Nothing says “spring” like a gorgeous outdoor wedding in a sunlit field. And what better way to truly share in a bride’s special day than to let her tell the story in her own words? From fabulous florals and a larger-than-life tent to a surprise departure via helicopter, this is one wedding you won’t want to miss.
First, a bit of background!
Jack Allen Harris (known informally as Allen) and Colby Walker met at work, where Allen is the head of architecture, and Colby is an interior designer. The two began dating shortly after Allen purchased Maple Valley Ranch, a picturesque piece of land in Dickson County that serves as a counterbalance to his demanding but exciting work.
With her expertise, Colby wasted no time infusing the property’s circa 1906 ranch house with her signature style. And thus began their life together — and future wedding bells — for this precious couple.
Allen proposed to Colby on a fall afternoon in 2022 — appropriately, on the ranch. After accepting, the newly engaged couple celebrated with family and friends, some of whom had secretly flown in for the occasion. “As that fall evening progressed, the air turned crisp, brilliant stars emerged overhead, and the conversation meandered around the campfire about having the wedding right here at Maple Valley Ranch,” says Colby.
Was there any other choice?
We’ll let Colby do most of the talking from here on out …
“Tying the knot at the ranch became a no-brainer after so many special memories were created there, including much of our dating relationship renovating the house, hosting friends, and spending time together outdoors,” Colby explains. “We wanted to share this special place with everyone near and dear to us, welcoming guests into our world.
We both enjoy being hospitable, and we wanted guests to feel hosted while showcasing the rural beauty of Tennessee. I wanted to take advantage of the beautiful 360-degree pastoral views and host an elegant wedding. We are also passionate about sustainable agriculture and eating local. All of the food served was sourced from local farms and prepared over open fire by the talented folks at South Fork.
The flowers were a very important component in bringing this vision to life. The floral colors were selected to complement September with the fresh abundance of spring and summer blooms. Greenery draped the inside of our sailcloth tents, tying in the beautiful outdoor landscape. Guests were transported half a mile into the ranch, where both the ceremony and reception took place.”
“As a designer, the expansive natural landscape was not intimidating for me but was preferred,” says Colby. “It served as inspiration in bringing my wedding vision to life — something I have dreamed about since I was a little girl. With the help of so many talented vendors, the whole day took my breath away. My concept was a modern heirloom wedding with a farm-to-table feel, but not ‘ranchy.'”
When it came to planning, Colby was secure in her vision. “We used Ashley with House of Shannon for partial planning. Since I am an interior designer, I had a vision for the day and knew the design directive and floor plan I wanted. Partial planning was perfect for us, and Ashley did a wonderful job.”
“‘Modern heirloom’ and ‘spring meets fall’ are two ways I described the theme for the wedding,” she adds. “Allen and I have a deep love for hospitality, so we wanted our guests to feel hosted, well-fed, and entertained while we showed them a special place in our lives.”
“I went dress shopping in my hometown of Wayne, PA,” Colby explains of her dress search. “There is a dress shop I always admired when I was younger, so it was very sweet to end up ordering my dress from there. Ines Di Santo designed it.
Shelby Mullins with Studio Mullins made our wedding bands and my bridal earrings. She and I went to interior design school together, and she designs beautiful fine jewelry. My husband designed my engagement ring, which was made by Guy Leeser in New York City. My shoes were Loeffler Randall, and they were white leather, which was perfect for our venue. I changed into Lucchese Priscilla boots after the first dance.”
“Allen and the ranch staff spent all year leading up to the wedding grooming the land for the big day, creating an aisle that opened up to our ceremony site, a groomed area amid the natural, whimsical landscape,” says Colby. “Another trail led guests to the reception and cocktail tent, affording guests the most scenic view of the sprawling property.”
“The ceremony took place under a pair of grand tulip poplars (the Tennessee state tree), which are several centuries old,” says Colby. “A fiddle and guitar serenaded guests, playing some of our beloved country ballads. Cocktail hour was held under the stars so guests could witness the sprawling pastoral views at sunset. Horns from our brass band escorted the crowd onto the dance floor, where we spent most of the night.”
“As a designer, I wanted every detail to be perfect, but I had to remind myself that I equally wanted to put thought, care, and resources into how the day was experienced and how guests were hosted,” Colby tells us.
“All the work for this day was to be enjoyed, celebrated, and cherished — not just for great photos and every detail you gush over on Pinterest and Instagram. I was so glad this was a big focus of mine. Allen and I really made this day a glimpse into our world — what we love and how we love each other and our families.
We wanted to show our guests the beautiful Tennessee countryside we call home, great locally grown food, amazing live music, and the love God has blessed us with. The day felt like a dream and a whirlwind, where some details you only see when you get the photos back.”
Thank you so much, Colby and Allen, for recreating this special day for us.
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RESOURCES
Venue: Maple Valley Ranch (a private cattle ranch in Cumberland Furnace, TN)
Photography: Austin Gros
Videography: Lynn Productions
Event Planning: House of Shannon
Florals: Chelsea Carter Events
Bride’s Dress: Ines Di Santo (Dias) from The Wedding Shoppe
Groom’s attire: Indochino
Bridesmaid Dresses: Jenny Yoo
Invitations: Designed by the bride and printed locally
Catering: South Fork Catering Co.
Cake: Amanda Bates
Hair & Makeup: Kat Marie Hair & Makeup
Linens: BBJ La Tavola Specialty Linens
Lighting: Bright Event Productions
Tent & Rentals: Curated Events
Bar Service: J. Jackson Mobile Mixologist
Band: The Music City Sound
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