If you’re dreaming of exchanging vows beside a cascading waterfall in Georgia, Hightower Falls offers one of the most enchanting venues in the region. Nestled in Cedartown, GA, the 80‑foot spring‑fed waterfall, historic gristmill ruins, sprawling indoor and outdoor event spaces, and charm make it a sought‑after wedding destination. But how much will your dream wedding cost?
Below, we’ve broken down the full cost landscape—complete with venue information, key cost factors, breakdowns, budgeting guidance, and a final estimate table.
About Hightower Falls
Hightower Falls is an 80‑foot spring‑fed waterfall and historic 1850s gristmill site, surrounded by preserved woodland and scenic grounds. Transformed into a private event venue across 300 guest capacity, it beautifully blends rustic heritage with modern wedding amenities
The venue has received consistent praise—averaging 4.9/5 on WeddingWire and The Knot—from couples applauding its beauty, staff professionalism, and inclusive services. It has also earned the WeddingWire Couples’ Choice Awards for ten straight years, from 2016 to 2025.
Venue at a Glance
| Venue Name | Hightower Falls |
|---|---|
| Location | 771 Hightower Falls Road, Cedartown, GA 30125 |
| Call | 770-748-8588 |
| Price | $12,700 average |
| Capacity | 300 guests |
| Awards | WeddingWire Couples’ Choice Award 2016–2025 |
| Website | hightowerfalls.com |
| @hightowerfalls | |
| [email protected] | |
| Facilities | Ceremony Area · Private Bridal Suites · Indoor & Outdoor Ceremony · Dressing Room · Reception Area · Wireless Internet |
Location Details
Just an hour west of downtown Atlanta, tucked in the foothills of Appalachia, Hightower Falls offers an elegant retreat that is both secluded and accessible. Its lush surroundings include a natural waterfall, peaceful woodlands, and evocative ruins, perfect for unforgettable wedding photography and immersive guest experience.
Factors Influencing Hightower Falls Wedding Cost
When planning your wedding at Hightower Falls, it’s important to understand the elements that shape your total cost. While the venue offers a gorgeous, all-in-one location, the overall price can vary significantly depending on your choices, preferences, and priorities.
From the season to vendor selection, these are the key factors that directly influence your wedding budget at Hightower Falls.
1. Time of Year and Day of the Week
Peak vs. Off-Peak Seasons
- Weddings held during peak months—typically April through November—tend to come with higher price tags. This is when demand is highest, and venues and vendors charge premium rates. Hightower Falls is especially popular in the spring and fall due to its stunning natural scenery, which can increase costs by 10% to 20%.
Weekday vs. Weekend
- Saturday evenings are the most sought-after and expensive time slots. If you’re open to a weekday or Sunday wedding, you can often secure better rates not just from the venue, but also from caterers, photographers, and entertainers.
2. Guest Count
The number of guests you invite significantly impacts your total cost. More guests mean more food, drinks, chairs, tables, and space. Hightower Falls can accommodate up to 300 people, but hosting a full-capacity event will require a larger budget.
Per-Guest Pricing
- Many expenses, especially catering, are priced per guest. Reducing your guest list by even 25 people can lower your total cost by several thousand dollars.
3. Catering and Beverage Service
Type of Menu and Service Style
- Catering is often one of the largest expenses. Buffet-style meals may be more budget-friendly than plated dinners, while adding extras like hors d’oeuvres, dessert bars, or signature cocktails will increase your bill. Hightower Falls allows you to bring in your own licensed caterer, which gives you flexibility—but also requires diligent price comparison.
Alcohol Choices
- Open bar vs. limited bar vs. BYOB can make a dramatic difference in cost. Some couples opt for beer and wine only, or offer a signature drink to reduce expenses while keeping guests happy.
4. Decor and Rentals
Venue Aesthetics
- Hightower Falls’ natural beauty means you may not need excessive decor. However, couples who want to transform the space with custom florals, specialty lighting, or themed furniture rentals should factor in these additional costs.
Rental Items
- If your vision includes upgraded chairs, linens, tableware, or lounge seating, expect to pay more than the standard included options. Be sure to ask what the venue provides to avoid unnecessary rental duplication.
5. Vendor Selection and Quality
Experience Level
- Vendors with national recognition or high-end portfolios may charge more for their services. While experience often correlates with reliability, newer or local vendors can deliver great results at a lower price point.
Preferred Vendors
- Hightower Falls may have a list of trusted vendors familiar with the venue layout and logistics, which can save you time and stress. Sometimes, booking from a preferred vendor list comes with discounted package pricing.
6. Day-of Coordination and Planning Services
DIY vs. Full-Service Planning
- If you’re planning everything yourself, you may save on planner fees but incur more stress and possible oversight costs. A full-service planner can cost thousands but may help negotiate vendor pricing, manage timelines, and prevent costly mistakes.
Venue Coordination
- Check if Hightower Falls includes an on-site coordinator in their rental package. If not, you may want to hire at least a day-of coordinator to ensure everything runs smoothly.
7. Customization and Personal Touches
Specialty Add-Ons
- Photo booths, fireworks, live painters, cigar bars, or custom installations add flair—but also expense. While they enhance the experience, these extras should be prioritized carefully within your budget.
Favors and Printed Materials
- Custom invitations, signage, menus, and guest favors may seem like small costs, but they add up quickly when multiplied by the number of guests.
8. Travel and Accommodations
Out-of-Town Guests
- If you’re expecting many guests from out of town, you may want to consider block booking hotel rooms, arranging shuttles, or providing welcome bags—costs that often fall on the couple.
Vendor Travel Fees
- If you’re bringing in vendors from outside Cedartown or the Atlanta metro area, factor in travel charges, overnight lodging, or mileage reimbursements.
9. Duration and Scope of the Celebration
Extended Rentals
- Some couples choose to rent Hightower Falls for the full weekend—especially if hosting a rehearsal dinner, welcome party, or farewell brunch. Multi-day use typically incurs higher rental fees and additional staffing costs.
Elaborate Schedules
- Weddings with multiple outfit changes, elaborate photo sessions, or extended receptions may require more staff time and equipment rentals, which adds to the final invoice.
10. Legal and Administrative Costs
Marriage License & Insurance
- Don’t forget to budget for your marriage license, vendor liability insurance (sometimes required), and any additional permits for special requests like fireworks or live animals.
Breakdown of Hightower Falls Weddings Expenses
Here’s a typical near‑average cost breakdown for a 200‑guest wedding during peak season:
| Category | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|
| Venue Rental / Site Fee | $12,700 |
| Catering & Bar (200 guests) | $12,000–$18,000 |
| Rentals (chairs, tables, décor) | $3,000–$5,000 |
| Floral & Décor | $2,500–$5,000 |
| Photography & Videography | $4,000–$8,000 |
| Music/DJ or Band | $1,500–$4,000 |
| Wedding Planner/Coordinator | $2,000–$5,000 |
| Officiant & Ceremony Services | $500–$1,500 |
| Transportation (limos, shuttles) | $1,000–$2,500 |
| Additional Services & Tips | $1,500–$3,500 |
| Estimated Total | $41,700–$65,200 |
Tips for Budgeting & Saving at Hightower Falls
Weddings at Hightower Falls are naturally stunning, but managing your budget effectively can make the experience even sweeter. Whether you’re planning a lavish affair or an intimate celebration, implementing smart budgeting strategies ensures that your big day remains both beautiful and financially sound.
Here are some practical and creative tips to help you save money while still enjoying the full magic of Hightower Falls.
1. Opt for an Off-Peak Wedding Date
Choosing a non-peak wedding date is one of the simplest ways to save a significant amount. Peak season at Hightower Falls typically runs from April to November, especially on Saturdays. Instead, consider a winter wedding (December through March) or a weekday celebration. These off-season options can save you $1,000 or more on the venue fee alone, and vendors often offer discounts during these slower months.
Bonus Tip: A Friday evening or Sunday brunch wedding can feel just as elegant as a Saturday affair—with a much friendlier price tag.
2. Trim Your Guest List Strategically
The cost of a wedding scales quickly with the guest count. Each additional guest affects catering, rentals, invitations, and even transportation. Keep your guest list intimate by focusing only on those closest to you. Not only will this reduce expenses, but it will also create a more personal and memorable celebration.
Try This: Consider an adults-only wedding or limit plus-ones. It’s perfectly acceptable and increasingly common.
3. Take Advantage of Hightower Falls’ Included Amenities
Hightower Falls offers a wide range of facilities that can save you hundreds or even thousands in rentals. These include indoor and outdoor ceremony spaces, a reception hall, private bridal suites, dressing rooms, Wi-Fi, and basic setup services. By leveraging what’s already included, you can cut down significantly on extra vendor costs.
Ask Ahead: Confirm what’s included in your rental package—linens, chairs, tables, lighting—so you can avoid renting duplicates unnecessarily.
4. Embrace DIY Decor and Florals
DIY elements can give your wedding a personal and creative touch while trimming your overall budget. From handcrafted centerpieces to custom signage, many couples find joy in contributing to their décor. Faux florals, local blooms, or repurposing ceremony flowers at the reception are also popular ways to save without sacrificing aesthetics.
Pro Tip: Recruit family and friends with an eye for design to help create elegant touches on a budget.
5. Bundle Services or Choose Inclusive Packages
If Hightower Falls or your planner offers a bundled wedding package that includes several services (like coordination, rentals, and linens), this may be more economical than hiring individual vendors. Bundled packages often come with preferred pricing and eliminate the stress of managing multiple bookings.
Savings Insight: Bundles can also reduce delivery and setup fees that add up quickly when multiple companies are involved.
6. Hire Local Vendors
Choosing vendors based in or near Cedartown, GA, helps avoid additional travel or lodging fees. Local professionals are also more familiar with the venue and can adapt more efficiently to its layout and logistics.
Added Value: Vendors who’ve worked at Hightower Falls before often have tips, shortcuts, and layout preferences that streamline the event.
7. Reuse and Repurpose Throughout the Day
Smart couples are finding ways to reuse decor and floral arrangements across different parts of the wedding day. For example, aisle arrangements can be moved to the sweetheart table or buffet area. Ceremony arches can double as a photo backdrop during the reception.
Creative Tip: Reimagine your ceremony space as your dance floor or lounge area for later in the evening. This minimizes the need for multiple rental setups.
8. Negotiate and Prioritize
Don’t be afraid to ask vendors if they offer different pricing tiers, off-season specials, or discounts for paying upfront. At the same time, prioritize what matters most—photography, catering, ambiance—and allocate your budget accordingly.
Be Flexible: Vendors are often willing to work within your budget if you’re clear about your goals and open to suggestions.
9. Avoid Unnecessary Extras
It’s easy to get swept up in the small, stylish details—custom cocktail napkins, signature scents, or elaborate favors. But many of these extras go unnoticed by guests. Focus on impactful touches that enhance the guest experience, like good food, beautiful lighting, and a relaxed atmosphere.
Cost-Cutting Tip: Skip wedding favors and instead make a charitable donation in your guests’ names or include a handwritten note at each seat.
10. Stick to a Realistic Budget and Track Every Expense
Finally, create a detailed budget spreadsheet and update it regularly. Use categories such as venue, catering, attire, décor, and tips. This will help you identify areas where you’re overspending and allow you to shift funds more strategically.
Budgeting Tool: Consider using free wedding budget calculators or apps to track deposits, balances, and due dates all in one place.
Budget Estimate Summary
Here’s a consolidated budget estimate:
| Budget Level | Low-End (Off-Peak) | Mid-Range (Average) | High-End (Premium) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Venue Site Fee | $12,000 | $12,700 | $13,500 |
| Ceremony + Bar + Catering | $8,000 | $15,000 | $18,000 |
| Rentals & Décor | $1,500 | $4,000 | $6,500 |
| Photography/Videography | $3,000 | $6,000 | $8,000 |
| Music & Officiant | $1,000 | $3,000 | $5,500 |
| Planner / Coordination | $1,000 | $3,500 | $5,000 |
| Transport & Misc. | $1,000 | $2,500 | $3,500 |
| Estimated Total | $27,500 | $46,700 | $60,000 |
Summary:
- Off‑peak weddings could land in the $25k–$30k range.
- Most couples typically spend $40k–$55k.
- Luxurious weddings with full vendor packages can exceed $60k.
Final Thoughts
Hightower Falls combines timeless beauty, convenience, and capacity within one breathtaking setting. With a base site fee averaging $12,700, the venue offers excellent value for a landmark wedding. From there, total costs are shaped by guest count, season, package inclusives, and vendor selections.
With thoughtful planning—like choosing off‑peak dates, optimizing included services, and trimming extras—you can celebrate amid cascading waters and historic charm for a fraction less. But if your heart is set on a lush, waterfall‑led experience with full vendor support, expect to invest $40k–$65k.