garth Newel offers several different spaces for events on its 114-acre campus. Herter Hall, GNMC’s elegantly rustic concert hall, is a step up from most barn wedding venues, with portico, fireplaces, stage, and a wooden floor perfect for dancing … not to mention the excellent food service available from the Garth Newel culinary team. The Knoll is a spectacular outdoor space with mountain views. And, the original Garth Newel Manor House has a grand hall that is perfect for intimate groups.
Not just weddings
In addition to weddings, Garth Newel hosts all sorts of other gatherings—awards dinners, business meetings, galas, and private retreats.
Recently, Carolyn Ford reserved the entire Manor House for a women’s weekend celebrating a friend’s milestone birthday. She and Ann Pontius, the birthday girl, had each stayed there when attending concerts, so they knew they would love the location and the accommodations.
“Everything was lovely,” Ann says. “It was super clean, a beautiful place to stay, and very comfortable. They really care about all the details and made sure we had everything we needed. We sang songs around the piano and enjoyed cocktails in front of that gorgeous huge fireplace. The food Chef Josh prepared for us was amazing and plentiful.”
Breakfast is part of the package for Manor House guests. For their retreat, they also arranged for Chef Josh to prepare a special birthday dinner and birthday cake. The group feasted on expertly prepared salmon with potatoes, broccolini, asparagus, and various salads. To top it all off, there was a spectacular six-layer chocolate bourbon cake.
While at Garth Newel, the group of friends enjoyed relaxing in the Manor House as well as walking the trail at Garth Newel, taking a soak in the Warm Springs Pools, and hiking the nearby Flag Rock and Hidden Valley trails.
What’s next?
“Garth Newel is a very romantic destination,” comments Heather. “So, we are working on more ways couples can enjoy special moments here.”
Heather is assembling an all-inclusive “elopement package” that could be easily adapted as a proposal package. The idea is to create a stress-free wedding experience for up to 15 people, with all the details taken care of. Packages will likely include on-site lodging, flowers, meals, officiant, photography, music, and more.
For Valentine’s Day 2026, a recital by resident pianist Jeannette Fang and guest violinist Jennifer Curtis, will be coupled with a four-course plated meal. Jeannette knows first-hand that Garth Newel is a perfect setting to celebrate love, as she and her husband Tracy Fisher got married here. It’s their picture featured at the top of this post.
Want to find out more? Comprehensive information on event and catering packages is available under “Events” on the Garth Newel website.
Ready to explore your options? Contact Heather Brinkley at heather@garthnewel.org or 540-839-5018.
