Wedding or event Venue & Vacation Rental Homes in New Bern NC Wedding Photography Abilena House & Sparrow House, Resort, Family, Reunion, Plantation, Mansion, Wedding Packages from $1800

Sept 11, 18, and Oct 23 are still available for fall weddings!!! $1000 Discount for these dates!!!

"Abilena" is a 5 acre riverfront plantation and mansion on the Neuse River in New Bern NC. The home was built in 1927 and is the areas only riverfront mansion that can be rented for Weddings, Receptions, Vacations, Retreats, and events. Anything from a family reunion to an intimate reception for 30 to a Wedding of 250 people, "Abilena" awaits your arrival.

After photographing 500 Weddings over the past 7 years, John Williams purchased this magnificent property and has opened the house and grounds to allow you to have the Wedding of your dreams. This is the dream for most Brides...secluded yet only 5 minutes from town. Heavenly views of the Neuse river and the sky. Several acres for parking and events, yet at its core it is still a charming home that will create lasting memories from the moment you drive down the tree covered lane. Take a few minutes to see why this may be the perfect location for your precious day.

Over 5300 square foot home and all 5 acres are yours to walk, relax, explore and enjoy!
The Carriage House with a 1600 square foot open air Pavillion
Rental of the entire home, unlike a Bed & Breakfast, you will not be sharing the home with other people during your stay
26x40 in ground private pool!
8 person in ground Jacuzzi tub with a fireplace and a river view!
Bath towels and linens provided
Full kitchen with washer and dryer, coffee maker, refrigerator, stove, dishes and silverware
Formal Dining room
7 Queen beds, 2 sleeper sofas, sleeps 16 people
2 air mattresses for kids
Cable TV/VCR/DVD with access to our movie library with over 100 movies
Wireless High Speed Internet Service
off street parking for up to 75 cars!
Stainless Steel gas grill for the guests
Private nursery off of a bedroom with a crib and rocking chair
(2) 2 person Kayaks are included and may be used free of charge
Vacations, reunions, etc., $8,500 per week

Wedding packages are listed below...

4 night minimum packages from April 1- Oct 31

Abilena Weddings

Let the dreams begin........

Abilena Package #1 (Available Nov 1-March 31)

You get the use of the Mansion and the grounds for up to 24 hours.
The Bride and Groom each get their own room on the 2nd floor to get ready
Extra time is $200 per hour
Wedding and/ or Reception on the grounds of the plantation or inside the home.
100 White chairs available for the ceremony or reception ($400 value)
(12) 60" round tables for reception ($150 Value)
Use of The Carriage House is included ($750 value)
Reception can be outdoors or inside the home or a combination of both
Catering from approved outside vendors is allowed or you have full use of the kitchen to prepare foods or as a staging area.
*$750 extra if photography is not booked through John Williams
You can add extra nights to this package for
$995 per night
Abilena Package #1 $3500
~ Contact form for more information~

Abilena Package #2(Available Nov 1-April 30)

Wedding and Reception on the grounds of the plantation or inside the home
You get the entire property for 2 days (48 hours)
The Bride and Groom each get their own room on the 2nd floor to get ready
There is a nursery on the 2nd floor with a crib if needed for small children
*You get the use of the home and the grounds for the night before and the night of the wedding. Up to 14 people can sleep at the house! The first floor and outside locations are used for the event, the upper floors are bedrooms for the guests. You will have the use of all of our amenities during your stay.
Extra nights can be added for $995 per night
Catering from outside vendors is allowed or you have full use of the kitchen to prepare foods or as a staging area.
100 White chairs available for the ceremony or reception ($400 value)
(12) 60" round tables for reception ($150 Value)
A tent may be rented and set up on the property or The Carriage House may be rented for an extra $750.
Home may be used for the Rehearsal and the Rehearsal Dinner. Decorating is allowed the day before.
*$750 extra if photography is not booked through John Williams
Abilena Package #2 $3900
~ Contact form for more information~

Abilena Package #3

Wedding, Reception, Rehearsal, Bridesmaids Luncheon, etc. on the grounds of the plantation
You get the entire property for 4 days (96 hours)
You get the home and the grounds for 3 nights prior to the Wedding and the night of the Wedding. Up to 14 people can sleep at the house! The first floor and outside locations are used for the event, the upper floors are bedrooms for the guests. You will have the use of all of our amenities during your stay.
Extra nights can be added for $995 per night
There is a nursery on the 2nd floor with a crib if needed for small children
Catering from outside vendors is allowed or you have full use of the kitchen to prepare foods or as a staging area.
100 White chairs available for the ceremony or reception ($400 value)
(12) 60" round tables for reception ($150 Value)
A tent may be rented and set up on the property or The Carriage House is included ($750 value).
Home may be used for the Rehearsal and the Rehearsal Dinner.
*$750 extra if photography is not booked through John Williams
**Wed, Thurs, Fri, and Sat nights, check out Sunday Morning
Abilena Package #3 $4900

~ Contact form for more information~

Abilena Package #4 (Sundays or Weekdays)

]Includes Abilena and Photography!

Not available on Saturdays from April - October. Available most Sundays all year.

You get the use of the home and the grounds for up to 7 hours.
Extra time is $200 per hour
Wedding and/ or Reception on the grounds of the plantation or inside the home.
100 White chairs available for the ceremony or reception ($400 value)
(12) 60" round tables for reception ($150 Value)
A tent may be rented and set up on the property or The Carriage House is included ($750 value).
Reception can be outdoors or inside the home or a combination of both
Catering from outside vendors is allowed or you have full use of the kitchen to prepare foods or as a staging area.
5 hours of Professional Photography by A Wedding to Remember with copyright releases
- Copyrights to All Images!
- 5 hours,
- (3) 5x7's,
- (8) 8x10's,
- (2) 11x14's,
- (1) 16x20
- ceremony coverage,
- Online Viewing of the entire wedding
- Unlimited Formal, posed, and candid photo's on DVD's, and copyright release!!
- Extra nights can be added for $995 per night
Abilena Package #4 $4400

~ Contact form for more information~

Abilena Package #5

Includes Abilena and Photography! (Sundays or Weekdays)
Not available on Saturdays from April - October. Available most Sundays all year.
You get the use of the Mansion and the grounds for up to 7 hours.
The Bride and Groom each get their own room on the 2nd floor to get ready
Extra nights can be added for $995 per night
There is a nursery on the 2nd floor if needed for small children
Extra time is $200 per hour
Wedding and/ or Reception on the grounds of the plantation or inside the home.
100 White chairs available for the ceremony or reception ($400 value)
(12) 60" round tables for reception ($150 Value)
A tent may be rented and set up on the property or The Carriage House may be rented for an extra $750.
Reception can be outdoors or inside the home or a combination of both
Catering from outside vendors is allowed or you have full use of the kitchen to prepare foods or as a staging area.
6 hours of Professional Photography by A Wedding to Remember with copyright releases
(6) 5x7's,
(20) 8x10's in an album,
(2) 11x14 of your choice,
(1) 16x20 of the Bride and Groom.

This package also includes a Parents album that includes (40) 4x6's for the parents of the bride!

Online Viewing of the entire wedding

Unlimited Formal, posed, and candid photo's on DVD's, and copyright release!!

MasterCard and Visa Accepted

Abilena Package #5 $4750

~ Contact form for more information~

Abilena Package #6

Our most popular package!!

Includes 7 nights at Abilena and Photography

Wedding, Reception, Rehearsal, Bridesmaids Luncheon, etc. on the grounds of the plantation
You get the entire property for an entire week! ($8,500 value)
You get the home and the grounds for 7 nights. Up to 14 people can sleep at the house! The first floor and outside locations are used for the event, the upper floors are bedrooms for the guests. You will have the use of all of our amenities during your stay.
Catering from outside vendors is allowed or you have full use of the kitchen to prepare foods or as a staging area.
100 White chairs available for the ceremony or reception ($400 value)
(12) 60" round tables for reception ($150 Value)
The Carriage House is included in the rental fee. ($750.00 Value)
Home may be used for the Rehearsal and the Rehearsal Dinner. Decorating is allowed the day before.
This package includes Photography
Package #3 ($2850 value)
Bridal Portrait Included! (1) 16x20, (3) 5x7's, (3) 8x10's, and 150 to 250 different photos on CD's for the Bride and her parents to choose from. This session can be done at Tryon Palace, on the beach, at Abilena Mansion, or in our studio in New Bern, it is the Brides choice.

(1) Enlargement album that includes 20 8x10's

Copyrights are given to the customer of EVERY image!

(8) 5x7's of the customers choice, (8) 8x10's of the customers choice, (1) 11x14 of the customers choice,

(1) 16x20 of the Bride and Groom

One 5x7 of the Wedding Party for each Bridesmaid, Groomsman, and for the parents of the ring bearer and flower girl to give to them as a gift after the wedding! (new!)

MasterCard and Visa Accepted
Abilena Package #6 $7995

Free Limo available for Rehearsal night and Wedding Day with package 6 or 7!

The All Inclusive Wedding Package

Abilena Package #7

Includes Abilena Wedding and Reception, Rehearsal Dinner, Photography, Catering, DJ, Minister, Wedding Cake, and 1 full week at Abilena

Wedding, Reception, Rehearsal, Bridesmaids Luncheon, etc. on the grounds of the plantation
You get the entire property for an entire week! ($8500 value)
You get the home and the grounds for 7 nights, you decide which nights fit your needs. Some people use the house for several nights before the wedding, and then for a few nights after the wedding
Up to 14 people can sleep at the house! The first floor and outside locations are used for the event, the upper floors are bedrooms for the guests. You will have the use of all of our amenities during your stay.
White chairs available for the ceremony for up to 100 guests
A tent may be rented and set up on the property.
The Carriage House is included in the rental fee. ($750.00 Value)
Home may be used for the Rehearsal and the Rehearsal Dinner. Decorating is allowed the day before.

This package includes Photography Package 4
John Williams is one of the most experienced Wedding photographers in the area, as well as the owner of Abilena Plantation. This package is everything you could ask for in a Wedding Package. Please remember that these packages can be changed to fit your needs, please just ask!

All Weekend coverage of the Wedding and surrounding events. Bridal Portrait is included. Engagement session included. Rehearsal and Rehearsal Dinner coverage included. The customer receives all of the copyrights of the pictures and 5 sets of DVD's of all digital photography and written rights to reproduce their photos at a later time if they wish.

(7) 5x7's in color ( customers choice), (7) 5x7's in Black and White ( customers choice), (8) 8x10's for framing ( customers choice), (2) 11x14's for framing (customers choice), (1) 11x14 for each Grandparent (customers choice), (2) 16x20's of the wedding day, (1) 10 x 10 enlargement album that holds 20 pages of photographs of the couples choice.

Bridal Portrait Session with between 250 to 550 shots for customer to pick from, at Tryon Palace Gardens in New Bern, NC, on the beach, or at a location of the customers choice. (1) 20x24 on canvas of the Bridal Portrait, (4) 8x10's of Bridal Portrait, (4) 5x7's of various poses of Bridal Portrait, (20) wallets of Bridal Portrait
As many 5x7's of the entire wedding party as you have bridesmaids and groomsmen to give to them as a gift after the wedding! (new to package),
Engagement photo session including all shots on CD and (2) 8x10's.
Parents album for the Mother of the Bride that holds (40) 4x6's of the Brides Mothers choice
Parents album for the Mother of the Groom that holds (40) 4x6's of the Grooms Mothers choice
No time limit, you have me all day! No sitting fees or session fees. I pay all shipping fees if the prints need to be mailed to you.
The entire Wedding will also be available to view on this website for any family or friends that want to see the photographs and they may order from this site as well, for six months!
Unlimited time, copyright release, over 3000 images is normal (all sessions combined), rehearsal diner, CD's included, travel included, please tell me if I could add anything else to this package to make this perfect for you!