Plan your perfect barn wedding at St. Joe Farm - Vendor Spotlight
The 1,200-acre St. Joe Farm, located on Currant Road in northeast St. Joseph County, features 29 buildings including an historic stanchion dairy barn with ties to the University of Notre Dame dating back more than a century. The land was originally purchased in 1867 by Notre Dame founder and president Rev. Edward Sorin, C.S.C., for $10 an acre, and once served as the sole source of food for the University.
“When we bought the farm, the barn was in its original state, with 30-foot ceilings, 100-year-old beams and the original floor,” says owner Cathy Blum. “When a friend asked if she could have a wedding reception in the barn, it was a lot of fun — and we found out that barn weddings were a big deal.”
The barn was built in 1913 as the original dairy barn for the Brothers of the Holy Cross, Blum says. As a working dairy, the lower level of the barn held 75 cows — the upper level, now used as an event venue, was filled with hay.
Today the barn is an all-inclusive event space, with restrooms and air conditioning, and can comfortably seat up to 275 guests. The barn is used to host wedding receptions, rehearsal dinners, corporate events and private parties.
St. Joe Farm partners with AAYS Event Rentals and Navarre Catering and Events to realize clients’ vision for the perfect event.
AAYS Event Rentals can provide everything from elegant dinnerware, glass and cocktail-ware to color-coordinated table linens, tables and chairs and tents of any size. “They have a huge inventory and can accommodate last minute adjustments” says Molly Anderson, who handles event booking for St. Joe Farm.
Navarre Catering is part of the Navarre Hospitality Group, which has created area restaurants including Café Navarre in South Bend and Artisan in Elkhart. Navarre Catering offers quality seasonal ingredients and a top-notch serving team to create and deliver the right combination of sophisticated food and drink options for any event.
When planning an event, you begin with the number of guests, says Anderson. “We look at venues that can accommodate the number, and the style of event. Most brides are driven by the style. If they’re envisioning a farm venue, that drives the rest of the equation — it’s up to you to decide the style, the look and the budget, from crystal chandeliers and silver candelabra to wood boxes, burlap and mason jars of wildflowers on the tables. The barn is your venue to make your own.”
Blum adds, “Most of our events are wedding receptions, but we can also plan touches such as outdoor wedding ceremonies taking place in a field of clover. Every wedding looks different, working with AAYS as our event partner. It’s not cookie cutter. Hospitality for us is paramount — making everything as perfect as possible.”
In addition to event spaces, St. Joe Farm also offers Blums Barn Loft, a three-level private apartment that sleeps 14 guests. The space includes a great room with a 35-foot cathedral ceiling and original barn beams, two full bathrooms, four bedrooms and a fully-stocked modern kitchen. The Loft is available for wedding parties and guests, but is also available for rentals year-round. Visit https://blumsbarnloft.com/ for information and rates.
The property’s historic Round Barn is under development for 2019 — the facility will be used for ceremonies and smaller events such as cocktail parties.
St. Joe Farm (www.stjoefarm.com)
52682 Currant Road, Granger, IN 46530
Call: 574-360-3338
Email events@stjoefarm.com
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Call or email to schedule a private tour of the facilities any time through the calendar year. For a list of preferred vendors, visit https://www.stjoefarm.com/partnering-vendors/.
Written by: Carol C. Bradley
Photography - Westley Leon Studios | Florals - Floradashery | Design + Decor - AAYS Event Rentals
