From the Staff at Hidden River:

From the Owner/Director:
Hi! My name is Jeanne Matthews Sommer and I’m the owner of Hidden River. I am also an officiant and you can read about my “philosophy of marrying people” on the Officiant Page of this website if you think my services could be helpful to you.

I would like, in this section of our website, to write to you personally about what it’s like to be at Hidden River. I just spent this morning, 1/11/08 (a January morning that was 50+ degrees!), sitting out in the field thinking about our venue and what we have to offer you. Even though I am at Hidden River every day, I never stop being awed by the beauty of the mountains that surround us and the peaceful feeling I have when I’m in the field or down by the river. There’s something special about the light at Hidden River. This morning, I sat in our “Marrying Field” and listened to the birds and watched the horses in the field, and I wondered why I don’t begin all of my days this way - slowly waking up with the morning. In the spring, the Blue Birds throng to the fence posts, and it’s not unusual to see a hawk or a heron flying overhead.

It is my hope that people who come to Hidden River will not only have a wonderful wedding day but that they will have a relaxing experience with their guests. That’s why we have designed our packages the way we do. I came to this “business” by way of the officiating side of things, as I’m a minister who teaches Religious Studies at nearby Warren Wilson College. I’ve been to a lot of weddings on all types of properties. As I’ve developed Hidden River, I’ve done so knowing that there are many amazing places in the Asheville area where a couple can wed. As my mom used to tell me, “You have the curse of possibilities.” There are so many wonderful places you might choose here in Asheville for your wedding. We are one of many.

There are, however, several things that I think characterize us within this lovely region:  the simple beauty of our farm; the amazing mountains that form our backdrop; the proximity to downtown Asheville; the kindness of our service to Clients. As we move into the 2008-2009 season of weddings, I’d like to add to this list: the art and culture of Asheville. I have been to many weddings that look as if they’ve popped out of a wedding magazine. They’ve certainly been beautiful and couples have worked very hard to give their event a special flair. I think, however, that there’s so much more that could be done to make a wedding event unique and much of this has nothing to do with what money can buy. You don’t have to spend a life’s fortune to have an amazing wedding day because, afterall, the most meaningful aspects of the wedding come from the human interactions that take place at the event, and these are priceless.

Whenever you talk with me, or with Katie or Greg, it’s likely you’ll hear us urging you to keep it simple. We have made a conscious decision never to use the word “fantasy” in any of our advertising. We design our pricing by beginning with what we need to pay our bills and then asking ourselves what a reasonable profit would be, in an effort to offer reasonable and fair services to our clients. We urge our clients to consider ethical choices that support our local economy and care for the earth and that help you see how a wedding can be useful and artistic as well as unique. So far, people have been attracted to Hidden River, and our philosophy of business have been amazing people who seem to love natural beauty, have caring hearts and who want simply to celebrate their love in a relaxed setting with the people they love and who love them.

We want you to feel as if your “dear Aunt Betty” owns a farm in Asheville and she’s allowing you to celebrate your love on her land. We want Hidden River to feel like home to you and to receive the respect you’d give to a dear aunt or your own home. That’s how we keep things in good shape on the property, keep our neighbors happy to have us in the valley and continue to offer cheery service. We look in anticipation to the next nice phone call we receive from a great potential client. Owning Hidden River and offering it as a wedding venue has renewed our faith in humankind. There are a lot of great people out there in the world and we’re getting to know them! It’s a blessing.

From the Assistant Manager: Katie O’Brien
(coming soon)

From the Event Coordinator: Greg Traymar
(coming soon)

Thank you for considering Hidden River Event for your wedding. Feel free to call Katie at 828-279-0474 or email us at hiddenriver@bellsouth.net

We Love to Love!