
Sunlight filters through antique stained glass, scattering fractured light across timbers milled by hand on-site. At Aerial Mountain Springs, the past feels alive, humming beneath the warm boards of a barn that rises like a cathedral over the gentle ridge. Ninety minutes north of Atlanta, this is more than a wedding venue. It’s a question posed in wood, glass, and light: How do we build community in a world that feels increasingly divided?
Four years ago, Brittany Grella didn’t have an answer. She and her husband weren’t searching for a business—they were seeking refuge. Their 2020 wedding plans had collapsed in the chaos of a global pandemic. In the postpartum hush that followed, a dream began to take root: create a place where others could gather, celebrate, and heal.
“We were going through our own season of hardship,” Brittany says. “It felt like we had lost an entire year.” But in the stillness, the young couple began asking bigger questions: Could they create a space where others wouldn’t have to endure the same heartbreak? Could they turn their private retreat into a community sanctuary?
Out of those conversations, Aerial Mountain Springs was born.
Dreaming in timber and glass
In 2021, the Grellas bought the acreage in Aerial, Georgia, an unincorporated community whose name once drew Low Country elites north for summer reprieve. Between 1879 and 1919, a post office here served both mountain families and visitors. Today, that legacy lingers—not in plaques or pamphlets but in the cottony hush of morning fog, in the golden burn of sunlight across wildflowers, and in the steady cicada chorus at dusk.
For twelve months, Brittany and her family focused on timber. Working with her parents, in-laws, and local miller Craig at Deadwood Tables, they felled trees on-site, milling logs into beams. Those first months were raw and primitive—power saws, fallen trunks, dusty afternoons, and no internet.
Then came the stained glass. Brittany salvaged antique windows from a church in Atlanta. Now set into the barn’s apse, they transform sunlight into painterly hues—emerald, amber, and dandelion yellow. “Light was part of the vision,” she explains. “We didn’t want pretty for pretty’s sake. We wanted something that made people feel part of a larger story.”
A place where you belong
From the beginning, Brittany resisted corporate polish. She wanted something more authentic: a family farm reborn as a gathering place.
On weekends, brides twirl beneath the rafters. Yoga mats dot the lakeside at sunrise. Vendors unpack wooden crates for markets. Neighbors sip coffee on hand-hewn benches. High school teachers have hosted book readings by the lake. Anglers pause after a 7 a.m. cast. Campers wander in from nearby trails. The marquee events may be weddings, but the quiet moments are the venue’s heart.
Dogs, date night, and doing good
That ethos of connection takes center stage on August 23rd, when Aerial Mountain Springs, in coordination with The Cute North Georgian Magazine, hosts Dogs of Summer: Pet Pageant & Date Night to benefit Habersham County Animal Care and Control (HCACC).
Guests can bid on donated picnic baskets from local restaurants, spread blankets on the lawn, and watch dogs strut their stuff. Categories include Most Dapper, Swimsuit, Talent, and Mr. or Mrs. Dog of Summer.
Tickets cost $10 per individual or $20 per family. A VIP package ($60) includes drinks, snacks, an elegant picnic setup, and prime seating.
The aesthetic
The ceremony space opens onto a still lake, its surface mirroring meadows and trees that glow gold in the afternoon light. A stone path, lined with feathery pampas grass, draws guests toward a wooden arbor adorned with florals and lanterns. Rustic benches, perched on tree-stump bases, offer a handcrafted charm that feels both organic and intentional, blending effortlessly into the surrounding landscape.
Step inside, and the rusticity collides with elegance. Exposed beams and paneled walls cradle stained glass windows, their colored panes scattering dappled light across handmade tables. A custom bar—its translucent panels inlaid with twisting branches—serves as a natural gathering point. Overhead, string lights crisscross the ceiling like constellations, and the polished concrete dance floor gleams beneath a delicate chandelier.
Beyond the main venue, a cluster of cottages rests on the property, offering respite after a full day of festivities. Painted a deep navy with crisp white trim, these rentals evoke a subtle coastal charm. Wide porches with Adirondack chairs and hanging ferns invite visitors to sit back and breathe in the mountain air. Flower beds burst with color, while whimsical bicycles and strings of twinkling lights enhance the sense of welcome. Inside, compact yet thoughtfully designed interiors balance modern comforts with rustic accents, creating the perfect hideaway for wedding parties, families, or couples seeking quiet moments between celebrations.
Worth the drive
Here, heritage lives—not as a relic, but as living architecture. The barn breathes. The glass glows. And in August, four-legged friends will prance across the lawn as families break bread together. This is a place worth the drive at dawn. A place where the past and present collide like sunlight on stained glass and a yoga mat onto freshly baked earth.