Heirloom Wedding Films

Interview With A Wedding Venue: Walnut Hill Farm in Dalton, Georgia

If you’re planning your wedding then you know how crucial your wedding location is. Some couples don’t even set a date in stone until they have booked their wedding venue. You HOPE that your top choice has availability on your wedding date, but if they don’t, you either have to shuffle your date around, or choose another venue.

In my 10 years of doing weddings, there are about 3 or 4 venues that I consider my “regulars” but if i had to call one my “home field”, if would be Walnut Hill Farm in Dalton, Georgia.

In the years that I have been doing weddings in this region, Walnut Hill Farm has changed owners once, but the hospitality and professionalism must be a part of that property because no matter the owner and management, Walnut Hill Farm weddings run like a well-oiled machine.

Matt Barrett of Walnut Hill Farms takes a short break from taking care of business at a wedding to pose for a photo with me!

Today, Matt Barrett makes sure that machine runs like clockwork and he does a killer job. Matt has become a friend over the years and has championed my work over and over again. So for this week’s Meet A Wedding Vendor blog, we will be chatting with Matt!

WHAT IS YOUR ROLE AT WALNUT HILL FARM?

I am the General Manager. I oversee all operations for our estate.

IT WAS ORIGINALLY BUILT FOR A LLAMA FARM RIGHT? WHAT’S THE HISTORY THERE?

Joe and Nannette Yarbrough first started developing our property about 30 years ago. While in the planning of the farm Nannette took her grand kids to a petting zoo where she first met a baby Llama. It was love at first “pet” and the history of Walnut Hill began. 12 years ago the Yarbrough’s converted our spaces from hosting animals to host the finest of events. With well over 55 acres of managed gardens and meadows, Walnut Hill sits in a unique spot to overlook the Appalachian Mountains.

HOW WOULD YOU SUM UP THE STYLE OF THE VENUE?

Southern Elegance and Appalachian Hospitality.

Walnut Hill Farm has multiple ceremony options (5 different set ups that I have seen) and can accommodate virtually any size wedding, and the property is so large that it can accommodate multiple weddings on the same day without the either even being aware of the other! Greg Beasley Photo, Inc, www.beasleyphoto.com, all rights reserved, 706-937-2458

DOES WALNUT HILL FARM SUIT OR CATER TO A PARTICULAR STYLE OF WEDDING?

Walnut Hill offers a beautiful canvas to which a bride can design her dream wedding. From low key and casual affairs to high end formal celebrations, we are flexible to any style.

HOW HAS WALNUT HILL FARM GROWN AND CHANGED SINCE IT FIRST WAS USED AS A WEDDING VENUE?

Four years ago Kasey & Julie Carpenter purchased the property and began renovating and updating our spaces. With the addition of air conditioning and a commercial kitchen we were able to increase our guest’s experience. Today Walnut Hill Farm is equipped to welcome over 30 overnight guests and events of 600 guests or more. While the Yarbrough’s surely developed the land, gardens and buildings into beautiful spaces in which to enjoy the perfect day, the Carpenters brought world class food. Restaurant people by trade, Kasey and Julie began a culture of food and hospitality that is simply unmatched in area venues. Our team of chefs help to develop and execute menus custom tailored to our clients taste. Our floral stylist and wedding coordinators work tirelessly to make sure every detail is perfect. Coming to Walnut Hill is an escape from the hectic nature of the day to day grind. The perfect place to rest, reflect on the beauty of God’s creation, and enjoy a glass of wine.

WHAT IS IT ABOUT WALNUT HILL FARM THAT MAKES IT STAND OUT APART FROM OTHER NORTH GEORGIA/EAST TENNESSEE WEDDING VENUES?

There are so many wonderful venues and places to host weddings in our area. What breaks Walnut Hill away from the others is our concierge style of service. We custom tailor all of our weddings to specifically reflect the brides choices and desires. All of our meals are prepared onsite by our executive chef. Our coordinators walk you through your timeline, ceremony and even pack to-go food for you when you exit. Jennifer, our baker, creates the most delicious and beautiful cakes we have ever seen while Amanda, our floral stylist, will deliver flowers so fresh and amazing you will swear they were cut from our gardens. While we do offer so many services and details in house we also love to work with our industry friends. This area has so many local artisans and professionals we love being a part of that large community.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE DIFFERENT OPTIONS WALNUT HILL FARM OFFERS COUPLES?

Our couples first option would be location. Walnut Hill is blessed to offer two separate venues with two different atmospheres to choose from. Dependent on your guest count and desired mood for your wedding would help determine which venue you choose. Walnut Hill offers so many different options. From planning your menu to designing impeccable floral pieces, each bride has every available option and choice.

WHY DOES WALNUT HILL FARM ONLY ALLOW IN-HOUSE CATERING?

We are food people by trade. The preparation of our food and the execution of our service on our passion. We want every guest of Walnut Hill to be captivated by the beauty of their surroundings and perfection of their meal.

TALK ABOUT THE DIFFERENT SPACES WALNUT HILL FARMS OFFERS FOR WEDDING PREPARATIONS, CEREMONIES, AND RECEPTION

Walnut Hill hosts two venues both complete with event space and bridal suites. Outdoor ceremonies can happen anywhere on our 55 acre farm. The most popular views are of the pond and mountains.

CAN WALNUT HILL FARM HELP WITH PLANNING, COORDINATING, AND EVEN CATERING?

The team of professionals we have gathered together at Walnut Hill will assist you with every detail of your wedding. From setting the tables and floor-plan to designing the perfect centerpiece our team is here for you.

WHAT WEEKS OF THE YEAR IS WALNUT HILL IS THE MOST BUSY?

Our September through mid November usually book 18 months in advance. By far our Spring and Fall seasons are the busiest.

The views of the mountains from almost anywhere on the property is breath-taking! Photo by Chattanooga Wedding Photographer Greg Beasley Photo, Inc, www.beasleyphoto.com, all rights reserved, 706-937-2458

HOW MANY WEDDINGS DOES WALNUT HILL FARM HOST IN A TYPICAL YEAR?

We were so blessed to have had 44 weddings this past year.

WHY DO YOU THINK WALNUT HILL FARM IS SUCH A SPECIAL PLACE TO TIE THE KNOT?

It is hard to deny the beauty and goodness of God when you come out to Walnut Hill. Once you pass through the gates you can feel the stress of the day decrease. It truly is a special place, one that you don’t want to leave.

Water features, mountains, barns, trees, and wide open fields. WHF has virtually every sort of backdrop a bride could ever want! Photo by Chattanooga Wedding Photographer Greg Beasley Photo, Inc, www.beasleyphoto.com, all rights reserved, 706-937-2458

TELL US ONE OF THE MOST MEMORABLE MOMENTS YOU’VE SEEN OCCUR DURING A WEDDING DAY AT WALNUT HILL FARM.

One of the most memorable ceremony events happen when two of the sweetest couples I’ve had the please to meet began to read their vows. The groom went first and lost it immediately. You could hear the passionate all consuming love they had for each other. It took each of them a while to get through their vows but I’ll never forget just how sweet and pure the raw emotion was. That couple are preparing for the birth of their first child now.

FINALLY, WHAT IS IT THAT YOU LOVE ABOUT WORKING IN THE WEDDING INDUSTRY?

Being able to join a family in the celebration of two uniting as one is pure joy. Getting to know each family and inviting them into our home is a wonderful honor. We treasure each and every relationship we make here and love when those friendships continue long after the celebration.

Thanks so much Matt! To schedule a meeting or a tour with Matt at Walnut Hill Farms, go on over to their website and click the “Contact” link!

Here’s a wedding film I shot at Walnut Hill farms in the early Spring!

Another special THANK YOU to the Amazing Greg Beasley of Beasley Photography! Greg provided all the photos for this post! Check him out at www.beasleyphoto.com

Meet A Wedding Photographer In Chattanooga: Rich Smith of Rich Smith Photography

If you’re planning a wedding, you probably already know that the one group of vendors that you have a MULTITUDE of professionals to choose from is the Photographer group.

A statistic by the Bureau of Labor suggests that in America there are over 48,000 people who identify their job as a “Photographer”. That doesn’t take into account all the people who do it part time or are just starting out.

Unless you know a photographer personally, have worked with them before, or have a family member or friend who can attest to their skill, ability, and professionalism, it is virtually impossible to know if you are choosing the right photographer for your event (And for your personality).

I have worked with many photographers in Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, and North Carolina. I’ve managed to become friends (and champions) of many of these photographers. As a result, I have sometimes been asked to provide brides with a list of photographers that I feel suits their personality, vision for their day, and photography style,
One of those that I recommend quite often is Rich Smith of Rich Smith Photography.

Rich and I like to be goofy together when we’re able to work the same wedding! This bride got us both our very own personalized water bottles!

Rich is goofy, easy going, friendly, and super professional. His photography style is very much like my film style; Natural, intimate, ‘free-spirited’. If I could boil my impression of Rich’s work down into one sentence, it typically looks like he just happen to catch the couple being “in love” rather than posed.
It feels very real.

This is a style that some brides love, and some brides don’t. Like any of the vendors you choose, you are choosing solely based on what style you like. The greatest photographer on earth may be great, but if their style doesn’t move you, they aren’t the right photographer for you.

So, since most people on Earth aren’t fortunate enough to know Rich as well as I and others in the Chattanooga area do, I felt it was my duty to the people of the planet to share this little interview I conducted with Rich Smith that is keeping with my blog series of “Meet A Wedding Vendor”!

DESCRIBE YOUR WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY STYLE IN 3 ADJECTIVES.

Authentic, Energetic, Meaningful. My passion is to capture, as closely as possible, the essence of a couples relationship! The biggest compliment I can receive is when friends and family tell me that I documented the spirit of a couple and captured exactly who they are!

WHAT WERE YOU DOING BEFORE YOU GOT INTO THE WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY BUSINESS?

I was working full time for a mechanical and electrical engineering firm as an Auto Cad draftsman! In a cubicle. Not meeting new people. Turns out it wasn’t my calling. 🙂

WHAT INFLUENCED YOU TO TAKE THE LEAP AND GO FULL TIME INTO THE WORLD OF WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY?

I’ll never forget the phone call I received from an emotional (very happy) mom after my very first photo shoot. I’d done a lifestyle session in their home with their new baby, and through her tears, she thanked me profusely for documenting that special time in their lives. It made me come alive, and I felt that I was doing something with purpose that would enhance the lives of my clients. And something that would increase in value over time. One of our best God-given gifts in this life is our relationships, and to be able to do something that reaffirms the value of those connections; that is pretty awesome to me!

WHAT DO YOU LOVE THE MOST ABOUT BEING A WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER?

I’m absolutely an extrovert, and working with my clients, hearing their stories, and being around their passion and energy, that is my favorite part!

WHAT’S THE MOST CHALLENGING PART OF A WEDDING FOR YOU?

The most challenging aspect of a wedding is when a wedding coordinator has not been hired and that job becomes mine. Rather than focus solely on the photography, I become, by default, the person who has to keep things running smoothly.

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY ABOUT LIVING AND WORKING IN THE EAST TENNESSEE MARKET?

I love living and working here because the people are incredible (I love my clients!) and we have beautiful scenery all around!

Rich and I discuss our plan of action before a ceremony begins at the amazing Walnut Hill Farm in Dalton, Georgia!

WHERE DO YOU WANT TO SHOOT NEXT?

Scotland, if we’re being ambitious! Truly, I’ve had the honor to photograph a wedding in Sweden, an engagement session in Hawaii, family sessions in California and Washington DC, and and as much as I love living and working here in the Chattanooga area, Heather and I also have a passion for travel and new experiences as a family.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE A COUPLE WHO ARE LOOKING FOR THEIR PERFECT WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER?

I would suggest meeting your photographer in person to ensure that you connect on a personal level! It’s important to love the work of a potential photographer, but it’s also important to like them as a person, since you’ll be spending quality time with your photographer on your wedding day! I also highly recommend an engagement session, not just for the beautiful images from that season of your lives, but also to get comfortable in front of my camera so that by the time your wedding rolls around, we are friends who are truly enjoying the process! I love when my clients are willing to be themselves in front of my camera, and let me in on their joyful, intimate moments!

WHAT’S ONE THING YOU WOULD LIKE EVERY BRIDE AND GROOM TO KNOW BEFORE THEIR WEDDING?

Once the planning is done and the vendors are hired, I want my clients to relax, savor the moment, trust me to do a fantastic job, enjoy their friends and family, and have an incredible wedding day!

Rich does anything he needs to do to get the perfect shot, even if it means he may fall into the hot tub in the spa area of the Bell Mill Mansion in Ooltewah, Tennessee!

FOR THOSE WHO LOVE PHOTOGRAPHY AND ARE WANTING TO TURN THEIR HOBBY INTO A WAY THEY CAN EARN A LIVING, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE THEM?

I would recommend improving their craft of photography, of course (we are all lifelong learners!) but just as importantly, I would recommend honing their business and interpersonal skills. This is a wonderful industry to be part of, and much of our success is due to our ability to run a business (90% of what we do is workflow/business related; 10% is time spent photographing) and to be able to develop great relationships with local vendors!

SHOW US YOUR 3 FAVORITE IMAGES YOU’VE TAKEN IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS!

Rich Smith Photography Chattanooga Wedding Photographer

Thanks so much to Rich Smith for taking the time to be a part of this blog post! Some of the venues shown in the photos in this post were Walnut Hill Farm, Bell Mill Mansion, and Howe Farms!