Raleigh is the capital and the second largest city in the state of North Carolina. The city of Raleigh is named after Sir Walter Raleigh, who established the lost Roanoke Colony on Roanoke Island in present-day Dare County, North Carolina. Raleigh is known as the “City of Oaks” and is one of the fastest-growing cities in the country. Home of North Carolina State University, greater Raleigh has the added advantage of being the eastern anchor of the “Research Triangle,” which includes Durham’s Duke University and Chapel Hill’s University of North Carolina: both cities with their own rich cultural offerings.
Raleigh has colleges large and small, such as Shaw College (the south’s oldest historically black college), Saint Augustine’s University, North Carolina State University, William Peace University, and Meredith College. Culturally, there is a wealth of options to absorb, with multiple venues for art, music, theater, ballet or opera, as well as three major state museums. Like many old downtowns, Raleigh is in the process of revitalization, and dilapidated areas like the warehouse district are slated to become attractive new residential and nightlife centers.
Raleigh is a great place for families who love a climate that consists of warm summers and cool winters and all four seasons and lots of sunshine throughout the year. The city is proud of its green spaces, and 40 miles of greenway trails wander through downtown and suburban parkland. Raleigh is also perfectly situated in the state of North Carolina, with Durham and Chapel Hill within an hour’s drive, Wilmington Beach 2 hours’ drive, and the Blue Ridge Mountains just three hours away.
With so many gorgeous places, Raleigh is a wonderful place to have your wedding and reception. Just one exit off of Interstate 40 and five minutes from Raleigh-Durham International Airport, The Umstead Hotel and Spa in Cary, North Carolina, is perfect for elegant weddings. It is surrounded by wooded land, a shimmering lake, gardens, and an outdoor lawn for wedding ceremonies and wedding receptions near Raleigh, NC. The Umstead Ballroom is an impressive, spacious venue with twenty foot ceilings, breathtaking lighting, and space to create the ultimate wedding celebration. The Ballroom easily accommodates 200 guests seated with room for dancing. An alternative event and wedding venue no less stunning is The Salon, an elegant 1,600 square foot room filled with natural light pouring in from lakefront windows. Brocade-lined walls, a modern Italian chandelier, and exquisite fixtures all serve as ideal setting for an intimate reception or dance.