Venue of the Week: Southall Eden, A Beautiful, Rustic Tennessee Farm
Monday, October 18, 2010
Tennessee really is a beautiful state. This time of year, it's especially gorgeous with all the colors of nature just brightening up the landscape. We're so lucky that we have many great outdoor venues at which we can celebrate our wedding. Southall Eden is one such venue that offers you the option of bringing your vows outside to be exchanged under a tree, or set in an awesome barn loft.
If you are a bride seeking a wonderful wedding venue, here's all you need to know about Southall Eden, our wedding venue of the week.
Contact Info
Name: Southall Eden
Website: southalleden.com
Address: 3270 Southall Rd., Franklin, TN 37064
Area of Town: Leiper’s Fork
Main Contact: Shannon O’Kelley
Phone Number: 615-775-4080
Email Address: Shannon at southalleden dot com
Overview of Venue
Southall Eden is a 5 acre farm located in the rolling hills of middle Tennessee, just two miles from the picturesque village of Leiper's Fork and minutes from historic downtown Franklin. Its hillside setting offers views of the rolling pastures and horse farms, while its 1904 farmhouse and turn of the century barn create an authentic farm atmosphere. Its rustic charm makes it a perfect location for those seeking a natural yet elegant setting for their wedding.
Year your business was established: 2009
Your motto/philosophy: It’s YOUR big day. Create the wedding you’ve always dreamed of, and your guests will love it too.
Payment options accepted: Cash, check, credit card (with small processing fee)
What options does your venue offer?
~ Ceremony? yes
~ Reception? yes
~ Showers? yes (30 person minimum)
~ Parties? yes (30 person minimum)
~ Guest Accommodations? no
What type of room(s) is available?
This is an outdoor venue. Some couples use a tent for their event, while others chose an open air setting. The big red barn can be used for ceremonies, receptions, or music and dancing. The Party Shed and Pavilion are also available for buffets, dancing, and lounge seating.
How many people can you accommodate?
Tent or open air without flooring- 250
Tent or open air with flooring- 400+
Seated barn loft dinner- 75
How many events do you take per day? 1
Is outside alcohol allowed? Yes. We do not charge a corkage fee.
Is an on-site event coordinator available? Yes
What is your pricing model? The property is $2,500 for Saturdays and $2,800 for holidays.
We also have an inventory of specialty décor items that are available for an additional cost.
Which bride budget do you serve? Moderate and Luxury
How far in advance should a bride book your venue? 9-12 months
When is the initial deposit/final payment due? 50% deposit to reserve date, 50% due 60 days prior to event
What else should brides know about your venue?
We only do a limited number of weddings at the farm each year, but we also offer all-inclusive rehearsal dinner packages in the barn for couples who are not able to have their wedding here. In addition to this, we rent out the farm on an hourly basis for bridal portraits and/ or engagement photos. Our paperie can also design custom invitations and accessories for your wedding regardless of where you are getting married.
This is a private residence, so an appointment is always required and tours are available for serious inquiries only.
What makes your venue so unique? What do you pride yourself on?
We are fortunate to be located in exclusive Leiper’s Fork, known for its beautiful horse farms, celebrity homes, and charming art galleries. The area is ideal for couples wanting to give their out of town guests a true Tennessee experience. We pride ourselves on creating a setting that has rustic charm, but that also lends itself to classy, upscale weddings. The venue is a constant work in progress, with new features being added all the time. We are also constantly adding to our inventory of carefully selected rental décor items.
A simple burlap runner completes the table setting.
For "budget savvy" brides, what's the one thing you think should always make it into a budget?
No matter what your budget is or where you get married, hire a good wedding planner! If she does her job well, she will be able to do everything from prevent headaches and unnecessary expenses to advise on how to avoid family drama. Many people think that wedding planners are a luxury, but this is simply not true. Even though they are an additional expense, a good planner will be able to use her knowledge and contacts to save you money in so many other areas that she may pay for herself. Having a planner doesn’t mean you have to relinquish control of your wedding and not have a say in the creative process. It simply means you have someone working FOR you who does this every weekend and will think of all the things that you don’t. And believe me, there will be many things you don’t think of.
What advice would you give to brides on the wedding planning process in general?
Don’t sweat the small stuff! Too often brides let themselves get so stressed out about all the little details of their big day that they forget the reason for occasion, which is YOU ARE GETTING MARRIED! By all means choose a venue you love, choose good quality vendors you can rely on, and hire a fantastic photographer to capture it all so that your grandchildren can enjoy the photos 100 years from now. But through it all, keep in mind that the absolute most important decision you will make is choosing your groom!!! If you make a good decision there, everything will fall into place
You can follow Southall Eden on Twitter, or show them how much you love their venue by liking them on Facebook! Visit the Southall Eden website for more information and to schedule your appointment for a site visit with Shannon O'Kelley.
About the Author:
Tabitha
Blogging is something I’ve enjoyed doing for years. My interests lie mostly in lifestyle related topics like fashion, style, design, food and weddings. When I heard Ashley was looking to bring on new members to the ABG team, I jumped at the opportunity - I can’t think of a better way to stay involved in weddings than to write about them and to stay in touch with the trends and new ideas. Lucky for me, Ashley likes my blog and trusts my experience to bring me on and so far, it’s been a blast.
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Posted on October 18, 2010 |
Filed under: Wedding Venues and Locations
