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The Most Beautiful Spots Around Chicago for a Barn Wedding

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When everybody you know lives and works within the city's concrete confines, it's nice to step back from the noise and experience a big day without any other distractions. So you may be thinking that an outdoor wedding... maybe a barn in the country would be ideal? Well, grab the groom and call a cab for the long haul to the North Shore because we've found your solution. We've rounded up the five best barn wedding venues just a hop, skip and a jump outside of the city.


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Byron ColbyĀ Barn

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The Byron Colby Barn in Grayslake, IL sits modestly on quiet pastures since the good ole days in 1885. The barn itself was recently restored in 1996 and has become one of the hot new Chicago venues for outdoor weddings. It's part of the Prairie Crossing community which boasts an echelon organic market, charter school, 5,800 acre prairie reserve and horse stables with pastures. It's a kind of timeless elegance place where Up to 220 guests can can meander in the fresh air throughout the property. If weather permits, guests can enjoy the adjacent brick courtyard with tables and benches rather than only experiencing the gazebo for the ceremony, and the barn for the reception.

Oak HillĀ Farm

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It's located on a quiet road with an address that Google Maps doesn't even recognize, but this storybook setting on secluded estate of 172 acres with lush gardens, majestic oak trees is nothing less than impressive. The 1890’s renovated Barnhouse, 1851 one-room schoolhouse, 1800’s General Store and, 1868 St. John’s Chapel are all buildings available for your wedding party to use.

WagnerĀ Farm

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In in the middle of Glenview, the last active farm (yup, cows and all) on the North Shore is now owned and operated by the Glenview Park District for educational purposes. Have your wedding on a picturesque 18.6 acres of Midwest prairie, ponds, livestock and a restored Heritage Center Barn. Catered by Design, the preferred event company for the venue has dressed up, and dressed down the barn and organized details like custom china, boutique linens, and florals--all according to the couple's specs.

Blue DressĀ Farm

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Two hours from Chicago, just a mile from the teeny tiny Southwest Regional Michigan Airport, The Blue Dress Barn lies in the middle of silence at GPS coordinates N42 07.608 W86 21.906. The Blue Dress Farm, affiliated with Millcreek Barns in Watervliet, MI, features the historic House of David Dairy Barn which is being lovingly restored and day by day. The designer-owned landmark seats 280 guests in a 4,600 square foot area under a vast open timber roof lit by wrought iron chandeliers. In the gardens are tables beneath shade umbrellas, chairs and benches around fires where you'll be able to hear the crickets on a warm summer night.

County LineĀ Orchard

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If an orchard in Northwest Indiana is more romantic than the shores of Michigan, a fall fixture about 100 miles outside of the City, County Line Orchard is where you should host your wedding. The venue is traditionally an apple orchard known for cider doughnuts and a large newly-constructed rustic-chic barn, though is often converted for large weddings. The barn holds up to 1,000 guests and staffs a wedding coordinator year-round to work with your city-based planner or handle all the details locally at the orchard--down to the garnish on the cocktails. The exciting part about this venue is not that they offer apple doughnut appetizers, but the ceremonies can take place within the apple orchard itself. Autumn wedding--HELLO! Guests are brought out on the field on a special tractor ride and wait on the tractor to watch the bride and groom exchange vows beneath an arch made of apple tree wood. This means you can wear heels because you'll never set foot on grass.

Byron ColbyĀ Barn

The Byron Colby Barn in Grayslake, IL sits modestly on quiet pastures since the good ole days in 1885. The barn itself was recently restored in 1996 and has become one of the hot new Chicago venues for outdoor weddings. It's part of the Prairie Crossing community which boasts an echelon organic market, charter school, 5,800 acre prairie reserve and horse stables with pastures. It's a kind of timeless elegance place where Up to 220 guests can can meander in the fresh air throughout the property. If weather permits, guests can enjoy the adjacent brick courtyard with tables and benches rather than only experiencing the gazebo for the ceremony, and the barn for the reception.

Oak HillĀ Farm

It's located on a quiet road with an address that Google Maps doesn't even recognize, but this storybook setting on secluded estate of 172 acres with lush gardens, majestic oak trees is nothing less than impressive. The 1890’s renovated Barnhouse, 1851 one-room schoolhouse, 1800’s General Store and, 1868 St. John’s Chapel are all buildings available for your wedding party to use.

WagnerĀ Farm

In in the middle of Glenview, the last active farm (yup, cows and all) on the North Shore is now owned and operated by the Glenview Park District for educational purposes. Have your wedding on a picturesque 18.6 acres of Midwest prairie, ponds, livestock and a restored Heritage Center Barn. Catered by Design, the preferred event company for the venue has dressed up, and dressed down the barn and organized details like custom china, boutique linens, and florals--all according to the couple's specs.

Blue DressĀ Farm

Two hours from Chicago, just a mile from the teeny tiny Southwest Regional Michigan Airport, The Blue Dress Barn lies in the middle of silence at GPS coordinates N42 07.608 W86 21.906. The Blue Dress Farm, affiliated with Millcreek Barns in Watervliet, MI, features the historic House of David Dairy Barn which is being lovingly restored and day by day. The designer-owned landmark seats 280 guests in a 4,600 square foot area under a vast open timber roof lit by wrought iron chandeliers. In the gardens are tables beneath shade umbrellas, chairs and benches around fires where you'll be able to hear the crickets on a warm summer night.

County LineĀ Orchard

If an orchard in Northwest Indiana is more romantic than the shores of Michigan, a fall fixture about 100 miles outside of the City, County Line Orchard is where you should host your wedding. The venue is traditionally an apple orchard known for cider doughnuts and a large newly-constructed rustic-chic barn, though is often converted for large weddings. The barn holds up to 1,000 guests and staffs a wedding coordinator year-round to work with your city-based planner or handle all the details locally at the orchard--down to the garnish on the cocktails. The exciting part about this venue is not that they offer apple doughnut appetizers, but the ceremonies can take place within the apple orchard itself. Autumn wedding--HELLO! Guests are brought out on the field on a special tractor ride and wait on the tractor to watch the bride and groom exchange vows beneath an arch made of apple tree wood. This means you can wear heels because you'll never set foot on grass.