The Apple Barn

Although smaller than Vineyard Hall, the Apple Barn doesn’t miss a beat when it comes to rustic elegance. The bride and bridesmaids will start their day off in the elegant bridal suite complete with salon chairs and vanity lighting to make doing hair and makeup easy and comfortable. The bridal suite even has a special nook to display your wedding dress for beautiful pictures. Meanwhile, the guys will be in the groom’s quarters that comes stocked with a bar made of the barn’s original wood beams and even a massage chair to relax before the big day. 

The outdoor ceremony space for the Apple Barn is nestled between a large pond and the forest. It also features Howe Farm’s longest aisle! Curving paved pathways wind through a manicured lawn and beneath a rustic pergola leading from the barn all the way down to the large intricate wooden arbor where your ceremony will be held. 

The wooden arbor can easily be decorated with florals or lights to match your style and with the lush forest visible just beyond its pillars, it’s also the perfect place to take stunning newlywed photos. For more adventurous couples, you can also hop into a canoe for photos on the pond or even go fishing as the pond is always fully stocked! 

For receptions or indoor ceremonies, the Apple Barn itself is a magnificent space featuring 400 year old timbers and 15 glittering crystal chandeliers. Just outside of the barn doors is an outdoor patio that’s great for cocktail hours or dancing under the stars.

The Highlands Chapel

Perfect for smaller weddings of up to 150 guests, the Highlands Chapel is a quaint little venue that stands tall and timeless surrounded by hills and water views. 

As the bride and her ladies get ready for the big day, they’ll start their morning in the Chapel’s bridal suite. The suite is filled with everything a bride and her bridesmaids could need including grand mirrors and vanity seating. The chapel’s steeple even creates a beautiful platform for stunning bridal portraits. 

Once everyone is ready, your ceremony can be held either on the chapel’s front lawns or inside the sanctuary. Although outdoor ceremonies are beautiful, the Highlands Chapel is mostly chosen for its indoor ceremony space. The interior of the chapel includes traditional features like cathedral windows and vintage pews. However, glistening crystal and iron chandeliers and exposed timber framing against flawless white walls elevate the chapel from traditional to sophisticated and timeless. 

After your ceremony, guests can move outside onto the patio for cocktail hour or go directly to the chapel’s lower level and into the reception hall. From the indoor reception area, sliding glass doors open onto the patio making it a choice location for the dance floor, photo booth, or even an incredible fireworks send off.

The Loft

For couples with more of an urban style, the Loft at Howe Farm’s second property, the Five Gables, is an eclectic blend of a magical garden courtyard contrasted with the industrial indoor reception hall. 

Getting ready for the big day at the Loft is definitely an experience that can’t be beat. The bridal suite has an upscale salon set up complete with private closets for the bride and her bridesmaids. Meanwhile, the groom’s room has a locker room style design for the guys to relax and prepare for the day’s events. 

Outdoor ceremonies at the Loft are truly a sight to behold. The garden courtyard is enclosed with lush trees and manicured bushes while the paved slate walkway, brick columns, and iron trellises add industrial features. In case of rain, the ceremony can move indoors into the reception hall. Ceremonies and receptions at the Loft are easy to design your dream wedding in. Exposed brick walls are just a blank canvas waiting for you to style. 

As you enter the large front doors of the reception hall, you’re met by a sweeping staircase with wrought iron and Moroccan accents. Think of making your grand entrance into the reception by walking hand-in-hand with your new spouse down the curved staircase while gold candelabras glisten above. 

The Pavilion

Couples with larger guest lists of up to 299 will find that the mountainside Pavilion at Five Gables is the perfect venue for them! Outdoor ceremonies at the Pavilion have a wide open space where guests can enjoy a panoramic mountain view overlooking the Tennessee Valley. A paved stone aisle leads directly to the round iron arbor creating a straight line to the horizon with your first kiss as a married couple at the center. If you’re interested in having a golden hour photo session, the sun sets beneath the mountains just behind the ceremony arbor and casts the entire area in a lovely golden glow. 

As far as getting ready spaces go, the bridal suite and groom’s quarters at the Pavilion are the grandest that the entirety of Howe Farms estate has to offer. The bridal suite not only has an area dedicated to getting ready, but also a full lounge, two massage chairs, and a wet bar! Meanwhile, the groom’s room has four large mirrors to aid in tying the perfect tie, clothing hooks, wooden benches, and a variety of seating to hang out in.

For receptions, the Pavilion’s large reception hall features shining crystal chandeliers and floor to ceiling windows that can rise up for a full view of the mountains and a breath of fresh air. Since the hall also doubles as the Pavilion’s indoor ceremony location, the ability to open the windows allows the mountain view to be a key aspect of your wedding even if you say your I Do’s indoors. 

The Woodlands

Last but certainly not least, the Woodlands is the newest addition to Howe Farm’s Five Gables property. This expansive venue features a Tuscan-inspired, Italian-style villa and has tons of old-world charm with every modern luxury you can imagine. 

Couples who choose the Woodlands for their wedding start their day in charming bride and groom accommodations. The ladies can enjoy brunch and tea in the bridal suite’s built-in solarium overlooking the gardens before moving onto hair and makeup while the guys get ready in the stylish golf-themed groom’s quarters complete with its own putting green!

Once both the bride and groom are ready, they can share a lovely first look in the walk-through gardens. While other venues in the Howe Farms estate have lawns or forest backgrounds, the garden is unique solely to the Woodlands. It’s a delightful place for portraits or for guests to enjoy the fresh air between events. 

Ceremonies at the Woodlands can either take place outside surrounded by stucco pillars and arches crawling with vines and flowers or inside in the fireside room in front of its ornate fireplace. The fireside room is an extension of the indoor reception hall that can be used for an indoor ceremony, a cocktail hour, a dance floor, or more. It’s such a versatile little space! Meanwhile, the venue’s main reception hall features an all-white interior with intricate iron details in the chandeliers and the spiral staircase.