Getting Hitched on the Farm

There was a time when the notion of getting married in a barn seemed like a crazy idea, but now barns and farms are the second-most popular wedding venue, according to a poll by wedding planning website The Knot.

Farmers and other landowners have caught on to the trend, and barn venues are popping up everywhere, both in restored historic barns and newly constructed ones.

These rustic venues are often rented at rates of $6,000 to $12,000 per wedding, according to The Knot.

Earning that much money over the course of a weekend may make this venture seem like a no-brainer, but there are many things to consider before jumping on the wedding barn bandwagon.

First, when couples book a venue at those rates, they expect modern restrooms, a kitchen, walkways that don’t get muddy when it rains, and separate rooms for the bridal party to get ready. Farmers/ranchers have to do more than just shoveling out the barn and hanging some lights. Updating a current barn or building a new structure can cost several hundred or thousands of dollars.

Scaled back setting

Not every couple wants a giant venue for their wedding, especially in the middle of a pandemic. There are many advantages to opening a smaller space for people to gather.

Karri Rose and her husband, Patrick, have established such a venue at Rose Farm (rosefarmstead.com), their 25-acre hobby farm just south of Des Moines, Iowa.

Karri got started growing and selling flowers and has since added The Floral + Market Shoppe, a retail business housed in Patrick’s former woodworking shop.

This renovated space with individual workstations and an industrial kitchen also hosts regular workshops, where groups of 12 guests can learn about calligraphy, floral arranging, wine pairing, bird and pollinator habitats, photography, and even pie-making. Experts in each field lead the two- to three-hour classes. “It’s very intimate but also hands-on,” Karri says.

“Mingling in the garden is popular for day outings. Guests get a glass of wine and mingle in the gardens. We tell them about what’s growing, they ask questions, and they get a bucket of flowers in a big market arrangement to take home,” Karri says.

Karri was able to hold classes throughout 2020 thanks to having enough space for social distancing of guests. Masks were also required.

“Multiple guests cried last year, saying we were their source of joy because there was nowhere else to go,” says Patrick. “We are meant to be together as a community, so our team committed to trying to do everything we could to keep the farm open through the whole season. I’m so thankful we were able to stay open the whole time.”

Boutique Gatherings

The Shoppe at Rose Farm can also be rented by the hour for what Karri calls “boutique gatherings.” Guests use the space for bridal or baby showers, birthday or anniversary celebrations, and even small weddings. “We’ve had guests get married in front of the greenhouse with 15 guests, and it’s just lovely.”

While more intimate gatherings have become the norm during the pandemic, Karri says smaller spaces are needed even during normal times. “Not everyone wants a 300-person wedding,” she says. “Wedding venues are so popular. There are six within 5 miles of my farm. Since this is my home, I want people to enjoy my property and build community.”

The financial benefits of staying smaller also made sense. “When I started to build a sustainable business plan, I realized with a wedding venue you have all your eggs in one basket,” say Karri. “I didn’t want to build a huge structure to hold 250 people.”

The Roses also rent the farm out year-round for photography sessions, with more than 70 bookings last year. Families hire their own photographers and pose in front of the greenhouse, in the flower gardens, and wherever else they like. Several areas are continually staged with seasonal greenery and other items. The families get to enjoy the farm and photo session without having to deal with other groups like they would in a park or other public setting.

The photography venture has also become a promotional source for the farm, since families and photographers post their pictures on social media and tag the farm’s location.

“We have the best guests in the world,” Karri says. “In early 2020 we didn’t even have 2,000 Instagram followers, and we had more than 6,700 by the end of the year. People who come here have an experience. Photographers bring so many new guests to the farm and they share and talk and post, and we couldn’t possibly pay for that kind of exposure.”

Get Creative

If building or renovating a wedding barn isn’t in a farmer’s/rancher’s budget, they might consider some of the ideas the Roses have instituted. A beautiful sunset view or an old tractor parked in front of the barn might be the start of a photo shoot business. The key is to get creative, find a niche to fill, and get down to business.

EDITOR’S TAKE:

Any farmers/ranchers in your area doing something along these lines? We know it’s not for everyone, but it is an interesting idea, especially if a farm is close to a town or metropolitan area. Perhaps you could even plant a seed or two with some farmers/ranchers you know. It is always intriguing to see just how ingenious farmers/ranchers can be with the resources at hand. Also, barns are the second most popular wedding destination….