Love is in bloom at Burke County's Heavenly View Venue

From a barn overlooking Table Rock and Burke County’s rolling foothills, couples exchange vows at Heavenly View Venue. The space, originally intended as a simple space for gardening equipment, has become a fixture for weddings, proms, and other community celebrations.

On Dwight and Laura Fairchild’s property on Jamestown Road, Heavenly View is now both a local option for families who want a scenic setting close to home and a destination for those experiencing the foothills for the first time.

But a venue wasn’t part of the original plan. The construction of the barn began as a retirement project when the couple wanted to plant fruit trees and needed a space to store a tractor and equipment.

“The more we built onto the barn, it started looking more like a wedding venue,” Dwight said, adding that friends and family encouraged them to rethink their original plan as barns have become a popular wedding setting.

The Fairchilds officially began hosting events in 2021, building their business slowly through word of mouth. Since then, the venue has steadily expanded, with added decks, covered outdoor areas, upgraded gathering spaces, and ceremony sites.

Heavenly View is busiest in the spring and fall wedding seasons, Laura said. October is already fully booked, and the Fairchilds said much of the rest of the year is already reserved. They typically host weddings of around 100 to 150 guests, though the property can accommodate more depending on setup.

Once intended for equipment storage, the barn now includes private suites, a full kitchen, accessible restrooms, parking, outdoor patios, fire pit seating, and a lookout deck with panoramic views. The venue has undergone several additions, including the enclosure of a walk-through patio to accommodate more people.

“It’s great for a small, cozy wedding venue if people are looking for a rural setting that’s close to nature and has a nice home feel to it,” Laura said.

While they often hear the love stories of others, Dwight and Laura have a unique story of their own. Dwight, who’s from the area, spent years working in construction management on large-scale projects around the world, including in Australia, Saudi Arabia, and Peru. Laura, who is from Alberta, Canada, has a background in architectural design.

The two met online while living on different continents, and after traveling to visit each other, they were married six months later.

Their professional backgrounds now blend into the business. Dwight handles construction and ongoing improvements, while Laura manages bookings, scheduling, decorating, and day-to-day operations.

“Laura has a wonderful artistic touch,” Dwight said.

Laura said her favorite part of the business is meeting people.

“We love meeting people. Most people are just so nice,” Laura said. “It’s been very rewarding.”

The venue represents a second chapter for Dwight, who stepped away from life on the road after serious health challenges, including cancer and cardiac arrest. Laura said that after his recovery, Dwight poured his energy into building the barn himself with help from family and one worker, and in turn, has been rewarded by the experience he and Laura offer.

“It leaves a lasting impact on you to see two people who are in love come here,” he said. “I’m thinking, man I provided this so they could have their special day right here. I’m on cloud nine.”

Now, what was once planned as a simple barn is where new chapters begin.