Formerly known as “Not Your Mama’s Wedding Expo,” this year’s experience evolves into something new: Rare & Revealed — a design-forward open house celebrating originality, connection, and the art of the weekend wedding.

The experience you loved last year just got an upgrade.
Rare & Revealed: The Not Your Mama’s Wedding Experience brings the same fresh, unfiltered approach to wedding planning—but with a more elevated edge.

This isn’t a tradeshow. It’s a design-driven open house that celebrates originality, connection, and the art of the wedding weekend. Step into Haiku’s gardens and gathering spaces to sip, mingle, and explore how thoughtful details—lighting, layout, texture, and tone—transform a celebration from ordinary to unforgettable.

This year, we’re featuring both Haiku AVL and the Blind Tiger Boutique Hotel, two of Asheville’s most distinctive venues. Guests will be able to tour each space throughout the afternoon, discovering how to blend garden serenity with downtown sophistication to create a seamless weekend experience.

What You’ll Experience

• Elevated Design Showcase:
  Stroll through inspired tablescapes, floral designs, and lighting displays that highlight the creativity of Asheville’s wedding community. Vignettes are styled to spark ideas and show how modern aesthetics and individual personality meet in perfect balance.

• Design Touch & Feel:
  Experience textures up close—runner swatches, specialty linens, rentals, and accent décor that show how intentional layering shapes the mood of a space.

• Cocktail Hour Reimagined:
  Why wait until after the “I do”? Explore ideas for hosting an extended pre-ceremony cocktail hour—1 to 1.5 hours of connection before the vows begin. Think signature drinks, cozy lounge clusters, acoustic sets, or mini grazing boards set among the gardens. It’s an elevated way to welcome guests and ease into the celebration.

• Two Venues, One Experience:
  Enjoy self-guided touring between Haiku AVL and Blind Tiger Boutique Hotel, each offering its own take on romance, design, and hospitality.

Who It’s For

Couples who crave connection over convention—those who want a wedding that feels like them: intentional, stylish, and full of life.

Whether you’re planning a micro-wedding, elopement, or destination weekend, Rare & Revealed is your invitation to reimagine what your celebration can be.

Meet the Makers Behind the Magic
Haiku’s Open House is more than a venue tour—it’s a rare, behind-the-scenes look at Asheville’s most talented wedding creatives. This isn’t a standard expo with rows of booths. It’s an immersive, come-as-you-are evening shaped by artful tablescapes, cinematic storytelling, crafted bites, and florals that whisper romance throughout the garden.

Photographer: Allison White Photography
Known for her effortless blend of light and emotion, Allison captures the kind of images that make time slow down. Expect timeless editorial frames with a natural warmth.

Videographer: Inner Song Photography
Storytelling that moves like music. Inner Song crafts films that feel lived-in, real, and deeply human—capturing the rhythm and heartbeat of each couple’s day.

Caterer: Blue Cardinal Catering
Southern-inspired and seasonally driven, Blue Cardinal turns every bite into an experience. Expect unexpected flavor pairings, curated presentation, and genuine hospitality.

Florals: Sugar Magnolia Flower Co.
Romantic, lush, and wildly intentional. Sugar Magnolia designs florals that tell stories—bringing texture, scent, and soul to every celebration.

Floral Preservation: Golden Preserve
Save your bouquet, til your golden years.

Dessert Caterer: Irene’s Cakes by Design
Artfully crafted cakes made with fine ingredients and thoughtful detail—beautiful, custom creations that taste as good as they look.

Entertainment: Asheville Aerial Arts
So much more than aerial arts... we are a  highly experienced professional entertainment company both in the air and on the ground.  We will exceed your expectations and leave your guests in awe.

DJ & Live Music: DJ Chris Cook

DJ Chris Cook brings the vibe—smooth guitar for your ceremony, high-energy DJ magic for your party, all with undeniable talent.

Stay tuned—more extraordinary makers will be announced as the lineup grows.

Come sip, see, and experience how artistry and atmosphere meet at Haiku AVL’s January 10 Open House—where you’ll meet the pros who make “rare” look effortless.