13 Wonderful Barn Wedding Venues in the Philadelphia Area
Here’s where to get hitched with a hint of rustic charm.
Scroll down to find out why Terrain Gardens is among our favorite barn wedding venues. Photo by We Laugh We Love
It’s hard to resist the country-chic appeal of barn wedding venues. The soaring wood ceilings, the beautiful stonework and the surrounding greenery all make for an unforgettable celebration. Lucky for us, the Philadelphia area has a host of wonderful barn wedding venues from which to choose, each with their own unique history and modern appeal. Read on for a few of our favorites — and if you think there’s another destination we should know about, email kschott@phillymag.com.
Ash Mill Farm
Holicong
Photo by Redfield Photography
Partnered with Open Aire Affairs, this Bucks County barn wedding venue is a real-deal working sheep farm set on 10 acres outside of New Hope. Say your vows in the fresh air in an open meadow and spread out among the trees for your cocktail hour. For a potential photo op, don’t miss brother-sister pony duo Tucker and Sandy. Then choose from a tented outdoor space (it holds up to 225 guests) or the charming wood-paneled barn (it accommodates up to 50). Either way, your closest friends and family can close out the night with a stay in the quaint on-property manor house with five bedrooms and two guest cottages. 5358 York Road.
Barn on Bridge
Collegeville
Photo by Candace Nicole Photography
At Barn on Bridge, you’ll start your Big Day by donning your wedding attire in the Carriage House, then head to all the festivities: the floral-filled en plein air Lower Garden for the ceremony, the tented Upper Garden for the cocktail hour, and the main event barn (which boasts original wood beams and stonework from 1773 and was originally part of a dairy farm) for the reception. Dinner and dancing for up to 200 takes place on the open ground floor. (Alternatives: Smaller receptions can be held in the tented space, and the cocktail hour and ceremony inside, for example.) 385 Bridge Street.
Brandywine Manor House
Honey Brook
Photo by Laura Briggs Photo
Ceremony and reception location options abound at this scenic barn wedding venue, which once served as home to a grist and saw mill. Exchange vows underneath the arbor at Lakeview, with a waterfall backdrop in the Glen, surrounded by trees in the Oak Grove, or in front of a gazebo or pergola on the Garden Terrace. Come reception, choose from the Brandywine Tent (capacity: 300), or go with one of several spaces in the Manor Barn (capacity: 175). Our favorite space? The Barn Loft, which boasts soaring ceilings, wood beams, rustic chandeliers, and a large retractable window for letting in the summer breeze. The venue’s bridal suite and groom’s rooms were also recently updated with new sofas, tables and chairs, along with additional counters and mirrors. 120 Germany Hollow Road.
The Farmhouse at People’s Light
Malvern
Photo by Sujoy Sukla
What was once a school for boys in 1790 has become a charming wedding destination, theater and restaurant with barn touches all around. The Haas theater is located in the barn; farmhouse tables have been built with refurbished barn wood; and the Pavilion bar was constructed with reclaimed wood that is 100-plus years old. Ceremonies can take place in various spots, from the outside garden tent to the meditation garden to the new Glen amphitheater. (And the gardens are lush, verdant locations to say “I do.”) Capacity ranges from 30 to 175 in these spaces based on the venue. As for the receptions, those are held in the ballroom, which can accommodate 175 for a seated reception and 300 for a cocktail-style soiree. A perk: One celebration a day takes place here, and the restaurant, which is currently undergoing a revamp, is offered to couples to use as an extra space for their wedding parties. 39 Conestoga Road.
Fox Barn at Twenty9
Malvern
Photo by Lauren Fisher Photography
With weddings between 25 and 250 — plus an on-site pub — this newly renovated barn wedding venue serves up country cool by the barrel. The modern two-story barn spans 7,000 square feet and mixes dark and light wood accents with beautiful stonework, and the accompanying open deck is a welcome space for a spot of fresh air — or for your ceremony. There’s an indoor-outdoor bar, and a menu of barbecue to pair with your brew. 16 Great Valley Parkway.
Hagley Museum & Library
Wilmington
Photo by Rebecca Renner Photography
Set on 235 acres along the Brandywine River, this historic early 19th-century property offers myriad picturesque photo spots (and a day-of shuttle can transport you to them). The original beams still line the interior of the barn, where ceremonies (up to 150) and receptions (up to 90) can be held on the middle level. Tented receptions (250) take place in front or behind the barn, and outdoor ceremonies (up to 150) are held next to the garden — the gorgeous Georgian-inspired Eleutherian Mills (the du Pont ancestral home) serves as a backdrop. Another option is the Soda House, which can accommodate 150 guests or smaller (no minimum, though no more than 100) can use just the galleries. Hagley only hosts one wedding per night, and couples receive yearlong membership — and tickets for your guests to visit. An interesting fact: Hagley served as the foundation of the du Pont Co.’s black powder mills, and you can add on a gun-powder demo during which a cannon is shot off for your Big Day. 298 Buck Road.
The High Point
Malvern
Photo by Brey Photo
Pastoral views abound: The venue sits at the highest point (natch) in Chester County’s Great Valley, lending multiple options for first look photos, couple and family portraits, and wedding party snaps. The property has been part of St. Peter’s Church of the Great Valley since the 1700s, and the parish is a soulful setting for intimate ceremonies. (The adjacent cemetery has gravestones dating from 1737.) The lawn and the labyrinth also serve as ceremony venues, while receptions take place in the Bank barn. Built in 2005, the light-filled spot has exposed wood beams and a wall of windows that provides a scenic look at the surrounding grassy meadows and lawns. The maximum capacity is 200. 2475 St. Peter’s Road.
The Inn at Barley Sheaf Farm
Holicong
Photo by Lauren Fair Photography
Picture this: After winding down a beautiful country drive lined with up-lit sycamore trees, your guests are greeted by friendly staff at a beautiful bronze-statue fountain. They watch you exchange vows in front of a romantic wrought-iron gazebo, tree-lined field or near the natural spring pond. Then, they stroll the manicured gardens (and pet miniature ponies or other rescue animals) during cocktail hour, and follow that with a locally sourced, from-scratch dinner for up to 200 in the recently renovated Stonebank Barn, with its vaulted ceilings and windows. (Tented outdoor celebrations for 300 are also a possibility.) When the celebrating comes to an end, you and your nearest and dearest spend the night in the historic manor house turned charming B&B, which was home to famed American playwright George S. Kaufman in the 1930s. Sounds just about perfect, right? 5281 York Road.
The Inn at Grace Winery
Glen Mills
Photo by Avonné Photography
Tucked away in the Brandywine Valley, the Inn at Grace Winery sits surrounded by vineyards and woods. The property houses an 18th century farmhouse (which was once a stop on the Underground Railroad and an infirmary during the Civil War), quaint cottages and rooms in the Manor House for guests staying overnight, a gorgeous wooden amphitheater for outdoor ceremonies, and a renovated 1750s barn that’s perfect for receptions. (The capacity is 140.) An expansion project in the summer of 2020 brought a new glass-window-encased event space for up to 65 right off the winery hall. Here, you’ll enjoy estate-made wine, Pennsylvania beer, and signature cocktails, but heads up: Due to township ordinance, the bar must close by 10 p.m. 50 Sweetwater Road.
Normandy Farm Hotel
Blue Bell
Photo by Saroj Studios
Renovated in 2018, this modern farmhouse venue and hotel offers an upscale twist on the rustic-glam aesthetic. Both the 6,000-square-foot grand ballroom (capacity: 350) and 3,000-square-foot silos ballroom (capacity: 160) feature vaulted ceilings and exposed wooden beams, while more intimate celebrations (and after-parties!) are held in The Farmer’s Daughter Restaurant (capacity: 78). With additional spaces for your ceremony — the outdoor gardens and ballrooms — and on-site floral, event design, photography and pastry studios, Normandy Farm is fully equipped to provide for all of your wedding-weekend needs. 1401 Morris Road.
Prallsville Mills
Stockton
Photo by WRH Photography
The circa-1720 industrial village on the banks of the Delaware is about an hour from Philly and is filled with historic alcoves and hideaways for snapping first-look portraits or celebrating a moment captured in time. The Grist Mill has a stone and plaster exterior, and wood beams and antique gear work inside, while the Saw Mill has a planked barn facade and is a more open space for a cocktail hour or after-party. (The Grist Mill can hold 130 for a seated dinner.) The John Prall House is an intimate gathering space for your wedding party. Humanist celebrant and event designer Cynthia Manchester has partnered with the venue and can lead your Big Day from start to finish thanks to her Oleander business, which also offers on-site rentals. 33 Risler Street.
Terrain Gardens
Devon
Photo by We Laugh We Love
This oh-so popular URBN venue on the Main Line includes a lush garden for ceremonies, a dreamy 140-person reception space outfitted with reclaimed barn wood and cafe lights, an outdoor porch for cocktails, a well-appointed bridal suite, and, of course, portrait options galore at the adjacent Terrain nursery. Also on the property: Anthropologie & Co. as well as three separate eateries, the namesake cafe, Amis Trattoria and a soon-to-open Pizzeria Vetri. Take our photo tour of Terrain Gardens here. 138 West Lancaster Avenue, #130.
Tyler Arboretum
Media
Photo by Asya Photography
With multiple gardens and 650 acres of rolling meadows, Tyler Arboretum provides plenty of space for your dream wedding. Choose from the Magnolia Garden, Lilac Garden, or The Cove for outdoor ceremonies. (The Arboretum features an extensive horticulture collection including magnolias, cherries, crabapples, hollies and lilacs as well as 11 acres of rhododendrons and azaleas.) There’s also a redesigned barn suite for couples and their parties. The real star of the show, though, is the Stone Bank barn. Jeffrey A. Miller Catering’s $1.5 million renovation of the three-story structure included reclaimed wood walls and stairs, fans and bistro lighting in the brand-new patio tenting, and event essentials like air conditioning and on-site restrooms. Maximum capacity: 200. 515 Painter Road.
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