The Barn at Madison is a unique wedding venue just a short 45 minute drive from Pittsburgh PA, offering a memorable and beautiful setting for smaller weddings. Lovingly restored from near ruins, this barn-turned-restaurant-turned-venue will definitely be something your guests remember!

If you’re looking for a unique venue that’s a little bit rustic, can accommodate overnight guests (aka bridal party), has an outdoor ceremony spot, and has excellent staff, this is your venue! I’ve had the pleasure of working at the Barn at Madison several times now and the weddings are always very smooth running, even in the case of rainy weather like the wedding below! Luckily we were still able to have the ceremony outdoors under a black pergola on the lawn at the back of the venue. Even though this “barn” is located right in a suburban area, it feels secluded with the ample tree cover and landscaping on the property.

It’s important to have great staff and vendors who will communicate and work with each other in case the timing of things need to change, like it did for Kelsey and Mike. We had planned on taking family photos and bridal portraits after the ceremony, but the rain made an appearance and we had to push the plan back a bit. Because the Barn at Madison has a separate space for cocktail hour (downstairs) and dinner (upstairs), guests could easily mingle indoors for cocktail hour, joined by the bride and groom.

Because this venue was once a restaurant and owned by an antique-loving family, there are many unique treasures in every corner, and the architecture makes for very unique wedding photos as well. Couples should keep in mind, though, that the downstairs ceilings are very low and the upstairs dining room can be tight with many tables - this venue definitely works best with a guest list closer to 100!

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