Nashville has no shortage of amazing wedding venues for couples to choose from and if you’re looking for a venue just outside of Nashville with a rich southern history, look no further than Cedarmont Farm. With a home built in 1815, 40 acres of rolling hills, and a newly renovated event barn, there’s something for everyone! We chatted with venue manager, Colleen Kelly, to learn all about this amazing space. Keep scrolling for our fun interview!
What was your dream job growing up?
A lawyer because I saw Legally Blonde and then it was a film director. I actually worked in the film industry for eight years and found I liked directing weddings and making that vision come to life in real life instead of on screen much more.
What does a typical wedding day look like for you?
Since I’m not just the venue manager, I’m also the wedding planner for some of our weddings, it’s very busy. I wake up at 7 AM and prep the bridal suite (put out snacks, turn the music on, etc.) then I head down to the barn to start setting up and oversee vendor load in. Then I pretty much set up for the next five hours and at some point someone hands me a water and forces me to drink it.
I will check on the bridal party at some point and then get ready to line everyone up for the ceremony. Then from there I’m working the event and overseeing the timeline to make sure everything is moving flawlessly until about midnight when I’m done overseeing cleanup.
If I’m working with an outside wedding planner it’s a lot of the same but more focused on the venue itself and directing guests than working with the bridal party and the timeline. When I am doing both I never stop. However, when I’m only venue managing, after the ceremony, I usually get to take a break for a few hours. It helps that my house is next door and I usually use this time to grab something to eat and let out my pup. Then I’m back at the barn overseeing load out and making sure all guests leave safely and everything gets tidied up.
How did you decide to own and operate a wedding venue?
I grew up on Cedarmont Farm. It was an amazing place to come home to every day. When I turned 18, I went off to school and then I lived In Atlanta and worked in the film industry, but I always missed home. It was the best feeling to come home to visit and drive through the gates.
Turning it into a wedding venue was something I had always wanted to do but I wasn’t sure financially if we could make that happen and I was nervous to really go for it. After getting more experience in the industry and making some money working in film and TV, the timing was perfect. My dad was getting older and the farm was becoming a lot to take care of and my partner and I were ready to get out of the city and start a new project on a piece of land I loved so much.
How long have you been in business?
Technically a year, but the barn was just completed last October so we just started doing events in the renovated barn about 8 months ago.
What can you tell us about the property?
The property originally belonged to the Nolen Family and the historic house was built in 1815. The property stretched all the way to Nolensville and was occupied by both sides during the civil war. It’s gone through many phases over the years from horse farm to cattle farm to boarding house to bachelor pad (in the 1970s the tennis court and pool were added and there was a helipad in the field). It’s got a pond, a creek, rolling fields, three barns and two houses (one being the historic house and one being my little ranch house). It’s so pretty and peaceful.
What makes it unique?
It’s 40 acres only ten minutes from downtown Franklin and 5 minutes to the interstate. It’s a hidden gem. It also is not your typical barn venue because it also has the historic house and the modern and gorgeous bridal house and pool area so it can cater to a lot of different styles of weddings and events from posh poolside to country glam to classic elegance.
What is your favorite part of a wedding day?
I really like the “cocktail hour” or the time right around sunset. The ceremony has happened so a lot of the nerves are gone and everyone is just outside enjoying the scenery and relaxing before the official festivites and dinner starts. The farm is also a pretty big show off for sunsets so it’s a beautiful time and it’s nice to see everyone appreciating and loving it.
What would be your dream event to host?
I really want to do a weekend “camp” wedding. Maybe that’ll be what I do for mine haha since I love games and a good theme. A field day on Friday with camp games and a bonfire rehearsal dinner and then glamping or cute airstream accomodations for bridal party and then the wedding the next day. I just think it would be so fun to have an intimate celebration that lasts all weekend instead of just the one day and the style aspect of some “camp chic” is right up my alley (think friendship bracelets, gourmet s’mores, “care package” favors ).
If you could go anywhere tomorrow, where would you go?
I’m a travel addict so this is a hard question. I’m always torn between going back to places I’ve been or going to new places. Right now, I think a beach vacation sounds pretty great so probably Puerto Escondido. Open air Bungalow right near the beach, good book, and some amazing fish tacos.
Thank you to the Colleen for taking the time to fill us in on the ins and outs of Cedarmont for our vendor spotlight feature. This venue truly is a hidden gem. To learn more about Cedarmont or book it for your upcoming event, check them out at Cedarmont Farm.
For other great vendor spotlights, visit us at Vision in White Events.
