FAQ

Yes, the venue offers ample parking for you and your guests. We have 90 paved spaces plus overflow parking in the driveway and grass. We ask that all cars are removed at the completion of the event. If overnight parking is required, cars must be removed by 10am the next day or will be subject to being towed.

Getting-ready suite access starts at 10 am. Exclusive Vendors on our required vendor list may begin early setup at 10 am, and all other vendors may begin setup at 12 pm. If additional time is needed for set-up, or getting ready, additional hours can be added in advance and may require an additional fee.

Our Rose Garden is a protected horticultural collection, curated and maintained to preserve the health and integrity of our heritage rose varieties. To safeguard this space, we do not allow outside flowers, plants, or greenery to be brought onto the property. Outside botanicals can carry pests, soil-borne diseases, or invasive species that could harm or permanently disrupt the garden’s ecosystem.

Our floral partners are carefully vetted to meet our horticultural standards, ensuring that anything brought onsite is safe for the garden and landscaping. If you have a specific floral vision, we’re happy to connect you with trusted partners who can bring it to life while protecting this special space for years to come.

No, we require that you use our in-house caterer, Donovan’s Dish, for your event. Donovan’s Dish is an award-winning catering company with menus and service that are the best around! Cakes and other dessert items are welcome from other licensed bakers.

Included in our Wedding Package are two beautiful, spacious, and fully separate dressing suites that our couples may use for getting ready on the wedding day. We also have a separate ADA private dressing suite with wheelchair lift available upon request.

Wedding party access to the Main House and suites begins at 10 am. Additional hours for earlier access can be added upon request for a fee.

Donovan Manor is designed to host a wide range of events—from intimate gatherings to large-scale celebrations—across our 15-acre estate.

Indoors, our spaces offer the following capacities:

• Main House: 50 seated | 80 standing

• Trestle Lounge: 150 seated | 220 standing

• Grand Ballroom: 299 seated | 440 standing

• Feore Hall (Trestle Lounge + Grand Ballroom): up to 450 guests seated

Outdoors, our expansive grounds open up even more possibilities. With multiple lawn and garden areas, an indoor/outdoor bar connecting key spaces, and the option to tent, the estate can comfortably accommodate significantly larger guest counts.

While most of our weddings and signature events are designed for 300 guests or fewer, Donovan Manor has hosted up to 650 guests throughout the property in a single day - allowing you to truly bring the entire estate to life.

Yes, a wedding planner or coordinator is required. At a minimum, all couples must select an event management/month-of coordination package from our required planner list to ensure the event runs seamlessly. These planners are trusted professionals who know the estate and have proven experience managing weddings at Donovan Manor.

Yes, for select categories. Donovan’s Dish is our exclusive caterer, and all beverage service is provided through Donovan Manor. We also maintain a required vendor list for planning/coordination, essential rentals, specialty rentals, and florals.

For all other categories, such as photography, entertainment, transportation, officiants, and hair and makeup, we’re happy to share our trusted recommendations, but you are welcome to select professionals outside of our list.

The ultimate cost of a single-day venue rental will be influenced by various factors, including the time of year and the day of the week:

• Monday - Thursday: $5,000

• Friday: $6,500 - $11,000

• Saturday: $10,000 - $16,000

• Sunday: $6,000 - $10,000

A beverage minimum applies to all weekend events. Please inquire here for our pricing guide.

Our Full-Day Venue Rental includes exclusive access to Donovan Manor and its event spaces, along with tables and chairs for up to 175 guests and select venue furnishings.

Food, beverages, planning, florals, and tabletop rentals are not included in the venue rental and are contracted separately. For these core categories, couples select from our Required Vendor List, a curated group of industry professionals who know Donovan Manor and our standards of service.

For other wedding professionals, such as photographers, entertainment, hair and makeup, and transportation, we’re happy to share some of our favorite recommendations, but you are welcome to bring in the professionals of your choice.

Looking for something more inclusive? Our Manor Minis and Elopement Experiences bundle many of these wedding-day services together and are designed for intimate weekday celebrations of 2–60 guests.

While many clients choose to incorporate a dance floor into their design, renting one is not required. Dance floor rentals must come through one of our rental partners.

Full-Day Venue Rental events conclude by 11:00 PM, followed by a dedicated one-hour window for vendor breakdown and cleanup to ensure a smooth and timely close to your celebration.

One of the perks of Donovan Manor is the peaceful and spacious surroundings while being just 12 miles from downtown Raleigh. There are many hotels to choose from for your hotel blocks in Fuquay-Varina, Raleigh, Cary, and Holly Springs. We are happy to share our list of recommended hotels listed by distance at your request.

Yes, a pre-arranged, one-hour ceremony rehearsal is included in the venue rental. Rehearsals generally occur at 10 or 11 am, 1-2 days before the wedding. Please contact your venue representative if you’d like to inquire about a different time.

Donovan Manor offers a variety of wonderful ceremony and reception options, both outdoors and indoors, so nothing needs to be sacrificed in the case of inclement weather.

We are so happy you’d like to host your special day at Donovan Manor, and we can’t wait to work with you! Please reach out to us to inquire about the availability of your event date. To secure your date, we require a signed agreement and a paid retainer. We look forward to hearing from you!