Rustic Country Barn Wedding
at The Barn at Chestnut Springs: Lindsey & Reed’s Unforgettable Day
Get ready to overload on sweetness because this rustic country barn wedding was packed with Southern charm, sentimental details, and DIY magic. Lindsey and Reed’s wedding at The Barn at Chestnut Springs in Sevierville, Tennessee was the perfect blend of romance, personality, and fun.
From the handmade décor to the surprise cigar bar for the groom, every corner of their venue was filled with unique, meaningful touches. And if that wasn’t impressive enough, the venue staff built an entirely new building out of reclaimed materials in just five days—just in time for the big day!
If you’re searching for rustic wedding inspiration, DIY wedding ideas, or the perfect barn wedding venue in Tennessee, this wedding has all the details you need to create a Pinterest-worthy, one-of-a-kind celebration.
The Perfect Rustic Wedding Venue:
The Barn at Chestnut Springs
When it comes to barn wedding venues in the Smoky Mountains, The Barn at Chestnut Springs is one of the best. Nestled in the rolling hills of Sevierville, Tennessee, this charming venue is surrounded by wooded beauty, scenic mountain views, and rustic elegance.
Why The Barn at Chestnut Springs is Perfect for a Barn Wedding:
✔️ Quaint, historic barn setting with reclaimed wood and rustic charm.
✔️ Scenic mountain views that provide a breathtaking backdrop for photos.
✔️ Secluded, intimate atmosphere that feels like a private retreat.
✔️ Indoor & outdoor options for a flexible wedding experience.
SEO Tip: If you’re searching for barn wedding venues in Tennessee, The Barn at Chestnut Springs is a top-rated venue for rustic, country-inspired weddings.
A Love Story That Started Online
Lindsey and Reed’s love story is the perfect mix of humor, fate, and a little online magic.
“We met like everyone does these days—on Christian Mingle! Just kidding! We actually met online but took the shortest profiles possible. It was fate, not science, that brought us together!”
From beer, country music, and football to an unforgettable first date at Top Golf, their connection was instant. Their profiles were nearly identical, and Reed even proposed in his very first email—though Lindsey quickly declined!
Why This Love Story is Special:
✔️ It’s modern and relatable! Many couples today meet online, proving that love knows no boundaries.
✔️ It’s filled with fun and personality. Their first date included golf, rain, and competitive banter.
✔️ They knew from the start. Even strangers could see that they were meant to be together.
How did the two of you meet? Welcome to the digital age, we met how everyone does now, Christian Mingle! Kidding we did meet online though; we filled out extensive background profiles, hired a professional match maker, took Meyers Briggs tests, consulted a CIA profiler and then FINALLY decided we should meet. Yeah Right! Fate happened because we were lazy, we filled out the shortest profile you could and met on Ya-hooooooo-uu-ooooo! I don’t remember exactly how it went, but I remember splashes of country music, beer, and football. Our profiles were nearly identical. Reed actually proposed to me in his first email (No lie, it said. “Will you marry me?”), I quickly declined. It was all fun and games until one of us ran out of free winks and Reed had to pony up $29.99 to continue the relationship. To this day I tell him it was the best $29.99 he has ever spent.
The Proposal: A Sentimental & Sweet Surprise
Despite Lindsey teasing Reed about proposing for months, he had been hiding the ring the whole time—waiting for the perfect moment.
How Reed Proposed:
✔️ He planned to propose in Hong Kong, but a mistake with the ring delayed the big moment.
✔️ He eventually popped the question at home—unexpected, intimate, and deeply personal.
✔️ The ring was hidden at the bottom of Lindsey’s Christmas stocking, inside a box that contained a play ring from a cupcake they shared years ago.
Why This Proposal Was Perfect:
✔️ It was meaningful. Reed made sure the moment was just for them.
✔️ It included sentimental touches—like the playful ring and taco sauce packet that said “Will you marry me?”
✔️ It showed their personalities. Fun, unexpected, and full of love.
How did he propose? After reading the story of how we first met and our unforgettable first date, you’re probably expecting a romantic proposal that either has to do with football, beer, golf or all of the above. Anyone who knows the two of us would have expected nothing less. You would have anticipated Lane Stadium at half time or over the video screen in big letters “Lindsey, will you marry me? –Reed”; a Hokie tailgate with the family there, me with a beer in hand of course; or even back at TOP GOLF where we had our first date. All of those were far from the story of our proposal. I had been giving Reed a hard time (jokingly) about proposing for months and how I swore it was never going to happen (little did I know, he had the ring that whole time) as us girls do when we’re ready. I also made him promise that it would not be something public like on the big screen at Lane stadium, I wanted it to be meaningful to the two of us. Again, I thought for sure it was never going to happen, especially after we had gone to St. Thomas-not there, Vermont-not there, Florida-not there and Hong Kong-not there. Turns out he had planned to purpose in Hong Kong, but there was some drama surrounding the ring. Anyone else addicted to the Bachelor and Bachelorette like me? Reed hates the show and I make him watch it on Mondays, he calls it his drinking night just to suffer through…oh the things we do for love. Well then you know about the gorgeous Neil Lane diamonds I fell in love with many seasons ago. They are the ones that Reed and I loved after searching countless jewelry stores (literally every diamond store in St. Thomas). Well he had picked out the perfect Neil Lane engagement ring but when they sized it, the jeweler cut off the Neil Lane signature. He refused to give me the ring without the signature. They tried to convince him to go ahead and propose with that ring and of course Reed being himself said no way, I’m not giving her that then taking it back. So he was waiting until they gave him the right size with the signature. Plus he was so afraid he’d lose it on the 16 hour flight over to Hong Kong. So no proposal yet! That was September; let’s fast forward to December 20th. We were supposed to packing for two trips, one for a few days before Christmas with Reed’s family at a cabin in Tennessee then another for a week after Christmas with my family in freezing Vermont. Reed was acting a little strange or off, I just assumed it was because we both HATE to pack, I didn’t think anything of it. Before I go any further, let me set the scene…I was literally wearing the worst pair of pajama shorts I own, a gator football t-shirt and my hair was a disaster up in a bun. (This is not exactly the way any girl ever dreams of looking like when she is going to get proposed to) So, Reed is acting a little weird and he keeps pushing me to pack, but I push back on opening our stockings to each other first. He finally gives in and opens his first. I start to open my stocking and the first thing I pull out is like 5 bottles of “I love you” hand sanitizer from Bath and Body Works, I’m thinking, “am I dirty?”. I keep going to pull out more hand stuff like a manicure kit, at the time this was strange to me because he knew I got my nails done…I still hadn’t caught on. I got to the bottom of my stocking and there was a white box, I opened it to find a play ring (I supposedly gave him off a cupcake years ago) and the taco sauce packet I had given him a few months before that said “Will you marry me?” I looked up; Reed was down one knee with the ring. To this day I still can’t remember what he said because I was so overwhelmed with emotion and joy. He says he doesn’t remember either which makes me feel a little better. I of course said, “Yes!” Turns out he had called my dad and asked for his hand early that evening and he was just nervous. It was so sweet and cute. It did make it a little hard to get back to packing, we had so many people to call and share our news with, I then understood why he wanted to pack first. It was the perfect proposal!
Rustic Wedding Décor: DIY Details & Southern Charm
One of the most impressive aspects of Lindsey and Reed’s wedding was the incredible amount of DIY details.
✨ Handmade Wedding Decor:
✔️ A custom pallet guestbook with their names & the state of Tennessee.
✔️ Hand-sewn wedding programs—each one carefully stitched together.
✔️ A lace & burlap sash for the bride, made by her mother.
✔️ Love marquee letters built by family members.
✔️ A surprise cigar bar for the groom—a thoughtful, unexpected touch!
Pro Tip: If you want a wedding that feels 100% personal, consider adding handmade touches. These small details make your wedding one-of-a-kind and allow you to include family traditions and heirlooms.
Did you have any DIY projects? If so, what? Where did you get the ideas? Would you do it again? Almost every detail of our wedding was DIY. We both went a little Pinterest happy. My mom is amazing and handmade almost all of the décor by herself. One of my favorite details she made, was my sash, I loved it. She also sewed all of the antique dollies to make the dollies banner that was hung outside. Our “guestbook” which was a pallet with our names and the state of Tennessee she and a family friend made together. The awesome LOVE marquee letters were handmade by my mom, my sister Courtney, my aunt Sharon and my aunt Kimmy. Some of the other items made by my mom were: the ring bible, that was lace we bought in Belgium and bibles my parents got for their wedding; the mason jar glasses for the wedding party, the mason jar wood name tags for guests were carved into wood; all of the various chalkboard signs; the papier-mâché decoupage letters; the programs she created then hand sewed all hundreds of them….there’s so much more. The pennants for waving were cut, glued and tied by me, my mom and our family friend Karen. My mom and I worked together to make the burlap wreaths and moss letters. Our family friend Gary Evans made all of the wood signs. I wanted a DIY wedding and I got one. Would I do it again? Yes! It was a lot of work, but it was fun having the opportunity to spend time with my mom that if it weren’t for the wedding might not have happened. Plus it was “ours”, no one else’s wedding will look the same or have the same personal touches. I can’t thank everyone enough who helped for all that they did.
Do you have a song? Our song is Love Your Love the Most by Eric Church. We both have always felt like this song perfectly describes the two of us and our relationship. This is the song we chose to have our wedding party walk down the aisle to. However, our First Dance song was First Dance by Corey Smith. We felt like this song was the perfect way to describe how we would feel in that exact moment and that no matter what the honeymoon may have started then but will never end.
A Wedding Dress as Sweet as Sweet Tea
Lindsey’s dress was Southern charm personified—reminding me of cool sweet tea on a hot summer day.
Bridal Style Highlights:
✔️ A timeless lace gown that was both elegant and relaxed.
✔️ A delicate burlap sash handcrafted by her mom.
✔️ A floral crown for a touch of bohemian elegance.
Rustic Wedding Fashion Tip: If you want a country-inspired bridal look, opt for a soft lace gown, cowboy boots, or a flower crown to add a rustic touch.
Why did you choose your wedding date? Honestly, we wanted to have our wedding November 9th since neither of us had planned on having a year and half engagement. Seeing as we are a huge college football family it just didn’t work out with the Tennessee, Virginia Tech and Florida football schedules. Not to mention my dad coaches high school football and might not have been there to walk me down the aisle LOL. Plus we had two other friends looking at the same wedding date. November was definitely out…it was onto the spring wedding I had always wanted. April 8th our anniversary was already taken and we wanted to find a date with less probability of rain. You never know what you’ll get in Tennessee in April. So we decided on April 26th, it was close to the end of spring, the barn was available and it’s my mom’s birthday.
Rustic Barn Wedding Reception: Southern-Style Celebrations
The reception at The Barn at Chestnut Springs was full of good food, great music, and plenty of love.
Rustic Wedding Reception Details:
✔️ Farmhouse-style seating with long wooden tables.
✔️ Mason jar centerpieces filled with wildflowers.
✔️ Whiskey barrels & lanterns lining the dance floor.
✔️ An incredible dessert bar featuring homemade pies & cupcakes.
Their First Dance Song: “First Dance” by Corey Smith—a song that perfectly captured the feeling of the moment.
Pro Tip: If you want a true country barn wedding, incorporate Southern-inspired food, rustic décor, and live country music to create an unforgettable experience.
Any particular reason for the theme or venue? The Smokies hold very special memories for both of us. Each and every year the Householder side of family gathers in a cabin tucked away in these mountains and we spend several days celebrating our family and the traditions we have come to cherish. The Maces loved this place so much that they purchased a second home here and continue to come as regularly as they can. They have spent many a day floating building fond memories at Cover Two and trolling around Douglas Lake. It’s where Lindsey calls heaven and her home away from home. From day one, this was a special connection Lindsey and I shared. Sevierville is where I first met her family and is a place that we visit often. We had been searching all over the Gatlinburg area for the perfect barn venue, after seeing the pictures from Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert’s wedding, a country chic barn wedding was all I dreamed of. I had visions of a southern DIY filled wedding. After stumbling upon the Barn at Chestnut Springs an online search, meeting Melanie Lee and visiting the barn, we knew it was absolutely perfect. To be honest, we couldn’t imagine a more special place to share with our guests on our wedding day.
What is the thing you love most about the other person? I love everything about Reed (the good, the bad, the ugly included), so it is truly hard to narrow it down to just one thing. Reed’s passion and optimism is the thing I love the most about him. He always sees the glass half full when I see it half empty. He encourages me daily to see the good in everything in life…no matter what the circumstance. His passion for life and people never ceases to amaze me, everyone around him is bettered by his presence and his ability to always make others smile and laugh. He makes my life and me better in every way. So hard to narrow down the ONE thing, I love everything about Lindsey including her minor flaws, but I think if I had to say one thing I love most about her it would be her strong independent personality. She was raised to be extremely independent and it is obvious on a daily basis. She is critical of the world and challenges everything. It can come across as stubborn at times (her nickname is mule for this reason) and even drives me crazy at times, but it keeps me on my toes and makes me challenge the way I see the world. She makes every day exciting and helps me to broaden my perspective and experience life to the fullest.
The Best Part of the Wedding Day? EVERYTHING!
When asked about their favorite wedding moments, Lindsey and Reed couldn’t pick just one.
“It was the best and most fun day of our lives! Every detail was perfect, and we got to celebrate with the people we love most.”
Final Wedding Planning Advice from Lindsey & Reed:
✔️ Enjoy every moment—your wedding day goes by FAST!
✔️ Spend money on a great photographer & videographer—these memories will last forever.
✔️ Personalize your wedding with DIY projects & meaningful details.
✔️ Don’t stress over the little things.
A Picture-Perfect Rustic Barn Wedding
Lindsey and Reed’s rustic barn wedding at The Barn at Chestnut Springs was the perfect blend of romance, personality, and country charm.
Key Takeaways for Planning Your Own Rustic Wedding:
✔️ Choose a charming barn venue—like The Barn at Chestnut Springs.
✔️ Incorporate DIY elements to add sentimental value.
✔️ Use natural, rustic décor like wood, burlap, and mason jars.
✔️ Focus on what matters most—love, laughter, and family.
A barn wedding isn’t just about a venue—it’s about creating an atmosphere of warmth, joy, and timeless romance.
Looking for a photographer to capture your rustic barn wedding? Let’s make your wedding memories last forever!
Is there anything else you’d like to share? I’m reading a book right now called “What No One Tells the Bride” which is filled with things I wish I had known before planning our wedding. So I’d like to share my advice to other brides, and what I’ve learned and what I wish someone would have told me.
Though it may seem like none of the stress, money and frustrations are worth it in the planning process; they totally are worth it in the end. Dress shopping is not like an episode of “Say Yes to the Dress”; it’s an exhausting process, you may not get the overwhelming crying feeling when you find the “one” like on the show, but it doesn’t mean it’s not the one. Even if you can’t afford an event planner, make room in the budget for a Day of Coordinator. Doing so means enjoying your day with no stress trust me it’s worth it. Hire a videographer, we didn’t at first and I’m so thankful we did. Your day will go by so fast that you’ll blink and it’s over, you’ll find you missed so much because you’re on cloud nine (and let’s be honest, you have a lot on your mind). We can’t wait to actually sit down and see what really happened. Spend money on a great photographer and pictures, at the end of the day; these will be your lasting memories. You’ll learn a lot about family and friends during the planning process; people show their true colors when there’s a wedding. At the end of the day none of the stress they caused you will matter, it’s YOUR day. Breathe, just breathe. You may have some of the worst arguments with your fiancé the two of you have ever had…that’s all part of the stress and normal. It doesn’t mean your marriage is doomed or you should call it off. Just make sure to say you’re sorry. Personalize your wedding in every way you can (don’t go Pinterest crazy though), after all it’s about the two of you. First Looks are the best! It’s so much more intimate than seeing him as you walk down the aisle. We both said it calmed our nerves and gave a calming feeling for the rest of the day. In the same sense it’s okay to be nervous, it’s a huge step and a life changing moment…you’ll have many emotions the day of, embrace them. Most importantly, enjoy every moment. Dance like crazy with all of your friends and make memories that last a life time.
A Picture-Perfect Rustic Barn Wedding
Lindsey and Reed’s rustic barn wedding at The Barn at Chestnut Springs was the perfect blend of romance, personality, and country charm.
Key Takeaways for Planning Your Own Rustic Wedding:
✔️ Choose a charming barn venue—like The Barn at Chestnut Springs.
✔️ Incorporate DIY elements to add sentimental value.
✔️ Use natural, rustic décor like wood, burlap, and mason jars.
✔️ Focus on what matters most—love, laughter, and family.
A barn wedding isn’t just about a venue—it’s about creating an atmosphere of warmth, joy, and timeless romance.
Looking for a photographer to capture your rustic barn wedding? Let’s make your wedding memories last forever!
See where Lindsey and Reed were featured in the fall print issue of DIY Weddings Magazine and on their blog!
Venue: The Barn at Chestnut Springs
Dress: David’s Bridal in Knoxville
Makeup: Southern Belle Beauty
Shoes: Honestly, I have no idea the name of the store. We were driving to my parent’s house in Florida for Thanksgiving and decided to stop at this random western store off an exit in North Carolina. I loved them immediately, they were perfect.
Groom’s Outfit: Men’s Wearhouse
Decorations: Most of my décor was handmade by my mom, or things that we got together to work on at our cabin for a week in October, it was special because we hardly ever get this much time together. Some was from thrift stores back home in Florida, others from the 10 mile yard sale my and I went to in Sevierville. Other items came from an antique store Reed and I frequented called Warehouse Antiques in Amherst, VA.
Flowers: Melissa Timm Designs
Cake: Bradford Catered Events It was amazing. I couldn’t stop eating it the next day.
Food: Bradford Catered Events
Rings: Kay Jewelers
Jewelry: Handmade by Kasey Schroeder at Angelic Whispers Jewelry in Gatlinburg
Pastor: Reverend Tom Orange
DJ: DJ Ryan Ray with Ogle Entertainment
Day of Coordinator: Alexa Sponcia with Events with Alexa
Photography: Knoxville Wedding Photographer – Star Noir Studio
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