Search “wedding venue” on Pinterest and you’ll find endless photos of barns and farms. That’s because they offer the perfect mix of old and new, charm and quirk. Think century-old barns with exposed wooden beams decked out with strings of lights, surrounded by lush gardens and fields. Barns have become highly sought-after wedding venues, and after checking out some of Minnesota’s dreamiest locations, we see why.
Photo by Abigail Berge Photography
Photo by Andrew Vick Photography
Redeemed Farm
Scandia
This venue offers two ceremony sites: a beautifully restored early 1900s two-story barn with cathedral ceilings and a vineyard on 40 acres of land boasting a stone arch and cypress trees. (Fun fact: The vineyard grows the Itasca grape, developed by the University of Minnesota.) Separate reception spaces in the barn allow for an easy transition from the ceremony and can accommodate up to 175 people. The machine shed, a separate open-air building, is just right for a social hour, complete with café lighting and stone fireplace. Prepare for your big day in comfort in the white-washed bridal cottage, while your husband-to-be gets ready in the groom’s rustic stable. Redeemed Farm, about 40 minutes north of the Twin Cities, operates from mid-May through mid-October. All buildings are air-conditioned and climate-controlled.
Photo by Eric Vest Photography, courtesy of Historic John P. Furber Farm
Historic John P. Furber Farm
Cottage Grove
With over 8,000 square feet, this gothic-style arched-roof barn can hold events for up to 500 of your closest friends and family members. Still not enough space? There’s an additional 3,000-square-foot addition with attached bridal and groom suites. The bucolic woods and pasture will make you feel like you’re a million miles from any city, even though you’re only about half an hour from the Twin Cities. In 2013, the barn was listed on the National Register of Historic Places, joining the rest of the property, which achieved that status in the 1980s—so all that charm is here to stay.
Photo courtesy of HC Event Center
HC Event Center
Milaca
This spacious venue was completed in 2018 and boasts lots of indoor space, as well as an outdoor covered pavilion where you can dance the night away. Chandelier lighting brightens up the interior, and designer wood tables can accommodate up to 350 guests. A large kitchen gives the caterer of your choice freedom to create your special meal. With two full-sized apartments above the venue, the bride and groom will each have ample space to prepare. HC Event Center operates year-round.
Photos by Rebel Rabbit Photography, courtesy of Camrose Hill Flower Farm
Camrose Hill Flower Farm
Stillwater
This rustic yet elegant space dates back to 1880 and was originally a dairy farm. Have your 150-person ceremony in the barn or, for a little more formal setting, in the gardens, the sunny vine-covered chapel or in the fairy glen, a more shaded locale. A tent and pavilion with crystal chandeliers and hanging branches are perfect for a reception, with retractable sides allowing for any type of weather. Owner Cindie Sinclair transformed abandoned fields into stunning gardens, which not only make a beautiful backdrop, but furnish the blooms if you choose to have Sinclair to create gorgeous bouquets for your bridal party, ceremony and table décor.
Photo courtesy of Green Acres Event Center
Green Acres Event Center
Eden Prairie
The Goodrich-Ramus Barn was in danger of being demolished for a Hennepin Country road project, but Steven Schussler, the creator of Rainforest Café, took over and restored Eden Prairie’s oldest standing barn, transforming it into Green Acres. Built in 1942, the barn retains its gothic-style arched roof and has three different entertainment spaces to choose from. Crystal chandeliers hang from the high ceilings and light up the room for up to 225 guests. The space also has a collection of antique jukeboxes, an Italian fountain, and multiple fireplaces, to name a few of the amenities. Outside you’ll find vintage John Deere tractors, a horse-drawn carriage and a hay wagon. Choose from three catering options, then sit back and relax with s’mores made over the “Cowboy Cauldron” open fire pit.
Photo by Joelle Julian Photography, courtesy of Mayowood Stone Barn
Mayowood Stone Barn
Rochester
This Insta-worthy stone barn, once part of the Mayo family’s 3,000-acre farm, is steeped in history. The venue offers a wealth of ceremony options: Whether it be under the oaks or in the barn, your wedding will be a charming delight. Private catering and bar service can serve your personal favorites for up to 300 guests. Private rooms are included for the bride and groom to get ready for the walk down the aisle, while your guests socialize on the lawn or on the main floor.
Photo by Studio 220 Photography, courtesy of Hope Glen Farm
Hope Glen Farm
Cottage Grove
Hope Glen Farm showcases a bit of history, with the barn dating back to the Civil War era. Now restored, the structure maintains its tongue-and-groove beams and wooden dowels. If you prefer the outdoors, there’s a pasture or a 2,400-square-foot pavilion for your ceremony. But the 1,200-square-foot Tree House Honeymoon Suite is the showstopper. High in a 150-year-old oak tree, the honeymoon suite features four levels with decks, two fireplaces, central air conditioning and a full kitchen. Enjoy the scenic view from a 30-foot tower, then unwind in the Jacuzzi.
Photo courtesy of Rolling Ridge Wedding & Event Center
Rolling Ridge Event Center
St. Joseph
Good luck deciding which of Rolling Ridge’s 10 indoor or outdoor ceremony locations to choose. Set on 14-plus acres of hills and fields in central Minnesota, the meticulously renovated historic buildings alone offer more than 6,000 square feet of climate-controlled space—more than enough to make up to 300 guests comfortable during your big day. The 125-year-old barn has wood floors and perfectly pairs rustic charm with modern elegance. Lone Tree Lounge, with hammered tin ceilings and a gas fire pit, is a comfortable spot for a cocktail hour. A wood-fired pizza oven is available to prepare delicious post-dance snacks for guests young and old.
Photo courtesy of Gathered Oaks
Gathered Oaks
Alexandria
It’s not every day you come across a white barn, but that’s what you’ll find at Gathered Oaks. The pristine building amid the fields and forests of the heartland makes for a gorgeous setting for your big day. Get married outside with Little Charlie Lake as your backdrop or inside the spacious barn. Can’t bear to leave the grounds? Stay at the farmhouse, a 10-room house with Scandinavian charm and a full kitchen. The honeymoon suite offers a private entrance, a fireplace, views of the lake and a Jacuzzi. New this year are eight lodging rooms in four renovated grain bins, each unique and beautiful. Also on the grounds are a private bridal cabin and groom’s suite (perfect for primping), and a campfire area.
Photo by Rachel Traxler Photography, courtesy of Hidden Meadow and Barn
Hidden Meadow and Barn
Pepin, WI
Located southeast of the Twin Cities, just across the Mississippi River, Hidden Meadow and Barn offers multiple options for your perfect intimate ceremony. The meadow features six 12-foot stained glass windows from an old Catholic church. The open-sided barn has views of the surrounding hills and is lit by delicate chandeliers and strings of lights. The venue offers rustic, custom-built wood tables, plus chairs, to accommodate up to 250 dinner guests. Open from May through October; heating and enclosing the barn are available in case of inclement weather.
