April 2, 2020

Vendor Series: Barns of Madison County

Welcome to the vendor series! I’m highlighting wedding vendors in the Shenandoah Valley and bringing them directly to you. We’re getting to know the vendors, learning about their businesses, and answering your questions so you can include them in your big day. This week we’re highlighting The Barns of Madison County, a beautiful venue in Etlan, Virginia. It’s run by Allison Wagner, the sweetest woman you’ll ever meet. Keep reading to learn all about Allison and operating the venue!

The Beginnings of The Barns of Madison County

Allison never meant to run a wedding venue. The opportunity fell onto her lap after some guidance. After Allison, her sister, and another friend were all married in rustic barns, her interest was peaked. Her business partner Robert is good friends with the owners of the property, and when they went out on a visit to see the barns they knew the potential. She fell in love with the views and the town. They talked to the owners and easily sealed the deal.

Before working with the barns, Allison stayed at home with her son and occasionally worked at the hair salon she used to work at. Robert and her mother co-own the hair salon, so everyone works full time and is pretty busy. The barns are their escape from Northern Virginia and the opportunity to do something new. Allison has always enjoyed being outside and being with family and friends, so this was a perfect way to further enjoy her life.

The owners were grateful that their property would be looked after and would be used to bring joy to so many people. They own 340 acres, and when you’re at the barns, everything you see is theirs. The barns and house have been here since the 1800s, and before Allison came along they were mainly used for storage. The owners don’t get to visit as much as they’d like, so Allison and Robert keep up on the property for them and keep an eye on things. It’s a win-win-win situation for the property owners, Allison and Robert, and all the people who get to visit the barn for weddings.

The Venue

“My favorite part, it probably sounds cliche and cheesy, but is actually being a part of something so big for a couple,” said Allison. “I mean, knock on serious wood, everyone’s always pretty happy. Just being able to be a part of their big day and also getting to know the couples and vendors. I’ve met some really cool people. And it’s funny because like, I really do miss like my 2019 people.”

Allison is also proud of the barn itself. The Barns of Madison County stand out because they are truly authentic. They have rich history that spans hundreds of years, there’s etchings in the wood from the 1940s, and there’s a real old and rustic feeling. The barns attract those who appreciate this kind of authenticity and can love them for their beauty.

The barns also stand out because of their location. There’s mountain scenery in every direction and beautiful rolling hills and forests and pastures at every turn. They’re very isolated in the middle of Shenandoah, so when you’re out there you can be present in the moment with your family and friends. The venue truly embodies the meaning of unplugged.

“It’s just you, the cows, and the mountains,” said Allison.

The cows in the pastures next to the venue

Working with Brides

When a couple is interested in having their wedding at the barns, Allison strongly encourages them to do an in-person tour. FaceTime tours work as well if you’re further away.

“I want the barns to be a good fit,” said Allison. “I’m not here to make a sale. I want you to be happy. You need to come and see things in person. I also like to meet people.”

After the tour, Allison sends them a contract and the directions for paying a non refundable deposit that goes towards the cost of the wedding. If you’re interested in having your wedding, book quickly! The Barns only accept around 15 weddings per year. With no AC or heat, wedding season is limited to just the spring and fall months. At 13 weddings already for 2020, the barns are looking great for this wedding season.

Dana and Pauline's wedding at the Barns of Madison County in 2019

Running a Venue

As most venue owners know, running a venue is not easy. Allison is proud of how much they’ve done and she loves the work. She’s also not afraid to say just how much work it was. One of the things she is proudest of is that they’re now just in the maintenance part of running a venue and no longer in the building part. They started working on the barns in 2016, started advertising a year later, and finally had their first wedding a year after that. Now it’s smoother sailing, but still challenging work.

“You’ve got to go with the flow of things because on a wedding day you’re going to be thrown different things or someone might kind of bend the rules,” said Allison. “I try to be pretty fluid and accommodating for people. It’s just kind of whatever the day gives you because I can’t really say this wedding is going to be the same as the next week. Just be kind and be prepared. For instance, I had a food vendor who didn’t have any extension cords and even a bartender with no corkscrew for the wine. So I have things here like that. And I’m like, boom, boom, boom, here you go.”

Even when you are prepared for everything, life still throws you surprises. Allison said that her most memorable moment was the hail storm that blew through during Dana and Pauline’s wedding. It lasted less than an hour, but it was so strong that it created a waterfall off the tent and targeted the DJ’s table. It was a wild few hours, but Allison and her team handled it with grace.

Allison with her string lights at the venue

Advice for Couples

Allison’s biggest advice for couples planning their wedding is to not sweat the small stuff.

“I always joke with couples that come in. I tell them I spent $400 on string lights to go around these poles in my venue. And let me tell you how many people noticed my stupid string lights. I could totally have done so much with $400! People sweat the little details, but I promise you that guests don’t even notice,” said Allison. “Guests remember the big things, like the scenery or the venue itself and what makes it different from all the other weddings that they’ve been to. So yeah, don’t sweat the small stuff.”

Allison hung those string lights in the barn for her brides to use. She also offers all of her other decor for brides to use so they don’t have to spend more money.

Allison also gives advice on marriage. “Pick and choose your battles,” she said. “I feel like in life there will be plenty of times to battle and sometimes you just gotta let things go. Have fun together. I think that life can get away or things can get monotonous.”

She suggests going out to dinner on a regular basis to have a refresher because dating is fun! I’m sure it’ll be even more fun now that they’ve just welcomed a second baby into the family.