One of the most exciting parts of being engaged is imagining your future together. We often tell couples that touring a venue does not have to feel like another item on the wedding planning checklist. Instead, why not turn it into an adventure?
At our farm, we encourage couples to enjoy every step of the engagement. Your venue tour can become a day date filled with good food, beautiful scenery, outdoor adventures and real conversation about your future together.
After hosting hundreds of weddings since 2017, we have seen how couples who slow down and enjoy the planning process often have a more meaningful wedding experience. Here are some ideas for turning your visit to the farm into a day you will remember long after you have said "I do."
Start with breakfast on the way in
If you are driving from Jacksonville, consider a breakfast stop before your tour. Maple Street Biscuit Company at 4100 Baymeadows Road in Jacksonville, (904) 503-6203, serves Southern-style breakfast, fresh biscuits, chicken and waffles, and coffee and mimosas. A relaxed breakfast gives you time to talk through your wedding vision before you arrive at the farm.
Southern Grounds at 200 First Street in Neptune Beach, (904) 372-4507, is known for fresh coffee, healthy breakfast options, outdoor seating and a local atmosphere. Many couples enjoy grabbing coffee here and talking through guest counts, wedding styles and priorities before touring venues.
Couples coming from Clay County often start at Grumpy's Restaurant, 300 Kingsley Lake Drive in Starke, (904) 368-0019, known for large breakfast portions, Southern favorites and a friendly atmosphere.
Wedding planning should not feel like a series of errands.
Take your time exploring the farm
When you arrive, do not rush. Take your time walking beneath the oak trees that have become the backdrop for hundreds of weddings. Our family has called this property home for generations, and many couples tell us they feel a sense of peace as soon as they arrive.
During your tour, imagine your guests arriving beneath the oaks, cocktail hour near the pool, sunset photographs in the fields, dancing in the open-air barn and gathering around the fire pit.
Be sure to visit the pastures and say hello to our horses. They have become unofficial ambassadors of the farm and are often a favorite part of the tour. You will also want to see some of our favorite photo spots, including the oak lawn, the gravel road, the rope swing, the enchanted forest, the wooden fences and the sunset fields.
Turn the tour into an outdoor adventure
One of the hidden gems of North Florida is the outdoor recreation nearby. Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park, 6239 State Road 21 in Keystone Heights, (352) 316-4286, is one of Florida's oldest state parks, with hiking trails, lakes, ravines and wildlife viewing. It is open from 8 a.m. until sunset year round. Admission is $5 per vehicle for two to eight passengers, $4 for a single-occupant vehicle, and $2 for pedestrians and bicyclists, with parking included.
Many couples take a hike after their tour because it gives them time to talk about wedding plans and future goals without the distractions of everyday life. Popular activities include hiking, wildlife viewing, birdwatching, photography, picnicking and canoeing. The park's ravines are unlike anything most visitors expect to find in Florida.
Visit historic Green Cove Springs
After your tour, consider spending time in historic Green Cove Springs. Spring Park, 106 St. Johns Avenue, (904) 297-7500, sits along the St. Johns River and is one of the area's most scenic spots, with walking paths, river views, shaded picnic areas and the natural spring the town is named for. Admission and parking are free. It is a good place to slow down and enjoy each other's company.
Add a bike ride to the day
If you and your fiance enjoy being active, bring your bicycles for a ride on the Jacksonville-Baldwin Rail Trail, 850 N. Center Street in Baldwin, (904) 255-7930. The paved trail runs about 14.5 miles through North Florida countryside and is free to ride and to park. Couples enjoy shaded sections beneath towering trees, open rural landscapes, wildlife viewing and peaceful stretches where it is easy to unplug. The trail connects to Camp Milton Historic Preserve and several other trailheads in western Jacksonville. Local cyclists often call it one of the best rides in Northeast Florida for its smooth pavement and abundant shade, and riders regularly spot deer, gopher tortoises and birds along the route.
Where to eat after your tour
Everybody's Restaurant in Baldwin, (904) 266-9458, has served the community for generations and is known for classic Southern comfort food. It is a casual, relaxed place to keep talking about wedding ideas over breakfast or lunch.
Cousin Willie's Smokehouse, (904) 266-9992, is a good stop for authentic Florida barbecue after a morning at the farm. Papa Sean's Homemade Pizza, (904) 266-3315, offers pizza, calzones, pasta and sandwiches for a comfortable, casual lunch.
A sample day, start to finish
Here is one of our favorite itineraries for couples visiting the farm.
- 8:30 am: Breakfast in Jacksonville or Clay County.
- 10:00 am: Bike ride or walk along the Jacksonville-Baldwin Rail Trail.
- 12:00 pm: Tour the farm and meet the horses.
- 1:30 pm: Lunch in Baldwin.
- 3:00 pm: Explore Gold Head Branch State Park or Spring Park.
- 5:00 pm: Stop for engagement photos and watch the sunset.
Wedding planning should not feel like a series of errands. Your engagement only happens once, and every venue visit is a chance to make memories together.
Bring a camera along the way
Take photos throughout your tour day: your breakfast date, the drive through North Florida, exploring the farm, meeting the horses, walking beneath the oaks, hiking local trails and watching the sunset. Years from now, these photos will remind you that your engagement was more than planning a wedding. It was the beginning of your marriage.
Why we encourage couples to enjoy the process
Wedding planning can feel overwhelming. Between budgets, guest lists, vendor meetings and timelines, it is easy to lose sight of what this season is really about. We believe your engagement deserves to be celebrated just as much as your wedding day, so we encourage couples to turn venue tours into real experiences: enjoy breakfast together, take a scenic drive, explore local parks, walk beneath the oaks, and spend time dreaming about your future. The memories you make during your engagement often become some of the most treasured memories of all.
When you are ready, schedule a tour, look over pricing, browse the gallery, or get in touch with any questions.