Meet FrontPorch Farms: Their Home is Your Wedding Haven
Monday, August 29, 2011
We are so blessed here in Tennessee with such gorgeous venues both indoors and out. Some venues you have the best of both worlds with beautiful sprawling grounds and covered areas that offer you and your guests options. FrontPorch Farms, out in Ashland City, TN is a beautiful haven that owners (and residents!) Kathy and Brian Best have generously opened up to you as your perfect venue for your wedding.
Photograph by Shots by Cheyenne
Contact Info
Name: Front Porch Farms
Main Contact: Kathy & Brian Best
Phone Number: 615-394-1838
Email Address: info {at} frontporchfarmstn {dot} com
Twitter: @Frontporchfarms
Facebook fan page: Front Porch Farms fan page
Number of years in the business: Two years in weddings, nearly 20 in PR and events, and 10 years developing the property.
Photograph by Wedlock Images
How did you get started in weddings?
I had a friend looking for a wedding venue and she had been to our house for parties and asked, "Why don't you do weddings?" I had never thought about it before but it made perfect sense. Brian and I were married here nearly 10 years ago and people still talked about how beautiful it was. I love entertaining and decorating and our guests always marveled at the view or commented on our vintage style home that Brian built.
What do you like most about weddings?
The end result! After all the planning, the cleaning and prep work, the set up and decorating and all the hard work from our staff and the vendors, we love to step back and see the end result. It's not the beautiful decor, food or flowers (though that's awesome) but the end result is the smiles on the bride and groom and the compliments from their family and friends. It's so rewarding to have people thank you for making their first day of marriage so memorable. We love that they trust us with something so important and take the "end result" very seriously!
What’s your favorite wedding pic/video and why?
My favorite wedding photos are always the sunset photos with the bride and groom. We enjoy some of the most amazing sunsets on this hill and no matter how much has been invested into the decor of the reception, it pales in comparison to that shot of a couple kissing with the magnificent colors of the sky and hills in the background. It's such a statement to what a perfect day it has been.
Photograph by Shots by Cheyenne
Left: Image by Kristyn Hogan. Right: Image by Erin of The Collection
What is your service philosophy?
The way we see it, our job is to handle the detail so that our clients can enjoy a wonderful stress-free event in a beautiful environment. We inspire and create so that our couples can have the day they have truly dreamed of for their wedding. I'm not sure how others do it but Brian and I are part of the venue package. We help as much as we can and rarely sit down...I could never sit inside and watch from the window!
What are your strengths compared to others in your category? Why should a bride hire you?
When a couple picks our venue, they are getting married at our home. It's not just a venue but it's a very special place full of love.
Brian and I are a team and together we offer something unique. He builds farm tables, arbors and vintage style props for our events. I am from a long line of "Martha Stewart Wannabes." Collecting, transforming and creating unique decor items are what we love to do.
When I said we handle the details and the stress, I meant it. I work with country music artists and have years of experience handling their schedules, media events and taking care of them in some high pressure situations. I have even planned their weddings. Taking care of a bride on her wedding day is not stressful to me; it is what I am trained to do.
Who are your 5 favorite Nashville wedding vendors – helpfulness, professionalism, style?
Enchanted Florist – Caprice Palmer (EnchantedFloristTN.com)
She’s more than just a florist, she is a stylist and has a background in lighting and set design. She knows how to create or compliment the entire look and always has great ideas.
Chef’s Market – Jim Hagy (ChefsMarket.com)
Not only is the food and service exception but also the décor and overall presentation. That’s so important. They also are the last to leave making sure everything is as clean as they found it and that makes my job so much easier!
Mrs. J’s Baking & Catering – Celeste Morris (MrsJs.com)
Celeste caters many events at our place and our clients are always happy. Her food is excellent. She and her staff know our place and policies so well she could handle the reception without me.
Shots by Cheyenne – Cheyenne Ward (ShotsByCheyenne.com)
Cheyenne and her second shooter Laci Wilson are such a find! There are so many great photographers in Nashville but I have to single them out because not only do they do a great job and are extremely reasonable, they are so quick at turning around photos. I hate hearing from couples that they waited weeks to see any of their photos.
B. Jackson's Bakery – Mary Sue Persons (bjacksonsbakery.com)
I have tasted quite a bit of cake over the last couple of years and I understand now how my grandmother could always tell if a cake was made from scratch. My two favorites are Dulce Desserts and B. Jackson's Bakery. Cake should not only look great but taste great as well.
Does your company do anything special that a green bride might want to know?
I'm always recycling something old in a new way. That's why the vintage look works for us – I don't like throwing things out but look for a new purpose. For instance, the farm tables are made from old barn wood that Brian finds and sands down. He's always searching for a supply. We create furniture and props from old windows and doors - even pallets and other materials. We never get rid of anything if we can resuse it. I have a barn full of fabric, baskets, jars and more. My next project is chandeliers made from whiskey barrel rings and mason jars.
If we have things we can't use anymore we donate to local shelters. We try to distribute left over flowers to people in the area as well. I hate having flowers and food go to waste!
Photographs by The Collection
Photograph by The Collection
Photograph courtesy of Front Porch Farms
What is your favorite thing about working with brides (or grooms)?
Every couple is unique. One of the great things is that with each new couple, we get to see this place that we love so much through a new set of eyes. Every couple brings their own special flavor to an event.
At the end of the day, it is seeing how happy they are together and remembering how we were on our wedding day. It’s the best marriage counseling we could ever get!
For more pictures of recent weddings by Front Porch Farms visit them online at FrontPorchFarmsTN.com.
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 August 29, 2011 |
Filed under: Our Featured Advertisers!, Wedding Venues and Locations
