Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Hadden.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
It all started with 24 acres, a house we knew we wanted to make a home, and a dream of creating something bigger than ourselves. Before we knew it, we’d named our land in the heart of Bulldog Nation “Damn Good Dawg Farms” and decided to put the land to good use. Blueberries – summertime crowd pleasers – were the perfect choice, and we sourced 2,600 gorgeous blueberry bushes from south Georgia. Each June and July, they produce some of the best fruit you’ll ever eat!
We live here with our family and we have had the best time getting to know friends from near and far who have visited Hadden Estate for blueberries and weddings! As much as we sew into our farm, every one of our visitors sews into us and leaves us better than we were before. We look forward to welcoming you to our home and can’t wait to hear about the sweet memories you make at Hadden Estate.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
We dealt with zoning issues and were approved after a multi-year adventure.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Hadden Estate at DGD Farms is a wedding venue and blueberry farm located in Watkinsville, GA, just minutes from the University of Georgia. We specialize in elevated weddings with a classic Southern feel. Hadden Estate sets itself apart with the property design; thoughtfully planned to be accessible, creating an ease in the flow of the event that leaves the guest delighted. We are most proud of the flawless execution of events held in our first year! Relationships build with talented vendors and our couples have made it a great year.
We have tried to simplify the experience for our couples by including items that are an additional rental elsewhere. We want to elevate the experience and help our couples stay stress-free where the venue is concerned!
Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
We took a risk with ordinances in the county and lost in Jan 2018. After re-grouping, we circled back under newly created Agribusiness zoning created in May 2019. We were the first wedding venue in our area to open under the Agribusiness umbrella. Our first wedding was October 2021. John and I both believe “no risk, no reward”.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.haddenestate.com
- Instagram: @haddenestate
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/haddenestate
Image Credits
Photos 1-4 Macy O’Connell Photo Photo 5 Michele Houston Photography Photo 6 Taylor Sakata Photography Photo 7 Emily Battles Photo 8 Katie York
