What a gem in the middle of Peachtree Corners!…read more Lately, our family has been spending more time outside and seeking out spots that are not packed full of people. I am so grateful that we found Simpsonwood Park, a wonderful space to enjoy nature close to home. The first few times we visited Simpsonwood, we parked ourselves in the large grassy area for picnics. We found a shady spot near the edge of the woods. We saw several families playing frisbee and other sports, but there was plenty of space for all of us. We really started having fun once we hiked the trail around the park. We walked a path of about two and a half miles. We took our time and looked around - probably took us about an hour. At times, the trail was a touch unclear, and I referenced the All Trails app to help make sure we were on course. There is a stream, lots of trees, wildlife, and the river. We saw lots of deer throughout the hike and made a point to keep our distance. The hike was relatively mild, but was narrow in some places, with definite uneven footing throughout. This hike definitely scratched the itch to be in the woods without driving to North Georgia. Look for "minis" while you hike (see pics)! Please note that every time we have visited, we have seen numerous dogs off leash. It is my understanding that it is not an off leash park, but we ran into many dogs that were not leashed. One even joined our picnic one day, minutes before an owner appeared. So if you do not wish to be in the presence of dogs or if you have dogs that are offended by the presence of other dogs, this may not be the spot. All of our encounters have been with friendly dogs. We have never had trouble finding a parking space, but I wouldn't say spaces are unlimited. There are park restrooms available near the parking lot. This park is a great opportunity to spend some time soaking up sunshine and stretching one's legs. Enjoy!

Simpsonwood Park is nice hiking area near the Chattahoochee River. There are other activities…read morehere. But can only review the hikes, as that was what a group of 10 of us did. We ended up hiking about 6 miles in nice shaded area on the trails. Some rocks and roots, so you must be careful. Relatively flat with a few small hills. The big downside is there are no trail markers or signs, so having a person in your group that is familiar with the area is necessary. We had two people that knew the trails, so zero markings was not a problem for us. Great outdoor area. Currently (4/23) there is construction of new water treatment plant along the river. Not many people here, so is sort of a hidden gem. Every one in our group enjoyed the hike. Lots of free parking. Restrooms available, but they were so-so inside. Definitely worth a stop. Also CRNRA Jones Bridge unit is across the river for additional hiking trails and is very well marked for easier navigation.

I was passing through Atlanta on Sunday, on my way home from a wedding, and I decided to stop in at…read morea church. I had researched the previous night where I was going to attend. I found St Paul's and about 3 others that I was debating between. St Paul's got the nod due to its close proximity to The Varsity. :) Anyhow - so I arrive, and the parking situation is a little interesting, if you don't know what you're doing. It looks like people just park on the street or in the small parking lot they have (which will fill up quick if you don't get there early). I parked at a sign store across the street - there was a sign in the front that said "St Paul's Parking." That was easy enough. I walked in and was greeted by a lady handing out the order of service. She was very kind. I proceeded to my seat and was approached by one of the pastors. He was very kind, asked me where I was from, why I chose to visit, etc. I would end up having this conversation several more times. Everyone was very friendly and engaging. Re: the service - the service was fantastic. It was a neat mix of modern and old - old in that they use a historic liturgy with read & response. Modern in that the music was largely written in the last 25 years. The culture was casual. People were dressed in jeans. That's how I came and I fit right in. Some people wore ties, though. You could tell that the membership couldn't care less what anyone wore. One of the neatest things about this church, I think, is the way they minister to the homeless. They invite them in, giving them food and drink, and they sit through the service (probably to get warm or to get cool). I also like how St Paul's doesn't segregate the homeless. They allow them to sit wherever they would like. Treat them like they would anyone else. That is fantastic, and it tells me the church is taking the book of James to heart. The message that the pastor presented was a very challenging one on idolatry, and he applied it from Daniel 3, with Nebuchanezzar building the giant gold statue. Great application and Biblically centered. I also really enjoyed how diverse the church was - a mix of races and cultures within the body. Felt like I was back at my old church in London. It was really neat. Given my experience at St Paul's, I'd rate it a 5 star church. It's beautiful, it's welcoming, it's Biblically sound, it's compassionate, it's helpful to those in need... And all of these things make it a place that is God honoring. If I lived in Atlanta, I feel like I'd found my church home. But I don't, so I'll just have to settle on visits when I'm passing through.

This church is where the Abbey used to be. So the service is held where the dance floor was. I…read moreguess it made sense for St. Paul's to buy that building (thanks to a huge donation from one of its members). The Abbey was a church-themed restaurant/club back in the day. So they didn't have to change the decor much. I wonder if Sister Louisa's Church of the Living Room & Ping Pong Emporium turns into a church, they can just reuse the same decor. St. Paul's is part of PCA, Presbyterian Church of America. And they follow the Reformed theology closely. You should brush up on your Five points of Calvinism if you want to come here. So if you find yourself visting this church, it means you were pre-destined to visit it. Chris Robins seems like a cool Pastor. I love his sermons. He is a great speaker and seems to know his theology well. His sermons seem more exegetical instead of topical. I do love it when Pastor Robins does his sermon series on the various books of the Bible. He seems funny and loves to go into detail about every passage. For instance when he did his series on Romans, he preached on every single word. I think we stayed on Romans 1:1 for several weeks with him describing everything and anything he can think of every word in that passage. I think it also took him a whole year to go through Deuteronomy. One complaint some people had is that the church service follows a strict ritual. They recite the Apostles' Creed, Westminster Catechism, and so on. I didn't mind that though. Their worship is not a rock band or a choir. It's just some mellow songs and sometimes hymns. They have communion every week. It's one of the few places I've been to that actually serve wine for communion. Other places usually serve grape juice. So if you want to get your wine fix on Sunday morning, you can come here. Speaking of wine, this church actually doesn't mind serving alcohol during their functions. I think they had a dance party or something one time (hey they used to be the Abbey, so why not?) and they served alcohol. But I'm not 100% sure on that since I didn't go to that party. Since they're located in the middle of Midtown on Ponce, they do a lot to minister to the homeless people. St. Paul's also welcome anyone, including the homeless people, to the service, so you might see a lot of homeless people in the pews, sleeping through the sermon. Because of the homeless people around and in the church, I know some people might be uncomfortable to be around the "undesirable" ones. The congregation is well mixed. Along with the homeless people, they have a good mix of races and nationalities. It's also one of the few churches that felt the people acted real. Most of the people there seemed genuine and didn't try to put on a stereotypical, nice, Christian person facade. Well, I'm sure they still do, but it felt less so here, than with other churches.

The quality of service for the price is unparalleled. You won't find a better place to have an…read moreintimate ceremony. Way better than any courthouse. I recommend it to all my friends that want to have their wedding in a special, personal place that focuses on exactly what they need.

NO WAY HOSEA! Let me…read morejust say that I was not the primary consideration during this visit, I was asked to tag along and give an opinion. Well, I did not actually have to give an opinion because the venue spoke for itself. The person that was considering the venue actually rated it -5 on a scale of 1 to 5. Following is my reaction to our visit: We made an appointment to meet with John to check out his wedding venue. He actually described it as a tour but it turned out to be one dirty, unsightly room with unmatched furniture and a ridiculous set up. It is the type of place that you pull up to and keep going because once you see the location, you don't need to see the rest. First of all, this place is in a very run down area of town, with limited parking. It is a building that is connected to other businesses so it does not stand alone. The "chapel" really is just one room that has some chairs and cheap decorations placed throughout. I don't care what kind of budget is involved, this would NEVER be an option. You would be much better off just getting married outdoors in a more personalized setting. To sum it up: No Additional Thoughts: When you are considering the venue, also consider the person who will be taking your photos because oral and physical presentation does matter and this is the person you will have to see and interact with on your wedding day. Make sure that when you are looking at photos, you are seeing the complete picture, (not just photos taken of the stage, but from the stage), so you will know exactly what you will be looking at during the ceremony. You want to be okay with the entire room as there should be no distractions on your special day. Before you get excited about the photos you see, verify that they are actually taken at the site because they may be taken at another venue and will not be relevant to you. Be aware of the general area and make sure that it is safe, and has convenient and ample parking. Make sure that there are appropriate rooms and toilet facilities for taking care of business and changing. KNOW BEFORE YOU GO!

My wife has been a wedding officiant for over 10 years, so I've seen a LOT of venues - and Rockin'…read moreT Meadows is perhaps the nicest facility I've ever been too. Not the fanciest or most luxurious, but just high quality all the way - well-laid out rooms and facilities, quality construction & materials, thoughtful details, landscaping and more. Plus the ownership and staff are friendly, enthusiastic and very helpful. I've seen a lot of farms that have been converted into event venues, and none of them have matched the quality and thoughtfulness I found at Rockin' T Meadows. I was very impressed with the whole experience - I just wish they were located closer to my home in Atlanta.

From the owner: We are a one of a kind wedding venue in Milner, Georgia - located about an hour south of Atlanta…read moreand an hour north of Macon. We offer 3 packages - 1 "Do It Yourself" package where you pick all of your vendors, and 2 All-Inclusive Packages that make planning your wedding simple.

I want to say that Kathy and Mike Proctor are two of the best people I have ever met! Their faith…read moreand dedication to their couples and making the day as beautiful and full of love and God as possible made my daughter's wedding amazing! My youngest daughter married her high school sweetheart On July 18, 2020 after having to delay from the original May date due to Covid. Kathy routinely called and emailed to check on us and to be as helpful as she could possibly be in making sure her dream was fulfilled. They go above and beyond for their couples! Kathy is a lifesaver! The day before the wedding there was an issue with getting the ceremony music together. After bride and mom both had a meltdown Mike told us not to worry he had called a friend who owned a recording studio and he was on the way! Who does that for people?? Mike and Kathy that's who.You get so much more than a venue when you book your day here! If you are thinking of using this venue I would tell you to look no further! Put down your deposit and seal your date! You will not regret it for a moment!!!

We could not have chosen a better venue for our wedding! Kathy was an exceptional planner. Her and…read moreMike went above and beyond to insure we had the best day ever. It was a joy working with them both. We had NO STRESS and truly enjoyed our special day. Their one of a kind venue is exceptionally well thought out, with two ceremony sites and two reception dinner/party locations on site. Proctor farm has it all!! From Rock n' roll memorabilia to a gorgeous mountain drive, Proctor Farm is a once in a lifetime opportunity for hosts and guests alike. All inclusive, easy and fun! The owners' care shines through in all they do.

My least favorite wedding venue by far. I'm giving it one star because at least it's a pretty…read morelocation with quite a few spots for good photos. The staff were quite rude to the party goers, threatening to kick anyone out consuming alcohol on their property. The parking is pretty far from the church in a grassy field and they shuttle you to the church on ATVs. There is one singular restroom with a tiny room to get changed in. You do not get any sort of cellular service in this location and probably the surrounding 10 miles so make sure you remember how to get back to civilization without your GPS.

My daughter was married there October 24th. I am a bit of a traditionalist and was hesitant to use…read morea venue like this. Boy was I wrong!!! Lacey, Lindsey and Melissa were fantastic. All of our needs were met and any questions were addressed immediately. Their professional, yet social personalities were absolutely perfect. I could not have asked for a better wedding experience for my daughter, her husband and our families. I would recommend them to anyone who is looking for a great place for a wedding. Their expertise and effort made it a memorable experience.

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Dalyn and her team go above and beyond to make sure everything is perfect!!! Thank you for your…read moreattention to detail and helping make our event unforgettable!!!

From the owner: Your Dream Event, Our Family's touch. We're a…read morehusband-and-wife team dedicated to bringing your wedding vision to life at our personal venue. From exquisite decorations and seamless cleanup to delicious catering custom cakes, and stunning florals, we handle every detail so you can relax and savor your special day.