Our newlyweds speak for themselves…
There will not be enough characters allowed here for me to fully express just how insanely happy we are with Shenandoah Woods as our wedding venue!!!!!!! First of all, yeah, they're pricier than some of the nearby venues and we went way over budget by picking them. BUT... WORTH! EVERY! DAMN! PENNY! There's a reason they're booked every weekend a full year out. Everything about Shenandoah Woods was perfect, and the main reason for that was the owner Jason. Our wedding planner told us ShenWoods is her favorite venue to work at, because everything is so well thought out. Basically if any couple ever says "we could use X", he'll add it to the package. So not only do you have this amazing beautiful venue with a perfect view, but you have a full kitchen, and sliding barn doors that you can hide food trucks behind, and a super fancy but easy-to-use sound system, and (newly-added!) easy-drop plastic walls for bad weather, and great lawn games, and a beautiful ceremony location mere steps away (so folks don't need to travel between venues OR stand around awkwardly while a venue gets moved around), and a full catering kitchen, and a venue so beautiful and beautifully lit you don't need to bring any of your own decorations or lights, and a shuttle bus and golf cart, and a stocked fir pit, and a classic truck for photos, and an entirely separate second venue by a pond for things like brunches and rehearsal dinners, etc. The absolute best thing, though, is the awesome set-up of having vacation rental cabins on hold for guests! I can't stress enough just how much we and our friend and family LOVED this! We wound up hosting an Adult Summer Camp for our guests for several days afterwards, and it was a big hit. BEST. VENUE. EVER.
Elga 08/18/2018
​
​
We cannot say enough good things about Jason and Shenandoah Woods. On the way home from our wedding, as we excitedly chatted about the weekend, we agreed that we would give Shenandoah Woods an 11 out of 5 if we could. Jason is extremely responsive, kind, and an absolute wedding pro -- he felt as essential as our own planner in helping us pull things together, ready to respond to anything that might pop up. It truly felt that he was as invested in making sure that our wedding was a success as we were. We couldn't have asked for more. It is hard to put into words what a unique venue Shenandoah Woods. It will always be a special place for us, and is now the home of many happy memories.
Alison 05/05/2018
We got married at Shenandoah Woods on 04/21/2018 and it was the Best Day Ever, largely thanks to owner Jason Cave and this beautiful venue :) We live in DC and were originally planning a destination wedding - we wanted to keep it small and intimate. But the challenges of trying to plan a DIY wedding far away made us revisit the idea of sticking to the DMV area. After months of researching, visiting countless wineries (fun!) and almost giving up on finding a venue that would meet our needs AND our modest budget, we stumbled across S-Woods. The minute I visited the website and saw Jason's motto - "weddings should last days, not hours" - I knew this would be the place for us. I immediately contacted Jason and he let us come out that very week to see the place in-person. Jason was extremely accommodating, professional, chill, and responsive throughout the whole booking and planning process. He clearly takes pride in each of his cabins, as well as each of the weddings he hosts. We were very impressed by the fact that he is continuously making upgrades and changes based on feedback from previous weddings (for example, installing strands of Edison bulb string lights all over the place because he saw so many couples using them). The Pavilion itself includes everything you need to make a wedding perfect – from the sound system, to the firepit, to the heaters/tent walls (which we did use because it was chilly when the sun went down!) Jason even shuttled our guests to/from the ceremony and was on-hand to take care of any last-minute things that came up. His ‘go with the flow’ attitude, attention to detail, excellent communication, and assistance with our many questions and cabin bookings meant our wedding weekend exceeded our highest expectations. Cannot recommend Shenandoah Woods enough and we look forward to returning for relaxing cabin stays in the future!
Sarah 04/21/2018
When we got engaged in December 2015, our criteria for picking a wedding venue were: rustic but still capable of being elegant and memorable, within 2 hours of Washington DC, and had availability for a 2016 wedding. Shenandoah Woods was one of the first places we looked at because it seemed perfect – except for the availability. The calendar was completely booked for 2016. We looked at numerous alternatives but in the end we decided that – just like future spouses – the right venue is worth waiting for. We booked our wedding for May 2017, and could not have possibly been happier with our decision. First of all – the venue was ideal for us. The outdoor ceremony site was rustic, and perfect for vows and photos, and yet was still accessible for elderly relatives. Then it was a short walk to the Pavilion for cocktails and reception. We knew that we loved it from the first time we visited, but our guests were also impressed, describing it as “storybook,” “straight out of a movie wedding,” and “one of the nicest places I have seen for a wedding,” with the last comment being from an older member of the large Irish extended family and therefore a veteran of many many weddings. Also, the large field below the Pavilion was a perfect staging area for our surprise fireworks show! Second – you could not possibly ask for a better partner in planning (other than perhaps your future spouse) – than Jason Cave. He was unbelievable in facilitating the perfect day – helping with vendors, fireworks, and many other details. And in addition to being great with the laid-back bride and groom – he also impressed the bride’s less-than-laid-back Long-Island it-has-to-be-perfect mother. There are a few other unique things about Shenandoah Woods that made it the perfect place. The on-site lodging options, assistance in making wedding night childcare arrangements, and being able to use the Pavilion for multiple events on multiple nights all made our day memorable for all guests.
Kristen 05/27/2017
​
I would not believe there is a better venue anywhere! We were the last wedding of the season and it could not have been better. Cabins are well equipped in the kitchen and bathrooms. I cannot say enough good thinks about the space and the staff - ALL TOP NOTCH!!
Ann 11/05/2016
​
​
Shenandoah Woods was an amazing venue for our wedding 6-29-16! Jason was so easy to work with and the venue is absolutely top notch! My guests were blown away by the beauty that these spaces offer and how perfect it was for a wedding. Somerset cabin for the welcome dinner, the chapel in the woods for the ceremony, the Pavilion for the reception, the picnic area by the pond for a breakfast send off, and the additional cabins available for guests truly offered the perfect experience for our wedding! I was blown away with everything that was included in the wedding package and how much and for how long we had access to it all. I had so many people tell me that the venue could not have been more amazing. The view from the Pavilion doesn't even look real it is so beautiful! There are so many special details like the old truck, the beverage canoe, the fire pit, the brick paver aisle, the pews in the woods, the corn hole boards, etc. that help make the scene without the extra expense, planning, or rentals. It was picture perfect and even though it was insanely perfect weather on our day-it was really nice knowing that if it had rained the Pavilion still offers an outdoor experience that would have been covered. It was insane to think that my rain plan was many people's first choice as ceremony site. That's how awesome and picturesque this place is and how many ceremony site options there are! It really was amazing and we are so thankful to have found it!
Jennifer 06/29/2016
​
​
For anyone considering Jason and Shenandoah Woods, please, be smart, and book it. We were just married over Memorial Day weekend, and everything--from first emails, to the first visit (we live in Chicago) to the final day, went perfectly. Jason is just as responsive when you're considering him as he is the weekend-of to you and any guests of yours that may be staying in his cabins. He responds so fast, so often, it's hard to not take it for granted and find yourself stressing just because it's been an hour or so and you haven't heard back. But he always responds, always quite fast, and usually with good news. He's so accommodating and has such experience, that even just asking him a question about the best way to accomplish something comes with a constructive answer. As for the venue, it's beautiful and so easy to make into whatever you want. We loved that there are no mandatory vendors, we loved all the things that came with it (the fire pit, the canoe, the ceremony site, the shuttle service) and most of all, we loved getting the chance to spend the whole weekend with friends and family. We had a welcome dinner at Somerset as people arrived, the reception at the pavilion, and since it was a long weekend, had one more night of the venue to host some pub trivia with everybody before they all said goodbye on Monday morning. The cabins were all gorgeous, our friends and family all said how much they enjoyed getting to spend time with each other even when they couldn't be with us. Let's be clear--there was a lot of planning involved, and you can make it as much a DIY affair as you want. It's not a wedding out of a box. But if you're the type of couple who thinks their friends and family would love the chance to get together regardless of the reason, and are comfortable sharing houses with each other, then you couldn't pick a better spot.
Colin 05/28/2016
​
We just got back from my daughter's wedding weekend at Shenandoah Woods. She and her fiance had gone to college at JMU which is closeby and they wanted to get married in the Shenandoah Valley. It wasy incredibly beautiful. We looked at three sites and Shenandoah Woods was the best hands down. First, the Pavilion where the reception was held has an incredible view of the valley and the mountains behind. It is open air but has a state of the art sound system, bathrooms and kitchen. The 3 sides are open but you can close them off if it rains with clear panels (we had to do this during the reception). The ceremony site is down a wooded path and ends in wooden benches with an arbor and another great view. How romantic! We used the Somerset cabin for the rehearsal dinner and it provided a casual venue and a large kitchen. The basement is a gigantic game room with a pool table and big screen tv. We used that for a kids party during the reception since our reception was adult only. We stayed at an 1800s restored farmhouse on the property, the Joseph House, and the bride and bridesmaid got ready for the wedding in a large dressing room there. It was so much fun to have breakfast there that morning and spend the day getting ready there. And the pictures of the bride walking down the long wooden stairway for the first look are incredible. Most of our guests stayed on the property at the cabins, which are very deluxe and feature hot tubs, full kitchens and great views. Tey were thrilled with the accomodations. To end the weekend, we had a picnic at the Pavilion which included a hayride and lawn games. It was a leisurely way to end the weekend. Jason Cave is the manager and owner of Shenandoah Woods. He is very responsive to emails and texts. And very accomodating. Working with him was a delight and we cannot recommend this venue highly enough.
Karen 04/30/2016
​
I wish I had more than five stars to give. Everything about our wedding at Shenandoah Woods a few weeks ago was perfect. The Pavilion: Multiple people told us this was one of the most beautiful wedding venues they've ever seen. The views are incredible, in all varieties of weather, the facilities (kitchen, sound system, lights, firepit, etc.) were all marvelous, we couldn't have been happier. We used it for the rehearsal dinner on Friday, plus the ceremony and reception on Saturday. Couldn't have worked out better (the ceremony site is also beautiful, and we were able to use Jason's portable sound system down there). The Cabins: Every cabin I saw was beautiful. The smaller cabins (like the one we used on our wedding night) were cozy, clean, well furnished, and charming. We also used the large group cabins for many of our friends and guests, which were wonderful, as well as being cheaper options. They were rustic enough to feel nice and isolated from city life, but also well equipped (with AC, nice furniture, new appliances, etc). We also booked a number of cabins on or near the mountain not owned by Jason, which were equally fantastic. The girls got ready at Joseph House, at Jason's suggestion, which was so fun and lovely. The rest: Jason Cave, who owns and runs the business, is one of the best people I've ever worked with. He was just incredibly helpful, and kind, extremely responsive (usually got e-mails back within an hour), and was a huge part of the success of our wedding. He's passionate about improving his already amazing facilities (building new cabins, doing new landscaping), and just went out of his way to help us out time and again. When we mentioned we didn't have a way to heat up empanadas at the Pavillion for our rehearsal dinner, he went out and bought an oven just for us. What a wonderful man. Can't recommend Shenandoah Woods enough for a wedding, or for any other event or trip. Amazing.
Ben 5/30/2015
​
Get ready. This is going to be a long one.
The first time I walked into The Pavilion at Shenandoah Woods I knew that this was it. I had to get married there. Jason, the owner and visionary behind this venue, built a pavilion that is so gorgeous it doesn't need any decorations. Every detail of the venue is special - from the stone floors to the wood used for construction to the fire pit perfect for the after party - and the view is just breathtaking.
In the year between when I booked The Pavilion and when I had my wedding there, Jason kept adding things to make the venue even better. The new ceremony space in the woods looking out to the mountains is magical. The picnic shelter at The Pond is perfect for rehearsal dinners, brunches, or a smaller wedding. And the best thing is that you can use any and all of these spaces throughout the whole weekend! That's right, you get access to everything from Friday afternoon until Sunday afternoon. I haven't heard of any other venue that does that.
Extras include a shuttle to transport guests who are staying in cabins on-mountain (which about 80 of our guests did), a 1950s truck for a grand entrance or photo prop, and a hayride.
But perhaps the best thing about Shenandoah Woods is working with Jason Cave, one of the nicest guys I've ever met. It was such a pleasure working with him! He responds to all emails within hours, is very accommodating, and has this amazing calm to him that is extraordinarily helpful during wedding planning. And he so obviously loves what he does.
It rained on our wedding day, so we couldn't use the ceremony space, but saying our vows under The Pavilion with the mountains, dramatic rain clouds, corn field, and swooping flocks of birds behind us was better than anything I could have ever dreamed of.
The Pavilion at Shenandoah Woods was a dream-come-true. I couldn't imagine getting married anywhere else. Book this venue. Book it now!
Lacey 09/13/2014
We held our wedding at Shenandoah Woods, and it was absolutely amazing! The pavilion is gorgeous, yet simple enough to be able to add your own details and decorations. The new ceremony area is rustic and has the most amazing backdrop for your perfect day. We used the Somerset cabin for our rehearsal dinner, and the Joseph House for getting ready photos. Both were perfect for our needs, and beautiful in all pictures. Jason Cave is wonderful to deal with, and always available to help.
Lindsay 10/18/2014
We held our ceremony and reception at The Pavilion at Shenandoah Woods, and our rehearsal dinner at the Somerset cabin. Working with Jason and Shenandoah Woods was an absolute pleasure. He was very accommodating of our requests, and flexible with our use of the Pavilion. We had the venue at our disposal for 3 nights (since it was a holiday weekend) which gave us plenty of time to setup, as it was a "DIY" type of wedding. We even held a trivia night there (hosted by our friends) the night after the wedding, and used the tables/chairs provided by Shenandoah Woods at no additional cost. It is a great value! Over the year or so that we were planning the wedding, it seemed Jason was always adding a new amenity/feature to make the Pavilion and experience better. And he was very open to feedback from his customers. Most of our guests made a weekend of it and rented the cabins on the mountain, which made for a beautiful long weekend with friends and family.
C.C.
I could not rave enough about Jason and his properties. I planned my wedding all the way from California and Jason was there to help me every step of the way. When I needed measurements of something random at the site, when I needed alternative means of transporting guests, when I needed suggestions for vendors - Jason was there with answers. He treated my family like he appreciated having us there and I truly hope his business thrives in years to come! Now, for the site itself. Absolutely stunning. Our guests soaked it up and could not stop commenting on the picturesque views and natural beauty. Jason has done a lot to the properties to make them unique and perfect for any bride who hopes for a woods/barn-like/cabin-feel/outdoorsy wedding. Everything they owned was top-notch (from the chairs, to the kitchen, to the sound system, to the shuttle). We loved everything there so much that we spread out our wedding to as many areas as possible - we used the woods ceremony site, the pond and field, and of course the beautiful pavilion. Even our photographer claimed that Shenandoah Woods would be hard to top! I am so appreciative of how accommodating Jason was with my MANY requests and highly recommend Shenandoah Woods!!
Sara 07/12/2014
We got married in the pavilion at Shenandoah Woods and had our rehearsal dinner at the Somerset cabin in June 2014. We didn't use the Joseph House but that is available as an alternative reception or rehearsal dinner site. An important detail to point out is that the pavilion reservation is for 48 hours so you are not rushed to set up and break down within a certain time frame and you don't have to wait for another wedding to finish. The venue itself is beautiful - our pictures are amazing. Our guests loved the fire pit and I was happy that the rain cleared up in time for us to use the new ceremony site. This is not a typical wedding factory type of venue so you will need to secure vendors for catering, flowers, and coordination. However, there are some amazing vendors who regularly work with Shenandoah Woods and we ended up using several of them and were very happy. If you are planning on going the DIY route then this is a perfect venue to use.
Chelsea
My husband and I were married at Shenandoah Woods Pavilion a few weeks ago and while I rarely write reviews, I have to rave about this venue! The owner, Jason, is so nice, accommodating, and (perhaps most importantly) very responsive. He always got back to me right away and was always a pleasure to talk to.
The venue itself is beautiful, but the incredible view of the mountains is what had our guests raving. It looks like a postcard. We lucked out with amazing weather which definitely helped, but if it were to rain, Jason has sides ready to go that he can put up for you at no extra cost. Rain definitely would have been a bummer since having the outdoor space, rocking chairs, fire pit, etc. made the event so fun, but having a contingency plan ready to go at no extra cost was a big comfort and hard to come by when looking at other venues.
We also really enjoyed having all of the cabins (many of which are also owned by Jason) within walking distance of the venue. Most of our family and friends made a weekend out of it and all had great things to say about their cabins. The bridal party stayed in the larger cabin, Somerset, and we hosted our rehearsal dinner there with catered BBQ which worked out great.
This is the PERFECT venue for a rustic or country themed wedding if you are a DIY bride or have a wedding planner. If you're looking for a venue who will take care of the flowers, catering, etc. for you, this might not be the best match, but most outdoor venues with a similar theme won't be either. I was able to get by with only a day of coordinator as most of the local vendors are familiar with Shenandoah Woods. Even though you are responsible for setting up, etc. (or hiring someone to do it for you), you have the Pavilion for the whole weekend as opposed to most places who only give you a couple hours. It's very doable and you aren't rushed.
All in all, I cannot say enough great things about this place, and neither could our guests!
Kelly 05/31/2014
Shenandoah woods was the perfect venue for my May 2013 wedding. The location is absolutely beautiful and my guests could not stop raving about it. The amenities provided at the pavilion make everything about planning a wedding so much easier. I initially wanted an outdoor wedding with a reception in a tent, but quickly found out how difficult (logistically) they can be to plan. Shenandoah Woods had enough space for me to have an outdoor wedding (right in front of the pavilion) and then a reception in the pavilion that had all of the amenities I wanted in one place: functional kitchen, restrooms, electricity, a great sound system, tables/chairs and plastic sheet "walls" that could be hung from the sides of the pavilion in the case of cold weather or rain. Additionally, while Stanley and Luray have only a few accommodation options,there are so many privately owned cabins nearby, that most of my guests who made plans in advance were able to stay close to all of the festivities. Jason, the owner, is also the most flexible, understanding person in the world and a joy to work with. I didn't have any anxiety about the venue thanks to him and his willingness to go above and beyond. I would HIGHLY recommend Shenandoah Woods to anyone who would like an outdoor wedding (with an indoor contingency plan - i.e. the pavilion which still feels outdoors - even with the roll down walls) and all the amenities needed for a tent reception. The view was magnificent and all of our guests felt like they had taken a mini vacation that weekend, which is exactly what we wanted.
Emily
The properties at Shenandoah Woods were all stunning. All of our guests were raving about how nice each of the cabins were. The views from the pavilion and ceremony site are so stunning that the place really does not require many decorations. The pavilion is so beautiful itself and really has everything you need! We loved the fact that we had the pavilion the whole weekend. It allowed us to set up everything how we wanted on Friday, have the wedding on Saturday, and then have clean-up/breakfast on Sunday. We even had the rehearsal dinner at Somerset House, which made it very convenient. Jason is very easy-going and helpful. He was very responsive and patient to last minute changes. The venue was all together perfect for our DIY kind of wedding. It was exactly how we envisioned our wedding to be. Although it was a slight destination with most of our guests from the Maryland area, once they all saw the area, they completely understood why we chose the place. We couldn't have asked for a more beautiful venue!
​
​
​
Above quotes and more found at
