It's WEDDING WEDNESDAY!!! Woohoo!!!

What does that mean, you ask?

It's means that starting today every Wednesday I will pick a wedding theme relating to photography and post about it. Why? Because I love weddings and I love photography and I am pretty much obsessed with both things. And it just sounds neat.

Today I am going to share a little about some rustic venues I have shot at here in Georgia. As you can imagine, rustic weddings are super popular right now in the South. Just imagine: a wooden barn surrounded by woods. Mason jars and burlap. Cowboy boots and sweet tea. Just add a beautiful bride and her groom and you have the perfect southern wedding.

When planning the perfect rustic wedding, one of the first things to check off your list is the perfect venue. One great venue is Antique Acres in Bogart, GA which is just outside Athens. This venue is very unique. It has two barns, one for ceremonies and one for the reception. This is perfect for summer weddings when it's just too hot and sticky to have an outdoor ceremony but you want to be able to keep it separate from the reception. Everything is air conditioned which keeps you and your guests comfortable when the humidity outside feels like you stepped into a sauna.

This California girl is NOT a fan of humidity. But that's a story for another day.

Anyway, Antique Acres has tons of cool old things scattered around the property. Tractors, farm equipment, signs. It makes for a really rustic and fun vibe and being able to host the entire event inside helps keep those 'Skeetos at bay.

Another great venue for rustic Georgia weddings is Cold Creek Farm in Dawsonville, Ga. This beautiful barn is nestled in the North Georgia mountains. You are greeted by horses in a pasture as you enter Cold Creek Farm. Pigs, chickens and goats are also residents on the property. Even with the farm animals, you would never guess because it's kept meticulously clean and there is no trace of it actually being a real farm unless you go seek out the animals. Susan, the owner, is a sweet woman who lives on the property and you can tell she puts lots of love and pride into it.

Cold Creek Farm is perfect for smaller weddings. There is an outdoor area for a ceremony, which can be moved inside if a storm rolls through. There are tons of beautiful locations on the property for photos and for guests to just enjoy the scenery. I highly recommend this venue!

Last but definitely not least is 9 Oaks Farm in Monroe, GA. I absolutely love everything about this venue. It's newer, having just opened in 2014. The property is HUGE. There are cabins for the bride and groom to get ready, which are fully furnished. There are endless gardens than can be used for the ceremony or for photographs. And there is a huge red barn that is perfect for an amazing reception.

The barn itself is actually two barns built together. One is an entrance area with restrooms, the kitchen, and an area for catering. The other is open and perfect for the reception with plenty of room for numerous tables and dancing. It also has a balcony inside which is great to sneak away for a second or to open the barn doors and look out on the property. I highly, highly recommend 9 Oaks Farm.

These are just three of many, many beautiful rustic venues throughout the Peach State. I will be posting more in the future, but these are three to definitely consider if you are looking to have the perfect southern wedding.

Until next time :)

Suzanne