Event center’s second venue offers open-air barn

June 5, 2019

A second barn for weddings and other gatherings has opened at an event venue west of Harrisburg.

The Veranda by Meadow Barn offers seating for up to 250 guests in a building that’s completely open on the north side, leading to the area for outdoor ceremonies. It’s available for events from May through October, said Katie Jones, who owns the business with her husband, Greg. The first weddings were Memorial Day weekend.

“We love the style of the building,” Jones said. “It goes very well with our brand.”

The post and beam structure offers a modern-farmhouse look compared with Meadow Barn at Country Orchards, which is rustic. That building, which is enclosed and seats up to 400, opened in 2016.

Last year, the Meadow Barn was booked every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from May through October, Jones said.

“We were turning people down,” she said, so they knew there was a need that could be filled. They bought adjoining land to the east along 273rd Street and started construction last summer.

“We wanted something similar to Meadow Barn but different,” Jones said.

For the interior design, they turned to Megan Peterson Interiors, who provided them with a white interior and “more industrial” black lighting and fixtures.

The groom’s room features comfortable seating, a mounted buffalo head and a tap for beer.

Upstairs, the bride’s room features a Juliet balcony overlooking the seating area. There’s a makeup and hair area, a wide full-length mirror and comfortable seating.

The west side of the building, which includes the rooms for the bride and groom and bathrooms, is enclosed and features heating and cooling systems.

The ceremony area is set in an apple orchard, with brides crossing a bridge over a water feature as part of their walk down the aisle.

After a meal, guests can spill out from the main seating area in the barn to a patio featuring a gas fireplace.

If it’s a hot day, the barn has fans to help with air flow, and on a chillier day, event planners can bring in space heaters.

Jones said brides who booked the venue before it was built have told her the finsihed project has exceeded their expectations. She’s also getting positive feedback from grooms: “The reaction is definitely more excited than I’ve gotten with Meadow Barn.”

Weddings are filling up the calendar.

“This year is pretty well booked up,” Jones said. “Next year, most of the Saturdays are filling up quickly. Then we’ll start filling up Fridays and then hope to get some Sundays.”

The Veranda can be booked for all types of gatherings, Jones said.

“This would be a great company picnic place,” she said.

Later this  summer, the couple plans to host special events such as wine tastings that will be open to the public.

“We want to show off the venue, so people can get to enjoy the space.”

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Event center’s second venue offers open-air barn

The Veranda by Meadow Barn, which hosted its first weddings Memorial Day weekend, offers an open-air venue for gatherings of all types.

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