The Meadows at Firefly Farm | Raleigh, North Carolina

Galleries, Info, and Other Helpful tips for Couples

Tucked just twelve minutes south of downtown Raleigh, The Meadows at Firefly Farm Preserve feels like a private nature retreat. Set on 220 acres of rolling meadow and pine forest, it gives couples that wide-open Carolina sky while keeping guests close to hotels, restaurants, and the airport.

Why we love photographing here

Golden hour sweeps across the fields and turns everything to honey. The property is big enough to sneak away for intimate portraits but still walkable, so we can chase that sunset without losing time. Hannah & Andrew’s gallery shows how the long meadows frame silhouettes and make colors pop against the treeline.

A bride and groom walk hand in hand at the Meadows at Firefly Farm down a dirt path surrounded by lush green fields, with the sun setting in the background, creating a warm glow.
The sweeping meadows are perfect for golden hour photos.
A bride and groom pose together during golden hour, with a soft sunlight illuminating their faces and the surrounding meadow.
A couple standing together in a lush green field, facing away from the camera with sunlight illuminating their figures. The woman is wearing a white wedding dress, and the man is in a black suit.
There’s ample space to sneak away so you can take portraits without your guests awkwardly looking on.

Two getting-ready houses

Wedding mornings start in Aerie House and The Roost—twin farmhouses on opposite sides of the lawn, each with bright dressing suites, comfy lounges, and wrap-around porches. Splitting parties keeps the “no peeking” suspense and makes first-look logistics easy.

Choose your ceremony backdrop

  • The Lawn at Aerie — sweeping meadow views
  • The Grove — dappled shade among tall pines
  • The Meadows — open field that glows at sunset
  • The Valley — secluded clearing framed by forest
  • The Wooded Chapel — string-lit aisle under the canopy

All sites are a short walk from cocktail hour, so guests never feel herded around.

A group of six women joyfully posing together on a sofa, wearing colorful dresses, with one woman raising her hand in celebration.
An outdoor wedding ceremony setup with wooden chairs arranged in rows on a green lawn, framed by trees, overlooking a field.
“The lawn” ceremony site at the Meadows at Firefly Farm

Heron Hall reception

Reception doors roll open to a modern barn with greenhouse-style windows and a covered courtyard for dancing under the stars. Heron Hall seats up to 350 guests—225 inside with another 125 on the patio—so the layout scales beautifully from intimate dinners to blow-out parties.

Built-in planning support

We aren’t always fans of on-site coordination. But the team at Timeless Events, which handles coordination for the Meadows at Firefly Farm does a wonderful job.

Quick facts

Address: 1945 The Meadows Lane, Raleigh, NC 27606
Capacity: Up to 350 seated
Getting ready: Aerie House & The Roost
Ceremony sites: Five outdoors plus indoor options
On-site perks: Cantina bar, fire-pit lounge, antique accent tables, pet-friendly grounds
In-house services: Venue coordination, curated vendor list, full-weekend access on select packages

Our pro tips

  1. Plan a sunset sneak-away; the meadows face west, so the last light is perfect about 30 minutes before sunset.
  2. Use both houses and stagger hair-and-makeup times so photo teams can capture parallel stories.
  3. Bring comfortable shoes; a short walk into the fields is worth it for those dreamy portraits.

Ready to picture your own day here? Drop us a note—we’d love to craft a custom photography proposal for your Meadows wedding and walk you through lighting ideas, timelines, and our favorite hidden portrait spots.

Ready to Take the Next Step?

Let’s check ‘photographer’ off your wedding to-do list! Fill out our contact form, and we’ll get back to you ASAP.