Extol August-September 2019 | Page 47

the WEDDING ISSUE 2019 EnJoy the Setting Stunning new outdoor venue in Henryville makes planning easy BY MANDY WOLF DETWILER | PHOTOS BY CHRISTIAN WATSON AND COURTESY IMAGES When planning a wedding, the bride and groom have a plethora of decisions to make, from choosing date right down to selecting a guest book and designing the invitations. One of the biggest decisions, of course, is choosing where the event will take place. The location sets the tone for the entire event. A barn can be dressed up or down. A rented reception hall gives the bride and groom ample space with which to work. But if it’s elegance you seek, one can hardly do better than EnJoy the Venue, located off Flat Rock Road in Henryville. The picturesque setting overlooks a lake named after co-owner Sydney Higginbotham. But the property is more than just a dream- wedding venue. During the off season, it’s also a stunning place for yoga, CrossFit and pop-up events like canvas painting and wine events. “We opened July of last year in a rush for a wedding for a good friend’s daughter,” says co- owner Tracy Reardon. “There were so many bumps and tension was so high with the pressure of completing it satisfactorily for her wedding. Doing something for a friend is risky in business, and I didn’t want it to affect that relationship. We got it finished in time. There were over 300 people, and it was the worst storm of the year with tornado warnings and lightning. Total disaster. Talk about trial by fire! It turned into the best wedding ever. People left soaking wet but with so much joy it was amazing. There are stories online about the wedding.” Reardon, is a CPA, and business partner and long-time friend Lee Sweeney actually took Reardon to see the property 20 years ago to get an opinion about making it a housing development. Sweeney had built two beautiful lakes on the property and did all of the infrastructure himself. “He is a true visionary,” Reardon says. “I actually EXTOL : THE WEDDING ISSUE 2019 45