Rustic Destination Wedding Venues in the U.S.
By Kristy Alpert
Whether you’re planning a laid-back wedding or looking to connect with nature during your nuptials, these rustic wedding venues are every bit as chic as they are cozy.
High eaves and exposed beams have taken the place of cathedral ceilings and gilded alters for many couples looking to say their vows in venues that offer a bit more personality. Rustic wedding venues can add a touch of charm and intimacy to the big day, where venues range from historic barns deep in the country to scenic overlooks on vineyard grounds.
The White Sparrow Barn
WHERE: Quinlan, Texas
Located just 40 minutes from downtown Dallas, the White Sparrow Barn is nestled in a field of soaring oak trees in the rural town of Quinlan, Texas. This white vintage barn is straight out of a magazine, where delicate chandeliers hang from the whitewashed beams inside the country-chic venue while picturesque flowerbeds guide the way to photo shoot backdrops that include an old feed shed, a grove, and a country swing.
The Stepladder Ranch
WHERE: Cambria, California
Family owned and operated since it first opened as a working goat farm and creamery in 1871, the Stepladder Ranch and Creamery is best known for their small-batch cheeses made from the milk of their Lamancha goats, but they also operate an avocado farm and multiple wedding venues on their sprawling acreage. This 750-acre, central California ranch’s stunning views overlooking the ocean below have become a favorite spot for outdoor weddings, while a renovated tin barn gives the betrothed an indoor option for a rustic yet chic wedding in pastoral paradise.Continue Reading Article After Our Video
Sunriver Resort
WHERE: Sunriver, Oregon
The Cascade Mountains loom in the distance to one side as the high desert extends far to the other side of this pine-treed resort in the Pacific Northwest. Sunriver Resort offers five different venues for weddings, including the Historic Great Hall and Mt. Bachelor Lawn, the Homestead Lawn and Heritage Room, the Besson Commons, Caldera Springs Lake and Lakehouse, and the Fireside Room. Guests can take in a game of bocce ball or sit around a crackling fire in the outdoor firepits or the indoor stone fireplaces after the ceremony to fully soak in the laid-back, Dirty Dancing-esque vibe of the resort
Foster Creek Farm
WHERE: Belgrade, Montana
Foster Creek Farm captures the historically untamed and wild nature of Montana’s rural landscape with decidedly upscale additions. The farm was once vital for barley and wheat farmers in the area back in the early 1900s when the two-story white barn was built on the property. Now, the barn is the site for countless weddings as its renovated digs offer a heated or air-conditioned environment with timbered walls and floor-to-ceiling windows. Although the property is just a few short minutes from downtown Bozeman, guests are invited to stay in the rustic log cabins or the stylish glamping tents on the property.
HorseTail Ranch
WHERE: Creston, California
A sparkling lake set between rolling hills and grand oak trees act as the natural backdrop for outdoor weddings at this 150-acre ranch near California’s Paso Robles wine region. Guests at the HorseTail Ranch can meander through the fields of wildflowers before the ceremony, and dance the night away under the stars or within the grand guesthouse.
Los Poblanos Historic Inn & Spa
WHERE: Albuquerque, New Mexico
This working lavender farm offers something few wedding venues are able to match. Not only do the lush gardens and soaring cottonwood trees paint an ideal backdrop for weddings, but as guests arrive, they are welcomed in by the fragrant scent of lavender as they take their seats at the base of the Sandia Mountains. Los Poblanos Historic Inn & Spa sits on 25 acres and features multiple options for outdoor or indoor weddings and receptions with farm fresh catering highlighting seasonal picks from the onsite organic garden.
Della Terra Mountain Chateau
WHERE: Estes Park, Colorado
Despite the fourteen acres of sprawling mountainside scenery that make up Della Terra Mountain Chateau’s grounds, the venue only allows one wedding per day to ensure each event is as personal and intimate as the ceremony taking place. The chateau’s mountain lodge ambiance adds a rustic charm to indoor weddings, while Rocky Mountain National Park acts as a backdrop for outdoor weddings.
Biddle Ranch Vineyard
WHERE: San Luis Obispo, California
Clusters of ripe Chardonnay grapes hang in delicate bunches from rows of manicured grapevines stretching for 17 acres within the Biddle Ranch Vineyard as the Santa Lucia Mountains emerge in the distance. The vineyard produces some truly memorable wines, but it’s the rustically elegant weddings that take place on the property that many visitors will not soon forget. The idyllic landscape is the perfect blank canvas for brides and grooms looking to showcase their personal style, and the converted dairy barn tasting room and indoor/outdoor reception venues add the perfect touch to a dreamy day in the vineyard.
Idaho Rocky Mountain Ranch
WHERE: Stanley, Idaho
Couples can select their perfect spot among the 900 acres that make up the Idaho Rocky Mountain Ranch when they book this entire Idaho ranch for their wedding. The property is surrounded by the Sawtooth and White Cloud Mountains that seem to emerge from the horizon beyond a picturesque wilderness of wildflower fields and a meandering river that traces the terrain. Historic log cabins and a large lodge are available for overnight guests who can unplug for the weekend without phones, televisions, or radios in the rooms.
The West Monitor Barn
WHERE: Richmond, Vermont
It took nearly 10 years to restore this classic red dairy barn back to its original 1903 splendor, but the labor of love made it one of the most sought after rural venues in Vermont. Nearly 40 percent of the timber is original—as are all of the stone walls and stone foundation—but modern updates to the West Monitor Barn include rustic carriage barn lamps, a commercial kitchen, two restrooms, an elevator, and a third floor reception area with an 80-foot private deck that’s perfect for outdoor cocktail hours. All of the proceeds from wedding rentals go to the Vermont Youth Conservation Corps programs, and the onsite organic farm allows for a truly farm-to-table concept for receptions.
Sweet Meadow Farm and Homeplace
WHERE: Tallapoosa, Georgia
Although the pristine lake, impressive mountain range, and sweeping views of rolling fields attract countless brides and grooms to the Sweet Meadow Farm and Homeplace each year, it’s the 100-year-old farmhouse and barn that act as the centerpiece for remarkable weddings at this site. The property spans 160 acres in Georgia’s Haralson County, where the Old Homeplace can accommodate up to 16 overnight guests.
The Barn at Chestnut Springs
WHERE: Sevierville, Tennessee
A large, weathered gray barn is either the backdrop or the venue for couples saying their vows at this Great Smoky Mountain destination. The Barn at Chestnut Springs has been carefully renovated over the years to give couples a rustic yet modern choice as a wedding venue, where grand chandeliers and wall sconces create a romantic atmosphere among the vaulted ceilings and exposed beams of the barn. Ceremonies outdoors are held either on the lawn or in a wooded cove for a more intimate affair.
The Roxbury Barn and Estate
WHERE: Roxbury, New York
Whether couples say their vows inside the 168-year-old carriage barn or within the natural maze of pine trees nicknamed “The Natural Cathedral,” guests are sure to remember the rustic romance they experience while at this Central Catskills gem. The Roxbury Barn and Estate was once owned by a Mississippi boat captain but has been painstakingly restored to include 42-acres of forested land with lily ponds and tree-lined courtyards and modern touches like Italian chandeliers, Wi-Fi, air conditioning and heating, and state-of-the-art lighting and audio systems.
Pippin Hill Farm and Vineyards
WHERE: North Garden, Virginia
Set in the hills overlooking the Blue Ridge Mountains, the Pippin Hill Farm and Vineyards was developed by a husband and wife team who had a vision for creating a space for delicious memories seasoned with loads of Southern hospitality. The vineyard sits along Virginia’s Monticello Wine Trail and offers multiple venues for indoor or outdoor weddings, most notably the two-story Granary barn or the winery tasting room with a bar made from a 400-year-old cypress tree.
The Silos
WHERE: Bono, Arkansas
The journey to this rustic wedding venue begins with a country road that traverses fields of corn and soy as guests roll past historic railroad tracks and pastoral countryside. The Silos offer an escape from traditional wedding venues (for instance, the basic rental package comes with 12 whiskey barrels and two bars on wheels), where a rustic barn, historic wedding chapel, or multiple outdoor venues set the stage for beautiful ceremonies in one of the country’s best-kept secrets: Northeastern Arkansas.