We're Getting Married!

Anna Lesser &
Daniel Marden

Saturday evening, the twenty-third of October, 2027

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Hours

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Minutes

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Seconds

Our Story

It started on two sticky bar stools

Neither of us expected an introduction on a night out to turn into a three hour conversation on two of the stickiest seats in the dive bar. By the time we finally got up to leave, we both knew we weren't done talking.

After our first date, Anna walked Dan home, which sounds backwards until you know it was just the fastest way back to her own place. She texted him thirty seconds later to say she'd made it home safely. Living five minutes apart didn't leave much room for a slow build, and we've kept that pace ever since.

From there it's been trips to the Cape and the Hamptons, Arsenal games in London, visits to see family in Boston, New Jersey, and Chicago, more friend-filled weekends than we can count, and more “would you rather” questions from Anna than Dan could ever have prepared for. We've loved every bit of it.

Now we can't wait to bring the people who mean the most to us to Nashville for a weekend full of good friends and a dance floor that never really empties.

See you October 23, 2027, at Southall Farm & Inn in Franklin, Tennessee.

Our Timeline

April 2024

How We Met

Anna and Dan met on a night out, talking for hours at Jack's Bar on Orchard Street.

June 2024

Our First Trip Together

Anna took a leap of faith and met Dan in London while he was traveling through Europe that summer.

December 2024

Moved In Together

Whether it was out of love or simply convenience (Anna's sister Sophia had found a new roommate), Anna packed up her things and moved a whopping one block away into Dan's apartment.

2024 – 2026

Endless Fun

Many trips, weekends away, dinner parties, the occasional dose of adult responsibilities, and countless random questions sparked by Anna's curiosity, kept our relationship growing.

July 2026

The Proposal

In the early hours of the morning, Dan popped the question on the beach in East Hampton. Anna and Dan were officially engaged before 7:15 a.m.

October 23, 2027

The Wedding

A weekend away in Franklin, Tennessee. We're so excited to celebrate the next chapter with a full weekend of mingling, dancing, and celebrating with our favorite people.

Daniel hugging Anna on a deck by the water — Cape Cod

Anna and Daniel at an Arsenal match — Arsenal Matches

Anna and Daniel on a cobblestone street in Tuscany — Tuscany

Anna and Daniel at sunset on a dock in East Hampton — East Hampton

Anna and Daniel walking along a beach in the British Virgin Islands — British Virgin Islands

Anna and Daniel at an outdoor market in London — London

See you in Tennessee!

October 23, 2027 · Southall Farm & Inn

The Weekend

Three days in the Tennessee countryside

Everything happens at Southall Farm & Inn. Pick a day for the full rundown of times, places, and what to wear.

Friday · October 22

Welcome Party

An easy evening at Southall's Hilltop Pavilion to kick off the weekend.

See Friday →

Saturday · October 23

The Wedding Day

The ceremony, dinner, dancing, and a very late night. The main event.

See Saturday →

Sunday · October 24

Farewell Brunch

One more round of biscuits, coffee, and hugs before everyone heads home.

See Sunday →

Friday, October 22

Welcome Party

The weekend starts at the Hilltop Pavilion. Come begin the festivities.

7:00 PM

Welcome party at the Hilltop Pavilion

Southall Farm & Inn

Drinks, dinner, and mingling on the hillside overlooking the countryside. A fun night to kick off the weekend and meet the families before the big day.

What to wear: We're keeping it fun and festive. Cocktail attire: think dressy, but not formal.

← The weekend Saturday →

Saturday, October 23

The Wedding Day

The big day. Here's how it unfolds at Southall.

Southall Farm & Inn

4:00 PM

Guests arrive for the ceremony

In the meadow

Shuttle and parking details are on the Travel page. Short and sincere, the ceremony is in the open field surrounded by the beautiful country hills.

5:00 PM

Cocktail hour by the lake

Orchard Event Center

Drinks and hors d'oeuvres at the Orchard Event Center, short walk from the ceremony.

6:00 PM

Reception by the Orchard

Under the tent

Dinner under the tent, built around the farm's autumn harvest, followed by toasts and dancing late into the night.

10:15 PM

The after party: honky tonk

Back at the Orchard Event Center

Nashville comes to the farm. Lively country music and line dancing.

12:00 AM

The after after party

The Speakeasy at Dottie's

We'll close the night at the Speakeasy at Dottie's, right on the property.

What to wear: Dressy attire, but not black tie. Have fun with it: bold colors, patterns, and unique fashion are welcomed.

← Friday The weekend Sunday →

Sunday, October 24

Farewell Brunch

No alarms needed. Wander over whenever you're up.

9:00 AM

Brunch before you go

The Covered Bridge · Southall Farm & Inn

Biscuits, coffee, and one more round of hugs before everyone heads home. Come as you are.

← Saturday The weekend

Travel & Stay

Getting there and where to stay

Franklin sits about 25 minutes south of Nashville, and Southall is ten minutes from downtown Franklin, tucked into the hills. Your hotel for the weekend is shown below.

Nashville International Airport

Flying in · BNA

About a 35 to 40 minute drive to Franklin. Rental cars and rideshares are both easy.

We recommend renting a car only if you want to explore the area. Shuttles will be provided to all Friday and Saturday events. Rideshares are also readily available.

The Inn at Southall

Stay at the venue

The inn itself: 62 rooms of quiet farm luxury with a spa we fully endorse, an elevator ride from the dance floor. Roll out of bed and you're already at the wedding.

Southall Farm & Inn will reach out to you directly by email to confirm your carefully selected accommodation.

The Harpeth Hotel

Downtown Franklin, TN

A boutique hotel right on the river at the edge of Main Street, walkable to everything downtown.

Book through our room block using the link below. Shuttles will be provided to all Friday and Saturday events.

Room Block Link Coming Soon

Our planners are finalizing the booking link. It will live right here the moment it's ready.

What to Expect

Late October in Franklin

68°

Daytime High

50°

Evening Low

Typically gorgeous, with peak fall color across the farm.

The Venue

Southall Farm & Inn

A 325 acre working farm tucked into the hills ten minutes from downtown Franklin. There's a 2,000 tree orchard, gardens and greenhouses, an award winning apiary, a seven acre lake, and an inn we never want to leave. We fell for it on our first visit and never really looked back. Come early, stay late, and let the farm spoil you.

2000 Meadowgrass Ln · Franklin, Tennessee 37064

Make a Weekend of the Farm

What to do while you're there

If you're staying at Southall, give yourself time to enjoy the property. It deserves a full day.

The Spa at Southall

Fifteen thousand square feet of calm. Treatments use the farm's own honey and herbs from the spa's medicinal garden, alongside pools, sound baths, and fitness classes.

Explore the Spa

Dining

January, the signature restaurant, builds its menu around whatever the farm is growing that week. Sojourner is the spot for slow mornings, and the Jammery offers preserves to take home. Reservations at January go quickly.

View Dining

The Farm

Garden tours, honey tastings from the award winning apiary, cooking demonstrations, and apple picking in the orchard, which is at its peak in October.

Farm Experiences

Amenities

A seven acre lake with kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards, plus morning hikes, mountain biking, fishing, and even falconry.

See Amenities

The Jammery

Southall's preserves kitchen, where orchard fruit becomes small batch jams and shrubs. Taste through the lineup and pack a few jars to take home.

Visit the Jammery

Activities

From morning yoga and a guided apiary tour to the zip line and ropes course, there's always something going on. Round it out with a Tennessee whiskey flight or honey straight from the hive.

See What's On

While You're Here

Make a weekend of it

Franklin has a way of winning people over. If you have a free morning or afternoon, it rewards wandering.

Wander

Historic Main Street

Sixteen blocks of brick storefronts, coffee shops, and boutiques. Grab a biscuit at Biscuit Love and just walk.

Listen

The Franklin Theatre

A restored 1937 movie house on Main Street that hosts great live music most nights. Check the calendar for our weekend.

Day trip

Leiper's Fork

A tiny village fifteen minutes west, full of galleries, rocking chairs, and the occasional famous songwriter pretending to be nobody.

Sip

Arrington Vineyards

Hillside winery about twenty minutes east. Bring a blanket, buy a bottle, watch the sun go down over the vines.

History

Carnton & the Battlefield

Franklin's Civil War history runs deep, and the guided tours at Carnton will stay with you. Worth a morning.

Big city

Nashville

Twenty five minutes north when you need hot chicken, honky tonks, or a pilgrimage to the Ryman. Pace yourselves.

Registry

Your being there is the gift

Your presence in Tennessee truly is the gift. For those who wish to give something more, please visit the links below.

Honeymoon fund & a few extras

View Registry

Questions

The things everyone asks

What should I wear?

It depends on the night. See Friday and Saturday for the dress code for each event.

What's the weather like in late October?

Usually gorgeous. Franklin in late October typically means highs in the upper 60s, crisp evenings in the 50s, and peak fall color. We'll have heaters if necessary.

Is the wedding adults only?

Yes. We love your families, and this weekend is adults only. Consider it a night off in the Tennessee hills. Southall does offer a babysitting service if you'd like to arrange childcare for the weekend: give the Southall Experience Specialist a call at 615-282-2000 to arrange.

When should I RSVP by?

September 1, 2027. A reminder will come with the formal invitations, and we're grateful for prompt replies.

What's the suggested consumption?

Enough to dance, not enough to make a toast nobody asked for. It's an open bar and a long night, so pace yourself, Tennessee whiskey sneaks up on you.

Why Tennessee?

We're not sure either, but we're here for the beauty, the food, and the fun-filled weekend with our favorite people.

Whom do I ask about everything else?

Email annalesser25@gmail.com and one of us will get back to you shortly. Fair warning, our moms also know entirely too much, so if you see them first, ask away.

Terms and conditions

By RSVPing yes, you agree to: drink responsibly but enthusiastically, dance even if you have two left feet, leave any bad attitudes at home, and remember that as Anna says, a good night starts with a yes.