The Colonial Inn has been Reborn as one of the South's most Celebrated and Historic Wedding Destinations.
Why choose The Colonial Inn?
• Classically elegant and beautiful historic setting - indoor and outdoor venue options for ceremonies, receptions, bridal gatherings, rehearsal dinners and honeymoon accommodations
• Award-winning catering partners
• Floral, lighting, officiant and cake design options by trusted and local Hillsborough partners
• Nestled in the heart of Historic Downtown Hillsborough, the inn is located minutes away from restaurants, shops and galleries
• The Colonial Inn has partnered with the best local small businesses to offer discounts on luxurious spa/massage packages and options, yoga and fitness classes, hair/make-up and photography options
A ceremony at the inn includes up to 1.5 hours of rental in the space of your choosing for the big "I do's". A one-hour rehearsal the day prior (timing to be determined based on guest and property availability). Access to the venue for a two-hour bridal portrait session. Our Bridal Parlor for your pre-ceremony hair/make-up/dress if booking both ceremony and reception.
One and a half-hour rental (max) of the space of your choice for your ceremony.
$750.00
Includes 4 hours of space rental, 8-foot rectangular tables and exquisite Diamond Chairs from the Veronique Collection for up to 75 guests.
Monday through Thursday:
$2,450 (any time of day)
Friday:
$3,250 (any time of day)
Saturday:
$5,250 (any time of day)
Sunday:
$3,250 (any time of day)
When booking both your ceremony and rehearsal with The Colonial Inn, you will receive our Luxury Honeymoon Suite for a two-night stay at no cost.
*Reservation required and is on a first-come/first-served basis with booked events.
Service Charge:
20% of bar costs or any additional services from the inn will be charged for service provided by the inn and hospitality staff.
Please ask about small wedding accommodations and/or discounts for micro-weddings.
Your perfect spot to tie the knot awaits. The inn is the perfect wedding experience for you.
Read more below.
This includes a one-hour rehearsal the day prior (timing to be determined based on guest and property availability). Access to the venue for a two-hour bridal portrait session. Our Bridal Parlour for your pre-ceremony hair/make-up/dress. Ceremony fee also includes chair set-up and breakdown for the ceremony on the wedding day.
$750.00
Includes 4 hours of space rental, 8-foot rectangular tables and exquisite Diamond Chairs from the Veronique Collection for up to 75 guests.
Monday through Thursday:
$3,700 (any time of day)
Friday:
$3,700.00 (event ends 2 PM or earlier)
$4,350.00 (2 PM or later)
Saturday:
$6,350.00 (any time of day)
Sunday:
$3,700.00 (event ends 2 PM or earlier)
$4,350.00 (2 PM or later)
When booking both your ceremony and rehearsal with The Colonial Inn, you will receive our Luxury Honeymoon Suite for a two-night stay at no cost. *Reservation required and is on a first-come/first-serve basis with booked events.
Service Charge:
20% of bar costs or any additional services from the inn will be charged for service provided by the inn and hospitality staff.
Please ask about small wedding accommodations for events with 20 or fewer guests.
We welcome working with other vendors. Please consult with your personal planner about the process. Thank you!
CUISINE & CATERING
Rocky Top Catering
Beau's Catering
The House at Gatewood
Catering Company
EVENT PLANNERS
Harmony Weddings
Bona Fide Events
Chestnut and Vine
Jane Rose Events
FLORISTS
West Queen Studio
Flower Patch
PHOTOGRAPHERS
Danae’s Photography
Mina von Feilitzsch Photography
Morgan Caddell Photography
OFFICIANT
Celebrated Ceremonies by Austin Cullins
MUSIC
DBL R Music Services
LIGHTS
Get Lit
Our trusted Partners
CUISINE & CATERING
Rocky Top Catering
Beaus Catering
The House at Gatewood
PLANNERS
Harmony Weddings
Bona Fide Events
Chestnut and Vine
FLORISTS
West Queen Studio
Flower Patch
PHOTOGRAPHERS
Danae’s Photography
Mina von Feilitzsch Photography
Morgan Caddell Photography
MUSIC
DBL R Music Services
LIGHTS
Get Lit
We welcome working with other vendors. Please consult with your personal planner about the process. Thank you!
Everything You Need to Know Before Saying “I Do” at The Colonial Inn
In order to reserve your date at The Colonial Inn for your wedding or event, we require a non-refundable 50% deposit. The deposit can be paid by phone with a credit or debit card or in person at the inn. This deposit will be non-refundable but events can be moved to any available date for no additional charge.
There are multiple possibilities for where and how your ceremony, cocktail hour and reception can take place! Of course, you are even welcome to have your ceremony off-site (a local church, nearby park, etc.) and simply host your reception at The Colonial Inn. Below are some of our most popular options:
Option 1 - Indoor Ceremony - Outdoor Cocktail Hour - Indoor Reception
In this scenario, dinner tables could be pre-set and lining the walls or hidden behind draping (provided by CE Rental). When your guests transition outside for cocktail hour, your catering team, venue host, and coordination team will move the tables and chairs into place for the reception.
Option 2 - Outdoor Ceremony - Indoor Cocktail Hour - Indoor Reception
Following your outdoor ceremony, guests would be invited inside to enjoy drinks and appetizers. If you are happy for guests to begin taking their seats, no draping is needed. If you would prefer for cocktail hour to be separate from the reception, draping could be rented to divide the hall. If it were to rain and you did not want to move your ceremony inside, a tent could be rented from CE Rental.
Option 3 - Indoor Ceremony, Cocktail Hour and Reception
Don't like the outdoors? No problem! All 125 guests can fit inside for the ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception. Following the ceremony, guests would be asked to move to the cocktail hour location (we recommend draping that area so your guests do not watch the flip) and your catering team, venue host and coordination team will move the tables and chairs into place for your reception.
Not at all! The Colonial Inn is only a 30 minute drive from Durham, Chapel Hill, High Point and Greensboro and less than a 1 hour drive from Raleigh and Winston Salem. We are just 5 minutes off of I-40, in the heart of downtown, with ample restaurants and hotels nearby. It is a 40 minute drive from both Raleigh-Durham International Airport and Piedmont-Triad International Airport. There are 15 hotels within a 15 minute drive including Courtyard by Marriott, Hampton Inn, Holiday Inn and many more! Due to limited Uber/Lyft service to the Hillsborough area, we recommend renting a car if you will require transportation during your stay. For rental suggestions or local cab services, please contact the front desk. (984-789-4455)
Included in your rental is time for both your event and preparation. Packages also include additional add-ons including time in the bridal parlor, photography space/package or a reservation of the Luxury/Honeymoon Suite. Please refer to specific packages for details. Also included is seating at rectangular tables and chairs for up to 75 guests. Vendors, decor, catering, bar, china, glassware, draping, lounges and linens do not come included in our rental fee. Check out our pricing above or inquire at the inn for information on all that is included in our packages.
We have a list of preferred and trusted vendors from across North Carolina but work hard to support the best in local options as well. We kindly ask that our couples select their vendors from our preferred vendor list as this ensures the best experience at the inn. This request is to protect the couple and their guests from "wedding horror stories". Every vendor on our team is experienced, professional, hard-working, delivers on their promises, and is insured for if anything were to go wrong. If you have a vendor who meets these requirements who you would like to work with and cannot find your perfect match on our list, we are more than happy to reach out to them and conduct our approval process. If all requirements are met, you are welcome to use them and if not, we will work together to find a creative alternative. We assure you that no matter your style, budget or vision, you will find vendors you love on our list!
Your rental includes 16 8ft rectangular tables (seats 10) and 4 6ft rectangular tables (seats 8) in any table layout you so choose. Additional or alternative tables can be rented from our rental partners. 75 diamond cut-out back natural-tinted wooden chairs with ivory cushions come included in your rental. American Party Rentals have an exact match to our chairs that can be rented for weddings over 75 guests!
Fun Tip: You can rent a different style chair for your wedding party to help the head table stand out even more!
Our in-house chairs cannot be used outside. We require that you rent an additional set of chairs for your outdoor ceremony. White folding chairs start as low as $1–4 each from rental vendors off of our preferred list. Your rental company will deliver, set up, and pick up all chair rentals.
Yes, both our indoor and limited outdoor spaces are wheelchair accessible, as well as all common areas and bathrooms on the first floor of the original structure. There are also two ADA-compliant guest rooms available on the property.
Yes! Your rental includes the bridal parlour space for 5 hours ahead of your event. If more time is needed, the space can be rented for additional time.
The max capacity is 125 guests.
The Colonial Inn is located just .1 miles away from the very center of historic downtown Hillsborough! In downtown there are spectacular restaurants of all varieties (Italian, pub fare, seafood, Mexican, pizza and upscale), bars, shopping and art galleries. There are historic landmarks free and open to the public minutes away including Ayr Mount, The Burwell School and The Historic Occoneechee Speedway. There is also a beautiful and peaceful Riverwalk just down the street. We are happy to tell you anything and everything you might want to explore about our beloved Hillsborough.
Your planner will help you set the perfect schedule for you! Here is a sample to get you started:
12:00 pm – Vendor Arrival & Set Up
3:00 pm – Couple, Wedding Party & Family Photos
4:30 pm – Guest Arrival
5:00 pm – Ceremony
5:30 pm – Cocktail Hour
6:30 pm – Entrances, First Dance, Welcome
6:45 pm – Dinner
7:30 pm – Toasts
7:45 pm – Cake Cutting & Parent Dances
8:00 pm – Open Dance
10:00 pm – Exit
We request that guests only toss or use biodegradable water-soluble confetti purchased from The Colonial Inn, bubbles, rose petals (or other approved flower petals), lavender, ribbon wands, or hole-punched leaves. We do not allow glitter, sparklers, birdseed, rice, or flying lanterns.
The average cost of weddings in North Carolina is $25,000. Many factors dictate your total wedding cost and whether it is higher or lower than the average. Some of the biggest factors are guest count, food choice, beer/wine vs. full bar, and DJ vs. band. We are happy to provide all couples with vendors and creative ideas to plan your perfect wedding within your budget!
We are happy to provide valet service to your guests as an add-on to your package to remove any questions about parking. Public parking in Hillsborough is FREE to your guests. There are lots of parking options within downtown Hillsborough that can accommodate your guests. On-street parking down West King St., on Churton St., and through the intersection on East King St. are some examples. The downtown parking deck is open and available 24/7 and is a short 2-minute walk from our front door. There are also parking options in lots close to the inn, including the lot behind Cup-A-Joe. Please adhere to all town and private parking signage regarding time and location for parking.
Find answers to our most frequently asked questions below.
In order to reserve your date at The Colonial Inn for your wedding or event, we require a non-refundable 50% deposit. The deposit can be paid by phone with a credit or debit card or in person at the inn. This deposit will be non-refundable but events can be moved to any available date for no additional charge.
There are multiple possibilities for where and how your ceremony, cocktail hour and reception can take place! Of course, you are even welcome to have your ceremony off-site (a local church, nearby park, etc.) and simply host your reception at The Colonial Inn. Below are some of our most popular options:
Option 1 - Indoor Ceremony - Outdoor Cocktail Hour - Indoor Reception
In this scenario, dinner tables could be pre-set and lining the walls or hidden behind draping (provided by CE Rental). When your guests transition outside for cocktail hour, your catering team, venue host, and coordination team will move the tables and chairs into place for the reception.
Option 2 - Outdoor Ceremony- Indoor Cocktail Hour- Indoor Reception
Following your outdoor ceremony, guests would be invited inside to enjoy drinks and appetizers. If you are happy for guests to begin taking their seats, no draping is needed.If you would prefer for cocktail hour to be separate from the reception, draping could be rented to divide the hall. If it were to rain and you did not want to move your ceremony inside, a tent could be rented from CE Rental.
Option 3 - Indoor Ceremony, Cocktail Hour and Reception
Don't like the outdoors? No problem! All 125 guests can fit inside for the ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception. Following the ceremony, guests would be asked to move to the cocktail hour location (we recommend draping that area so your guests do not watch the flip) and your catering team, venue host and coordination team will move the tables and chairs into place for your reception.
Not at all! The Colonial Inn is only a 30 minute drive from Durham, Chapel Hill, High Point and Greensboro and less than a 1 hour drive from Raleigh and Winston Salem. We are just 5 minutes off of I-40, in the heart of downtown, with ample restaurants and hotels nearby. It is a 40 minute drive from both Raleigh-Durham International Airport and Piedmont-Triad International Airport. There are 15 hotels within a 15 minute drive including Courtyard by Marriot, Hampton Inn, Holiday Inn and many more!
Included in your rental is time for both your event and preparation. Packages also include additional add-ons including time in the bridal parlor, photography space/package or a reservation of the Luxury/Honeymoon Suite. Please refer to specific packages for details. Also included is seating at rectangular tables and chairs for up to 75 guests. Vendors, decor, catering, bar, china, glassware, draping, lounges and linens do not come included in our rental fee. Check out our pricing above or inquire at the inn for information on all that is included in our packages.
The Colonial Inn is located just .1 miles away from the very center of historic downtown Hillsborough! In downtown there are spectacular restaurants of all varieties (Italian, pub fare, seafood, Mexican, pizza and upscale), bars, shopping and art galleries. There are historic landmarks free and open to the public minutes away including Ayr Mount, The Burwell School and The Historic Occoneechee Speedway. There is also beautiful and peaceful Riverwalk just down the street. We are happy to tell you anything and everything you might want to explore about our beloved Hillsborough.
Your planner will help you set the perfect schedule for you! Here is a sample to get you started
12:00 pm - Vendor Arrival & Set Up
3:00 pm - Couple, Wedding Party & Family Photos
4:30 pm - Guest Arrival
5:00 pm - Ceremony
5:30 pm - Cocktail Hour
6:30 pm - Entrances, First Dance, Welcome
6:45 pm -Dinner
7:30 pm -Toasts
7:45 pm - Cake Cutting & Parent Dances
8:00 pm - Open Dance
10:00 pm - Exit
We are happy to provide valet service to your guests as an add on to your package to remove any questions about parking. Public parking in Hillsborough is FREE to your guests. There are lots of parking options within downtown Hillsborough that can accommodate your guests. On street parking down West King St., on Churton St. and through the intersection on East King St. are some examples. The downtown parking deck is open and available 24/7 and is a short 2 minute walk from our front door. There are also parking options in lots close to the inn, including the lot behind Cup-A-Joe. Please adhere to all town and private parking signage regarding time and location for parking.