This Dreamy Equestrian Wedding Made History at Franklin’s Harlinsdale Farm
It started with a chance encounter after a Nashville Predators game and ended with a history-making walk down the aisle. See how Claire and Luke’s love story led them to Harlinsdale Farm for the historic property’s first-ever wedding! Image: Rachel Fugate Photography
Sometimes true love finds you when you least expect it. For Claire McInturff and Luke Bohn, it began while waiting for Ubers after a Nashville Predators game. A chance meeting eventually led them to the altar at a place deeply woven into Claire’s family history: Franklin’s Harlinsdale Farm. As the first couple to marry in the historic farm’s restored barn, they celebrated with a dreamy day filled with equestrian touches, meaningful details, and plenty of personal history.
It all started with a chance encounter after a Nashville Predators game, where Claire was celebrating her birthday with a friend. Meanwhile, Luke was there entertaining a few clients — one of whom happened to be Claire’s friend’s brother.
Introductions were made, and Claire discovered that both she and Luke worked in Franklin. She also learned that he went to the Chick-fil-A in Franklin every Thursday, thus earning him the nickname “Chick-fil-A guy” among her friends.
During their lively banter on that Wednesday night, Luke invited Claire to join him the next day for his weekly lunch. Claire was sure he was joking, but they shook on it, and her friends advised her to make good on the date “for the plot.” She did.
When Luke saw Claire at Chick-fil-A the next day, he said, “I can’t believe you came!” They exchanged formal introductions, got to know each other over their waffle fries, and shared a chocolate chip cookie. The rest, as they say, is history.
As they continued dating, Luke came to understand the important role that family and her Tennessee roots played in Claire’s life. When the time came to pop the question, he incorporated both, proposing in the gazebo in her hometown of Leiper’s Fork. “It’s the same place where I grew up — going to lawnchair bluegrass concerts and first learned to square dance,” Claire tells us.
They were surrounded by rose petals and flowers from Flower Mart, a store that Claire’s grandparents founded and owned for many years. Luke had even written his bride-to-be a love note on Flower Mart stationery. To top off the occasion, he planned a surprise engagement party on the rooftop at Culamar, where they had their first (official) date.
Once she said “yes,” Claire enlisted the help of Kara Enck, owner of Locket Events Co., to bring her dream wedding to life. “Kara and I were extremely collaborative throughout the entire process, which was so much fun!” Claire says. “We were just always on the same wavelength and constantly bouncing ideas off of each other or digging into DIYs together.”
The choice of venue was clear from the start. Harlinsdale Farm has been part of Claire’s family story for decades. Her father began working at the farm as a teenager, an experience that inspired his career as an equine veterinarian.
In a full-circle moment, the farm later became one of his first clients. Harlinsdale was an integral part of Claire’s childhood, and her parents played an active role in efforts to restore and preserve it as a public park, a cause they continue to champion.
“Harlinsdale is still woven into our everyday lives, from evening walks and sunsets to visits with our dog, Hayes, who was partially named after the property’s historic Hayes House,” Claire says. “Being the first couple to marry in the restored barn made our wedding feel like the continuation of a story that has been decades in the making — a celebration not only of our love, but of family, legacy, and a place that has always felt like home.”
Florals from Flower Mart were also a given, and Claire says she wanted the colors and textures of her wedding details to complement the farm’s aesthetic. “The inspiration for our wedding day was ’90s Ralph Lauren with touches of Jane Birkin — elegant and timeless with a modern, effortless feel,” Claire describes. “We leaned into the natural beauty and warmth of Harlinsdale, pairing rich maroon with soft blue, hints of green, and light pink to create a palette that felt both classic and unexpected.”
Claire’s gown and veil were custom-designed with Enaura Bridal at Ila Bridal Boutique in Franklin. “The custom process was so much fun! I worked with the designer to develop the design. Then they created a muslin out of linen, and we made tweaks to that to create the final gown,” she says.
Claire’s “something old” was a set of pearl-and-diamond earrings her father gave her years ago, while a matching necklace from Luke served as her “something new.” She borrowed her mother’s diamond pinky ring, a gift she had received on her own wedding day 40 years earlier, and Claire’s bridesmaids completed the tradition in light-blue dresses.
Claire says the ceremony was her favorite part of the day. Rain was a concern, but the bride recalls the clouds miraculously clearing to reveal a beautiful, bright blue sky just in time for the outdoor event. In fact, Claire says, “The sun was out, but it was very lightly sprinkling, so all the guests had parasol umbrellas up, giving the atmosphere an almost ethereal feel.”
Claire was escorted down the aisle by both of her parents, as a close friend sang “Miracle” by Riley Clemmons, accompanied by violin and piano. The couple exchanged traditional vows — followed by handwritten vows — before their 170 guests.
“Being able to declare our love for one another and the lifelong commitment we were making in front of the Lord, our friends, and family is forever seared into my memory,” Claire shares. “I don’t know if I’ve ever felt such pure and euphoric joy!”
One notable absence among the guests was Luke’s brother, Nick, who was serving in the military. But Luke’s other brother and best man, Ben, made sure Nick could still be part of the celebration by arranging a pre-recorded speech. “It was very emotional for us,” Claire shares.
With the help of Harlinsdale Farm, Locket Events, and Coupe Cocktails, the cocktail hour was a showstopper. The farm’s beautiful Gypsy Vanner horse, Francesca, was a special guest of honor, and she delighted the crowd.
Two signature cocktails complemented a selection of appetizers, including grilled steak and baby potato skewers with chimichurri and charred onion; spice-marinated shrimp with brown butter aioli and fresh dill; summer tomato pie with cheddar, pecorino, ricotta, and scallion; and watermelon radish with spring pea, mint, and agrumato.
The reception featured a seated dinner served by Juniper Green. Guests started with a fresh salad topped with crispy prosciutto, corn, and cucumber, and dressed with a buttermilk herb vinaigrette. It was also served with house-made focaccia.
The entrée was a choice of brined and grilled chicken breast with za’atar and arugula pesto, served with Carolina Gold risotto and spice-rubbed carrots with Aleppo honey, or boneless short rib with citrus gremolata, served with creamy chive mashed potatoes and haricot verts.
“Dessert was warm salted chocolate chip cookies with a side of vanilla Blue Bell ice cream, a nod to my mother’s hometown,” Claire shares.
After dancing the night away, Claire and Luke made their way through a sparkler sendoff, leading to a getaway car (a 1921 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost Touring Model, affectionately nicknamed “Pearl”), which was a surprise from Claire’s dad. The couple then jetted off to enjoy a honeymoon safari in Kenya.
Looking back, it wasn’t just the carefully planned details that made the day so memorable for Claire. She says she worked hard throughout her engagement to be intentional and practice presence. And while she admits she wasn’t always successful, it’s her best piece of advice for other brides. “I wanted to enjoy my fiancé era without obsessing over the next thing,” she tells us.
“There was a moment at our wedding when everyone was sitting down for dinner, and Luke and I stood on the dance floor and just looked out at everyone we loved, having the best time. We were able to take a breath together and just be present in that moment. It was so special and a moment neither of us will ever forget!”
With the inaugural wedding at Harisdale Farms in the books, Claire hopes there will be many more to come. “We wanted to give a special thank you to Friends of Franklin Parks for helping make our wedding day possible,” Claire says.
“Harlinsdale Farm has always been such a special place, and we feel incredibly fortunate to have celebrated there. We hope others will continue to support the preservation of our local parks so more memories can be made there.”
RESOURCES
Venue: The Park at Harlinsdale Farm
Photographer: Rachel Fugate Photography
Bride’s gown: Enaura Bridal custom gown from Ila Bridal
Bridesmaids’ dresses: Jenny Yoo
Hair & Makeup: Kris Miller Artistry
Groom: Custom State and Liberty Tuxedo
Invitations, programs & menu cards: Locket Events Co.
Flowers: Flower Mart
Catering: Juniper Green & Coupe Cocktails
Entertainment: The Nashville Band
Cake: Baked on 8th
Wedding Planner: Locket Events Co.
Aisle Grasses: Holly Consults
**********
For more wedding inspo, check out our Nashville Wedding Resource Guide!
Katie Leigh Matthews
A Birmingham native, Katie is a lifelong waterfall chaser and is passionate about the outdoors. She also loves connecting with remarkable women in the Birmingham community and bringing their stories to life. Katie has been writing professionally for over six years; you can find more of her work at Moms.com and Islands.com.