Weddings go rustic at a variety of W.Pa. settings
More and more couples are saying "I do" in the great outdoors.
With brides and bridesmaids in cowboy boots to grooms and groomsmen posing in front of an antique rustic barn, weddings are being held on country farms and local landmarks with ceremonies on patches of grass and receptions inside old wooden barns.
You might even see a few tractors as transportation and lakes and ponds as the perfect backdrop for what's known as a rustic-inspired wedding.
These venues, located in rural areas around Western Pennsylvania create a different look for an upcoming nuptial. Many have heated and air-conditioned buildings so they can host weddings year round.
"Lately, we're seeing more and more couples shy away from traditional ballroom venues in favor of more rustic, country-inspired settings like barns, farms and orchards," says Rachel Sylvester, associate real weddings editor, The Knot. "Oftentimes, rustic venues serve as a blank slate, so the soon-to-be-weds are allowed the freedom to plan a personalized barn wedding that feels anything but boring."
According to The Knot Real Weddings 2016 Study, the number one theme couples chose first for their wedding was "rustic," with 14 percent of couples holding their reception at a farm, barn or ranch. Weddings in these spaces allow for larger guest lists in an open-air space that's ideal for photo opportunities – just think about the abundance of natural light, says Sylvester. Barn weddings hold infinite possibilities for gorgeous photos and homespun details, making them a popular choice to to-be-weds across the country, she says. If you are attending a wedding in a country-inspired setting, leave your black-tie attire at home and skip the stilettos.
"Heels won't be a match for grass, wood or dirt floors, so stick to block heels or dressy sandals if possible. Climate control can also be an issue, since rustic venues in the summer can really hold the summer heat. In that case, wear something breezy and prepare for a little humidity.
There is so much more to planning a rustic wedding besides simply booking a venue. Be sure to check out local sound ordinance rules, make a plan for bugs and have a weatherproof plan in place for guests, Sylvester says. Couples can search such venues on theknot.com/marketplace.
Here are some in our area you might want to consider:
RENSHAW FARMS
Rustic Wedding Video
Renshaw Farms wedding
Renshaw Farms was established in 1834. Since the beginning that farm has raised dairy cattle. The family still lives on the farm. The wedding business began in 2005 with small ceremonies and receptions and has grown to host nuptials with as many as 300 guests — more if the couple wants to put up a few tents outside the barn. A new building was constructed in 2014.
The farm encompasses 289 acres – 30 of which are used for the pumpkin patches in October. They are currently booking winter weddings and will start to accept Friday weddings in 2019. Renshaw Farms also has a chapel available for small weddings up to 100 people.
Every wedding includes a wagon ride around the farm for a photo shoot for the couple and wedding party. Stops include old rustic barns dating back to the early 1800s as well as the rolling fields and other scenic spots.
"I think a lot of couples are looking for different venues," says co-owner Jason Renshaw. "And a farm like ours definitely offers something different with both a heated and air-conditioned space, as well as a fire pit, a pond, and an outdoor bar as well as numerous photo opportunities by the rustic barn or up on the hillside or by the gazebo or pond. Bridal parties are often driven around by a tractor pulling a wagon and taken to other part of the farm for photos.
"Hosting weddings is so much fun," Renshaw says. "It's a joyous time for everybody. We are happy to be a part of it. We call it having a rustic theme with a modern twist. We can provide elegant and pristine to country and outdoorsy. The farm is here for them to use the way they want to use it. We want to make it the best day of their lives."
Renshaw Farms is located at 314 Ford City Road, South Buffalo Township, Armstrong County
Details: 724-294-0061 or renshawfarms.com
FALLINGWATER
The Barn at Fallingwater offers couples several wedding options says Ashley Bailey, sales and event coordinator.
Couples can plan their special day April through October — with smaller weddings and ceremonies available during the fall and winter months — at the converted historic Pennsylvania bank barn not far from the Frank Lloyd Wright masterpiece in Mill Run, Fayette County
Once used for hay storage in the overhead lofts, the Threshing Room has been restored to retain a 19th century post-and-beam construction. It can accommodate 150. The room has no heating or air-conditioning, Bailey says, but does have electricity and indoor plumbing.
The Fireplace Room (with a large stone fireplace) can accommodate about 100, with additional seating possible.
"I am noticing a lot more barn venues popping up now. … People like the indoor/outdoor feel. People are looking for more laidback areas, I think," she says.
"Fallingwater is a selling point here," she adds.
An add-on photo session featuring the home's exterior and patios is very popular, Bailey says.
The amphitheater, situated on the hillside just above the barn, has wooden benches and a wooden gazebo that couples can decorate.
Located off the Fireplace Room between the barn and the farmhouse, the Courtyard offers a flagstone patio and staircase with a wisteria covered trellis, for smaller receptions or cocktail hours.
Guests can choose from a list of preferred caterers, from high-end to more moderate, Bailey says.
Details: 724-329-7802 or fallingwater.org
KENTUCK KNOB
Weddings at Kentuck Knob in Chalk Hill, also in Fayette County, are held exclusively outside and under tents, says Sara Rose of Exquisite Event Planners Company in Connellsville.
"We can accommodate up to 50 on the patio at the Frank Lloyd Wright home and up to 200 at the apple core (a sculpture on the site) area," Rose says.
The breathtaking view leads to many "ceremony only" weddings, she says.
Like Fallingwater, bridal parties can request photos throughout the grounds, exclusive of the house. The 30 sculptures placed throughout the grounds offer some playful, unique portrait opportunities for the wedding party.
The site offers a choice of several caterers. A couple may bring in their own caterer for an extra fee.
The property hosts weddings May through October if they are ceremony only, or June through September if a reception is planned.
As for the attraction of the rural site, Rose says probably half of the couples select it specifically because they are passionate about Wright's architecture. The other 50 percent see a photo of the view and want that backdrop for their nuptials, she says.
Rose has noticed an uptick in the trend of outdoor, rustic wedding locales.
"Less than one-third (of her clients) want the traditional, country club venue," she says.
Details: 724-329-1901 or kentucknob.com
WEST OVERTON VILLAGE
From a homestead lawn and garden in bloom for outdoor ceremonies for three seasons to indoor reception sites large and small, West Overton Barn and Museum in East Huntingdon hosts weddings for couples seeking something "fun and casual," says Dana Frund.
Frund is senior event producer for Carson's Premier Catering in Scottdale, the site's exclusive wedding specialist and caterer.
Bridal parties assemble in the garden of the 19th century village most spring, summer and fall weekends.
After the "I do's" and photos with the historical home and colorful flowers as backdrop, the celebration can move to the large brick barn that can accommodate up to 300, Frund says.
Smaller parties can rent the site's old farm distillery (Overholt Room), which features partially exposed brick walls and is climate controlled.
"I think they (couples) want something different, something unique. They don't want to be in a banquet room. This is a unique, laidback site," Frund says.
Along with traditional dinner menus, Carson's also plans wedding receptions at West Overton featuring picnic food and pig roasts, she says.
Details: 724-887-7910 or westovertonvillage.org
THE BARN AT MADISON
Brandon and Annie Yeager purchased an empty building, formerly known as the 8th Wonder of the World restaurant and antique shop, in 2012, unsure at first what they would do with the site.
Real estate investors, they saw the property as a "treasure," Annie Yeager says.
"We were in awe. … A friend said, 'You have to share it,' and suggested we could hold weddings," she says.
Originally built circa 1799, the renovated three-story site has marble floors and stained glass windows. The top floor is similar to a ranch-style home, Yeager says.
Couples who rent the site have access Friday through Sunday, Yeager says. They can hold their rehearsal dinner, decorate for their ceremony and reception and celebrate without leaving the property.
"It's a nice stress reliever," she says.
Two couples from New Jersey selected the site, although they had no family in the area, based on the venue and price, Yeager says.
Offering ceremonies indoors and outside, the venue is open March through mid-December, and can accommodate about 150 guests.
A pergola is available for outdoor ceremonies. The Washington Room can accommodate those preferring an indoor wedding.
An open catering policy allows couples to choose their own caterer, with the Yeagers making referrals upon request.
A lower level barn for dancing provides a rustic feel, while the elegance of the second floor reception area lends a "Cinderella" aspect, Yeager says.
Air conditioning and heating help to keep barn guests comfortable.
"I think a lot of people like the rustic elements but the modern conveniences," Yeager says.
Details: 724-835-1261 or thebarnatmadison.com
FOGGY MOUNTAIN LODGE
There's a wooden chapel with custom stained glass windows at Foggy Mountain Lodge near Stahlstown, but very few weddings take place in it.
Seating capacity is only 20, so while the chapel makes a beautiful setting for photos or vow renewals, most weddings take place outdoors in the pavilion or the gazebo adjacent to a pond.
As the name suggests, bridal couples love the wooded 50-acre property for its secluded Laurel Highlands setting, says Karen Dunn, who owns the lodge with husband Jim Dunn.
"People love that everything is on site — the lodge, the restaurant. You can park your car on Friday and not go anywhere until Sunday," she says.
With a busy season stretching from April to November, the Dunns stage one wedding per week, or about 25 each year.
"That way I can give the whole weekend to the bride and groom. We can decorate and have rehearsal dinner on Friday, the ceremony on Saturday, then a bonfire that night for the guests, and then they can leave on Sunday," she says.
The lodge offers buffet wedding dinners in a reception hall seating 200.
There are various lodging options available for up to 55 guests in the Cedar, Pine and Chestnut lodges. Many rooms are wood-paneled and some feature wood-burning fireplaces. Room rates include a hot breakfast.
Details: 724-593-1000 or foggymt.com
STONEHENGE LODGE AND THE BARN AT LIGONIER VALLEY
Stonehenge Lodge
Carson's Catering in Scottdale is the exclusive caterer for weddings at Stonehenge Lodge near Stahlstown and the Barn at Ligonier Valley in Ligonier.
Running counter to convention, September and October are the "crazy months" for weddings at both locations, says Carson's director of bridal operations Beulah Frund. A close runner-up is the traditional month of June, though both facilities can be booked year-round.
The autumn allure is apparent at Stonehenge, where woods and a split rail fence surround the wood-and-stone lodge and a small lake, where most ceremonies are staged.
"I'm sure the fall colors are the draw," Frund says.
The Barn features a gazebo in addition to the Civil War-era structure boasting wooden pillars and beams festooned with white swags and fairy lights.
Both venues offer buffet meals ranging from $23.95 to $43.95 per plate. Tiered pricing by menu option applies for family-style and sit-down dinners.
Capacity at Stonehenge is 225. The Barn accommodates 250 guests, or 300 without a dance floor.
Weddings can be scheduled at both sites from Friday through Sunday. Facility fee at Stonehenge is $4,000 for Friday or Saturday and $2,500 for Sunday, Frund says. At the Barn, it's $2,400 for Friday or Sunday and $2,900 for Saturday.
About the popularity of rustic weddings, Frund says,"It's the going thing, and has been for a few years. People love the rustic atmosphere, and they dress it up with everything from burlap, lace and pearls to camo."
Details: 724-887-7404 or carsonscatering.com
OAK LODGE
Oak Lodge just might be one of the better-kept secrets among area rustic wedding venues.
Set on 800 wooded, rolling acres near Stahlstown, the venue is described on the website as a "secret village" with a log chapel, a rustic tavern and courtyard for cocktails, a reception hall and outdoor dance floor.
The reason that it's not well known locally, says director Matt Hegan, is that most guests come from New York City and Washington, D.C., where the lodge does most of its advertising.
Weddings can be booked year-round, although the majority take place from May through October. Oak Lodge specializes in wedding weekends, with only one event scheduled each week.
"We've yet to do a wedding where someone doesn't come up to me and say, 'I've never been anywhere like this before,'" Hegan says. "It's something completely different.
"It's a small, intimate village, rustic but elegant with all the modern amenities. You get the best of both worlds."
Ten rooms are available for overnight guests and the reception hall seats 150. The site fee includes the services of a wedding coordinator.
The lodge contracts with a caterer, whose fee is separate. A family-style sit-down dinner is the most common choice, Hegan says, although a buffet option is also available.
Details: 724-593-2913 or oaklodgepa.com
THE BARN AT SOERGEL HOLLOW
The Barn at Soergel Hollow, located in Evans City, offers many options to make your special occasion memorable from May to the second weekend in October.
Nestled in the country, "The location is ideal for the bride who wants their guests to have a fun and memorable experience," says Danetta Soergel, owner.
The Woodland Chapel, a romantic outdoor ceremony space, can seat up to 175 guests. Two rustic cabins located nearby are ideal for a bridal and bridegroom dressing areas.
Weather permitting, antique tractors with covered wagons will take guests to the chapel area. Another outdoor ceremony location is the picnic shelter located near the catch and release lake that offers seating for upward of 50 guests.
The open-air barn and covered patio can seat up to 250, and can serve as a perfect reception and indoor ceremony site. The Barn at Soergel Hollow has no limitations on catering and offers an abundant list of local vendors and caterers to help in the planning.
Details: 724-789-9567 or soergelhollow.com
THE RED SILO
Originally built in 1931 and fully restored in 2015, the Red Silo in Champion offers clients a picturesque view of the Laurel Highlands, along with a landscaped pond and deck.
The upstairs ballroom has hardwood floors and is lit by three chandeliers, or by natural light when the double barn doors are open. The room can accommodate up to 200.
The Red Silo, which is open to services April through November, also has the Terra Cotta Room located on the first floor. It serves as the perfect location for guests to enjoy hors d'oeuvres and cocktails. Double barn doors and added windows also allow for the room to be saturated with natural light.
The Red Silo's landscaped pond and deck, along with the surrounding area make for the ideal ceremony location.
Details: 724-455-3312 or barronsredsilo.com
BELL'S BANQUETS
Bell's Banquets, an event venue at the foot of Three Mile Hill in Mt. Pleasant Township, has been serving Western Pennsylvania for the past 15 years.
According to its website, "Our goal has been to provide all our guests with a lasting memory by combining great food with professionalism and excellent service."
Bell's Banquets is a 100-year-old original barn that has been completely remodeled to give it a uniquely rustic but elegant atmosphere. The venue with its woodsy location still convenient to major highways, features French crystal chandeliers, a hardwood dance floor, a stage, two semi-private lofts, granite bar countertops and climate control.
Bell's Banquets offers five all-inclusive packages for 2017 and 2018 wedding receptions. The wedding packages offer three sit-down and two buffet style menus.
Details: 724-547-9700 or bellsbanquets.com
FIVE PINES BARN
Five Pines Barn offers all the amenities, including a dining area, a bar, a dance floor and twinkle lights galore.
The barn is located on 150 acres in North Huntingdon, in the beautiful and peaceful countryside surroundings.
For an outdoor ceremony, a gazebo is nestled on the hillside with hand-made wood benches for the guests. There is a homemade tree swing on the hillside, antique tractors and a field of wildflowers. A vintage clawfoot bath tub makes a unique vessel for ice and drinks. Old window panes hang near the entrance of the barn and can be written on for seating, according to its website.
The venue is rented for the whole weekend, allowing for rehearsal dinner, ceremony and reception in the space. Pets are also welcome.
Details: 412-480-6314 or fivepinesbarn.com
ARMSTRONG FARMS
Armstrong Farms was established in 1816 when James Love emigrated to Pennsylvania from Ireland and settled here. Love's eldest daughter Sarah married William Armstrong, who inherited the farm and became its eventual namesake.
It is a working farm.
The main farm house that's still standing and is part of the farm's Bed & Breakfast was built in the late 1800s. It's been added onto and renovated throughout the generations.
The Fieldstone barn and Westminster's Bank barn feature the original beams, siding and foundation, which give them vintage charm. They each accommodate a maximum of 180 people.
Outfitted with air conditioning and geo-thermal heating, Fieldstone barn is the only all-weather venue on the premises, and was renovated in 2009. Couples also have the option of marrying in the outdoor garden. Westminster Preserve, the name of the venue, is a bank barn which means it is built into a hillside so you have access to the top and bottom levels. It is a peaceful, environmentally friendly site with an arbor and pond ideal for an outdoor ceremony.
"With a rustic wedding you have the freedom to do things that you might not be able to do in other venues," says Kristan Allen, who handles marketing for the farm which is owned by her husband Andrew Allen and his mom Kathy Allen, who started the wedding business. "It's an opportunity to personalize the day for the couple, and add their personalities to the wedding and the reception. Sometimes you don't have as much flexibility at more traditional venues."
Kristan Allen says she has seen couples of all ages as well as first and second marriages. The farm is pretty much booked for 2017 and halfway through 2018 and some in 2019.
They can also offer a weekend of celebration from overnight accommodations to the Friday rehearsal, wedding and reception on Saturday and a brunch on Sunday.
"Couples don't want a cookie-cutter wedding," she says. "They are looking for ways to personalize it. They also like having everything in one place—ceremony, photo opportunities and reception. We can tailor it to what they are looking for."
Armstrong Farms is located at 155 Westminster Road, Clinton Township, Butler County.
Details: 724-352-2858 or armstrongfarms.com
LINGROW FARM
Linda Alworth had a vision for hosting rustic weddings after she purchased a run-down horse farm in Leechburg in 2004. Within two years, she transformed the property into a premiere event center. Wedding guests can enjoy cocktails on a deck before heading inside for dinner. The space can be both heated and cooled. Alworth also owns Twisted Thistle restaurant nearby which can cater any event.
Alworth is an experienced preservationist, landscaper, event coordinator and small business owner. She has always had a love for all things old, especially barns.
"More and more of these rustic venues are popping up," says Jamie Carson, Alworth's daughter, who handles marketing for the farm. "It's been a steady increase the past six years. We do about 74 weddings a season – Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. There are many other venues popping up as well. We thought she was crazy when she came up with the idea, but it's been extremely successful."
Lingrow Farm is located at 188 Forks Church Road, Leechburg, Gilpin Township.
Details: 724-472-1305 or lingrowfarm.com
LAUREL HIDEAWAY
The Laurel Hideaway is located near Forbes State Forest, in Jones Mills.
With the quiet country setting, the rustic sided barn with sliding barn doors offers guests a breathtaking view of the Laurel Highlands.
It can accommodate the most intimate ceremony to a party of 300. The location also has a large patio covered by a roof, and forest trails that provide beautiful photo opportunities.
Clients can choose their own caterer and other vendors.
Details: 724-433-8201 or Laurelhideaway.com
