For all of your brides that have toured and booked a date - I have created a page on my website purely for YOU.   Here is the link.       Once You Have Booked
   I left the Venue Pricing and General Information page with just the type of information that a curious new-comer bride would want to see and view.  Then...I have created this new page just for you.  I didn't want to clutter up the site with all of the vitals - the logistics - that come from planning a huge party - which in essence is what you are doing.
   This page covers a wide variety of topics.  It starts off with a link to the Farm Rules which most of you already have on one of the pages of your original contract.  These are good to look over since at the time of your tour - you were likely concentrating on the ambiance of the venue - not the details of the contract.  So - it is good to be reminded that you can't have open flame candles in the barn - only battery operated ones. It is good to know that you can't throw birdseed or confetti during your departure....and so on.
   Next, I created a pdf. file page with a primitive drawing of the barn.  This shows you the openings, the rough measurements of the barn and where the electrical outlets are at, etc. This is helpful to show your decorator or caterer so they can have a general feel of the floor plan of our venue.  It shows the buffet room and its length - also the driveway and drop off areas. It does re-emphasize that we don't want anybody to be driving on our grassy areas. Sometimes the caterers want to pull up in the barn or right beside an opening - which both of those are forbidden - but without pre-warning, they will often attempt it purely out of convenience. We try to maintain our grassy areas for not only the appearance of your wedding but for all of our weddings - so please, make sure your vendors and crew respect this wish.
   Next, there are logistic information - Can I use Sternos to warm our food?  Can I fill up my pitchers with your water to make my lemonade?  Does the caterer take away the garbage? Anyway - the nitty gritty details of logistics is answered here.
   There is a section on "Making it  Your Own" and how we encourage this for our brides. We do have a website page on our site that gives you some general ideas plus look back at my blog sites from the past to see additional photos from past weddings. I do try to include a slew of photos on my website but I can't include them all.  Our Facebook page is also a good place to look at our other photos.  Also - the topic of "What if I need extra time?" is addressed.  Some brides gets confused on this issue - whether to consider extra time an add-on that you can wait till the last minute to purchase....or whether you need to buy it upfront and ahead of time.  I try to clarify and explain the two different choices on this topic.
   Next is about our Vendor Suggestions.  We have only been operating for a bit over a year now so our first hand knowledge and recommendations are limited...but it is a great place to start and referring our past vendors is a pleasure for us to provide - for them and for you.
   I include the topic of "Do I need to purchase insurance if I bring alcohol to my event?" Such topics like insurance are a pain to discuss, but unfortunately it is a reality in the world in which we live. I carry insurance on our property but items that are brought onto our property, like the alcohol, by you/your guests need to be covered with the a liability insurance. This is explained in this section so you can determine whether it applies to you or not.
   A topic about giving directions to your guest so that they can find our venue is addressed. Unfortunately GPS often does located Farmhouse Lane.  I have tried and tried and failed to remedy the situation. But - maps and directions and alternatives are discussed in a paragraph which hopefully will be helpful to you.
   Contact Jill is a paragraph instructing each bride to follow up with Jill prior to sending in her last payment. In case of any trouble shooting or requests for additional add-ons, this is a good opportunity during the final home-stretch to check in with us here.
   Last two paragraphs are where we encourage you to stay in touch whether that is by reading THIS BLOG (and I would love to have some feedback)...whether it is by following us on our FACEBOOK page (and I would love to have some comments there too)...or whether it is emailing us if you need some help troubleshooting.  We don't know everything but hopefully we can steer you in the right direction.
   So....check out the website page...I will link it again here....Once You Have Booked

  G'night,
Margie Gardner

    The days have been especially warm this spring  which has made the grass turn green earlier than usual....you know - that almost neon color that you can only see early in the spring? One of the neat things about living out in the country - even as close to Chattanooga as we are - is the fact that once the moon pops out - this place just settles down into a very quiet and peaceful place. Silence is golden in case you thought it was just a song!  The stars peep out - the moon comes up over the  eastern ridge from the barn....and there is just a calm that takes over.  If you are indeed fortunately enough to come on a clear night - you would be amazed at how many stars are actually in the sky. It is a grand place to watch meteor shows....or just grab a lounge chair and set it out flat in the middle of the field and just soak it all in. 
    Anyway - morning is also like this.  When I say morning - you know - "dawn."  that is very very early. The fog often comes in and rest in the pastures and fields - I suppose partly because we have the Chattanooga creek running through the property. Jill took some early morning photos that I wanted to share with you so that you can kick your senses into gear and feel what I am talking about. Part of the fun of watching all of your weddings take place out here is that I can just see that the guests are at ease - having fun - taking in the sights and sounds of being in the country. Kids being able to romp and play......older folks enjoying the garden and the reminiscing of memories from their past....and the rest - just enjoying being out of the hectic hustle and bustle of our chaotic society.  Anyway....enjoy these photos and dream about your next visit here at High Point Farms.

sincerely,
Margie Gardner


P.S.  I would love to hear from all of you blog readers.....I relish comments - good ones of course!

After all of the frigid cold weather and snowy days, we have been blessed with a string of beautiful spring like weather.  With all of the new projects on our list, the warm days have helped us get a few things accomplished.
First was to get our High Point Farm sign made. With the help of a great find at the Antique store, we hung the sign on a wagon yolk creating a very authentically country shingle for our new business.
Second, we did a little more painting to the Milkhouse followed by adding a trellis and vine in the back, moving the aged grapevine and constructed a new trellis out of the old arbor from Jill's house. This opens up the back of the Milkhouse and allows a much more open atmosphere around the barn arena. We found some vintage metal flowers to help our winter blues as we await some spring daffoldils. Well - clean out the barn and buy some lights...things are beginning to take shape.
Major move was when Jill decided to take down the old Chicken Coop off of the back of the barn. Wow - what a difference this one thing made. Suddenly, the view to the north just pops out at you as you stand under the grove of trees on the west side of the barn. I can easily see that this area could easily be dotted with round linen strewn tables enjoying the view and the shade. This has possibilities - add a couple of projects to the list.
Lastly, a new addition to the family farm critter count. Bear, a 10 week old Great Pyrenees pup, has come to live with us. Hopefully Bear will follow in his father's footsteps and be a great guardian for the livestock, especially our goats, as we begin to scoot the animals permanently out of the barn. Coyotes are occasionally sited and with the little baby kids running around, it somehow seemed like a good move to plan for a protector to help us balance this part-time farm and part-time wedding venue business. Bear has much to learn - to be socialized with us and our visitors, and to learn his natural role with the goats. More updates on Bear in a few days. Let me show you a few pictures of our improvements.