Thirty Days of November.
Day 1. Bing Crosby sang a song in a movie called Holiday Inn. The song was called, “Count Your Blessings.” It’s my fav song in the movie. The lyrics remind me that it’s almost impossible to put a number on the number of blessings we have. I’m going to reflect over the next 30 days and list or call attention to some of the many things that Sampson’s Hollow is grateful for as a business. In no particular order; we are grateful for our land and family farm on which we operate our venue. It’s been in the family since the mid 1800’s. For this blessing, we are thankful.

Day 2. It’s a gorgeous day in the mountains of East Tennessee. The farm is ideally located between two panoramic views of these mountains in a peaceful hollow. Happy that we didn’t go with our first choice to call the venue Sampson’s Ridge. It just didn’t roll off of the tongue. Lesley suggested the name change before we got our license. For this blessing, we are thankful.

Day 3: The tree in this photo was planted by Sampson Flynn many, many years ago. The year this bright yellow maple tree was planted on the family farm is not documented, but given the age he passed and the 35 years since then, it is believed to be about 90 some odd years old. This tree has an entwined network of roots deep within the earth and was used to inspire the logo for our venue. For this blessing, we are thankful.

Day 4. As our family began to realize this dream of building a wedding business, with business plan in hand and loan approved, we broke ground in the late fall of 2005. For this blessing, we are thankful.

Day 5. It took a while to finally see walls being framed and starting to take shape. At this point in time we were showing the property and only had our vision to share with potential brides — but we were passionate about that vision. For this blessing, we are thankful.

Day 6. Construction is not an exact science, or time table. Nature and other delays have a way of providing challenges. But even with the mud and muck of building, our first bride booked in February 2006 with faith that it would be completed by her July wedding. She saw beyond the messiness, in the middle of this peaceful hollow and mountain views, the beauty of what was to be. For this blessing, we are thankful.

Day 7. The first blooms of our very first planting of wildflower seed. When the white blooms first appeared, our builder said, those are just weeds! He knew we had bought and planted pounds and pounds of seeds to show up the the spring. It wasn’t long before the weeds blossomed into baby’s breath and orange poppies began to appear in beautiful masses.
For this blessing, we are thankful.

Day 8. Our original logo was created by a graphic illustrator whom I found, in 2005, via Ebay. Through trial and error, after several versions he submitted, we selected the final draft that is seen on this website page. It was used for at least twelve years until we transitioned what we use now.For this blessing, we are thankful.

Day 9. Finding our way on the World Wide Web. My background in communications and marketing is very old school. Times changed drastically since my younger days in advertising and with those changes, we had to tap into resources who could help us navigate the web. Our first website designer had a great template, but wasn’t very quick to respond to making modifications. Not sure how we found them, but we were referred to Don and Lisa Mack and their creative team at Brainstorm Cafe. They were heaven-sent and we have been together for about 13 years. This group of professionals understand our values, our objectives and our vision.For this blessing, we are thankful.

Day 10. Sampson’s Hollow occupies sixteen acres of the Flynn family farm in Walland, Tennessee. It was deeded to my husband by his mother, Sarah Margaret, a few years before she passed. She was the oldest daughter of Sampson and Bonnie Flynn. There are over 120 acres of the farm and four other siblings who shared the land.
For this blessing, we are thankful.

Day 11. The property on which Sampson’s Hollow sits has been in the Flynn family since before 1879 – and that’s as far back as we have been able to officially trace through recorded archives. Bill Livingston, proprietor of the property, is the grandson of Sampson Flynn, for whom the facility is named. All the grandchildren called their grandfather “Dada”. His father was Joseph Winfield Scott Flynn and it was through Joseph that the farm was originally deeded. Joseph was born in 1861 to Joseph and Rebecca Hatcher Flynn. The older Joseph had fought in the War Between the States and died of smallpox while still in service in 1864. He is buried in a military cemetery in Nashville because the family didn’t have the money to have his remains brought back to his home in Walland. At that time, the name Flynn was spelled Flinn. Thank you, Joseph Flinn, for your service. Thirty Days of November.
For this blessing, we are thankful

Day 12. In keeping with the homestead environment of the farm, one of our structures is referred to as the smokehouse. This building was falling apart on a different property and we dismantled it, labeled the parts and pieces to know what went where, and then rebuilt it where it stands now. It has become the favourite background for many photographers. And it looks so pretty when covered by a blanket of snow.
For this blessing, we are thankful.

 

Day 13. I believe our first major investment in promotion was at The Pink Bride show, January 2006. We didn’t have any photos of any structures because there weren’t any. We just had a dream and a lot of enthusiasm. After doing years of presentations with students, and a background in visual merchandising and display, we designed the elements of the booth and started promoting. Every journey starts with one step!
For this blessing, we are thankful.

 

Day 14.
Our first ceremony site was a white pergola which was designed and constructed by the Building Trades classes at Heritage High School. The first one was located very close to our wet weather spring. When we realized that the area would hold water where guests would be seated, it was physically moved. Lesson learned. The one pictured is the second that was built with a modified design. We try to do improvements on the property every single year.
For this blessing, we are thankful.

 

Day 15. Vintage Bell jars on our old wooden fence has become one of the most requested
For this blessing, we are thankful.

 

 

 

 

Day 16. Although our ceremony sites are not that far from the main parking area, we decided in our first year to provide golf carts or “buggy’s”to transport guests to where the ceremony will take place. Each are driven by a member of staff who also assist with parking. In the last fourteen years we have changed our carts three times. The bride happens to be our family so she was taking herself to the wedding. JK!
For this blessing, we are thankful

 

Day 17. When Sampson’s Hollow had the first wedding in June 2006, no one was paid. The staff consisted of family, friends and former students. We were a family owned and operated venue and it was how it had to be for most of that first year. Fast forward to the current season and we have five coordinators and twelve guest services staff who rotate weddings. And they get paid:). It is important to our brand to provide customer service which reflects our core values of hospitality.
For this blessing, we are thankful

Day 18. Sampson’s Hollow has several locations for wedding ceremonies. There are two unique areas which can be utilized for small elopements. Our property is almost evenly divided in two environments — one is intimate and peacefully enchanting and the meadow area features an amazing panoramic view of the mountains. The bride and groom can have photographs taken everywhere on our part of the farm.
For this blessing, we are thankful.

Day 19. This weather reminds me of what is to come on early morning following the rain in the Great Smoky Mountains. The Cherokee called it the “land of blue mist.” There’s something so enchanted and ethereal about the mist on the mountains. We can’t take credit for it but we delight in being in the perfect location to pause and gaze upon it. Photo by Elizabeth Bahnsen.
For this blessing, we are thankful.

Day 20. All three of our sons were married on our family farm. The youngest wanted to create a unique area that no one else had used for his wedding. He selected an overgrown space in the woods which was once used as to leave farm equipment that no longer was used. Caleb cleared the area, excavated to create a large opening under the trees, and then landscaped. He proposed to his sweetheart after finishing. We chose to name our woodland location after his grandmother. And this is how Sarah’s Glen came to be.
For this blessing, we are thankful.

Day 21. When we first started in early 2006, our bookings were fewer than projected to be. Our farm is fortunate to be right next door to Blackberry Farm. At that time, BlackBerry was not available for elopement style weddings. Members of their guest services staff forwarded requests for these ceremonies to us. It was wonderful. Small weddings, such as the couple from Denmark who are pictured, are available throughout the year. They found us on line and planned their first trip to the states around their wedding with us. Why sacrifice the beauty of stunning photography and a less stressful option simply because you prefer to do a more intimate event?
For this blessing, we are thankful. 

Day 22. We are always delighted when couples take a leap of faith and book a wedding with us sight unseen. The first awareness of the impact that the internet would have in our growth was when we received a phone call and inquiry from China. Mind blown! It was then we realized that our business could reach clients from farther regions than originally anticipated.
For this blessing, we are thankful.

Day 23. One of our signature services is that a minister is included with every wedding booked. Each bride is welcome to use their own personal minister, of course. Our ministers represent our traditional values and principles of faith. Every marriage license is signed by one of our officials. Our couples can customize their vows and make them uniquely their own.
For this blessing, we are thankful.

Day 24. The building that is featured in today’s day of thanks has a great deal of meaning to me. This will mostly make sense to my former students. Look closely. Imagine the paint is red, green and trimmed in white. Continue to imagine it with cutouts of Santa, tin soldiers, elves and Christmas trees. This was the third and final structure which was built by Heritage High Building Trades to house Little World for 23 years in Foothills Mall. For all those years it brought joy and happiness to thousands of kids. It was repurposed in 2008 and continues to make people smile — including this old retired teacher.
For this blessing, we are thankful.

Day 25. Everyone has heard the expression that “a picture is worth a thousand words.” We are so appreciative of the skill and creativeness of all the amazing photographers who have greatly contributed to our growth. I can only guesstimate how many couples have booked sight unseen because of stunning images captured through the eye of their lenses.
For this blessing, we are thankful.

Day 26. Sitting in rocking chairs crafted by a Mennonite family who live in Muddy Pond, Tennessee near Crossville and relaxing with the view from this front porch. This is a favorite place for many who visit on the farm. There’s a peace that is found in the combination of rocking, thinking, and just simply being in the moment. The feeling is tranquil, calming, relaxing and sometimes, healing to the soul.
For this blessing, we are thankful.

Day 27. What is it about our wedding coordinators that make them so amazing? What is their purpose? These are the individuals who assist in understanding and implementing the vision and dreams of the bride for her wedding day. That’s a pretty straight forward job description. But it is hardly the limits of what they truly do. Each of our coordinators want to provide their brides with a seamless experience. This sometimes means that our crew does all within their ability to keep the bride from knowing about small hiccups in the plan. What happens when the cake isn’t delivered, or flowers weren’t picked up, or a marriage license was forgotten in their hotel room? We could write stories about damage control. And our coordinators make personal connections with their brides because it’s part of who they are and what they do. Southern hospitality at its finest. Priceless.
For this blessing, we are thankful.

Day 28. Happy thanksgiving! These are the 18 individuals of our immediate family. My boys and niece Laura Livingston Johnson and their kiddos make up the seventh generation who have been apart of the Flynn family homestead—dated back to 1869.
For this blessing, we are thankful.

Day 29. In our first full operating year in 2006, we thought we would have so many people calling and requesting to book events with us. The learning curve for this marketing teacher was extreme. Even with the most thorough research, reality has a way of blurring goals. It’s a very competitive industry and each and every venue offers its own version of “the best.” We worked through the lean years and challenges, stayed true to our roots and continued to hone our craft. We have been honored to host approximately 670 events in 14 years.
For this blessing, we are thankful.

Day 30. Thirty Days of November.
In completing our thirty days of thankfulness project, I was trying to find a photograph that would serve to kind of sum it all up. Should I focus on the location, the views, the history or the family? Or perhaps I need to speak more about the incredible people who work with us—our own family members and those who are like family, our crew, coordinators,photographers, caterers, bakers, ministers, hair stylists, musicians, florists, website creators and team, social media mentors, professional associations, our banker, our community, encouragers, landscapers, maintenance people, insurers and legal counsel. It’s a family business but our family relies on so many others to do what we do well. So I sum up this 30 day campaign; “The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped “ from Psalms 28:7.
For this blessing, we are thankful.