The Home Farm Barn is a great choice for a wedding venue if you’re looking for a barn venue that’s not too rustic and has beautiful spots for portraits. Every inch of the barn is beautiful and elevated, from its modern neutral color scheme to its beautiful glass gallery room on the bottom floor.

Nick and Rachel started their wedding day at the Home Farm Barn by getting ready in the downstairs Tack Room, a small room that can accommodate bridesmaids getting their hair and makeup done or that can function as a holding place for groomsmen until ceremony time. With its countertops, natural light, and full mirrors, it has everything you need for your finishing touches.

wedding venues with rain plans

This particular wedding had their ceremony inside of the bottom level of the barn, known as the glass gallery. This is a great option if rain is in the forecast for your wedding day since it is still beautiful and spacious enough for all of your guests to sit comfortably. Cocktail hour can easily be held in the reminder of the bottom floor of the barn since the dining is upstairs and the glass gallery’s sliding doors separate it into its own room. The industrial kitchen on this bottom floor also make it easy for caterers to keep food hot and cake cool.

With the option to add on the Just Hitched bar trailer that can be parked INSIDE the bottom floor for your cocktail hour, there is all the convenience and none of the down time having to flip spaces from one part of the day to the next.

barn wedding venues with outdoor ceremony

The outdoor patio just off of the glass gallery is a fantastic choice for your ceremony if the weather is cooperating, and also makes a beautiful, clean, neutral spot for group photos overlooking the property’s beautiful willow trees. Guests can also enjoy the tire swing and space for lawn games.

The main barn upstairs is accessed by a beautiful wide timber staircase, making for dramatic grand entrances that are photographer friendly and don’t require your bridal party to awkwardly wait outside of a set of closed barn doors like at other barn venues. The dance floor will also be tastefully decorated with twinkle lights and large hanging hoops that can hold greenery or other decor.

wedding venues with transportation

At the end of the night, Home Farm Barn’s trolley service will make sure that your guests get back to their hotel (there are 2 great hotel options less than 10 minutes from the venue) and also make for lovely photo ops. The venue does require that guests ride the trolley to maximize the efficiency of parking at the venue.

This couple featured below wanted to end the night with a sparkler send off, and again the beautiful exterior of the barn provides a great backdrop and the outside lighting helps make the photo even more successful.

The Roost Event Center in Mahaffey is a beautiful new timber frame wedding venue with plenty of space for hosting your ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception for your wedding. The owners really thought of everything when building this amazing venue, and after seeing a LOT of wedding venues over the past 12 years, this one immediately became a favorite.

The grounds are very crowd-friendly, with paved parking areas, multiple bathrooms, paved walkways and ramps, and lots of space inside their multi-level reception area to seat everyone comfortably and still have a large dance floor. There is even an option to host your ceremony indoors in their adjoining room in case of inclement weather without having to move any tables or chairs, and this room easily holds even the largest buffet set-up and expansive cookie table without having to sacrifice dance floor space or dance time with tearing buffet tables down after dinner. Simply put, there is ROOM for EVERYTHING and that means less stress for EVERYONE involved!

We started Mike and Alicia’s gorgeous wedding day in the beautifully decorated bridal party suites, one for the women and one for the men, situated right next to each other with locked keypad entry so no accidental “peeks!” The suites each had plenty of bathrooms and mirrors in addition to lounging spaces to accommodate all the demands of getting ready for wedding day.

The ceremony was held under the beautiful and expansive pavilion, featuring more of the same beautiful timber framing and stamped decorative concrete. The view of the countryside is breathtaking, creating a perfect backdrop for the most important moments of the day.

Guests enjoyed cocktail hour in the large covered patio complete with plenty of covered seating and a beautiful and expansive outdoor bar while we explored the grounds for photos with the family and bridal party. There’s plenty of variety in places for beautiful photos, including a hayfield, forest of ferns, and the beautiful stone steps in front of the venue itself.

I can’t say enough about how much fun I had with this joy-filled, kind, generous, AMAZING couple. They truly embodied the radiance and happiness that translate into emotion-filled photos and even more spectacular memories. I first met the bride when she was a bridesmaid in another wedding I photographed in 2020, and since then we’ve been able to create some more sweet memories when she and her fiancé flew me out to Washington state to create some epic engagement photos in the Hoh Rainforest.

The entire wedding they they both could not stop crying and smiling - I could just tell by reading their faces that they were thinking “Oh my god, we are finally married!” Just to reiterate how cute these two are, enjoy the story of the proposal in Alicia’s words:

“I told Mike when we started dating that I didn't care how he proposed, just as long as he did it. I said that he could even propose with a Ring Pop and I would be happy, but it had to be the blue or red one. When the proposal got closer, he started hiding ring pops around our home and in my belongings for me to find. On the day that he proposed, that morning, he gave me a blue one. I didn't piece together the colors/flavor hint until after he told me it was intentional. My sister had asked me to take pictures of her and her fiance since they had gotten engaged earlier in the year, so we went to Acorn Street in Boston. When we got there, she was asking for help with poses for she and her fiance to do, but was having a difficult time with the direction and said "Here, just show me what you want and we will recreate it." Little did I know that it was her way of taking my camera to set up a pose for Mike to propose with!”

We ended the night with a huge group-hug-turned-sing-along of Country Roads, a private last dance between the happy couple, and an epic cold-sparks send off (again, another BRILLIANT move by this venue for offering that as an add-on!) I hope you enjoy the highlights of the amazing day below, and another huge thank you to the wonderful vendors who made it all possible:

• Photographer: Jill Gearhart Photography

• Venue: The Roost Event Center

• Hair + Make Up: Bloom Beauty Parlor

• Bridesmaids Dresses: Azazie

• Tuxes or Suits: Men's Wearhouse

• Rings: Kay's & Jacqueline's Fine Jewelry

• Catering: DiMaio's

• DJ: Royal Heir Dj Services

• Videographer: Rippeto Wedding Films

• Coordinator : Tiffany and Design

The Barn at Madison might not be your typical barn venue, but this restaurant-turned event venue is a perfect place for a smaller wedding! The architecture and decor land somewhere in the middle of rustic country, spanish mission, and industrial-chic. There’s truly something for every style! I found myself creatively challenged (in a good way), to create fresh and exciting portraits for the beautiful couple! Don’t be deceived by the location - even though it is tucked in a residential area right off of the main road through Madison, there is lush landscaping, cobblestone driveways, and privacy fences to make it truly feel like the pastoral experience the name evokes.

Arista and Logan started their day off in the upper floors of the venue, white wrought-iron spiral staircase leading from the dining hall floor up to a spacious and bright bridal suite, complete with velvet curtains, sky lights, and lots of mirrors and seating! For their 8-hour timeline, we were able to sneak in a few candid photos of everyone getting ready, then completed all of the bridesmaid and groomsmen photos separately before the ceremony even started, and even found time for a “first touch"!”

The ceremony was on the lawn behind the venue with plenty of shade and a beautiful backdrop. The couple decorated a black wooden arbor with white wisteria that framed them beautifully, and instead of a candle-lighting ceremony they opted for branding a slice of wood that served as their guest book later! After squeezing in all the traditional family photos right before the rain picked up, we were able to take a small break inside where the couple read private vows to each other, and then the rain so nicely departed so we could finish bridal party portraits and photos of the bride and groom!

We were not wanting for unique locations for photos - The Barn at Madison featured lots of great spots like the large brick arch and iron gates, the industrial front brick patio with black wood doors, a side staircase long enough to pose half of the bridal party, and plenty of interesting nooks inside of the venue as well!

Dinner was in the ground-floor level of the barn, housing long family-style seating with a direct view of the large main doors where the couple did their grand entrances and shared their first dance. A college friend of Arista’s wrote and recorded their first dance song, making the sentimental moment even more special as the lyrics were literally about them.

Guests enjoyed dancing in the basement floor which also featured cozy restaurant booths and a full bar, so everyone had a place to relax both inside and out. We ended the night with a beautiful sparkler exit with the venue in the background and dozens and dozens of family and friends giving well-wishes to the newlyweds!

Special thanks to all the vendors below for doing their part to make this day unforgettable!

• Hair: Chelsea Schaeffer

• Makeup: Bride

• Rings: Lorelli’s

• Florals: family

• Music: Jacob Fitzmaurice

• Jewelry: Cooper & Brooke

• Cake: Prantl’s Bakery

• Catering: Rodney’s

• DJ: Royal Heir DJ

• Videographer: 400 Home Videos

Nestled amidst the picturesque landscapes of rolling green hills and mature trees, Edgewood Country Club is an excellent wedding venue for the couple that wants beautiful views and an elegant reception space. This exclusive club has established itself as a premier destination for social events, golf enthusiasts, and refined dining. The club's luxurious clubhouse, adorned with elegant décor and panoramic views, provides an impressive backdrop for your wedding guests to dine, dance, and relax. The large open bar area is a classy and exciting option for your cocktail hour, giving your guests the ultimate surprise when the doors to the grand ballroom open to revel your decorated reception space.

Situated directly beside the main ballroom, couples can enjoy an outdoor ceremony location complete with chairs, an arbor to hold your floral arrangements, and of course a sweeping view of the course. There are plenty of options for family photos, bridal party photos, and couple’s photos all within walking distance.

Diana and Jon had an absolutely perfect, low-stress day at the Edgewood Country Club. We started the day at off-site locations where each member of the wedding party got ready for the day ahead, then we met at the club’s beautiful and spacious lounge for an extremely sweet and emotional first look between the couple. Apparently it’s hard to make Diana cry, but judging from her reaction to Jon and the story of her proposal, I’m not so sure she’s as stoic as she thinks:

“While the family was taking photos on New Years Day after the ball drop, this was when Jon got down on his knee to propose to me, and I immediately burst into tears. Which is funny because I am normally an emotionless rock and he told me that because I cried, that's how he knew my Yes was real and that I really love him haha.”

(Diana cried so much, in fact, that my second shooter and I had to re-do her makeup!) After that epic first look, we walked to a beautiful shady spot overlooking the golf course and took some portraits, then met up with the bridal party to take portraits with them! Because Diana and Jon were the best pre-planners we have EVER worked with, we even had time to get in some family portraits before the ceremony as well!

After the ceremony we snuck in a few more family portraits and then the couple was able to join their cocktail hour! I highly recommend doing a first look, and this is the biggest reason why!! Get the photos out of the way before your friends and family come for the day, that way you can spend as much time as possible with the people you love, not your photographers!

The amazing dinner was provided by the country club and fueled us all through the night as we “danced through the decades”, a unique and fun request from the bride and the groom! We stepped out for some sunset photos later in the night and were able to capture some gorgeous golden light before the couple headed back in to tear up the dance floor!

I can’t thank this amazing team of vendors below enough for helping to not only make my job super easy, but most importantly craft the best day ever for the new Mr. and Mrs.!

• Gown: Blanc De Bridal Boutique - Brand: Alexandra Grecco

• Hair and Makeup: Julea Beauty Bar

• Bridesmaids Dresses: Jenny Yoo

• Suits: Men's Warehouse

• Rings: Henne Jewelers

• Florals: Jim Ludwig's Blumengarten Florist

• Cake: Tasty Bakery

• Catering: Edgewood Country Club

• DJ: Royal Heir DJ

• Videographer: Dorosh Documentaries

• Second Photographer: Jenna Dunsmore Photography

Weddings at Lake Raystown Resort are a treat for both you and your guests as the closet public lake resort to Pittsburgh. At just a 2.5 hour drive from Pittsburgh, this is a great venue if you want to feel like you’re eloping to a destination that feels more like a vacation spot. Many people in the Western Pennsylvanian area vacation at Raystown and enjoy boating on the lake. Listed below are the amenities that Lake Raystown offers for wedding in it’s large ballroom, The River Birch Ballroom. The large, beautiful room features floor to ceiling windows and a beautiful lake-facing patio.

what’s included for a wedding at lake rays town resort?

• The River Birch ballroom can accommodate up to 230 guests

• 4 hour reception

• tables/chairs (including set up and tear down)

• white/ivory linens

• china and flatware

• soda and mixers for alcohol (you must provide alcohol)

• bartenders

What are the additional costs for a wedding at Lake Raystown Resort?

• Meal packages that include 3 options for 2 main dishes and 2 sides

• cookie plating

• cake cutting / serving

• Marina gazebo for ceremony

• chair and bench set up for ceremony

• rooms at the Lodge

Lingrow is one of the most upscale barn wedding venues near Pittsburgh and the dozen of included amenities including on-site lodging and ready-to-go table scape (tables, chairs, linens, china, chargers, flatware) make it a great all-inclusive option.

Couples can expect beautiful landscaping and architecture in every inch of the property, lending itself to some of the most stunning wedding photos possible. The pergola / gazebo by the pond is a beautiful backdrop for your ceremony, with plenty of outdoor seating in the “chapel” area for your guests.

Cocktail hour is usually held in the barn’s lower level and extends to the back porch and patio area, where guests can enjoy the one of two bars on each floor of the barn. There are also lots of options for your dinner and reception set ups, with indoor seating, seating on the upper deck, or dancing in either location as well. Large weddings usually host dinner hour inside the barn and then dancing on the back deck.

With great sunset views and the ability to have sparklers on the property, epic and unique photos in the evening are possible! Lingrow also offers plenty of add-on amenities like a horse-drawn carriage and the ability to stay in the farm house for the entire weekend making it a truly stress-free retreat for your biggest day ever!

If you’re looking for a unique wedding location in the city, this North Shore wedding at the Foundry Table & Tap is full of inspiration for your intimate wedding ceremony in downtown Pittsburgh. The Foundry has a semi-private room in the back that can accommodate around 50 people and is accessed by a walk through the restaurant, but with the heavy sliding barn doors to seal it off once you're in there, we were able to have a DJ and play music without disturbing the restaurant guests and visa versa.

The best thing for me was direct access to the Rivewalk on the North Shore right through the glass doors in the back of the room! Finding beautiful photo spots right in the heart of downtown was so easy! We got some great shots of the yellow bridges and the Gateway clipper with the Point in the background, and there were even plenty of picturesque places with cover overhead when it rained. The highlight of the day was taking photos outside on the beautiful river walk and even running into the Pitt marching band!

I’ve known the bride Bre since middle school, and though some might think the pressure is off if you know your clients ahead of time, that wasn’t the case for me! I always want to make sure I do the absolute best job my skills allow - ESPECIALLY for long time friends! This wedding took place in October, when wedding season is winding down and my creativity is almost spent, so I really pushed myself to get some unique shots for Bre and Chris! That night time rain photo is one of my favorite images I’ve ever taken in the past decade!

Bre and Chris have a sweet, fierce love for each other, finding their solace in music and each other. It was a perfect fit having their wedding showcase their love of music that she said “became their identity” as a couple. The band Motionless in White is their favorite, and the couple incorporated some of their favorite anthems into their details, from the concert ticket Save-the-Dates to the record decor at the reception!

I was so honored to be able to document all the special touches that made the day so very personal to both of them. And I would be lying if I said I wasn’t excited to photo a bride with blue and purple hair!!

My husband Brandon served as the officiant and DJ, and we had a wonderful time celebrating the occasion in the laid-back, casual venue. I love when couples trust that their vision and their heart will show up in their wedding photos, and I think we all had the best day doing just that.

The Allegheny County Courthouse is a great place to elope in Pittsburgh with beautiful spots to commemorate the occasion. My husband Brandon is a licensed officiant, and we often offer ceremony and photo packages for courthouse elopements.

The first step in eloping is applying for your marriage license. If you’re wanting to elope in Allegheny County, such as at the courthouse featured here, you’ll want to check out the specifics for obtaining a marriage license at the button below. You will want to plan a bit ahead as there is a several day waiting process between the time you apply for a license and the time it is issued.

The most challenging thing about eloping at the Allegheny County Courthouse is parking. Since it is in the heart of downtown, street parking can be challenging but there are a number or nearby parking garages that you can park in, though expect to pay upwards of $20 for parking in them.

There are no special permits required to photograph in the courthouse, so it is easy to get some beautiful photos on the grand staircase that show off the amazing architecture in the courthouse. Every time I’ve been there it’s been pretty deserted as well, so you won’t have to worry about crowds of people bombing your photos.

If you’re looking for a fast and budget friendly way to elope while still having the opportunity for some pretty wedding photos, this might be the right fit for you!

The Children's Museum and Museum Lab are excellent venues if you're looking for a unique place to have your wedding! Angela and Jeremy decided to celebrate in the lower level of the museum, having their ceremony in the studio room and their reception in the ballroom.

The top floor of the museum features a water play floor, which has floor to ceiling glass that lends itself to great natural light for portraits. Something to note, though, is that the museum doesn’t close its doors to the public during normal operating hours, so if you’re going to have photos done throughout the museum, it’s best to plan that for later in the day.

The ceremony space gets cleared out by the venue staff, giving enough room to seat a small to mid-sized wedding crowd, and the pink and orange ribbons that hang from the ceiling make for a fun and colorful addition to your wedding photos!

Next door, the Museum Lab offers great landscaping and architectural options if you’re looking for a more traditional and classic backdrop for wedding photos, and the beautiful rooms inside the Museum Lab building are a great spot for some timeless photos if the venue isn’t being rented out for another wedding.

Cocktail hour is typically held in the lobby of the museum, which provides plenty of space for guests to mingle among standing tables while the ballroom is set up for the reception.

The reception space in the Children’s Museum is laid out in a great way that will have your dance floor packed. As a long rectangular shaped room, guests are seated at the far ends, with the dance floor in the middle. Because the entire width of the room is taken up by the dance floor, it really pushes guests together in a good way to ensure the floor is packed with activity all night long.

If you’re looking for a unique venue in Pittsburgh with both whimsy and opportunities for more classic and traditional portraits, Children’s Museum is definitely it!

Winter weddings at Sunnehanna Country Club are the perfect way to celebrate in the off-season and close to home. While braving the cold might not be for the feint of heart, the stunning photos and great lighting are well worth the chilly hands and toes. Drs. Michelle and Matthew Warren are both Chiropractors in Greensburg, PA, and even though they attended school and met each other in sunny warm Florida, they were more than happy to embrace the snow on their perfect January wedding day.

We started the day at the beautiful Sunnehanna County Club in Westmont, PA. Arguably the “nicest” wedding venue in Cambria County, Sunnehanna was the perfect size for housing all their friends and family while still giving everyone room to spread out in the wings of the building that housed cookies, drinks, and late night pizza. The lobby of the country club features stunning light and beautiful high arched windows that lent a timeless class to Michelle’s bridal portraits and first look with her dad Chip.

Once the last button was buttoned, it was time to leave for the ceremony at St. Mary’s Byzantine Catholic Church. Those that know my style and personality know that I ADORE color and… wow. St. Mary’s was something out of a dream for me. Surrounded by rich Iconography, vibrant colors and breathtaking architecture, it was a church like no other I’ve seen (and I’ve seen a few). The ceremony went flawlessly and we were able to get some great family portraits on the steps of the altar.

Family is super important to both Matthew and Michelle, and we made sure to plan in some time to allow the wedding couple to actually talk to their guests. After the ceremony we headed to Michelle’s parents house for a stunning display of appetizers and refreshments, even snapping a “family whiskey shot” of special imported Canadian whiskey to commemorate the occasion. Happily the couple’s dogs Kona and Oakley were there too, and we were able to get some sweet shots of them with their mom and dad!

Since the sun sets relatively early in January, we hurried back to Sunnehanna around 4pm and started bridal party portraits outside. Immense respect to those guys and gals who walked across the frozen greens in heels and slippery dress shoes and endured the -1 windchill. It’s times like these that I’m very grateful for my 12 years experience and for an awesome fellow paparazzi team Corey, Jen, and Tommy (check them out below!). We were able to bust out bridal party photos, individuals with each bridal party member, and a sizable array of bride and groom portraits in under 45 minutes.

The brides mom Loraine George, with the help of Theresa Palmer of Rose of Sharon Florals in Clymer, transformed the ballroom at Sunnehanna into a beautiful, warm, and elegant vision where guests were excited to linger and party the night away. Top Dog productions ensured the dance floor was packed all evening, blending songs effortlessly and keeping the vibe hype.

I was so grateful to be a part of this day! Each season has such beauty, and I’m so happy Michelle and Matt embraced the beauty of a winter wedding! Special thanks as well to the amazing vendor team below:

• Gown: MB Bride

• Hair: M&M Hair Design & Tan

• Makeup: M&M Hair Design & Tan

• Bridesmaids Dresses: Revelry

• Tuxes or Suits: Miller’s Tuxedo Rental and Sales

• Rings: Precious Metals & Diamonds Co.

• Invitations, Menu Cards: Basic Invite, Truly Engaging

• Florals: Rose of Sharon Floral Shop

• Cake: Paulette’s Cakes

• Ceremony: St. Mary’s Byzantine Catholic Church, Johnstown

• Venue/Catering: Sunnehanna Country Club

• DJ: Top Dog Productions

• Videographer: This Year Photo Co.

• Second Shooter: Tommy Seibert, T&T Photography

• Decor: Bride’s mom Loraine George!