For years, Ashleigh Howard & Holly Goshorn have run and operated their own businesses: Ashleigh runs her own baking business (Baking by Ashleigh) and is also now our optional on-site, certified wedding coordinator and/or planner (Ashleigh Howard Weddings). Holly runs her own photography business (H.G. Photography) and is our optional on-site photographer.

For many years, Mike and Yvonne dreamed of owning their own family business. Specifically, Yvonne’s dream was to own a wedding venue, to share in each couple's happiest of days, but also because of how wonderful it would be to do it with their daughters! And when both daughters were married just five months apart (in 2013, prior to creating Aurora Farms), they all learned firsthand how difficult it can be to work within a limited wedding budget. Once their youngest was out of the house, Mike and Yvonne periodically would entertain the idea of building a wedding venue. They would search for the right property, looking at several mountain view properties but ultimately felt the mountain commute would be too much for most folks.

Living in a subdivision for 18 years, the Fortners had to drive by an old horse farm just a few miles away on their way to jobs in downtown Greenville. Yvonne had commented countless times how the farm had the most beautiful weeping willow tree that would make the perfect wedding backdrop. Suddenly, in 2015, that property was for sale. The location was perfect, and it came with an old fixer-upper farmhouse to live right next door. Unfortunately, the list price was way too high for their budget. But it sat on the market for an entire year, with Yvonne saying to Mike every time they passed by: "There's our wedding venue."

A year later, in 2016, the For Sale signs came down and Yvonne told Mike sadly that their “wedding venue” had sold. One week later, the For Sale by Owner signs appeared, and within a week, the Fortners had their offer in, petrified by what they had done because their house was nowhere near ready to sell, they would have two mortgages until their subdivision house sold, and the old farmhouse needed LOTS of work. But that weeping willow tree!!!

Finally, to pick a building style and name. It had to be unique AND affordable AND they wanted to offer packages and options that would make wedding planning much less overwhelming than it had been for their girls. Mike gets credit for the name; Aurora is actually Yvonne’s first name, the same first name as her paternal grandmother; and "Farms" since this property was formerly a horse farm.

Aurora Farms is a family run business that offers a variety of options that make planning less overwhelming, from venue only to custom packages for almost every budget (frugal to extravagant), with the ability to host all styles of events – from casual potluck dinners to elegant black-tie events. With Aurora Farms, your event options are endless – yet affordable. Schedule a tour now to begin planning your special day.