Callanwolde Fine Arts Center

Art center · Druid Hills

Callanwolde Fine Arts Center

Art center · Druid Hills

1

980 Briarcliff Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30306

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Callanwolde Fine Arts Center by null
Callanwolde Fine Arts Center by null
Callanwolde Fine Arts Center by null
Callanwolde Fine Arts Center by null
Callanwolde Fine Arts Center by null
Callanwolde Fine Arts Center by null
Callanwolde Fine Arts Center by null
Callanwolde Fine Arts Center by null
Callanwolde Fine Arts Center by null
Callanwolde Fine Arts Center by null
Callanwolde Fine Arts Center by null
Callanwolde Fine Arts Center by null
Callanwolde Fine Arts Center by null
Callanwolde Fine Arts Center by null
Callanwolde Fine Arts Center by null
Callanwolde Fine Arts Center by null
Callanwolde Fine Arts Center by null
Callanwolde Fine Arts Center by null
Callanwolde Fine Arts Center by null
Callanwolde Fine Arts Center by null
Callanwolde Fine Arts Center by null
Callanwolde Fine Arts Center by null
Callanwolde Fine Arts Center by null
Callanwolde Fine Arts Center by null
Callanwolde Fine Arts Center by null
Callanwolde Fine Arts Center by null
Callanwolde Fine Arts Center by null
Callanwolde Fine Arts Center by null
Callanwolde Fine Arts Center by null
Callanwolde Fine Arts Center by null
Callanwolde Fine Arts Center by null
Callanwolde Fine Arts Center by null
Callanwolde Fine Arts Center by null
Callanwolde Fine Arts Center by null
Callanwolde Fine Arts Center by null
Callanwolde Fine Arts Center by null
Callanwolde Fine Arts Center by null
Callanwolde Fine Arts Center by null
Callanwolde Fine Arts Center by null
Callanwolde Fine Arts Center by null
Callanwolde Fine Arts Center by null
Callanwolde Fine Arts Center by null

Highlights

Community arts center in a mansion, with exhibits, concerts & workshops, plus outreach programs.  

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980 Briarcliff Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30306 Get directions

callanwolde.org
@callanwoldefinearts

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980 Briarcliff Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30306 Get directions

+1 404 872 5338
callanwolde.org
@callanwoldefinearts
𝕏
@Callanwolde

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Last updated

Jul 10, 2025

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"Once the home of Coca-Cola tycoon Howard Candler, Callanwolde is now a community arts center that offers classes and workshops for all ages. You'll also find weekend artist markets and a perfect venue for weddings. Creative Mornings Atlanta has also called Callanwolde home for several of its monthly breakfast lectures. The estate is especially beautiful just before nightfall, when you can see the lights twinkling on the trees." - Liz Shinn & Mike Rivera

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Atta Junior

Google
Callanwolde had always been a dream wedding location for me as a wedding photographer, and I'm excited that I had the opportunity to make it a reality. This venue's stunning beauty and numerous photo-worthy spots truly inspired my creativity, resulting in some incredible photos. I will be looking forward to working there again in the future.

Lady Barbara Pinson Artist

Google
Callanwolde is an experience. Callanwolde is perfect for a day outing, evening experience, summer concert on the lawn, hosting your special event or stepping back into an era of elegance.

Minh Hua

Google
This is a beautiful place with a lot of history. I attended a wedding here and it was magnificent. Love the gardens, the architecture and the classic styling. Opportunities: The air conditioning could have been a little stronger and the water tasted like the worst of a lot of water. Overall a great place to host a nice event. I would do something here. Highly recommend it. I am attaching some pictures so you can see.

Nikki Peyton

Google
Beautiful venue. I was here for my cousins wedding. It was a very hot day so the walk fro the parking lot to the building was hell. Valet parking would’ve been great. The building itself wasn’t as cool as I thought it would be. I was sweating the majority of the time, I arrived with nice straightened silky hair and left with puffy hair. 🤣.

Life Coach, Couples Therapist AskAnnalisa

Google
Amazing! Loved learning more about the history of family and the architecture for that time was astonishing.

Kiley Lucier

Google
Our non-profit organization hosted our fellowship graduation here last night. Jordan was an amazing point of contact and answered all of my questions throughout the process with patience and kindness. On the day of our event, she responded to my email within minutes with a map of where I could park. Curtiss was our on-site coordinator for the day and we couldn't have been happier with his help. He did everything from helping me break down boxes to testing all the audio and grabbing last minute supplies. We will definitely be back within the year for another event. You can't beat the staff, service, historical significance, price, and incredible architecture. Thanks, Jordan & Curtiss!

Juliana Foster

Google
I toured numerous Atlanta venues for my wedding, but nothing could have compared to Callanwolde. The beautiful architecture and landscape took my breath away. If it weren’t for Google Maps, you would never know you’re in the middle of a city. It is an incredibly peaceful and quiet area of town. I was heartbroken postponing my wedding in 2020 due to COVID, but the team worked with us to schedule a new date the following year. Everything went off without a hitch and I could not be more thankful to have chosen this spot for my big day. I grew up in Europe, and at certain times throughout the day it felt as if I was back there. I will be returning around the holidays for one of their events!

tim lennon

Google
Had a delightful time at Callanwolde Fine Arts Center! The beautiful estate, filled with artistic charm, hosts a variety of classes and events. Whether you're an artist or simply appreciate creativity, this place is sure to inspire

Vanessa N.

Yelp
We came here for a friend's wedding. The venue was nice and there were a lot of great photo op spots for wedding pictures. If you are planning a small to medium size wedding, this may be a good place to consider.

Li L.

Yelp
I came here for a friend's wedding recently. It had a nice view in the outdoor area for people to chill and hangout in between ceremonies. I didn't take much pictures as most were taken with my friend's phone instead. There was a brief reception followed by drinks at the bar prior to dinner. We had quite the wait after we got seated around 7pm. However, it was between 8 and 9pm till we got served. Not sure what was going on I the kitchen.. But, the guests were starving that day! Luckily, I had a late snack before heading out to the wedding. I particularly liked the room with the baby grand piano with walls filled with Asian paintings. It was pleasant listening to someone who was decent at carrying a few tunes on the piano. It was fun watching the bride and groom getting their pictures taken in the garden outside the Art Center prior to dinner.

Nathan D.

Yelp
Really cool art center and event space. Was there for a wedding. The grounds are palatial, well maintained, and beautiful. They also had an exhibition upstairs that was very strong. Perfect venue for rent

Chef RaNeisha M.

Yelp
I attended a whiskey tour and tasting hosted by Macallan Whiskeys! It was such a wonderful, educational experience that was new for me! I'm learning more about spirits and this just helped further me along in my journey! It was very interactive, informative, and quite entertaining! The hosts had great personalities and kept us on our toes! It was a great night of drinks, live music, and meeting some really dope people!

Alexi Y.

Yelp
Beautiful Christmas display show. Well worth the tickets since I've never been to this museum. Each room was designed by a different group. Soft organ music was played downstairs. Wonderful interior decorating at it's best. Sort of a mini Biltmore display.

Sandy J.

Yelp
Highlight: ICallanwolde is a non profit organization that is 10 mins outside of Emory University down Briarcliff University. It is a nice mansion, good venue for weddings and events, and it is also an arts center for dances/performances/music. Just got married here this past weekend and I think this is the best place to go if you're someone looking for a beautiful venue that allows outside catering. That was the deal breaker for me- we wanted a Chinese Themed wedding, but most venues wouldn't outside catering, so our dreams of a Chinese wedding seemed shot at first. If you want southern gardens, lovely historic mansion, crystal and whimsical reception that comes with tables and chairs and you bring your own drinks/catering, then this is the clear winner. Outside catering: We were torn between choosing an elegant place such as Atlanta Botanical Gardens or something like Swan House, but those places did not permit outside catering- so it seemed that our idea of a 10 course Chinese banquet seemed shot. However, there are 2 venues that allow outside catering- one, being the Solarium in Decatur and this place. I think this is the best. If you book a Friday, it's a 4200$ fee and it's 2000$ more for a Saturday, and 1000$ more for Sunday. That is the only fee you pay. The other fees you pay include chairs, tables, and any bartending you wish Callanwolde to provide. We did not do open bar, but we did tickets. They set up shop in a fold up table at the back of the reception- so don't expect an actual bar in the venue. Venue: Lovely gardens- highly recommend people bring epi pens and allergy medications if your bridal party has those issues. We had our wedding outdoor and we used the gardens for photos. Early May and Late April are excellent times for the wedding b/c you are beating the summer graduation/mothers day crowds but still get the beautiful gardens and flowers for the photos. There are lovely historical rooms in this mansion that are good for entertaining guests, cocktail hours, and for exploration. Upstairs: the dressing rooms- these are actually ballet rooms but can be used for performers/bridal parties to get dressed for the wedding. It i spacious but don't expect a boudoir kind of interior that other venues may have with nice sofas and fancy areas to sit and take pics. It is a big room with mirrors and bare floors- enough for people to dress/leave things there. It's not a nice sitting area for bridal pics with sofas and fluffy cushions. Reception area- this is why we chose this place- the crystal chandelier and drapings made this place feel magical and have a whimsical air that was both elegant and beautiful. Great touch and saves one from ceiling deocrations for any events since the ceiling speaks for itself and automatically lends a great vibe to the place. If you do a dance floor at night, it feels veen more lit and elegant and super fun with the high ceiling and crystals.

J R.

Yelp
Love the building and landscape; however, it's dusty and full of cobwebs. The out of the windows are dirty and have a ridiculous amount of bugs. A family member had a wedding here and I couldn't help but notice these basic things. I know it's an old building and love the look, but that doesn't make it ok for it to be as dusty as it was. Blinds, sills, outside of windows, wooden panels, etc. were all dusty. There was a huge spider in our groom's suite. Can you say "pest control"? Other than that, the event went well and pics were beautiful.

Tony W.

Yelp
We attended a reception and a wedding here. Very pretty place great location in Atlanta. Food is above decent. I'm not certain about price point is assume it above a mid priced place

Rachel C.

Yelp
Callanwolde is a magical, welcoming place that can become your second home. There are so many ways to get involved here! - There are classes of all kinds for kids and adults (dance, pottery, art, etc) - It is the most perfect wedding venue you can imagine - There are outdoor concerts and events for many holidays - There's a coffee shop (Callan Cafe) - Christmas at Callanwolde, when the mansion becomes a show house for interior designers, is not to be missed! - AND, there are a host of other cool events that happen, including Toursdays (on select Thursdays) where you can enjoy drinks and get a tour of the historic home. Built in 1920 by one of the Coca-Cola heirs, Callanwolde is stunningly beautiful. It's a non-profit arts center now, and I can't say enough great things about it! Also, there is plentiful free parking! Check it out!

Carrie H.

Yelp
I love this place!!! I have driven by this place forever and never had a reason to go check it out. Then, my hubbies friends decide to get married here! Everything about this place is what you would want in a wedding venue. It met all my expectations and was so lovely that I want to figure out a way to have an event here... Maybe a wedding vow renewal or party for something special... There are a million places outside to take brilliant photo. The backdrop in any place outside or inside is amazing!!! The landscaping is so lush and unique. Colors everywhere! Cute courtyards, big windows, tall trees, something prettiness all around! There wasn't one bad place for a picture inside or out! The area where the grand staircase is where the three piece band and cocktail reception was and then the ceremony was in the large room with that phenomenal chandelier!!! Just picture perfect! After the ceremony the couple went upstairs and then ascended the stairs to everyone as hubby and wife. The pictures were brilliant!!! Did I mention I LoVe this place!!! I don't give out 5's very often do you know I mean them!!!

Vanessa C.

Yelp
Recently attended a wedding at Callanwolde. Wow, it was beautiful!!!! Callanwolde is a magical place that you a can melt into! Once you enter the gates you are instantly transported into a a wonderland. The ceremony was held outside and the weather was perfect. We sat under a canopy of trees, leaves, and flowers. The only glitch was that the officiant was not miked and we could not hear a word of the actual ceremony. I am not sure if it was Callanwolde's decision or the Bride and Groom. Everything else was perfect!! The reception was held inside the Arts Center. It was absolutely to die for! When you enter you are welcomed by dark wood walls, a high ceiling, and intricate details on all the wooden pillars. We had dinner, dancing and toasts on the outside patio, which was covered. It made a large wedding feel small and intimate. Overall, it was a great experience!!

Daniel P.

Yelp
What a wonderful event! Stopped in to preview the upcoming artist show that is at the Callanwolde Arts Center. If you can go this weekend it's worth the trip. From jewelry to soap and everything in between. Plus you get to visit the awesome Callanwolde Mansion. So many great finds during this show. Staff was so nice and there is plenty of parking. Plenty of room to move around. This event was from 6-9 but hours may be different this weekend. Please support these artist if you can. Worth the visit!!!

Mary W.

Yelp
My granddaughter takes ballet lessons at Callanwolde. Last Thursday during her lessons my daughter became ill. Ms. Bobbie in the cafe was exceptional in taking care of her until I arrived. She was kind and patient in attempting to make my daughter comfortable. Once I arrived and the illness did not subside Ms. Bobbie contacted the General Manager Caitlin. She and other staff members were so compassionate in attempting to assist. Finally Caitlin suggested an ambulance to transport my daughter rather than me trying to get her to the hospital. She called for the ambulance and Scott along Witt Ms. Bobbie stayed with us until the ambulance arrived. I wholeheartedly appreciate the level of attention given to us during this scary situation. Today when we arrived all the aforementioned staff members came to ask my daughter if she was feeling better. I wish this level of kindness was throughout our society. MANY THANKS TO THE CALLANWOLDE STAFF.

Cassandra M.

Yelp
This review is only about Christmas at Callanwolde. I first visited Christmas at Callanwolde three years ago when I first moved to Atlanta. It was everything that it was advertised to be. The rooms were furnished and decorated elaborately for Christmas. You had the feeling as if you were touring an exquisite mansion. In fact, I was told upon entry NO PHOTOS. Apparently the designers didn't want anyone stealing their ideas. I went again this past Sunday, Dec. 14th. It was such a huge difference and almost disappointment. All of the bedrooms upstairs had their furniture removed, the walls covered in white cloths and were converted into *theme* rooms. They had a room with a Coca-Cola display. They had a room where they were selling Build-a-Bears for $30. They had a room with some small card tables which was the Leggo room. It wasn't a tour of a mansion, it was a walk through an indoor festival. Even the family sitting room upstairs was wall to wall vendors selling jewelry and other nick nacks. Not even all of them were Christmas related. You could tell the purpose of the event wasn't to showcase a lovely mansion that had been decorated for Christmas but to hawk goods. It was OK, but it was definitely not what I expected. I'll stick with a different tour of homes for my Christmas viewing pleasure next year. I won't be back.

Kristin C.

Yelp
We had our wedding here three years ago and it was one of the best nights of our lives! Our guests could not stop commenting (& still do to this day) what a great party and facility we had. Thank you!

Amber P.

Yelp
I would highly recommend not taking any ceramic / pottery classes here. They'll take your money, overbook the classes, and then have you "watch." But don't worry, because you will still get your clay, and you're welcome to come in outside of any scheduled classes to practice, without help. Definitely not what I paid $200 for. Edit: they refunded my money and were very nice. I have not since taken any classes here but other friends are really enjoying their classes here.

Diana R.

Yelp
This review is for using them as a venue: We rented the Retreat and Gardens for our wedding and we were extremely frustrated and disappointed with how the staff handles events. They double-booked us with another wedding on the same date and we eventually were pressured to reschedule our wedding time around them, 2 weeks prior to the date. Edit: to clarify, they will double book the Gardens for 2 ceremonies on the same day. I.e.- they have a contract for Retreat & Gardens, and another (I assume) for Mansion & Gardens. Beautiful, but not worth the headache for an event

Chelsi A.

Yelp
I just wanna say this was absolutely the most beautiful house ever. I took my muse here to take photos of and they turned out superb. I didn't get to walk around the whole estate but I viewed majority of it for times sake. The inside is gorgeous. The staff are a little weird but it's whatever because you can do a self guided tour to roam around. I was the only "guest" in the house so I got to really explore every detail of the rooms, to the bathrooms, and closets. Wish I could've saw the kitchen and basement! lol but other than that I love it.

Juan M.

Yelp
Wow. What a change a few years AND new management makes! I got a note from their ED asking me to come back and check things out and I took her up on it - no bribes or slick enticements: just "Hey, come check us out." Well worth it; this place is ready for prime time and has a ton to offer. Don't miss the Halloween thing they have planned and get on their info list!

Ali H.

Yelp
Excellent support team! I recently did an event here, (I'm a wedding planner), and I had a seemless experience. The sales and events coordination team was wonderful and very proactive in helping me solve logistical issues. The on site staff on the day of were invaluable and helped me pull the event off without a hitch! Would highly recommend as an events/wedding venue.

Tricia B.

Yelp
Visited for juried art exhibition that a friend's work was in for a solo show at Whitespace gallery. Such gorgeous grounds! Interior of main building is elegant. Pleasant staff. Very spacious inside and out. Look forward to attending future events here!

Bob B.

Yelp
Very uninspiring architecture and landscaping. Have toured other early 20th Century homes and found them more appealing. Callenwolde has a basic floor plan and the gardens are boring. I guess it has struggled over the years and is owned by the local county. It shows. The Christmas decorating was also very bland. Looked like somebody essentially stumbled down the aisle at Michael's. Almost seems like the decorators had their arms twisted to participate

Mike A.

Yelp
Cool venue for a wedding. If I ever get reincarnated as a person who has no memory of being married in my previous life and therefore I have no guilt about getting remarried, especially at a place that I attended a wedding at...oh and if I live in Atlanta...yeah I'd consider this place. The bathroom fan in the men's room was about two inches away from giving me a haircut. So, you know...watch out, tall brothers.

Vanessa T.

Yelp
Viewed an art exhibit here recently. It's a nice space with an abundance of natural light in the exterior rooms. It seems well maintained and cared for. We didn't bump into a single employee while there, so I'm not sure if the space station is manned or not, but even so, the center felt inviting and possessed of a lot of history. Outside there was a jazz event on the lawn. Lots of jazzy people showed up armed with wine and lawn chairs. They were going to go buck wild.

Alice P.

Yelp
We attended their annual Easter Eggstravaganza this weekend, and I just wanted to comment on how well run, well planned, well executed this event was. From the convenient shuttle buses, to the onsite staff members who made every guests visit comfortable, to the many fun and exciting activities they had planned for the children...this is quite possibly the best Easter Hunt event in town for children and families! We look forward to making this our family's annual Easter tradition!

Stephanie H.

Yelp
Callanwolde is a dream. As soon as I saw it, I knew this was where I wanted to get married. The space is so beautiful. Words can't begin to describe. It's also a part of Atlanta history, which makes it all the more unique. The team was wonderful to work with. They were accommodating and patient. I wouldn't have picked any other place!

Stephen B.

Yelp
Great for weddings, call us for photos we do digital, we do albums LOVE that Venue. stephen becker-atlanta in Gainesville we can do budget wedding pics...

Erica '.

Yelp
I have yet to hear anything back from Director Peggy Johnson regarding my damaged clothing (which were damaged while attending a wedding at this venue). I attended a wedding at the Callanwolde Fine Arts Center back in late August. The center is beautiful and upon arrival, most of the staff was amicable and friendly. At this particular wedding ceremony, the center provided white folding chairs. Some of the chairs had been painted and the paint was tacky to the touch. I had not noticed this beforehand and was sitting for more than an hour in wet paint. When I stood, I felt the fabric on my skirt sticking to the cushion. As I peeled my skirt away from the seat, I was left with multiple streaky stains of white paint across my bottom. I was beyond livid! Being that this was a wedding, I was formally dressed and the skirt cost a pretty penny. The staff on-hand seemed generally unsympathetic to the issue. They took everyone's name but no contact information. They didn't even set the wet chairs aside when they pushed them into the next room for the reception. I spoke with the main coordinator, Jade, who seemed bothered when I asked her name and contact information to follow up. She never once apologized and acted as if I was annoying her for being concerned about my ruined skirt. I left the event early to keep from sitting, once again, in wet paint (since they reused the same affected chairs). I plan to speak with someone a bit more professional in the main office as soon as it reopens for business, but I am beyond dissatisfied. For such a classy venue, I was appalled at the lack of care and compassion the staff showed the guests. I wonder how future guests will feel, knowing that this center would allow carelessness (wet painted chairs on the day of the wedding) and callous disregard for complainants. I will not soon attend another event here. It has been nearly a month since the paint incident and the only resolution that the Director (Peggy Johnson) had to offer is that I drive 25 miles out of my way to leave my formal skirt with her assistant to have it cleaned. I explained that it was not feasible for me to make that trip (and certainly inconvenient) and even mentioned that the woman, "Jade" that I spoke to on the day of the incident indicated that there would be a different means of fixing our issue. I have not since heard a word from any member of the Callanwolde staff and am completely dissatisfied. Be wary that if you host an event here, that you and your guests may be victim to the same. The venue provided seats that were painted and not dry the day of the event. Several guests walked away with paint on their clothing. Nothing has been done to settle this matter.

Natalie R.

Yelp
I was married at Callanwolde right before Christmas. We held the ceremony and reception there. It was a gorgeous event, and a perfect space for a winter wedding. The best compliment I received was from a close friend who felt like she was attending a wedding in an episode of Downton Abbey. Callanwolde was great to work with. Their Events/Facilities Direction, Anna Warner, is responsive and flexible with allowing you drop in with vendors to make planning decisions. She also helped point us to a caterer, florist, and event planner who frequently put on events at Callanwolde. Those recommendations were invaluable, as the vendors all knew each other and Callanwolde's facilities inside and out. I wouldn't change a thing if I could do it all over and will cherish our photos forever.

Lindsey T.

Yelp
Callanwolde is a beautiful setting for an Atlanta wedding. We had many guests come from out of town, and we loved having a reception venue that so quintessentially exuded Atlanta culture. Our wedding was late August, and we were able to use the patio for cocktail hour and the gardens for our pictures - all stunning! Anna was our primary contact for our wedding day and the month leading up to it, and she was very helpful and coordinated well with our vendors. A reflection on other reviews: I was apprehensive to work with Callanwolde after reading some reviews about the un-helpfulness of the staff. The original contact we had at Callanwolde caused a lot of unneeded stress (and my 4-star review), but Anna is a joy to work with!

Patrycja M.

Yelp
Went here with a friend today. She had a groupon for Christmas deal. We both weren't very impressed. You walk through this house which has like maybe 7 or so rooms and they're decorated for Christmas but I just expected more. You can always buy any of the furniture as you walk through. So it's kinda like you're paying to walk through an estate sale in a way.

Samantha Z.

Yelp
We attended a 'toursday' event at Callanwolde and loved it! We are new to Atlanta and live in the neighborhood. We loved learning about the history of the arts center! The staff was so friendly and helpful. We are already looking forward to signing up for classes and becoming members! Thanks!!

Laura J.

Yelp
The Callanwolde Fine Arts Center is a fantastic historic home, fine arts center, and event space. I thoroughly enjoyed my docent-led tour, and I am excited to sign up for a painting class.

Mike B.

Yelp
I started out taking classes in Callanwolde's Photography dept 10 years ago when I met one of the instructors at a pay by the hour darkroom and learned about color film He suggested that I check out Callanwolde . The level of instruction is great and the Black and White darkroom classes provide general access to the darkroom . After 10 years I enjoy the community at Callanwoldeand I'm still using the darkroom

Melanie J.

Yelp
This review pertains to the darkroom photography course with David Damon--I came to Callanwolde after spending about five years learning digital photography. The more I learned about digital, the more I wanted to get back to photography as an art form. After two quarters of his darkroom black and white photography course, I feel like I am experiencing photography the way it was meant to be learned and enjoyed. It is a process, and David has taught me so much about making photos rather than just taking them. He is dedicated to the art form, teaching the proper process for handling the chemicals and taking care of the darkroom equipment. I also appreciate that Callanwolde allows plenty of access to the darkroom outside of class time.

John F.

Yelp
Don't waste your money on the jewelry class. Signed up for beginner class that was supposed to be limited in class size, but advanced students were in the classroom and diverted too much time from planned projects. The instructor is very talented, but unfocused and offered little instruction. Limited tools for group size make class time unproductive. This class was clearly stated for beginners in the catalog, but I felt that for the $250 class fee, there are better options elsewhere. Very disappointed.

Rachel C.

Yelp
I had my wedding at Callanwolde and absolutely loved it! My guests were blown away by the venue! Little to no decorations are needed because of the old charm of this place and Anna was so helpful throughout the entire process! The courtyard is simply the best with the chandelier and drapery!

Rebecca A.

Yelp
I was worried about using Callanwolde as my venue after reading reviews that were all over the place. I can honestly say I am so glad I still gave Callanwolde a chance and met with Anna. She was super cool and upfront about answering all my questions and concerns. Callanwolde is a GORGEOUS venue and doesn't require you to spend an exorbitant amount of money on extra decor. They are super flexible with what you can bring (most importantly alcohol). That is a huge expense you dodge. We literally saved over $9K by being allowed to bring in our own alcohol - and we bought wine, full bar, and beer for our guests. Huge plus for Callanwolde! Also, Anna and the other staff I interacted with were incredibly nice and willing to help when/how they could. You have to keep in mind though, they are not only a wedding venue. They teach classes and have other events going on all the time. That never caused an issue for my wedding but you really need to understand that before booking. They may be slower to respond but again, that's because they do so much with the venue. I always got a response from Anna and never felt like things were slipping through the cracks. The reason I gave 4.5 stars for flexibility is because on Fridays (when I got married) you can't bring anything before noon. That isn't the end of the world but it would have been easier on us if we could have dropped a few items off the night before the wedding. Again, not an issue you just have to plan. If I had to do all over again, I would still choose Callanwolde and work with Anna in a heartbeat. My guests still tell me how beautiful Callanwolde was. The indoor Courtyard is breathtakingly beautiful and the gardens (even in November) were still in bloom for our pictures. Bottomline: the venue is GORGEOUS, flexible within reason, has incredibly nice and laid back staff, and reasonably priced for Atlanta wedding venues. Thank you, Anna and team for all you did to make our wedding go smoothly!

whitney b.

Yelp
Everything was absolutely perfect for our wedding! Callanwolde is gorgeous - they have beautiful grounds, tons of space that you can use for various groups (bridesmaids, groomsmen, first look, etc.), a great rain plan and do everything they can to make the event awesome. We loved working with them!

Becky S.

Yelp
Our wedding was perfect! Mike and his staff were friendly, helpful, and more than accommodating. They made great recommendations for our vendors and ensured that the day ran without a hitch! Our wedding truly was as beautiful as the brochures!!

Sam A.

Yelp
Callanwolde is awesome, and is probably one of the best-kept secrets in Atlanta (well, OK, Decatur). It's a community arts center, and they offer all kinds of art classes that are open to everyone. The class fees are reasonable (I've taken several photography courses there and they were all under $200 for 8 weeks), and you meet awesome people. Here's my personal experience: I took a film photography course back in the day in high school, and I was interested in trying it out again. I was looking for somewhere in Atlanta that I could take a film photography class, but all I could find were digital photography classes. Finally, a friend told me about Callanwolde. I had never heard of it before, so I checked it out and found that it had just what I was looking for. For under $200, I took an eight-week photography & dark room course at Callanwolde taught. There were just over 10 people in the class, and we had access six days a week to Callanwolde's dark room. The class met on Wednesdays from 6 to 9 p.m., and the class allowed students at different levels to set their own goals and work on their own projects, although there were also class-wide assignments. I learned a lot in the class, including dark room technique and photography technique. I also met a ton of cool people through Callanwolde. In fact, I enjoyed the class so much that I took it three times while living in Atlanta. Now that I live in Los Angeles, Callanwolde is one of the things I miss the most. I loved the photography course, but they have painting, sculpture, weaving, carving, dancing, and all sorts of things I'm leaving out. The catalog is on the website: http://www.callanwolde.org/ Check it out.

Kelly M.

Yelp
I had greatly anticipated last December's Christmas at Callanwolde. I had thoroughly enjoyed my previous experience and looked forward to the tour of the mansion and its designer rooms. I was shocked and disappointed when I arrived with friends and found the outdoor decorations on the front lawn to be spray painted cardboard boxes. The experience continued downhill from there. Few rooms were decorated, the entire experience was disappointed, and there was no shopping on the second floor. It took us 20 minutes to decide we wanted to leave, for nothing was nothing to look at and nothing to enjoy. Callanwolde was a disappointing, empty shell. I don't care to return and also called friends the day of my visit and told them not to waste their time.

Jennifer H.

Yelp
We had our wedding ceremony in December of 2012 at the Samuel Goldman Retreat of the Callanwolde Fine Arts Center. Obviously it's not the most popular area of the campus (it's the smaller cabin-ish building on the south side, near the amphitheater), but it was perfect for what we wanted - intimate, rustic and not outrageously expensive! We loved the huge stone fireplace and the wooden beams. It's also in a great location and was close to our reception venue (Paris on Ponce). Charlotte was professional, pleasant and easy to work with, and she was also very flexible in allowing us to have a little extra time to decorate/clean-up. (Although it depends on other rentals, of course.) While there isn't a lot of extra space to get ready (I hid out in the kitchen while guests arrived), the facilities are excellent, and we were overall very pleased and glad we chose this space!

Nellisa L.

Yelp
The light show was a complete dud. Even with a Groupon discount, it cost $12 a ticket, and was completely lackluster. Took 15 minutes to walk the entire display. Concession was inefficient, and restroom was poorly maintained. Many lights were not functional, and no one supervised the displays. The area for kids to write letters to Santa was completely waterlogged and muddy- the makeshift pathway was ineffective.

Deborah H.

Yelp
Very nice location for a big event. Went to a wedding with 120 plus guests with outdoor ceremony. There was a gazebo for the string quartet and trees and flowers to gaze upon. Then we had cocktails on the terrace followed by dinner and dancing in the house. Everyone had a lovely time. You can rent the whole place for the night so there was plenty of space to spread out.

Atlanta A.

Yelp
Do not take classes here!!!!!!! Awful, Unprofessional and completely unacceptable. Crazy that they charge this kinda money for the same class u can take at Binders for much cheaper with much better teachers. Highway robbery. Run far far away!!!!

Belle S.

Yelp
This is a beautiful venue for an event. I came here for a school formal in the fall and absolutely loved the charm of the entire night. There was plenty of space, though it felt like I had waltzed into a magical elegant home. Additionally, there was art upstairs to view at our leisure. I would like to come back to see the exhibits or attend future events here.

Awx S.

Yelp
Jahmesha Joseph Outreach Director is so kind. My son attends summer camp and had a wonderful experience because of her kindness.

Jennifer T.

Yelp
What a welcoming staff! The receptionist and the executive director warmly welcomed us, and the place was buzzing with activity - setting up for the evening's jazz performance and continuing summer arts camps for kids. I'm new to Atlanta, although I have been coming to the area for years. I certainly hope the organization and its staff garners the help needed to make it thrive. I agree with Bob B.'s landscaping comment - but maybe a collaboration with the horticulture students could help? Thank you all for a lovely afternoon experience.

Victoria W.

Yelp
I would like to say that I am so glad to have experienced Callenwald's Fine Arts Center. The home of Charles Howard Chandler. It was truly an honor. Ms. Bobbie Behanna made sure we were informed of the layout of the Manson, location of the cafe and necessities. She let us know the history of the Manson. The location of the gardens, everything that was going on the Estate. She is the perfect hostess, with the perfect southern ascent. What a pleasure. She was the icing on the cake. Thank you for a great experience.