Venue Review -- Barnsley Gardens

Hi everyone, Amber here!
It's been quite literally an eternity since I wrote a blog post, and my only defense is just "life craziness!" But I'm back with another honest venue review from the point of view of a vendor. This time, I'll be reviewing one of our favorite venues, Barnsley Gardens.

Scroll all the way to the end to read about why this couple is one of my very favorite couples of 2019. Hint, it has to do with my undying love of Chick-Fil-A and those delicious chicken sandwiches. If you ever want to buy me a present, send me a CFA gift card, LOL!

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All photos in this post are courtesy of Jessica Williams, who is FANTASTIC. Go check her out!

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PROS:
Overall, Barnsley Gardens gets high scores from me.

• Really cool historic ruins that you won't find anywhere else
• Tons of great places for photos. We've played literally tons of weddings at Barnsley Gardens, and the photos are always stunning and unique. Again, the ruins are so interesting and beautiful--they make for a great backdrop and unique photos. Check out the photos in this post to see how beautiful the ruins are for portraits.
• Ceremony is usually held outside at the ruins or in the field under a beautiful, gigantic tree, both of which are beautiful.
• Cocktail Hour is usually held in the ruins, which again makes for a really cool and interesting space. Most people bring in sofas, chairs, and even small tables to make it feel warm and inviting.
• The reception is typically outside behind the ruins, but it is often tented, which is great if there's a threat of rain.
• Guests can stay on-site in the Barnsley Gardens cabins and villas. This is super convenient for destination weddings or out-of-town guests
• Lots to do besides have a wedding: they have horseback riding and other fun outdoor activities. You can even take a historical tour of the grounds to learn about the ruins and other neat historical facts about the area. Again, this makes it extra fun for guests who are in from out-of-town. You can make a whole weekend of it!
• The venue has golf carts to transport guests across the grounds--this is convenient since it's such a large property.
• PET FRIENDLY!! As a self-proclaimed "crazy dog lady," this is a big plus for me. I LOVE seeing doggy ringbearers at weddings! Please have your dog in your wedding, and please invite me to play violin so that I can hug your dog. Please and thanks.
• Free parking! Y'all know this is huge to me. Nothing makes me more frustrated than when parking is expensive and inconvenient at a venue.

I MEAN, LOOK HOW BEAUTIFUL THESE RUINS ARE. AND THE TREES OMG.

There aren't a lot of cons for me, but the few that I do have are listed below!
CONS:

• The weather issue. It should be stated that Barnsley DOES have indoor options in case of rain. The ceremony and reception can all be moved indoors (often into Georgian Hall, although they have other indoor spaces as well) in case of bad weather. However, in my experience, many people choose Barnsley purely based on the beautiful-ness of the ruins. So this is one of many venues in which you're really taking a risk in terms of the weather. Yes, it can be moved inside if it rains. No, it's not going to look the same. This is purely one gal's opinion, but to me there are so few venues in existence who have indoor/outdoor options that are of equal beautiful-ness. So it's a risk, but depending on the time of year, it's a risk worth taking! (p.s., please don't have an outdoor wedding from November through Feb/March. Your guests absolutely will freeze to death, and there's a high chance of rain, sleet, ice, etc. Please!! haha)
• Large property: while this is a "pro" if you're a guest, it can be a challenge if you're a vendor. We often have to carry large amounts of gear a great distance, which can be tiring.
• Load-in can be a tiny bit challenging. Sometimes we are allowed to drive our cars closer to the ruins to unload our gear, and sometimes we aren't. As a vendor, we have to think about these things. We have to keep in mind load-in time when we are planning our arrival time.
• Distance: I personally don't mind the drive at all. I grew up in the country, so curvy roads and country livin' don't bother me one bit. But for some guests, this venue might be a trek from the city. And of course, sometimes you're battling weak cell service, weak gps, etc. You're also not super close to "civilization" in terms of restaurants and such. I personally love the fact that it's a secluded venue. I love the peace and quiet! None of this bothers me at all, but it's something to keep in mind as you choose your venue. Be sure to ask your vendors about their travel radius and mileage fees!
• This is super random, but if your wedding is out in the field, the only bathroom is in the basement of the ruins, which is a super long walk away. So keep this in mind for your older and younger guests! (and myself, because I tend to drink too much water, lol)

LOOK at this ceremony site with the ruins in the background!! We always play to the right hand side, on the porch of that blue house. That way we are super close to the action, but we are covered from the hot sun, wind, etc. It works out great!

How beautiful are the ruins set up for the cocktail hour?! So breathtaking.

You'll see we've positioned ourselves in a great place to play fun music for the cocktail hour!

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This is the reception space behind the ruins. I love that it's covered, and I love that the grass is fake (astro-turf,) so that it looks amazing year-round and won't get torn up with folks dancing on it.

NOW THEN. We have to talk about why this couple is the best. They had CFA sandwiches catered for their reception, AND they had the CFA cow there breaking it down on the dance floor. I mean. ​I never thought I would have clients who love CFA even more than me. 

I'm laughing so hard at this cow dancing, I truly cannot breathe. I'm so glad Jessica captured all of this fun! I should've thought to have a CFA cow at my wedding, lol!

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It's time to get back to practicing for me, but if someone wants to send me a CFA sandwich, waffle fry, and a Dr. Pepper, that would be great. ;)

Barnsley Gardens:
Overall score: 8.5 out of 10. I love the beauty and seclusion of Barnsley Gardens, and I love everything this venue has to offer. My only deduction is because of weather considerations and the fact that you'd have to give up the gorgeous outdoor views if it rains!

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