A classic Southern farm to table wedding at Nashville’s Southall Farm

classic Southern wedding

On Easter weekend of 2021, bride-to-be Anna Shea's family had planned to meet at 1892 (a well-known restaurant in Leipers Fork, Tennessee) that Friday evening to celebrate a family member's birthday. Little did the bride-to-be Anna Shea know, her whole family (as well as groom-to-be Connor and his family!) were all waiting at the restaurant for Connor to pull off a special surprise proposal. A short time later, Anna Shea was a beautiful Southern bride saying "I do" at Southall Farm & Inn outside of Nashville featuring a stunning neutral color palette filled with whites, ivories, and greens, creating a timeless wedding atmosphere. Keep scrolling to hear more about how this design all came together to create a breath-taking event.

neutral invitation suite

magnolia boutonniere monogrammed wedding seal

ceremony program

A brand new Nashville venue: Southall

Southall Farm & Inn was the perfect setting to celebrate Anna Shea and Connor. Southall is made up of over 300 acres in Franklin, Tennessee, just outside of Nashville. With rolling hills and a vast lakefront farmland, it is an immersive, natural setting. Guests are able to stay on property and can participate in all of the activities offered on property before being able to walk over to the wedding. Anna Shea opted to get ready in her family home and then take the cutest trolley over to Southall, all captured on camera by Gipe Photography.

lace trimmed mermaid wedding dress chandelier earrings

custom mermaid wedding dress

A wedding dress can accidentally become custom

To select her wedding dress, Anna Shea found an adorable bridal boutique in Huntsville, Alabama called Birch on Main that carried several designers she had grown to love while looking. She fell in love with the dress at her appointment and knew she had to have it! Five months before the wedding, however, she found out that she had the exact same dress as one of her very good friends who was getting married three weeks before them with much of the same guest list. Birch on Main and Van Der Velde, the dress designer, worked tirelessly to customize the dress and make sure that it felt unique to Anna Shea on her big day. It was truly an effort of love!

white bridesmaid dresses

Styling classic white bridesmaids dresses

Anna Shea knew white bridesmaids' dresses from Watters would complement the white lace of her wedding dress, and she thought a halter neck would put a fun twist on a classic choice that would play up an effortlessly chic style. The groomsmen and groom wore black shawl collar tuxedos, and Connor added a special set of cufflinks for his look that were made by one of the bride's best family friends, Amy Sale. Amy Sale also made all of the bridal party's jewelry for the wedding day.

white and greenery floral arrangements

stone pedestals ceremony aisle ferns

greenery floral arch

Yes, it's possible to have open seating

Anna Shea’s florist, Shelly Sarver Designs, had a special connection to the family and truly went above and beyond. She dreamt up a triple arch structure for the ceremony with cascading florals going down the aisle and then flipped the ceremony space for dinner, incorporating a unique layout with open seating options and plenty of food options so that guests could dine under the stars. Planned with the help of Kelsey Rae Designs, tables were beautifully and rustically adorned with lots of candlelight and simple florals. It was truly a design that defined modern farm aesthetics and complemented the Southall venue elegantly.

farm to table wedding caterer

Next level wedding food: Farm to table

The bride's signature drink was a Margarita made with tequila, lime, simple syrup, and dry curaçao, while the groom's drink featured an Old Fashioned made with bourbon, simple, bitters, and orange peel. Southall Farm & Inn emphasizes the importance of farm to table food. They curate each menu specifically for their couples and source as much as they can from their property while making suggestions for things that are in season and unique to the farm. Because of this, the food is always incredible. We'd be remiss not to also comment on the couple's choice of wedding cake - a perfect balance of modern simplicity with a touch of floral charm.

outdoor tented reception

wedding ferns

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2JtwQsxO9Y

rustic floral tablerunner Nashville farm wedding venue

lakeside wedding

signature wedding drinks monogrammed koozies

wildflower wedding cake

Music City means first class music options

Being mere miles from Nashville, it wasn't difficult to find first class music for Anna Shea and Connor's wedding. Innocenti Strings played during the ceremony, while 12 South Band brought everyone to the dance floor and kept them there all night with their incredible high energy and talent. Anna Shea had an outfit change that made it so fun and easy to get down on the dance floor, and before leaving with Connor in a classic car that was the perfect ending to a perfect day.

silly string wedding exit