Event Center, rooftop and Barrel Room

The Event Center is the main wedding space: three levels, high ceilings, expansive windows, live-edge wood bar tops and an elevator. It includes a stage with professional audio-visual capabilities, a catering prep kitchen and a wedding suite furnished by West Elm Asheville.

The rooftop sits above it with views of the Blue Ridge, used for ceremonies, cocktail hours and welcome parties in the warmer months. The Barrel Room is smaller, with racks of aging barrels, skylights a private patio, and a bar overlooking the sour and barrel-aged beer production area.

Sound and hosting in a brewery

Highland's wedding page does not publish a house sound plan, a rooftop sound rule or an end time, so I would ask the events team (events@highlandbrewing.com is the contact on the FAQ page) before I plan anything. The FAQ does say that any gathering with music or announcements has to rent a private event venue, so the question is how loud and how late your venue rental allows.

A tri-level room with a stage and tall windows gives me a clear host position on the stage and a lot of glass to manage. I aim speakers across the dance floor, not at the windows, and I test from the upper levels. A rooftop ceremony is open-air, so I use a mic that handles wind. After the vows I announce the move down to the Event Center for dinner, toasts and dancing, and the elevator makes that easy for older guests.

Lighting, power and effects

The industrial look is already warm: wood, metal and big windows. I light the room with warm white washes on the walls and a few spotlights for the entrance and first dance, and I keep the stage clean so the host and the couple stand in light.

Low fog needs a dedicated 30 amp circuit because it draws up to 3,000 watts for about five minutes at warm-up. Lights and sound run on 20 amp circuits. Highland does not publish a rule on fog, cold sparks or other effects, so I ask the events team to approve them in writing, and I send a power plan that lists where each circuit needs to be, for the Event Center and the rooftop.

Planning notes for couples

Outside food and catering are not allowed at the brewery, so you hire a caterer who works with Highland. The venue says the Event Center suits weddings of 70 to 250 guests, and the Barrel Room can be booked on its own or together with the Event Center.

The rooftop is meant for spring, summer and fall ceremonies, and winter ceremonies are held indoors. Highland does not publish a rain plan for the rooftop, so ask what the backup is on a wet spring or summer date.