Congratulations on your engagement! As you begin the exciting journey of planning your wedding, one of the first questions that may arise is, “How can we have an amazing wedding and stay within budget?” At The Barn at Cedar Grove, we understand that every couple wants to create their dream day without breaking the bank. Nestled in the heart of Kentucky, our beautiful venue offers a variety of options to ensure your wedding is both unforgettable and cost-effective.

Your Wedding Vision: Tailored to Your Budget

Every couple has a unique wedding vision, and your budget plays a key role in making that vision a reality. Whether you’re dreaming of a small, intimate ceremony or a grand celebration with all your loved ones, our customizable packages ensure you get exactly what you want without overspending.

Small Weddings and Elopements: Intimate and Affordable

For couples seeking a more intimate celebration, we offer affordable elopement packages starting as low as $600 on a weekday. These smaller ceremonies focus on what truly matters—your love and commitment. With fewer guests, you can allocate your budget to the elements that are most meaningful to you, like photography or a honeymoon. Prefer a small all-inclusive wedding, we do that too!

Tip: Consider a weekday or Sunday wedding. These dates are typically more budget-friendly, and they often allow you to work with top-notch vendors who may already be booked on Saturdays. This could mean significant savings!

Why Rural Venues Deliver More Value

Choosing a venue in a rural setting like The Barn at Cedar Grove has numerous benefits, especially when it comes to your budget. Here’s how we help you maximize your budget without sacrificing quality:

1. All-Inclusive Packages with No Surprises

City venues may charge extra for essentials like tables, chairs, linens, and setup—fees that can quickly add up. At The Barn at Cedar Grove, our all-inclusive packages cover everything from day-of coordination to decor options, ensuring you have everything you need with no unexpected fees. By bundling services, we save you both time and money, and our network of trusted local vendors can offer you discounts that stretch your budget even further, not to mention peace of mind.

2. A Naturally Stunning Venue

Our venue’s charm speaks for itself. With its rustic, antique barn and picturesque surroundings, minimal decor is needed to create a magical atmosphere. Plus, our inventory of trending decorations can save you hundreds—or even thousands—on flowers and additional decor.

3. Flexible Catering Options

Catering is often one of the largest wedding expenses, but we make it easy to stay within your budget. Most of our couples opt for buffet-style meals, which are not only cost-effective but also customizable. Whether you prefer a classic spread or something more unique, like tacos or pasta, our catering partners can bring your vision to life at a price that fits your budget.

The DIY Option:

While our all-inclusive packages offer convenience and savings, we also understand that some couples may prefer a more DIY approach. If you choose our DIY package, you have the flexibility to bring in your own vendors and decorate the space yourself. This option can allow you to put a personal touch on your day, but it often comes with additional expenses that aren’t always apparent at first glance. It's easy to underestimate the cost and time required to to hire vendors and organize all the details. Keep in mind that all catering and bartending must be handled by certified and insured professionals. We strongly encourage choosing vendors from our list of trusted vendors.

While the DIY route may appear to be more affordable at first, many couples find that the costs and time commitments involved can be higher than expected. This is where our all-inclusive packages provide better value. By bundling services like catering, setup/tear-down, and planning and day-of coordination, we make it easier to stay on budget and avoid any surprises, allowing you to focus on enjoying your day.

The Costs You Didn’t Know You Were Avoiding

Planning a wedding often comes with hidden expenses. At The Barn at Cedar Grove, we help you save time, money, and stress by including many essentials with your package:

1. Trending Decorations Included

All of our packages include access to our inventory of trending decorations, saving you the hassle and expense of purchasing, transporting, and reselling decor. Even if you bring in some personal touches, this benefit significantly reduces your costs.

• All-Inclusive Packages: Our team handles all the decorating for you, ensuring every detail is picture-perfect.
• DIY Packages: You’re responsible for decorating, but having access to our decor inventory eliminates the need to buy everything from scratch.

Either way, you avoid the hassle of transporting and removing decor, a major cost-saver in both time and effort.

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2. Setup and Tear-Down

All packages include the setup and tear-down of venue essentials, such as tables, chairs, and trash removal. However, it’s important to note that decorating and taking down personal decor are not included in our DIY packages. With DIY, you’ll handle decorating and removing your items.

3. Venue Staffing vs. Day-of Coordination

Every event is supported by our onsite venue team, who ensure the venue runs smoothly. They take care of:

• Trash removal.
• Supporting your vendors.
• Ensuring the couple and guests have what they need.

If you want someone to oversee the wedding timeline, manage details, and troubleshoot, day-of coordination is:

• Included in our all-inclusive packages, providing comprehensive service for a stress-free experience.
• Available à la carte for DIY packages, so you can add support based on your needs and budget.

This service ensures every detail is managed so you can focus on enjoying your day.

4. Access to Trusted Vendors

With our all-inclusive packages, you’ll also save on the costs and uncertainty of vetting vendors. These packages include experienced professionals such as:

• A DJ.
• Photographer.
• Catering team.
• Licensed bartender(s).

Not only does this remove the stress of finding reliable vendors, but it also reduces logistical challenges since our team works seamlessly with these trusted professionals.

Escaping the City: A Budget-Friendly Adventure

Hosting your wedding outside the city offers more than just financial benefits—it’s an opportunity to create a relaxed, memorable experience for you and your guests:

1. A Peaceful, Stress-Free Environment

There’s something magical about the countryside—its quiet charm and natural beauty create the perfect setting for a stress-free celebration. Your guests will appreciate the slower pace and the chance to connect with nature.

2. A Destination Without the Price Tag

While many couples from the city may not consider a rural wedding a traditional destination, The Barn at Cedar Grove offers the best of both worlds: a scenic getaway without the added costs of airfare or long-distance travel. Your guests can enjoy a mini-vacation while still being close to home. If they wish to stay overnight nearby we offer Airbnb homes next door and our closest hotels are only 15 minutes away.

3. Endless Activities for Guests

Our location near the Bourbon Trail, Mammoth Cave, and other Kentucky landmarks means there’s plenty for your guests to explore before and after your wedding. Pairing your big day with local attractions creates an unforgettable experience for everyone involved. Not to mention our quaint small town shops and eateries close by.

What Our Couples Say

Here’s what couples who trusted us with their big day have to say:

“The Barn at Cedar Grove was the best decision I could have made for a venue for our wedding. It doesn’t get any more beautiful than this venue!! The barn staff is SO incredibly helpful with things you wouldn’t even think you would need help with on your wedding day. They made the whole day go smoothly and are so kind and welcoming! I appreciate how parking is separate and staff shuttle your guests to the barn, they have a brides and grooms quarters for getting ready, and SO MANY decorations to choose from which saved me so much time and money!!! Long story short, this place is 100/10 and you won’t regret your decision if you book here!” – Rebecca - Bride

“We chose this location because of the beauty of the property as well as the variety of options. We chose an all inclusive package as we were 7 hours from the venue. Everything was taken care of for us. They listened to our wishes and went above and beyond to meet our needs. They created a magical day for my daughter and her husband and we are forever grateful. We highly recommend Amy and her team.” – Phyllis - Mother of the Bride

“There are not enough good things to say about this place. It's beyond beautiful and nothing short of magical. Amy and her team have been so extremely wonderful and helpful by helping us plan. They are very quick to respond any time we had any questions. I cannot recommend The Barn enough. Be sure to check out the airbnb's too! My husband and I stayed at The Lakehouse and it was the PERFECT getaway. It was so peaceful and beautiful. We will definitely be back!!” – Morgan & Blaine

Let’s Plan Your Dream Wedding

At The Barn at Cedar Grove, we’re passionate about helping couples create beautiful weddings that fit their budget. Whether you’re envisioning a small, intimate ceremony or a grand celebration, we have options to suit your needs.

Contact us today to schedule a tour or learn more about our packages. Let’s work together to make your wedding as unique and special as your love story.

📧 amy@barnatcedargrove.com

📞 Call/Text: (270) 378-1915

🌐 Visit: barnatcedargrove.com

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Thank you so much for stopping by our blog, we hope you found this information helpful. We want to use our blog to increase awareness and support for locally owned wedding venues. Locally owned wedding venues tend to provide a higher level of expertise, service and dedication. They also have far less turnover than corporate owned or investor owned venues. As you plan your wedding we hope you will consider a locally owned wedding venue like ours. You can find locally owned wedding venues on this wedding venue map. Below is a shout out to fellow locally owned wedding venues around the country! Check out some of our friends across the United States:

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Adler Ranch in Alexandria, Minnesota

Legacy Farms in Lebanon, Tennessee

Rosie Creek Farms in Panama City, Florida

The Ironwood Barn at VonErich Ranch in Boerne, Texas

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