The Greystone Inn I Lake Toxaway, NC I Weddings

The Place

Originally built in 1915 as a vacation home for Lucy Armstrong and her family, the Greystone Inn has seen several owners through the years with periods of both drought and delight. After having stayed at Lake Toxaway for many years, through her love and passion of the area, Lucy “camped out” for an entire summer to convince her husband to build them their own space.

So he did just that. The home was completed in 1915 and called Hillmont. Lucy had laid out the original structure herself with architectural details that hearkened to places she had seen on her travels through Europe.

After the Toxaway dam burst, emptying the lake in 1916 and her husband passed in 1924, Lucy was undeterred and made Lake Toxaway her permanent home. She remarried, and Lucy and her new husband entertained often and expanded the home to include several more useable spaces. Lucy’s dreams of Lake Toxaway were restored when the lake bed was purchased in 1961 and the lake was restored. When she sold her home near the end of her life, her only wish was that the home be enjoyed by many more to come.

History Continues

After being used off and on as the Lake Toxaway Clubhouse and standing empty for nearly two decades, the building was once again purchased. It was restored to its former glory and reopened as the Greystone Inn in 1985 by the Lovelace family. The new owner’s approach to the inn paralleled the original owner’s purpose in creating the estate. Your stay at Greystone Inn was meant to feel like coming home, and it still maintains that feel today.

After changing hands several times, the Inn in now owned by the Ellis family and continues to live up to every bit of its glory and elegance with that at-home feel.

It is this feel that makes the Greystone Inn the perfect place for weddings and receptions. Offering the charm of a small hotel with luxury amenities, the Inn and surrounding land and water invite guests to come and relax, let go of their worries, and enjoy themselves to the fullest extent. There are multiple backdrops between the mansion, numerous rooms, suites, decks, the library and boathouse. Couples are bound to find the space that perfectly suits their needs.

The Lutmer Wedding

The People

While Bill is from Ohio and Suzanne was a military brat, claiming South Carolina as her home, you begin to wonder how they met and married?! It just so happens that they met in South Korea at Kunsan AB while they they were both in the Air Force. Their first unofficial evening together involved Bill’s killer ability to dance the “wobble” and topped off with late-night hot wings, Suzanne’s favorite. Their first official date was in Korea where Bill slurped down a bowl of Pho and they ate “crack” waffles for dessert.

After a romance like none other, the two decided to wed at the beautiful Greystone Inn at Lake Toxoway.

To start off their wedding day, Bill and Suzanne chose to have a first look before the ceremony. This allowed us to take their pictures prior to the day’s events. It was important for the couple to maximize the time spent with their family and friends after the wedding ceremony. The weather called for rain that day, but we were lucky enough for clouds to clear and enjoyed just-right lighting and temperatures.

The Ceremony

The ceremony was quick and laid-back, with close friends and family in attendance. The flower girl and ring bearer stole the show with all of their cuteness. Held on The North Terrace, the bride and groom were married by a close friend to further the intimate feel displayed through their wedding day.

The Reception

The Lutmer wedding was short and sweet. Even though the coverage didn’t extent far into the reception, it was obvious from the start that the toasts and dances were heartfelt and meaningful. Everyone had a great time while a lot of love was displayed in genuine smiles and tears of joy – a very happy occasion.

One Last Look

One of the most special things about photographing couples is when everyone is relaxed and there is no stress in sight. Though the bride and groom were dressed to the nines, they didn’t mind taking off their shoes, letting loose, and enjoying their surroundings for some beautiful shots.

The Vendors

Venue & Catering: The Greystone Inn

Florist: The Blossom Jar

Cake: Cream and Flutter

Hair & Makeup: Della Terra Beauty

Ceremony Music: Rosalind and Frances

Officiant: Max Johnson

Photographer: Terri Clark Photography

Chamber: Cashiers Area Chamber of Commerce / Brevard NC Chamber

The Clay/Warren Wedding

The People

Their story is as old as time. Hometown girl meets boy in middle school and they fall madly in love. Well, maybe it didn’t roll out exactly like that, but they DID meet in 9th grade when they attended the same school. The rest is history.

While vacationing on the Isle of Palms, Dave insisted on yet another walk on the beach, even though the couple had already taken one earlier that day. When they got to the water, Dave got down on one knee and April said yes. Immediately, a roar of cheers traveled down the beach. To April’s surprise, all of their family was there to celebrate the engagement. Dave had been planning the proposal for months and it was followed by a weekend with family on the beach!

After deciding a large city wedding wasn’t for them, the couple chose a small wedding at a sweet little rental home on Lake Toxaway, followed by a simple reception at The Greystone Inn. Since their families both enjoy the mountains and hiking, they felt a weekend wedding in beautiful October would suit them perfectly. Spending quality time together making new memories and experiencing meaningful moments with family were their top priorities while celebrating their commitment to one another.

Getting Ready

When April’s sister had sent pictures to her from a vacation she took at Lake Toxaway, April and Dave knew that the house her sister had stayed in was exactly where they would get married. They booked the house and had decided the wedding would take place on the lawn by the lake!

The ladies got ready at the house on the wedding day, setting the scene for a beautiful and natural wedding.

We snagged some pictures of the bride just before the ceremony began. The lush grounds of the rental and the natural features of the home offered the perfect backdrops.

As wedding guests arrived, the atmosphere was relaxed and peaceful. Everyone could enjoy the lake from the yard and dock while waiting for the ceremony to begin.

The Ceremony

The ceremony was family oriented and excitement could be clearly seen on both the bride and grooms faces. The wedding was filled with the sweetest moments in family involvement. Dave’s brother officiated the ceremony while April’s brother said a prayer over the couple and her grandfather offered a blessing and announced them as husband and wife.

Dave and April continued the celebration back down the aisle with a celebratory dance and a final dip!

After the ceremony, we walked the grounds of the house taking some pictures of the wedding party and couple, and continued those photos once we reached the reception destination, The Greystone Inn.

The Reception

Dave and April chose The Greystone Inn for their wedding reception. The space offered up the options for both an outdoor cocktail space as well as an indoor cake-cutting and elegant sit-down meal for their family and close friends. The atmosphere continued to be relaxed and joyous and the reception held many special moments between the couple and their families.

One Last Look

The couple topped off the day while capturing the beautiful scenery around The Greystone Inn and enjoying each other’s company at beautiful Lake Toxaway.