Why Couples Choose Gateley Hill Gardens

Every wedding is a story, and every story has a reason behind why a couple chooses where they say "I do." At Gateley Hill Gardens, the reasons couples choose us are different for everyone. For some, it's the white stucco chapel my husband Josh built by hand at the foot of Mt. Nebo. For others, it's the gardens, or the all-inclusive simplicity, or the fact that they can actually see me on their wedding day instead of wondering who their planner is.

This past May, Olivia and Dax got married here, and Dax left us a review the next week. His words say it better than I ever could.

It's the chapel.

The chapel is the first thing every couple notices. A 12-foot ceiling, deep wooden beams, an iron chandelier that catches the light at every angle, and arched windows that look out into the gardens and the mountains beyond. Josh built it on evenings and weekends, board by board, while still working his day job. It seats 68 guests comfortably. It feels like Europe in the middle of Arkansas. And it's the only place in the state quite like it.

When Olivia walked down the aisle in May, with the chapel doors open behind her and white florals at the altar, this is what 70 guests saw:

It's the gardens.

We're a garden venue, and that matters. When you book your wedding at Gateley Hill, you're not standing in front of fake florals from a wholesaler. You're standing in front of roses, lavender, hydrangeas, and seasonal blooms that came from our own gardens, cut the morning of your wedding by me. By May, the roses are in full bloom, the lavender is just opening up, and the entry path turns into a corridor of color.

Olivia and Dax's May wedding caught the gardens at peak bloom. Every photo Black House Studios took outside has the gardens in it.

It's the all-inclusive simplicity.

One of the things Dax mentioned in his review was the experience. Here's what an "incredible experience" looks like at Gateley Hill, before, during, and after the wedding day:

• Before: I sit down with you in person, learn what you want, design your florals from the gardens, build out your timeline, coordinate your vendors, and answer every question you have. There's no extra planner to hire, no florist to negotiate with, and no day-of coordinator showing up to a venue they've never seen.
• During: I'm there. On-site. From the moment your bridesmaids arrive at the bridal suite until your grand exit. Managing the timeline, fixing problems before you know they exist, fluffing your train before you walk, and making sure your family doesn't lift a finger all day.
• After: Full cleanup is handled. Your family goes home. You go on your honeymoon. That's the whole experience.

It's the family.

Dax called us a "family who runs the venue," and that's exactly what we are. Gateley Hill is run by me and my husband Josh, with our kids growing up on the property. We're not a corporate venue with a different manager every six months. When you book us, you get us, and we treat your wedding the way we would treat one of our own kids' weddings someday.

That's not a marketing slogan. That's just how it actually works around here.

It's the petite size.

We cap every wedding at 70 guests. It's not a marketing gimmick. It's the size that lets us deliver the level of service we want to deliver. With 70 or fewer guests, we can put real florals on every table. We can plate a beautiful meal. We can coordinate your toasts and your first dance and your send-off without any one part feeling rushed. And you get to spend meaningful time with every single person who came to celebrate you, instead of waving at faces in a crowd.

If you've ever been to a 200-person wedding and barely seen the bride, you know exactly what I mean. Petite weddings just feel different.

It's everything together.

The chapel, the gardens, the all-inclusive packages, the family running the place, and the 70-guest cap aren't separate features. They're the same idea, expressed in different ways. We built this venue for couples who want a beautiful, simple, organic wedding day with the people they love most. That's why couples choose us. That's what Olivia and Dax chose us for in May. And that's what we'd love to give you, too.

If you'd like to see if Gateley Hill is right for your wedding, the best next step is to come out for a tour. You can see the chapel in person, walk through the gardens, and we'll sit down and talk through your vision over coffee.