The Tubbs Turn a Countryside Dream into a Wedding Venue & Future Winery
In the rolling countryside outside Childersburg, rows of young wine grapes stretch toward the horizon at 4T Vineyard, where a wedding and event venue now stands as a centerpiece of a family’s growing dream. What began as a vision for a winery has quickly become both a working vineyard and a bustling destination for celebrations.
4T Vineyard is a family-run operation that blends agriculture with hospitality. The property includes 32 rows of wine grapes, planted in 2023, and a 7,000-square-foot wedding and event venue that opened in October 2024. The scenic property is owned by the Tubbs family – Jake, Lauren, Jennifer, Josh, Johnny, and Karen.
They may have broken ground on the venue in January 2024, but the transformation started earlier.
“Before we built the venue, there wasn’t anything out here but trees, kudzu, and uneven land,” said Lauren, who is the venue coordinator.
She and her husband, Jake, began clearing the property in 2022, shaping what is now the site for their house, the vineyard, a hayfield, a cottage, and the venue itself.
“We would always picture what it could become,” she said. “We could really see the potential. Watching it turn from raw land into something beautiful and meaningful for our family has been incredibly rewarding.”
The vineyard was Jake’s idea. After years of traveling to north Georgia and visiting wineries there, he decided he wanted to start one of his own. Lauren supported that dream and started planning. While producing wine remains the long-term goal, the Tubbs knew patience would be required.
“Growing grapes takes years before you can use them for winemaking,” Lauren said. “After planting the vines, we must wait several seasons before actually producing wine. It could be 2028 before we’re able to use the grapes we planted.”
In the meantime, the couple uses grapes from established vineyards to produce their pinot grigio, cabernet, and pinot noir. They plan to eventually offer their own wine packages and serve estate-grown wines at weddings for couples who choose that option.
“We are playing the long game because we want to do it the right way,” Lauren said. “The goal is to 1 day pour glasses of wine made from grapes grown right here and share that with our couples on their wedding day.”
The vineyard currently grows Norton, Marquette, Lamont, Chardonnay, and Blanc de Blanc grapes from April through November. For now, the young vines serve as picturesque backdrops for photographs. Lauren said her family, which includes daughter Jessie, 6, and son Stetson, 3, also will “eat sour grapes” until the harvest matures.
To bridge the gap between planting vines and pouring their own vintage, the Tubbs decided to build the event venue.
“We know growing grapes takes more time than booking a wedding,” she said.
Their first event was a 50th birthday party and, since then, bookings have accelerated. There are already 27 weddings scheduled for 2026, and 7 are on the books for 2027.
“We have events scheduled in every month this year,” she said. “We continue to host tours for prospective brides, so I anticipate even more bookings.”
The main reception room at 4T Vineyards seats up to 250 guests for a sit-down dinner. Couples can exchange vows indoors, creating a traditional aisle with rows of chairs or arranging seating at round or rectangular tables.
Some brides opt for an outdoor ceremony just beyond the reception door, where a concrete walkway leads to an arbor. After July 4, the arbor will be relocated to a nearby hill for photos and replaced with a large outdoor fireplace designed to serve as a dramatic ceremony backdrop.
The venue includes separate spaces for food, cake, and bar service. A prep kitchen with a commercial refrigerator, warmers, freezer, sink, and ample prep surfaces supports caterers. The back porch features a draft beer bar, barrel tables, and stools for cocktail hour. Drapes can enclose the porch for added ambiance.
An on-site cottage sleeps up to 6 guests and includes a bathroom with a large walk-in shower, a private bedroom, and a loft for additional sleeping space. The cottage rents for $350 for 1 night or $500 for 2. It can be rented through 4T Vineyards or Airbnb.
“It’s cozy and has that true cottage feel,” Lauren said. “Being right next door to the venue is an added convenience.”
The property also offers a groom’s suite equipped with a television, mirrors, and a small refrigerator. A bridal suite has a private restroom, 6 makeup stations, couches, and ample mirrors. For unique touches, couples can arrange for horses to graze in a nearby field for photos or add a pre-wedding day clay shoot experience.
Wedding packages range from $4,500 for a weekday event to $8,000 for a 2-day rental that accommodates a rehearsal, rehearsal dinner, and decorating time. Petite packages for 75 guests or fewer are available for $5,500. Packages include tables, chairs, and linens as well as set-up and clean-up. Couples book their own vendors for food, flowers, and music, though the Tubbs provide a list of recommended professionals.
“Our goal is to give couples a beautiful space and the flexibility to make it their own,” she said. “We also provide some guidance and support along the way.”
Behind the scenes, the operation relies on modern infrastructure to keep events running smoothly. The property is powered by Coosa Valley Electric Cooperative and connected with high-speed internet from Coosa Valley Technologies. The reliable power and connectivity support everything from streaming music during receptions to processing payments and managing bookings.
“We’re so thankful to have high-speed internet now,” Lauren said. “It has truly changed our lives. We have CVT at home and at the venue, and it works so well, especially for vendors like DJs who depend on reliable WiFi. We get compliments on it all the time and never have issues.”
It’s a good thing they don’t have to add worrying about power and internet to their already very long list of responsibilities. The entire Tubbs family has demanding, full-time jobs in addition to their responsibilities at the vineyard. Lauren is a physical education coach at Chelsea Park Elementary School; Jake owns and operates Tubbs Pools and is a fireman for Sylacauga; Josh is the chief deputy of Talladega County Sheriff’s Department; Jennifer works as a paralegal; Johnny runs a nearby cattle farm; and Karen specializes in landscaping.
“We work hard every single day, but seeing families celebrate at our vineyard makes it all worth it,” Lauren said. “This place represents a dream we built together with our family, and it means so much to share it with other people for their biggest moments.”