by Old stained glass lets in sunlight, which then scatters broken light on the hand-milled timbers on the property. The past comes to life at Aerial Mountain Springs, buzzing beneath the warm boards of a barn that rises over the gentle ridge like a cathedral. This is more than just a wedding location, located 90 minutes north of Atlanta. In wood, glass, and light, the issue is raised: How can we foster a sense of community in a world that seems to be becoming more and more divided?
Brittany Grella had no response four years ago. Instead of looking for a business, she and her spouse were looking for safety. In the midst of a worldwide pandemic, their 2020 wedding plans had fallen apart. A dream of creating a space where people could come together, celebrate, and heal started to germinate in the postpartum silence that followed.
According to Brittany, we were going through a difficult time of our own. We seemed to have lost a whole year. However, the young couple started posing more significant queries amid the silence: Would they be able to establish a place where people wouldn’t have to go through the same heartache? Could they transform their private haven into a haven for the community?
Aerial Mountain Springs emerged as a result of such discussions.
Dreaming in timber and glass
The land in Aerial, Georgia, an unincorporated village whose name previously attracted Low Country aristocrats north for summer respite, was purchased by the Grellas in 2021. A post office here serviced mountain families and tourists from 1879 to 1919. Today, that legacy is still present—not in monuments or booklets, but in the constant cicada chorus at nightfall, the cottony stillness of morning fog, and the golden burn of sunshine across wildflowers.Mountain Springs from above just before a wedding. (Facebook/Aerial Mountain Springs)
Brittany and her family worked on timber for a year. Together with her parents, in-laws, and Craig, a local miller at Deadwood Tables, they chopped down trees on the property and turned logs into beams. Power saws, fallen trunks, dusty afternoons, and no internet were all part of those early months.
The stained glass followed. Brittany recovered old windows from an Atlanta church. Now positioned in the barn’s apse, they convert sunlight into dandelion yellow, amber, and green artistic hues. She explains that the vision included light. We weren’t looking for beauty for its own sake. We were looking for something that gave them a sense of belonging to a greater narrative.
A place where you belong
Brittany fought corporate polish from the start. She desired a more genuine setting, such as a family farm transformed into a meeting spot.
Brides spin under the rafters on weekends. At dawn, yoga mats are scattered along the lakeshore. For markets, vendors unpack wooden containers. Sitting on hand-hewn benches, neighbors drink coffee. Book readings by the lake have been organized by high school instructors. After a 7 a.m. cast, anglers pause. Campers arrive from the surrounding trails. Weddings may be the main event, but the venue’s quiet moments reflect its true essence.At Aerial Mountain Springs, men form bonds. (Facebook/Aerial Mountain Springs)
Dogs, date night, and doing good
On August 23, Aerial Mountain Springs, in collaboration with The Cute North Georgian Magazine, will host Dogs of Summer: Pet Pageant & Date Night to support Habersham County Animal Care and Control (HCACC), putting that connection-focused philosophy front and center.
Visitors can spread blankets on the lawn, watch canines show off, and bid on donated picnic baskets from nearby eateries. Mr. or Mrs. Dog of Summer, Swimsuit, Talent, and Most Dapper are among the categories.
Individual tickets are $10, and family tickets are $20. Drinks, refreshments, a classy picnic setup, and prime seating are all included in the $60 VIP package.
The aesthetic
A quiet lake, whose surface reflects meadows and trees that shine gold in the afternoon sun, is visible from the ceremony space. Visitors are drawn to a wooden arbor with lights and flowers along a stone path bordered by feathery pampas grass. Perched on tree-stump bases, rustic benches provide a handcrafted appeal that blends in perfectly with the surroundings and feels both intentional and natural.The scene for a lavish wedding is created beside the entrance of Aerial Mountain Springs. (The Cute North Georgian Magazine/Carly McCurry)
When you enter, elegance and rusticity clash. Stained glass windows, with their colorful panes sprinkling dappled light across handcrafted tables, are cradled by exposed timbers and paneled walls. An organic gathering spot is a unique bar with translucent panels inlaid with winding branches. The polished concrete dance floor shines beneath a delicate chandelier, while string lights crisscross the ceiling overhead like constellations.The Aerial Mountain Springs venue’s indoor-outdoor arrangement combines the greatest elements of both indoor and outdoor weddings. (The Adorable North Georgian/Carly McCurry)
After a long day of celebrations, a group of cottages on the site lie outside the main venue, providing a place to relax. These rentals have a gentle coastal charm, painted a rich navy with white accents. Visitors are invited to relax and take in the mountain air on spacious porches adorned with hanging ferns and Adirondack chairs. Colorful flower beds abound, and the welcoming atmosphere is further enhanced with fanciful bicycles and strings of sparkling lights. Compact yet well-thought-out rooms combine contemporary conveniences with rustic details to create the ideal retreat for families, wedding parties, or couples looking for some alone time in between festivities.
Worth the drive
Here, legacy exists as living architecture rather than as a remnant. The barn is alive. The glass is glowing. And as families break bread together in August, four-legged companions will prattle across the lawn. The drive at dawn is worthwhile for this location. Like sunlight on stained glass and a yoga mat on newly baked ground, the past and present collide here.
