Cloverdale Barn | The Perfect Rustic Winchester Venue
Cloverdale Barn is conveniently just minutes from the heart of downtown Winchester. One of the very first barn venues in the area, this stunning venue will memorize you with its views. Couples will love that their wedding day at Cloverdale Barn is full of both rustic charm and southern hospitality.
Planning on having a larger wedding party? Cloverdale Barn is a great choice.
Couples looking to have a small or larger wedding party will both love the room that is available in the barn! The top of the Barn can host about 200 guests comfortably. This is typically the main area for dancing, dining and cake cutting! In addition, the lower bank of the barn can easily fit 120. This space is perfect for pre or post ceremony refreshments!
These two areas do not flow easily enough to host 300+ guests inside. However, the Barn has an expansive yard surrounding it that would be wonderful for a tented reception! (I do love a tented wedding!) Larger parties will love this option, especially in the warmer months when guests are craving to take a step outside to enjoy the views.
You will love the amenities included at your Cloverdale Barn wedding!
Weddings at Cloverdale include a 12-hour rental for a base fee. Without a doubt, this is one of the biggest benefits that they offer! Do you want more time before our after your big day? Cloverdale has you covered! In addition to having a full day for your wedding celebrations, there is also the option to add on the day before or after your wedding. These additional rental days are available for 1/2 price, too. I highly recommend couples act on this. Specifically, couples who want to host a rehearsal dinner the day before, or those who might need extra time to clean up the day afterwards.
Don’t want to hire a rental company? At Cloverdale couples can also decide on the option to add on items such as:
- tables
- chairs
- bridal cottage
- clean up options
Couples will need to hire a rental for restrooms. However Cloverdale’s only preferred vendor (Johnny Blue of Winchester) is a great option for these. Another key point is that Cloverdale Barn is so spacious that there is ample room for parking, as well as live music!
The history of the venue shows its true test of time.
I had the pleasure of talking to one of the owners of Cloverdale Barn, Claire. She shared so much about the barns history, which she learned from an archeological study done on the land. It is believed that the bank of the barn was built in 1771. As a result of the Civil War it most likely burned down. It was then rebuilt at a later time, because a center beam is engraved with “1869.” The barn was later restored in 1947, and at the time was the largest barn in the county! The locals can still recall memories, as it was used as a gathering place to thresh wheat.
The current owners began the restoration phase in the early 2000’s. Their sons wedding in 2008 was the very first wedding that the barn hosted! Their daughter’s wedding was also in the barn in 2011. This lead to the spark in the family renting Cloverdale as a venue, and ultimately is how it became the fantastic venue it is today!
Claire and her husband had thoughts of expanding and adding more amenities to the venue. However, they decided instead to help their daughter start a second venue, Fox Meadow Barn.
The landscape is the perfect backdrop for the wedding photos of your dreams.
Winchester is undoubtedly a gorgeous place, and the property surrounding Cloverdale takes advantage of all of its best features. With rolling hills, sunflowers and countryside sunsets, there is no limit to photo locations. A few of past couples favorites have included:
- The stone wall of the bank barn
- In front of the two old wood barn sliding doors with the stone walls adjacent
- The willow trees next to the pond (amazing for a ceremony location!)
- The trees on the hill behind the willows (it creates its own natural arbor!)
Of course, the different seasons bring their own beauty to the venue. In the spring, the limestone outcroppings provide a perfect long view. The Locust trees also are always in bloom. There are many Hydrangeas in the spring and summer, Verbena in the spring, and annuals such as white Petunias, Impatiens, and most recently this year, Sunflowers. Those who are a fan of wildflowers are truly in for a treat! Wildflowers such as Mullins, Queen Anne’s Lace, and Chicory, and many others are also found at the Barn. There is even a large Sycamore in the field next to the barn sports beautiful long, curvy branches. Really, the beautiful scenery for your photos is endless!
The owner at Cloverdale Barn turned her childhood dream into a legacy for couples to now enjoy.
When one of the owners, Claire was a child, her favorite place to play was their family barn. She was crushed when in a loading hay accident, it caught on fire and burned to the ground. Her love for barns continued into adulthood, especially since her husband frequents cattle sales in older barns.
After cleaning out the barn and starting its restoration for her sons wedding in the early 2000s, they started hosting family events and get togethers there. The family found it warm and welcoming, and much more practical than their usual tented or yard parties.
“My daughter was determined to have a large wedding. Her wedding in 2010 was so much fun, we thought we would try to rent it! Many were skeptical, including a comment “No one but your children would want to get married in a barn!”
Cloverdale Barn has since then been nominated and won Best Barn in the Shenandoah Valley. At that time they were the only barn in the area, but have since then inspired other venue owners (and perhaps started the trend?). Now many other barns in the surrounding counties have become venues.
I hope you loved reading about this memorable venue!
If you are looking for a perfect place in Winchester to host your rustic yet inviting wedding, look no further! Cloverdale Barn is a spectacular choice, and I highly suggest you reach out to them as soon as possible. The venue takes on between 35-45 weddings per year, so you are going to want to make sure you have your date saved as soon as possible! Are they booked for your date? No worries! Check out their sister venue Fox Meadow Barn.
That being said, also make sure to send me a message so that I am there to capture the most wonderful moments of your wedding day.
Read these other great blogs next: