Emergence Events in Highlands, North Carolina

Emergence began as a passion project of myself and my partner, Kaytee, that has grown into an intimate, educational retreat for creators striving towards the top tier of the wedding industry. The goal has always been to connect talent and art, skill and experience, beauty and reflection, all in one event. Emergence Highlands was a calming, focused, and grounding experience. It was an honor to be able to serve as the Creative Director of the event held at Flat Mountain Farm in Highlands, North Carolina.

highlands destination event planner wedding

The first day of Emergence Highlands began with an optional tour of the Old Edward’s Inn property. Old Edward’s Inn is home to numerous venues from Half Mile Farm, to Two Mile, and many more. Attendees got an intimate look at several of their spaces including the main Inn and Spa. We started our official program at Flat Mountain Farm, a sprawling, 28-acre newly-renovated property and venue, that still holds a rich history and provides a beautiful landscape. We chose to echo the simplicity and complexity juxtaposed perfectly by the Appalachian Mountains within our own designs for the retreat. Our color palette was taken from the environment around us - it melded the natural, genuine beauty of our surroundings and hopefully evoked an atmosphere of authenticity and community between guests. For day one, attendees explored the venue to feel truly welcomed and to begin to connect with others. We strove to create an easy, relaxed vibe for attendees to allow for organic conversation throughout that first afternoon and evening. Dinner lasted well into the night and was characterized by intimate, fireside conversations alongside casual chats over toasted marshmallows.

highlands mountain luxury farm wedding venue

Much of our design was from what I call Ralph Lauren Americana - inspired by the work of years past and the roots of our country. We focused on shades of slate blue, deep aqua, browns, and taupes. We intentionally added textures of weathered wood, plaids, tartan, and leathers to tie together themes of groundedness and nostalgia. The entire event was catered wonderfully by Tembo Hospitality Group, led by Chef Santiago.

The second day of Emergence Highlands was marked with a building sense of community between guests. Some arrived already old friends, but new faces and fresh ideas were also on the scene, which sparked dynamic conversation and friendly banter. We started the day with breakfast, complete with a local coffee demonstration from Blue Ridge Bootleg Coffee. The day continued to build onwards with expert-led creative sessions inside a cozy cabin and along the lakeside waterfall, a hike to a nearby overlook, lunch, and some one-on-one sessions. One of the most special parts of the week was seeing creators connect to one another and build one another up in a space specifically designed for that exact purpose. With expert-led sessions peppered throughout the day, each group of attendees was mixed to maximize the amount of small-group time spent with everyone. The day ended with our signature cornerstone dinner, starting with drinks created by an award-winning mixologist and ending with an exceptional, regional-inspired dessert - all cooked throughout the day over an open flame.

The entire event had intentionality interwoven throughout. We made custom itineraries for each attendee that guided them through their own experience. I also created a “shop-the-event” concept that allowed attendees to take home pieces from the event. The idea was they would take pieces they felt best symbolized a part of their journey to become permanent reminders of their growth. We also wanted to showcase the uniqueness of the Highlands region, so we had local experts come and lead some of our sessions. Each Emergence event will continue to take its own shape, highlighting each location and unique venue host. With each new group of individuals, we will continue to promote a small, intimate environment that will bring some of the special sauce that makes each event one of a kind. I hope every attendee takes away a fresh outlook and great new connections. As each journey as an entrepreneur changes and shifts throughout time, it is always a joy to see them center themselves and connect deeply with one another.