Barnsley Resort Wedding: Garden Color on Derby Weekend

Photos by The Snells

Abbi and Thomas got married at Barnsley Resort in Adairsville, Georgia, on Kentucky Derby weekend in May 2026, and their Friday welcome party had guests betting on the horses, with half the winnings going to the couple’s honeymoon. The rest of the weekend mixed Southern resort charm with Italian-inspired details and a lot of color.

A welcome party with a “ciao” theme

The Friday night party leaned Italian: pizza from a wood-fired oven, vino, cannoli and La Dolce Vita-inspired stationery, plus a horse racing board for the Derby bets. Abbi wore white and Thomas wore a cream suit. It set the tone for a destination weekend where guests got more than one night of celebrating.

A Le Spose di Giò gown and navy bridesmaids

Abbi wore a strapless gown by Italian bridal house Le Spose di Giò, with makeup by The Vanity House, and carried an all-white bouquet. Her bridesmaids wore navy satin, and Thomas wore a black tuxedo with a white boutonniere. The bridesmaids got ready in matching blue pajamas, a small touch that fit the palette from the first photo of the day.

Soft blue, sage, butter yellow and coral at Barnsley Resort

The wedding day palette was a full spring garden: soft blue, sage green, butter yellow, coral, peach, pink and a deep garden green. It started with a custom blue-and-green paper suite from Molly Chain Collectiv, scalloped name tags with green tassels and blue-striped table numbers, and carried into bright florals by Bittersweet Botanicals that lined the chapel aisle and ran down long reception tables. Seven colors sounds like a lot. It works when the tones share the same softness, which is the trick worth copying.

A live band, The A-Town A-List, played the party, and the bakery order went to Publix, proof that a resort wedding doesn’t need a boutique baker to feel special.

Get the look

Editor picks inspired by this wedding, not what the couple wore.

Baltic Born Maddy Eyelet Midi Dress in Off White, $105 at Baltic Born. A scalloped square neckline and white eyelet, made for a warm-weather welcome party like Abbi’s pizza-and-vino night. XS to XL were in stock when we checked, but the extended sizes had sold out.
Birdy Grey Esther Matte Satin Pajama Set in Mist Blue, $49 at Birdy Grey. A short-sleeve satin set with a ruffle collar, for matching blue getting-ready pajamas like this bridal party’s. It’s hand wash cold, so tell everyone before the steamer comes out.
Birdy Grey Mai Matte Satin Dress in Navy, $119 at Birdy Grey. A floor-length scoop-neck A-line in the navy satin these bridesmaids wore. Matte satin has a soft sheen instead of a shine, which keeps a seven-color floral palette as the star of the photos.

The idea worth stealing

Turn your welcome party into a honeymoon fund. If your wedding lands on a big sporting weekend, a friendly betting pool with half the winnings going to your trip gives guests something to cheer for and gives you a little extra for the honeymoon.