Today we’d like to introduce you to Shayna Chapman.
Shayna, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Three Oaks Farm is a family owned farm located just an hour south of Atlanta in the small community of LaGrange. The farm was originally purchased by the Arrington family to be a place where they could hang out on the weekends, fish in the pond, hunt on the property, and be a place where lasting family memories could be made. In the spring of 2015, the three Arrington brothers began to clear the land to build a small barn that would serve as storage for farm equipment and shelter for family cookouts. However, plans changed when a close friend of the family became engaged and wanted to host their wedding on the property. In a whirlwind of events, the barn that had open walls and a simple roof transformed into a 5,000-square foot industrial yet elegantly rustic space. Their friend’s wedding went off without a hitch, and in the spring of 2016 the Barn at Three Oaks Farm opened to the public.
In the fall of 2016, I was contacted by a local bride to design her wedding at a venue I had never heard of-Three Oaks Farm. The funny thing is, I was an elementary school teacher who loved doing weddings and events on the side, and learning of a new venue really sparked my interest. Of course, I took the future bride on as a client, and as her wedding approached I visited the venue several times and absolutely fell in love! On the weekend of her wedding, I was approached by one of the venue’s owners and he offered me a job to manage the venue. I of course- I happily accepted, and I later “retired” from my 6 years of teaching and became the manager of the property and Event Director of Three Oaks Farm. I found myself hitting the ground running- after all, it was January 2017 and I knew I had to hustle to get the calendar booked with as many weddings and events as possible! Thanks so social media, word of mouth, and a variety of platforms, I have been able to triple sales and book a large portion of this year and even 2018!
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Has it been a smooth road? Absolutely not! Like anything that you love and want to be successful at it’s going to be hard. I’ll be completely honest, I’m not extremely “business smart.” After all, I was an event planner on the side and a full-time educator for the past 6 years. I didn’t graduate with a business degree, instead, I have an elementary education major and history minor ha! I have quickly had to learn how to keep up with tax info, invoices, receipts, business banking and more, and at times it can be extremely overwhelming. I’d be lying if I said I haven’t had a good hissy fit or two. Not to mention, just when I thought I had a grip on social media- HA! Trying to grow a business on social media can be extremely tricky; however, I have had wonderful mentors who have helped me along the way on this journey and followers are fans are growing!
Another challenge has simply been being a small business. Like any small business, a lot of responsibility falls on one or two, and I have found myself at times feeling burned out because while I am the event director, at times I am also the custodian, maintenance, marketing coordinator, and accountant. It’s in these times though that I have to take a step back and call on those who are closest to me for encouragement which always helps!
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Three Oaks Farm – what should we know?
My job as Event Director often includes designing, planning, and coordinating a couple’s biggest day of their life- their wedding. Although I had previously done several weddings/events over the past 5 years, this past year at Three Oaks has provided me with opportunities to grow as an event designer in ways I never dreamed. In just this short amount of time, I have been able to design over 40 weddings and events. I think what makes me stand out is my desire to create unique events that will stand out among the rest. You see, I pour my heart and soul into every one of my clients and go above and beyond the standard planner/designer. I aim to exceed any and all expectations and walk away with a true friendship with all my clients.
Working in a venue like the Barn at Three Oaks Farm makes my job easy because it is a one-of-a-kind venue. First, you won’t find many matte black barns in the south. Next, you definitely won’t find a barn that has modern industrial elements but also rustic finishes… Trust me- I’ve looked!
What makes my job as an event planner/designer easy is that the Barn at Three Oaks Farm is a blank canvas on the inside. This allows me as a designer to transform both the outdoor and indoor spaces into whatever my client is looking for (whether it be simple or extravagant). Another factor that sets Three Oaks Farm apart from others is that we are conveniently located to big hubs such as Atlanta, Columbus, Macon, and Auburn, Alabama. Often times clients from these areas are amazed at how close they are to the “big city” but the farm feels worlds away from the hustle and bustle. People love to sit out on the back deck and listen to the frogs in the pond, or watch the sunset.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
I am very blessed with a fabulous support group! My parents, sister, and two best friends often drop whatever plans they have on the weekends and help me with events. I think that my biggest mentor has been my mom, Glynn Ann. From a young age she encouraged my creativity and she has been right there with me every step of the way as I have pushed to become the designer I am today. Another big part of my success is my fiancé, Brian, who provides me with constant love, encouragement and support.
Other big supporters have been my bosses, David and Greg Arrington, and the community of LaGrange. While my bosses often laugh at some of my ideas and dreams for Three Oaks, they are always up for my shenanigans and provide help in any way they can. Also, the community surrounding the venue has been supportive and it’s always encouraging seeing locals get excited about how our success is growing not only in our local area but surrounding areas as well!
Pricing:
- Corporate Events: $2,000-$4,000
- Weddings: $4,500-$6,500
- Small Parties (Engagement, Baby, Graduation, etc.): $500-$1,500
Contact Info:
- Address: 197 Burgess Road
LaGrange, GA 30240 - Website: www.threeoaksbarn.com
- Phone: 706-302-1101
- Email: threeoaksbarn@gmail.com
- Instagram: @threeoaksfarmga
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/thebarnat3oaks/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-barn-at-three-oaks-lagrange-3
Image Credit:
Amanda Berube
Tristan Cairns
ML Film & Photography
Jen Menard
Taylor Faith Photography
Getting in touch: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
