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Planning Your Ohio Barn Wedding on a Budget
- Adrienne Barnes
- Feb 16
- 5 min read
Updated: Jun 3
Planning your dream wedding can be one of the most exciting times in your life, but it can also feel overwhelming—especially when it comes to managing costs. The good news? A memorable and beautiful wedding doesn’t have to break the bank. By prioritizing what truly matters and making strategic choices, you can celebrate your special day in style without stretching your budget too thin.
At The Old Barns at Dry Run Farms, we understand the importance of balancing quality with affordability. Our transparent pricing, flexible packages, and included amenities ensure couples can create a meaningful and stress-free celebration while staying within their budget. Here are our top cost-saving tips and how our venue can make your dream wedding both magical and cost-effective.
1. Choose a Venue with Inclusive Amenities
One of the best ways to save on your wedding is to select a venue that provides everything you need. Many venues charge additional fees for essentials like tables, chairs, cleaning, or parking, but we include all these and more in our pricing.
With both our Full Weekend Package and Create Your Own Package, you’ll receive:
Exclusive use of our 70-acre property, complete with picturesque ceremony and photo opportunities.
High-end wood farm tables and cross-back chairs that are so beautiful, you can skip table linens.
Climate-controlled spaces for comfort year-round, accommodating up to 280 guests.
Built-in sound systems, smart TVs for displaying photos, and a fire pit area for cozy evening gatherings.
By choosing a venue that provides these amenities upfront, you can save on rental costs and logistics while enjoying a seamless planning experience.
2. Extend Your Celebration for More Value
A single day can feel rushed, which is why many couples choose multi-day celebrations. Our Deluxe Full Weekend Wedding Package offers exclusive access to the property from Thursday at 4 PM until Sunday at noon, allowing you to take your time and fully enjoy the experience.
The weekend package includes accommodations in two overnight barns for up to 20 guests—perfect for housing your bridal party or out-of-town family. Having your closest loved ones onsite eliminates the need for additional hotel bookings and allows for extra time to relax, decorate, and savor every moment. Hosting your rehearsal and rehearsal dinner at the venue (included with the full weekend package) saves time and the cost of renting an additional space.
3. Select Off-Peak Dates or Seasons
Did you know you can save thousands by choosing a wedding date during the off-season? Our winter pricing (December through April) is significantly lower than peak-season rates.
Full Weekend Package: $13,500 (winter) vs. $15,000–$16,300 (summer and fall).
Create Your Own Package: $9,000 (winter) vs. $10,000–$11,000 (summer and fall).
Winter weddings also bring a unique charm; imagine exchanging vows by our towering indoor fireplace or under twinkling lights in the cozy barn.
4. DIY and Personalize Where It Counts
While some aspects of your wedding are worth splurging on, others can be managed cost-effectively with a bit of creativity. With our flexible open vendor policy, you can select budget-friendly caterers, florists, and décor options that align with your vision. You can check out our list of recommended vendors here:
Our decor closet, stocked with table numbers, votives, and signage displays, gives you access to stylish items without needing to purchase them. Plus, our venue’s natural beauty—sprawling sycamore trees, sandstone terraces, and rustic barns—means you’ll need fewer decorations overall.
5. Skip the Linens
High-quality table linens can add up quickly, but here they’re completely optional. To date, none of our couples have felt the need for them. Our stunning farmhouse wood tables look gorgeous on their own, saving you the cost and effort of renting or purchasing linens.
6. Leverage Multi-Functional Spaces
Using one venue for multiple events—ceremony, reception, and rehearsal dinner—saves both time and money. With multiple ceremony locations (indoor and outdoor) and a built-in bar and DJ area, you won’t need to book separate spaces.
For those choosing our Create Your Own Package, you can add Friday access for decorating and rehearsing at a fraction of the cost of a second-day venue rental ($2,000 for all-day access).
7. Opt for a Smaller Guest List
Smaller guest lists naturally reduce costs across the board, from catering to rentals. If you’re leaning toward a more intimate celebration, consider hosting a weekend getaway with just your closest friends and family. Our overnight accommodations—The Carpenter Barn and The Justice Barn—allow you host up to 20 guests onsite.
8. Get Creative with Entertainment
Rather than splurging on elaborate entertainment, create unique experiences using the amenities included in our packages. For example:
Use our 86-inch smart TV to showcase a photo slideshow during the reception or project fun dance videos for the dance floor.
Use our slushy machine for a playful, crowd-pleasing drink option that won’t strain your budget.
Add cozy touches like a group bonfire at our gas fire pit or some friendly competition with our included sets of custom corn hole boards for a weekend everyone will cherish.
9. Choose Transparent Pricing to Avoid Surprises
Hidden fees can quickly derail your budget, so it’s essential to choose a venue with clear, upfront pricing. At The Old Barns at Dry Run Farms, we pride ourselves on honesty and straightforward pricing, so you’ll never be caught off guard by unexpected costs.
From venue access to setup and teardown, what you see is what you get. Plus, with liability insurance available for around $250, you can ensure your big day is protected without breaking the bank.
Budget-Friendly Elegance at The Old Barns at Dry Run Farms
Your dream wedding is closer—and more affordable—than you might think. With intentional planning, thoughtful choices, and a venue like The Old Barns at Dry Run Farms, you can host a celebration that feels luxurious without stretching your budget.
Whether you’re envisioning a cozy weekend escape with loved ones or a one-day celebration packed with charm, our flexible packages and transparent pricing make it possible to create the wedding you’ve always wanted.
Ready to start planning? Schedule a tour today and see how The Old Barns at Dry Run Farms can help you craft an unforgettable, cost-effective budget barn wedding experience.
Thank you for stopping by our blog! We hope that you will consider hiring a locally owned wedding venue for your big celebration. Locally owned wedding venues provide the best wedding experience, they tend to have little to no turnover, they support the local economy and they are part of the community. In an effort to support locally owned wedding venues, we will feature six small business wedding venues in each of our blogs. Find locally owned wedding venues in the wedding venue map on
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