Riverside Farm

If you are looking for a wedding venue in the Knoxville area that feels tucked away, peaceful, and surrounded by East Tennessee scenery, Riverside Farm is definitely one to put on your list.

The Setting

The drive into Riverside Farm is part of the experience. The venue is tucked away from the road, with a large open field separating the property from the road and trees surrounding much of the rest of the property. It feels private without feeling isolated. I even saw a few deer as I rounded the corner toward the venue, which felt like a pretty great first impression.

The property has a really nice mix of open space and wooded areas, with wildflowers growing along the driveway and tree line. There are also little details throughout the property, like benches and swings, that give you plenty of options for photographs without everything feeling overly decorated or staged.

When I visited, the flowers had deep amber and warm fall colors that were absolutely beautiful against the greenery. If you love natural, romantic, slightly rustic scenery, this place has a lot going for it.

The Barn

The barn is beautiful and has a timeless feel to it. I really like that the interior still feels connected to the landscape outside. You get the beauty of being surrounded by the property while still having a covered space that offers shade and protection from the wind.

For the practical side of things, the barn has a bar area, kitchen space, two bathrooms, and a getting-ready room. Having those spaces available makes the wedding day a little easier because you have somewhere to get ready, somewhere to gather, and the necessities are all right there.

The Ceremony Space

The ceremony area is one of the biggest selling points for me. Off to the side of the barn, the ceremony space overlooks the river, with small mountain ridges in the distance. You have the trees, water, and mountains all working together as your backdrop, so there really isn't much you would need to add to make the ceremony beautiful.

If having a scenic ceremony backdrop is important to you, this is definitely something I would pay attention to when touring the venue.

What About Photos?

This is where Riverside Farm really stands out to me. There are a lot of different environments packed into one property. You have the barn, open fields, tree lines, wildflowers, the river, mountain views, swings, benches, and little tucked-away areas that can all be used throughout the day. That means your wedding gallery doesn't have to look like every portrait was taken in the same spot. You can get those classic barn portraits, walk through the field, find some flowers, use the trees for a little more intimacy, and then finish the evening near the river.

And if you are a couple who wants beautiful photos without spending your entire wedding day taking them, I think this property would work really well for that too. There are so many good options close together that you don't have to spend a ton of time driving around to different locations.

Golden Hour

This is one of those venues where I would absolutely make time for golden hour portraits.

The combination of the open field, trees, river, and mountain views makes the evening light especially dreamy. There are so many places around the property where you could pull away for 10–15 minutes and get some really beautiful photographs without missing the entire reception.

Keep in mind

A little something to keep in mind: With a barn and river setting like this, wind is something couples may want to consider when planning an outdoor ceremony or reception. On particularly windy days, lightweight decorations, signs, table settings, plates, napkins, and other small items can easily get blown around or knocked over. It may be worth talking with your florist and planner about ways to secure lighter décor. Of course, a little wind can also make for some beautiful movement in dresses and veils, so it's not necessarily a bad thing!

Who I Think Would Love This Venue

I think Riverside Farm would be a great fit for couples who want:

• A natural East Tennessee setting
• A beautiful barn without an overly rustic or dated feel
• River and mountain views
• Lots of opportunities for outdoor portraits
• A more private, tucked-away atmosphere
• A venue where the landscape can do a lot of the decorating
• A romantic and relaxed wedding rather than something extremely formal

The biggest thing I noticed while walking around Riverside Farm was that there was always another photograph waiting somewhere. I would turn a corner and find another little spot that I wanted to use. Between the wildflowers, the swings, the barn, the river, the mountains, and the evening light, there is a lot here for a photographer to work with.

For couples searching for a Knoxville-area venue, I think Riverside Farm is worth adding to your list. It is simply beautiful, and if you love the idea of your wedding photographs feeling natural, romantic, and very East Tennessee, I don't think you would be disappointed.