We Never Planned to Open a Wedding Venue
Wait, what? We’re serious. Just keep reading.
About Iron Horn Farms
We're ambitious, but even in our wildest dreams, we never expected to own a wedding and event venue. It happened when several sweet couples found our recently acquired farm, fell in love, and persuaded us to share it for their wedding day.
We quickly learned that these couples had become part of our family story. That's really something special. We also recognized that although we didn't have deep knowledge of weddings then, we did have a unique team of talented people, ideally suited for making Iron Horn Farms what it has become today.
We believe it's important to share with couples the story of how we came to host weddings. Because we didn't set out to open a sought-after wedding venue, we don't have a team of investors with expectations or a quota for the number of weddings we have to book each year. We host weddings and celebrations because we love sharing our farm with couples who love it, too.
Since we opened to the public in the fall of 2024, our venue has grown and improved and will continue to do so. We've listened to our couples and done our best to become better daily. From clearing land and cleaning up to designing and renovating to restoring ponds and landscaping to repainting and decorating to purchasing inventory and more, every decision has been made with one of the biggest days of your life in mind.
We are blessed so many couples have allowed us to play a small part in their big day. We hope to have the opportunity to play a small part in yours, too.
Iron Horn Farms History
Iron Horn Farms is deeply rooted in family history and tradition. The Smith family has called Nakina, North Carolina, home since the mid-1800s, when Henry Cannon Smith first established his homestead in 1868. This land, now transformed into our venue, carries with it generations of stories, hard work, and a passion for bringing people together.
For years, Robert grew up hunting and exploring this very land, creating countless memories that tied him to his family’s legacy. His great-grandmother, Emma Wright Smith, was known for her love of hosting friends and family, a tradition we are proud to continue. When the opportunity arose to leave the hustle and bustle of Raleigh, we knew it was time to move closer to where our family’s roots began and to honor this land’s history in a meaningful way.
Since moving to Nakina in 2024, we’ve poured our hearts into further restoring, improving, and building on this land to create a special space where couples and families can celebrate life’s most memorable moments.
At Iron Horn Farms, we’re not just offering a venue—we’re inviting you to be part of our story, surrounded by the land's beauty and history that has brought our family joy for generations. From the past to the present, the Smith family has made this a place where unforgettable memories are made, and we’re honored to continue that tradition and share it with you.