Book a Farm Stay or Rustic Wedding at These Florida Agritourism Spots
This article first appeared in Florida Farm & Family.
Florida may be known for its relaxing beaches and exhilarating theme parks, but for couples and families seeking a more pastoral respite, picturesque farms are worth exploring. Florida farms are opening their barn doors for couples seeking the perfect wedding venue, families and other travelers.
Here’s a roundup of Florida-based farms ideal for weddings, overnight stays and other gatherings.
See more: Florida Agritourism Activities Provide Fun on the Farm Every Season
Florida Farm Wedding Venues
Belle Oaks Barn
Run by lovebirds Doug and Michelle Green, this scenic retreat is a charming place to proclaim your love, with spacious bridal and groom suites. Couples can say “I do” at the bandshell stage, covered bridge, gazebo (with swings), pond pavilion or classic white chapel. Then, unleash your bridal party animals for a barn reception where all can join the twosome for the two-step.
Santa Fe River Ranch
Alachua County Farm Bureau member Alan Hitchcock loves both agriculture and, well, love. And his 2,500-acre cattle farm uniquely unites the two. Couples dreaming of greener pastures through marital bliss can book Santa Fe River Ranch for wedding ceremonies and receptions with picture-perfect backdrops of majestic oak trees and rolling hills. Members of the wedding party, as well as their families, may also stay the night or two in the farmhouses, complete with bridal suites and groom’s rooms.
The Barn at Cottonwood Ranch
The serene vibe of this working farm is utterly breathtaking, with 759 acres of pristine ponds, lush trees, Angus cattle and open spaces that’ll match the intimate setting of your dreams. Constructed with lumber sourced right from the property itself, the main hall is ornately decorated with chandeliers, rich wood, floor-to-ceiling windows, a grand staircase and a stone-top bar. Couples can sneak away with their flame to cozy up by the firepit.
Florida Farm Stays
Diamond Oaks Farm
Enjoy 25 acres of serenity and beauty when staying at Diamond Oaks Farm lodgings or your own RV at the campsites. Guests can enjoy an array of horseback riding options, whether boarding their horse for one or more nights or riding one of the friendly dude ranch horses. Schedule a private horse ride or countryside carriage with a career equestrian teacher and competitor as your guide. Trails or hourlong lessons are also available from beginner riding to working equitation or dressage training from a Prix St. George-level accomplished rider.
Goat House Farm
It’s been nearly a decade since this micro goat dairy and educational farm branched into agritourism. If you just want to dip your little piggies into a farm experience, opt for a day class like Yoga with Goats or Hang Out With The Herd. But if you’re ready to rough it near beautiful Lake Talquin, plan to camp, glamp or cozy into a cabin at Goat House Farm. Enjoy a fire ring, U-pick produce when in season, grill and small bath house. The property’s welcome crew includes chickens, a hog and barn cats.
Smoakhouse Ranch Farm
The Smoakhouse Ranch is a whimsical, wooded wonderland with three country cottage rentals. Each features air conditioning, a modern kitchen, comfy slumber and large decks to take in the scenery. On these 40 acres lined by ancient pecan trees, pick fresh seasonal fruit, fish in the pond, and meet cows, donkeys, horses, chickens and other farm friends. Smoakhouse Ranch is near Ichetucknee Springs State Park, which is recognized as Florida’s best tubing destination.
See more: 5 Fantastic Florida Agritourism Destinations
Two Grooms Farm
A working dairy goat farm, Two Grooms invites guests to bunk inside an actual barn decorated with shabby-chic furnishings and all the amenities a guest could need. Couples, and even their little chickadees, flock to the attractive fields to play with and feed friendly goats, which help Two Grooms Farm make handmade goat milk soap and other artisanal products. Turkeys, hens, roosters and donkeys also roam about the grounds at this farm retreat, and horses are seen galloping on surrounding pastures. A propane barbecue grill, RV port and hookups, firepit, hammock, and swings are also on-site.
Wonderfield Farm and Retreat
Near the Flying Eagle Preserve rests the quaint 66-acre sanctuary of Wonderfield Farm and Retreat. Once called the Banes Grove, the fresh air of this wide-open space is sweetly scented by citrus trees. While you can book a cottage or farmhouse, the glamping village offers the most memorable stay. Thanks to alluring, sustainable canvas tents with custom decks, visitors are always over the moon about this stargazing spot. Wonderfield’s solar-powered lodging includes outdoor showers, firepits, organic farming and old Florida charm.