happy wedding couple

Why Melhorn Manor is Your Perfect Barn Wedding Venue

Picking out a wedding venue is a big step for most couples and can sometimes be overwhelming. There are so many factors to take into consideration like size, location, parking, amenities, and a handful of other dynamics as well. If you’re looking for a barn wedding venue, that list of factors probably got even bigger! So, where do you even begin when you’re looking for that perfect place for the big day?

According to The Knot, there are over 500 wedding venues in Lancaster County alone—that’s a lot of choices to make! And if you’re looking to celebrate the rich history that the county has to offer by choosing a barn wedding venue, that list doesn’t get narrowed down by a lot.

Luckily, when you’re looking for the best barn wedding venue in Lancaster County, you don’t have to look any further than Melhorn Manor.

History of Melhorn Manor

Melhorn Manor is the epitome of barn elegance mixed with the rich history that central Pennsylvania has to offer. Dating back over 250 years to 1750, we can proudly say that the property is one of the oldest and most well-maintained historic properties that Lancaster County has to offer.

Formerly a 200+ acre farm, the Melhorn family purchased the property around the turn of the 1900s. Continuing with the farming tradition, the Melhorn’s ran a dairy and horse farm on the property until 1970, when it was converted from an agricultural barn to one for commercial use.

While it has only been a wedding venue since 2017, when it was purchased and renovated by Allory and Jessica Melhorn, the Melhorn Manor property has been an integral part of the community for decades. Now the space has been refined into the premier wedding and event venue it is today and continues to serve the Lancaster community and beyond.

About the Barn Venue

Just because you’re looking for the perfect barn wedding venue, that doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice elegance and taste.

Here at Melhorn, we took the time to renovate and revitalize our historic property to best accommodate all of our guests. We have all of the modern amenities you could want for a wedding, while still capturing the original historic charm of the property and its buildings.

Not only will you find many of the architectural elements from the original barns (wood beams, stone walls, wooden flooring, etc.) still in place, but also many various upgrades. These improvements include year-round climate control (because no one wants their wedding to smell like a hot barn!), elevator access for disabled guests, bright dressing areas for perfect getting-ready photos, and beautiful landscaping for the ideal backdrop to your big day.

Elegant and affordable, here’s a little bit more info about each of our historic buildings.

Stone Farmhouse

As one of the first houses built in Mount Joy, Pa., our stone farmhouse is the embodiment of historical charm. Built in 1750, the building was originally a Stagecoach Inn and makes for an excellent backdrop for photo opportunities. With plenty of natural light and updated amenities, you’ll have plenty of modern features and elegant historic charm around you.

Main Barn

Our Main Barn—or equestrian barn—is a perfect barn wedding venue that is sure to fit all of your needs. Featuring original architectural elements from the 1800s and 1900s, the barn is the perfect combination of elegance and historic charm.

The Main Barn is capable of holding weddings or events for 30 to 300 guests and is entirely climate-controlled for year-round use. Inside the barn, there are two different areas for ceremony locations, as well as suites for the bridal party to get ready in. Our main barn is genuinely one of the best wedding venues in Lancaster County.

Tobacco Barn

Next up is our Tobacco Barn—another charming ceremony or event location at Melhorn Manor. Back when the property was a functioning farm, this building was initially built for drying and storing tobacco leaves. Various renovations were made to it over the years, and can also be used year-round due to its updates.

Corn Barn

Similar to the Tobacco Barn, our Corn Barn also was initially used for storage. Harvested corn and grain was placed in this building and has only been lightly renovated, giving it an even more charismatic appearance.

To keep some of the building’s details intact, this building is only available during the warmer seasons for use. It’s also a smaller space, making it perfect for intimate ceremonies, rehearsal dinners, or smaller gatherings.

Outdoor Wedding Space

A Lancaster County wedding wouldn’t be complete unless you could enjoy some of the countryside and beautiful scenery it has to offer. That’s why we have provided ample space for outdoor areas with well-maintained landscaping. There are perfect photo opportunities all around the property, especially near our gazebo, fountain, or pond.

Parking

Sometimes the biggest hassle of a barn wedding venue is having limited parking. When your venue is at an actual barn, occasionally inclement weather can make the ground unsteady for guests to walk on, or you may have vehicles getting stuck in the mud. At Melhorn Manor, you and your guests won’t have to worry about any of that!

We have over 150 paved and lined parking spaces at our barn wedding venue that are available for you and your guests to use. The venue is handicapped accessible and has eight accessible parking spaces, allowing for easy access on both levels of the barn.

How Melhorn Manor Works With You to Plan Your Wedding Day

The stress of your wedding day can be overwhelming, but Melhorn Manor will work with you to make sure your big day goes as smoothly as possible. The start of making your day magical is the right setting, and when you choose us, you’re already halfway there!

Our barn wedding venue is designed to be a special place, full of exquisite details from the 18th century. We take the history of the past and combine it with modern comforts of the future, all to create the perfect setting.

All-Inclusive Price

To make things easier, our all-inclusive pricing packages include exclusive use of the property on your big day. Tables and chairs are available for your use and set up at no additional charge, and we’ll happily work with any of your other vendors to make sure everything is perfect.

See more on our pricing here and see what package will work best for you.

Don’t Feel Crowded on Your Special Day

One of our favorite features we like to offer here at Melhorn is that we only allow for a single wedding in a day. You’ll never have to worry about being rushed out or running into another wedding party while taking photos. The venue and grounds are all yours to enjoy.

Ready to Schedule a Tour?

If you’re convinced that Melhorn Manor is the barn wedding venue of your dreams, send us a message! You can view our calendar online to see if your wedding date is currently available, and then schedule a time with us to come and tour the grounds in person. We can’t wait to see you soon!