<![CDATA[The Stables at Strawberry Creek - BLOG]]>Thu, 02 May 2024 18:22:10 -0700Weebly<![CDATA[Top 5 things to look for in a Photographer?]]>Fri, 27 Jan 2023 08:00:00 GMThttp://strawberrycreektn.com/blog/tips-for-planning-a-tennessee-mountain-wedding-in-the-summerGuest Contribution by Destination Wedding and Elopement Photographer, Brittany West 
The magic of photography lies in its ability to capture fleeting moments, which we can then relive in our minds and relish for their depth and detail. Taking wedding photos, for example. One of the happiest days of a person's life, requires a high level of expertise and precision. Struggling to make a decision on who should take your dream photographs in East Tennessee? In this article, we'll go over what you should look for in a wedding photographer and how to evaluate their work.
  • Trust in the Photographer
We put a lot of faith in the photographer we hire, hoping that they will capture us in the best light on our special day. There should be some honest shots taken during the wedding's more private moments, as they reveal a lot about the love we share with our friends and family. And they have to find the optimal viewing positions for our makeovers and us. If photographers slack in these areas, the final product would not be what we hoped. 
  • Cost-Benefit Analysis
It's true that photography is an art form, but that doesn't mean you need to break the bank to hire the best of the best. Price quotes can be misleading; just because a photographer is charging less doesn't mean his work is any less good. Instead of relying on a photographer's estimate, you should evaluate the quality of their work and decide if it's worth paying the price they've set for their services and their best type of photography. 
  • Photographer Recommendations
To play it safe, you should hire a photographer who has been recommended by a circle of friends and family. If they were pleased with the photos the photographer delivered, you probably will be too. Read reviews and feedback. Lastly, negotiate the price up front to budget appropriately.
  • Elegance
A photographer's portfolio is judged primarily on the strength of the photographs it contains. The photographer's talent is on full display in every one of these pictures. For example, your elopement photographer must have the ability to capture the fleeting sweetness of the many small but meaningful moments that occur so frequently at a wedding. It is evident in the wide range of styles, lighting conditions, and perspectives employed by the photographer at the venue location. Look at their previous work before hiring anyone for your wedding.
  • Technical Proficiency
Any skilled service provider must be evaluated on their technical efficacy. When shooting in the traditional manner, every photographer should be familiar with the use of every piece of photography equipment. There is a widespread lack of knowledge among professional photographers regarding the essential traditions that should be documented in a wedding album. A moment's distraction could cause them to miss an unforgettable shot. It is indeed a herculean task to be aware of all the rituals that are specific and critical to each community.I hope this has been helpful for couples to understand the top 5 things to look for in a wedding photographer for your East Tennessee destination wedding or elopement! 

Tips for Planning a Tennessee Mountain Wedding in the Summer

The summer months are a fantastic time for a Tennessee mountain wedding! The scenery is gorgeous, with everything bright green and blooming, the weather is warm, and the long, sun-drenched days just beg to be celebrated with loved ones.

Once you have a summer date picked out, the next step is choosing the perfect Knoxville wedding venue. We've put together some of our top tips to help you plan the perfect summer wedding in the Tennessee mountains. 

Planning a Summer Tennessee Mountain Wedding

A newly married couple embracing on the grounds of Strawberry Creek, a Tennessee mountain wedding venue
After the excitement of getting engaged simmers down just a little, most couples are eager to begin planning their wedding and reception. If you’re newly engaged, you may be thinking about a Tennessee mountain wedding. While we may be a bit biased, we think that's an excellent idea! 

During the summer months, the mountains of East Tennessee are absolutely beautiful, with the rolling hills covered in lush green vegetation and colorful wildflowers. With an ideal location perfectly situated between Knoxville and Great Smoky Mountains National Park, we’re confident that you will love our Knoxville wedding venue. 

Reasons to Have a Tennessee Mountain Wedding

An outdoor table arrangement with colorful flowers at a Tennessee mountain wedding venue
We've only begun to touch on what exactly makes a Tennessee mountain wedding so magical in the summer. Fortunately, at The Stables at Strawberry Creek, we've been fortunate enough to host several summer weddings, so you could say we know a thing or two about them. Some of the top reasons to host a summer wedding in the Tennessee mountains include:

  • Gorgeous natural scenery as your backdrop
  • Amazing wedding photos, with the rolling green hills seeming to stretch on forever
  • Beautiful warm, sunny weather
  • A unique, outdoor-focused experience for your wedding guests
  • Cost-effective options for all budgets (somewhat unique to Tennessee, summer is not necessarily peak wedding season, allowing warm weather-loving couples to take advantage of significant savings!)
Tables set up at an indoor-outdoor Knoxville wedding venue

Choosing a Summer Knoxville Wedding Venue: Inside or Out?

Selecting the perfect Knoxville wedding venue is essential when you’re planning a Tennessee mountain wedding, especially in the summer. Many couples are, understandably, unsure about whether to choose an indoor or outdoor venue. One clear benefit of an indoor venue is not having to worry about the weather at all. On the other hand, an outdoor venue offers beautiful views and natural scenery, especially in the mountains.

Many couples find that the best option is a wedding venue that offers both indoor and outdoor facilities. The Stables at Strawberry Creek is proud to be an indoor-outdoor Knoxville wedding venue that can help you plan the wedding of your dreams. There are multiple areas throughout the property, both inside and out, where you can hold your wedding ceremony and reception.

Summer Reception Ideas

  • An intimate dinner in the stables
  • Cocktail hour in the climate-controlled lounge
  • An outdoor evening reception under romantic bistro lighting

Summer Ceremony Ideas

  • A sunset ceremony in the meadow
  • Exchanging vows under a custom floral arch
  • Arriving to your ceremony on a horse-drawn carriage, alongside a natural creek 

Things to Consider When Planning a Summer Tennessee Mountain Wedding

A newly married couple making a grand exit out of their Tennessee mountain wedding near Knoxville
Planning a summertime Tennessee mountain wedding is fun and exciting, but there are still some things you should keep in mind. Some things to consider include:

  • Send out save-the-date cards as early as possible. The mountains of East Tennessee are very popular during the summer months (not just with weddings; did you know Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the busiest in the entire country?!) and guests need to book accommodations well in advance.
  • Offer your guests suggestions on how to dress appropriately for Tennessee weather. Particularly in the mountains during the summer, weather can change quickly and be somewhat unpredictable. It can be hot and humid during the day, but the evenings are quite pleasant. 
  • Don’t forget to have bug repellent available. One of the few not-so-pleasant things about Tennessee summers are the bugs. Insects are common in the mountains, mostly because there are so many water sources, so it's a nice, thoughtful touch to make bug spray available to your guests. 

Things to do Near Our Knoxville Wedding Venue in the Summer

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There is no shortage of fun things to do near The Stables at Strawberry Creek. Some of our favorite popular activities include:

Book Your Tennessee Mountain Wedding at Strawberry Creek

The Knoxville wedding venue you ultimately choose plays an essential role in creating a magical wedding day. If you’re searching for the perfect wedding venue in the Tennessee mountains, we'd love to show you around. Contact us today to book your complimentary tour, or to ask any questions. We can't wait to meet you!​

Losing Sleep on Your Wedding Weekend? Not Here!
9/7/2022​

Did you think slumber parties were a thing of the past? Think again! The Stables at Strawberry Creek and Holston Springs - Knoxville’s only wedding venues with top-notch sleeping accommodations - allow for you to stay on site for your entire wedding weekend. Bring back the memories of your childhood slumber parties on your best weekend ever with new priceless memories with your best friends. Including our overnight accommodations in your wedding venue package allows you to stay on schedule, catch a few extra zzz’s AND keeps your friends and family close by all weekend. We can’t wait to tell you about our three unique accommodations on the property for up to 22 guests.

Historic Strawberry Creek Log Cabin 

​Our beautiful Historic Log Cabin is every bride’s dream. With peaceful surroundings, you will wake up on your Wedding Day feeling refreshed and ready for glam. No need to set your alarm early to travel to your wedding venue - you are already there. Because the cabin sleeps 8-10 guests, your bridesmaids can all spend the night with you too. What a perfect way to keep the day stress-free by starting on time and minimizing late arrivals.

As an added bonus, our staff will flip the cabin into your Honeymoon Suite during your wedding festivities. You and your partner can take the short trip down the hill to spend their first night together greeted by rose petals, champagne, and marital bliss. Check out our photo gallery (hyperlink this) to get some inspo for your getting ready photos.

Holston Springs Venue & Lodge

Holston Springs is our newest addition. This beautiful wedding venue and barndominium, overlooking green hills and an Olympic-size dressage horse arena, adds a fresh and modern three bed/three bath lodge to your options for overnight stays. This space has tons of natural light and a huge living area for you and your bridesmaids to get ready. If you want to leave this space for the boys, there is a large TV so they can stay busy and relaxed watching sports until it’s time for tuxes. Don’t worry, there are plenty of trees between here and the Historic Log Cabin, so your groom can’t sneak any peeks.

This might also be the perfect place to give your parents and family members their own place to retreat, eat and enjoy the beautiful views before watching you walk down the aisle. We love to get creative with each couple on how they want to utilize all that our property has to offer while planning the perfect Knoxville Wedding (hyperlink). Pro Tip: If you decide to book the entire property for your event, Holston Springs Venue is a beautiful location for a Rehearsal Dinner. Don’t forget to ask us about our stunning farmhouse tables and chairs! 

GlampKnox Canvas Campground

You can consider our three GlampKnox tents as bonus space for your adventurous wedding party, family members, or wedding guests. Glamping is a fun way to immerse yourself into all of the nature that the Smoky Mountains have to offer. Located just up the hill from the Stables Venue, it is a beautiful and quick walk under the stars to get a great night’s sleep. What a fun way for your friends and family to add a bonus vacation to their time at your wedding weekend. We have glampers come from all over the country to use our spacious and comfortable tents for a weekend getaway... Why not your guests? Add GlampKnox to the “travel” section of your wedding website for a fun surprise as your guests plan their stays.

As you can see, we LOVE our unique overnight accommodations and know you will too. We would be so excited to get creative and come up with the best plan to accommodate the friends and family you want surrounding you for your wedding weekend. Our All-Inclusive wedding packages are a great way to take advantage of these arrangements. It’s time to bring out the matching pajamas! Book a tour with us and don’t forget to ask about seeing all of these options so you can *dream* up where everyone will stay. Reach out (hyperlink to contact page) to our staff to book a tour or ask us any additional questions.

]]><![CDATA[5 Tips for Choosing the Perfect Wedding Venue in Knoxville]]>Wed, 16 Jun 2021 16:26:33 GMThttp://strawberrycreektn.com/blog/5-tips-for-choosing-the-perfect-wedding-venue-in-knoxville
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So you’re engaged and you’ve decided to get married here in Knoxville — congratulations!!
After choosing a date, one of the first, and arguably most important, decisions you’ll make is selecting your wedding venue in Knoxville. Your venue quite literally sets the stage for your entire wedding. It’s the background for all your wedding photos, you and your guests spend a substantial amount of time there, and it represents a large portion of your wedding budget. To put it plainly, picking a wedding venue in Knoxville isn’t a decision to take lightly. 
Fortunately, couples have many fantastic options. Whether you’re searching for barn wedding venues in Knoxville, a rustic Knoxville ranch wedding venue, naturally scenic outside wedding venues in Knoxville, or you have no idea what you’re looking for just yet, there’s a perfect venue for your big day. 
To help you navigate this important decision and simplify the process, we’ve put together this guide on choosing the perfect wedding venue in Knoxville. Above all, don’t forget to have FUN! Remember, choosing your wedding venue should be fun, not stressful!
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How to choose the perfect wedding venue in Knoxville
People enjoying an outdoor reception at a barn wedding venue in Knoxville on a cloudy day
Consider these factors and ask yourselves these questions to give you a clearer idea of your must-haves and dealbreakers as your wedding plans come together.

What’s your wedding style?

What sort of vibe are you looking for at your wedding venue in Knoxville?
A couple embracing while colored smoke bombs go off in the background at an outside wedding venue in Knoxville
Do you envision exchanging your vows in a traditional, romantic indoor setting, or is a rustic barn wedding venue in Knoxville more your style? Perhaps you have your heart set on a whimsical garden party, a modern bohemian ceremony on a wildflower-covered hillside, or your dog being part of your wedding. Whatever your picture-perfect big day looks like, it’s important to choose a wedding venue in Knoxville that aligns with that.

The Stables at Strawberry Creek is a gorgeous and extremely versatile space — a blank template for your perfect Knoxville wedding. We have both indoor and outdoor ceremony and reception sites, all-inclusive options, and full weekend availability for everything from your rehearsal dinner to your big send-off. We also have an onsite wedding coordinator and can provide in-house catering, or will happily work with your preferred vendors. And yes, dogs are welcome, too! Here, it really is all about you!

How much space is available? 

How many guests are you planning to have?
It’s important that the Knoxville wedding venue you choose has adequate space for everyone to spread out. Be sure to ask how many guests the venue can accommodate, as well as what seating arrangements will be like for both the ceremony and reception. Other questions to consider are whether the venue is private and if there is a bridal suite or other dedicated space where the bride and bridal party can get ready.

We can comfortably accommodate up to 300 guests at The Stables at Strawberry Creek — and of course, much fewer if you’re picturing a smaller wedding. There are also multiple places for the bridal party to get ready, such as our upscale dressing lounge. Most importantly, our wedding venue in Knoxville is completely private. You will have exclusive use of the grounds without worrying about a stranger wandering in or encountering guests from another event. 

Are there guest accommodations nearby?

​Is it important that your Knoxville wedding venue be close to hotels?
A 240-year-old log cabin onsite at The Stables atStrawberry Creek, a wedding venue in Knoxville
Even if both of your families are based in Knoxville, there’s a good chance you’ll have at least a few wedding guests traveling from out of town. That means having convenient accommodation options nearby may be a major (and very legitimate!) concern. 

At The Stables at Strawberry Creek, we have a variety of flexible lodging arrangements for your Knoxville wedding. Choose from the stately 240-year-old authentic log cabin, a brand-new large residence, and even luxury glamping tents! Out-of-town guests can stay onsite, eliminating the chaos of rushing back and forth getting people to the venue or their hotels.

How photogenic is the space?

​Will you be happy having your wedding photos taken on the property?
A bride facing away from the camera, standing on a stone staircase in a historic Knoxville wedding venue
This is often an afterthought when couples are looking at wedding venues in Knoxville, but it’s important. Think about it: the venue you choose will very literally be in every single one of your wedding photos. Ask about whether there is one main photo staging area or if you have multiple options, and try to picture yourself there on your wedding day.

As you can see from our photos, The Stables at Strawberry Creek has several stunning photo-op locations. In addition to the main barn and reception areas, our outside wedding venue in Knoxville has a spring-fed pond, horse pastures, Biltmore-style English riding stables, historic log cabin, heavily-wooded one-mile hiking trail, and more!

What’s included? 

What does your budget actually get you?
A newly-married bride and groom kissing during their sparkler sendoff at a Knoxville barn wedding venue
We saved the best — and certainly most important — for last. By far the biggest question couples have when deciding on their wedding venue in Knoxville is about cost. And rightfully so! Let’s face it: weddings, even small ones, aren’t exactly inexpensive. It’s important that you get a lot of value out of the money you spend and with so many venue options ranging from completely a la carte to 100% full-service, it can be overwhelming. 
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We are proud to offer couples numerous options at every price point. From our all-inclusive Knoxville wedding packages to venue rental only and even elopements, The Stables at Strawberry Creek has straightforward, simple options for every wedding style. Better yet, there’s absolutely no limit to the customization options at our Knoxville wedding venue!


Ready to find out if The Stables at Strawberry Creek is your perfect wedding venue in Knoxville? Contact us to book your private tour today! Congratulations again, and we can’t wait to meet you!

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