Clients become family at Simply Southern Barn

Published 1:41 pm Tuesday, February 11, 2025

Opening a wedding venue has always been on Sheila Sanders’ mind, even with her day job working at Morgan County High School. She said she has always loved being part of celebratory events.

That passion was unlocked when she helped one of her close friends decorate for a special occasion. From there, she started reaching out to others, showcasing her designs and the creativity she likes to bring to events.

Sanders has been married to husband Orenthal for 21 years. They have two children, Jared and Trinity, and a grandchild named Hazel. Her husband works with the Georgia Forestry Commission.

In September 2021, the Sanderses purchased Simply Southern Barn, located at 135 Forte Drive NW in Milledgeville. The business is open weekdays by appointment, and the Sanderses are typically there every weekend due to events.

Since taking over the business, they have seen an overwhelming response from the local community. Simply Southern Barn has won awards for Best Venue Rental for three years running since the Sanderses took over.

“It’s been truly a blessing,” Sanders said of the community support.

Simply Southern Barn hosts a variety of celebratory events, not just weddings. In terms of services, Simply Southern offers set up and break down for events, team members onsite for each event, decorations, and large private suites for brides and grooms. The barn is also ADA-accessible. Free WiFi is available, as well as a catering and a warming kitchen that includes a commercial refrigerator, sink, food prep counter and warming oven. Also included as part of

Simply Southern’s services is a photo booth. Both 2,800 square feet event spaces are climate-controlled.

The Barn is located within view of Lake Sinclair and can accommodate up to 300 guests. The event stage is movable, so clients can arrange the space as they wish, and the same goes for the combination of 40 round and rectangular tables that each seat eight people.

To book Simply Southern Barn, clients can schedule a personal tour that details the amenities and someone on staff can help them figure out which of the pricing packages fits their event. Sanders said that the tours usually take 30 to 45 minutes. Virtual tours are also available.

There are several pricing packages for events that can fit within different budgets. Flat rates (daily rate) for the entire day or hourly rates are also available.

What makes Simply Southern Barn a unique venue is that it provides clients with the chance to turn their dream wedding or event into a reality, according to Sanders.

“I personally will make it my mission to make sure you leave knowing this was the best decision you could have made,” she said.

Sanders said that meeting and interacting with new people is the part of running Simply Southern Barn that she loves the most. Clients who book the barn often become family to Sanders. Even after their events are over, clients will continue to call and text Sanders, which she called “priceless.”

Being able to open Simply Southern Barn and be part of the Milledgeville community is a “blessing” to Sanders.

“I will always and forever confess the goodness of God and all he has done for our family as owners of Simply Southern Barn. We stepped out on faith and while it’s been a little challenging, God has never left our side,” she said.

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