The Valley ceremony site is only one of several wedding ceremony sites at The Venue at Murphy Lane in Newnan, GA. Some outdoor wedding venues in the Atlanta area only have one ceremony site to offer. Murphy Lane has a variety to choose from. We give couples the option to pick the site that seems right to them. We show every one of the ceremony sites to couples who come to Murphy Lane for a wedding venue tour. Talking about each site and how it has been used before gives couples specific information that helps them understand the logistics relating to each site. We point out the benefits and potential problems.
One of the most popular wedding ceremony spots we have at Murphy Lane is The Valley ceremony site. Here’s a little more about it.
A Short History
The area of the Murphy Lane property that includes The Valley ceremony site was once a pasture. This pasture was used as a space for grazing cows or used to grow and cut hay. It was mostly neglected the last few years before The Venue at Murphy Lane ever existed. (The renovation project and creation of Murphy Lane began in 2016. The first official event here was in October of 2017.)
We began to pamper the lawn and install landscaping plants in The Valley ceremony site in 2017. In May of 2020 a Chicago-area artisan built a wooden arbor over the path leading to The Valley ceremony site. The arbor is now covered by Star Jasmine, a beautiful vine with small, white flowers. The vine was severely damaged due to a long period of severely cold weather a couple of years ago. New vines were added and now are healthy.
The most recent improvement is the installation of Zoysia grass sod. This NG Turf sod, grown and harvested in Whitesburg, GA, about 10 miles from The Venue at Murphy Lane, fits in well with the existing Bermuda lawn. The Zoysia sod fills in some of the shady areas where the grass was thin and unhealthy. The sod was installed by Marco’s Landscaping Services, a top Newnan, GA landscaping contractor.
The Aesthetics of The Valley
The Valley is behind the venue barn. There are numerous tall trees towering above the lawn there. The trees are along the west side of The Valley lawn areas and cast shadows on the lawn when the sun begins to drop lower in the sky.
The contours of The Valley create a natural amphitheater. The first rows of guest seats are set in the lower part of The Valley. The subsequent rows are set up on higher ground than the rows in front. The seats get gradually higher with each row. As a result, following the contour of the rising terrain allows each guest seat to be slightly higher than the seats in front of it. As a result, having the ceremony area on the other side of the lowest terrain gives everyone a clear view of The Valley ceremony site.
The main difference between The Valley and the other ceremony sites at Murphy Lane is the natural shade from the large trees on the western side. Fig trees, Forsythia bushes, Camelias and Gardenias also adorn the borders of this site. The lawns areas are green and lush during the warmer months and go dormant in the winter. The grass is attractive even when dormant. It is evenly cut and weed-free, always adding to the beauty of this ceremony site.
The Good Things
Ahhhh! The Shade. Most of the ceremony sites at Murphy Lane are in areas that are wide open and sunny. The Valley ceremony site is shady. As a result, the temperature is about 10-12 degrees cooler on a hot, sunny day. When seated or standing in full sun the feel of direct sunshine on your body makes you think it’s warmer than it is. A breeze can help but shade is the best answer to the issues of a warm, sunny day. We are careful to track the areas of shade. As the sun location changes with the seasons the shady areas move. The use of flagging and photography helps us know where the shady spots will be during a ceremony. So we put the guest chairs in those areas and double check the chair location the day before the wedding during the rehearsal.
Also, The Valley is close to the Murphy Lane venue building. Most guests can easily make the short walk to this ceremony site. We also have golf carts we can use to get anyone who needs assistance to The Valley. There is a gently sloping alternate route that is suitable for wheelchairs.
Another advantage of The Valley ceremony site is also a result of the location. Most photographers ask the bride and groom to stay nearby the ceremony site for pictures with family and bridal party after the wedding ceremony is complete. While those involved in photography stay at The Valley the other guests can go back up to the venue patio for Cocktail Hour. From the patio the guests can easily see the bridal party and what they are doing. No one has to wonder “Where are the bride and groom?” when they can easily see that they are smiling for the camera! Guests can enjoy a beverage and appetizers while watching the photography session and relish the moment they just witnessed.
Possible Issues
Access to The Valley ceremony site might be a challenge for some. There are a few steps to navigate as guests leave the patio areas down to The Valley. There is a slight downward slope in the lawn as guests go towards their seats. However, we have great solutions to solve this problem. We have an alternate route those in wheelchairs can take. Also, those wanting to avoid steps and the sloping terrain can take this alternate route. It is slightly longer than the direct route from the patio. We also offer a golf cart shuttle option for anyone who needs a little extra help.
Another issue to consider at any outdoor wedding venue is the weather. What if it rains? What if it’s too cold? Just like any other outdoor ceremony site we must have a “bad weather plan.” Fortunately, we have a covered and enclosed patio space that serves as the ideal backup ceremony site. Some couples have actually chosen this area as their first choice for a wedding ceremony. The philosophy here at Murphy Lane is that we will work out all the details of the backup ceremony plan to the same degree we do for the first choice. That way, if necessary, we are ready to roll right into “Plan B” without a worry!
How to Personalize The Valley Ceremony Site
The ways to personalize The Valley ceremony site are not that different from any other ceremony site option. Outdoor wedding venues offer options you won’t find indoors. We have seen dogs in some of the ceremonies in The Valley. We even had a bride who arrived on a horse! It was stunning. Animals in a wedding? With plenty of planning and coordinating it can happen.
Using colors in floral arrangements and aisle markers, the additional colors and textures in the bridal party attire, decor and arbors are ways to make The Valley reflect your personality and taste. At Murphy Lane the florists, the venue owners and the planner/coordinator will all work with you to bring your vision to reality. We will have a link to the photo gallery below. There you can see some of the ideas that have come to life here in The Valley.
Final Thoughts
A choice of ceremony sites is always a good thing to find at wedding venues in the Atlanta area. The weather and natural beauty of the state of Georgia provide a beautiful setting for outdoor wedding ceremonies. The Valley is literally “right in the backyard” of The Venue at Murphy Lane. The lush lawn and shade trees create a gorgeous natural setting within a short walk from the venue patio. The benefit of having slightly lower temperature makes this outdoor wedding ceremony site one of the best options for the warmer months.
To see firsthand how The Valley is used for wedding ceremonies please click the link below:
https://thevenueatmurphylane.com/galleries
To talk with the Murphy Lane owners and make an appointment for a wedding venue tour please click here.
Support Local
We mentioned a couple of local businesses in “A Short History” above. Here are links to both:
Thanks so much for stopping by our blog! We hope you found this information helpful. We’re passionate about using our blog to shine a light on locally owned businesses and wedding venues across the USA. These wedding venues often bring a higher level of expertise, service, and dedication to your big day. Plus, with less staff turnover than corporate or investor-owned venues, they’re able to provide a more personal touch. As you plan your wedding, we’d love for you to consider a locally owned venue like ours!
Check out Wedding Venue Owners to discover amazing locally owned venues.
And a big shout out to all the incredible locally owned wedding venues out there!
Sunny Side Farm: http://www.sunnysidefarm.net/
Bella Sera: https://thebellasera.com/
Bell Tower Falls: https://www.belltowerfalls.com/
Burch on Twenty: https://www.theburchontwenty-seven.com/
Greenhouse at Arrows Farm: https://www.thegreenhouseatarrowsfarm.com/
Hawthorn Hills Ranch: https://www.hawthornhillsranch.com/
Harris Glen: https://harrisglen.com/
Butlers Courtyard: https://butlerscourtyard.com/
Hidden Abbey: https://thehiddenabbey.com/
1869 Schulhaus: https://www.1860schulhaus.com/
leave a comment