The Meadow Barn FAQs
Click each question about the Meadow Barn below to show the answer.
Rental pricing depends on the date and rental option you choose, and your package includes the venue basics you need to host the day smoothly.
For current pricing and a full breakdown of what’s included (plus optional add-ons), please see the details found here for complete pricing and included items.
400 guests, including the bridal party, is our maximum capacity.
Our availability changes as dates book, so the calendar is always the most accurate place to check. View current open dates below, and if you see a match, reach out with your top date and a backup.
Please see the available dates information here.
We kindly request that all tours are by appointment only so we can give you a full walkthrough and answer your questions without rushing. Request a tour time below (and bring the decision-makers so you’re not touring twice).
To reserve a date, email us at [email protected] saying you are ready to book XYZ date at The Meadow Barn if it is still available along with the Bride and Grooms legal names. We suggest you email us stating you are ready to book your preferred date and then, include a backup date in case your preferred date is unavailable. Prior to booking a date, we hope you are able to come out in person to visit the property. You can request a tour (or a virtual tour if you live out of the area) on our tour request page, but an in-person tour is not required prior to booking a date. Dates are reserved on a first requested basis. Whoever has requested to start the contract process from us by email first for a specific date will be first in line.
When the contract is signed, to continue booking the date, we require 50% of the booking
When the contract is signed, to continue booking the date, we require 50% of the booking fee (non-refundable)to be paid plus a $500 security fee, which is refundable after your event. The final 50% will be required Six months prior to the event. You are welcome to send smaller, partial payments of any amount prior to the specified due date, so in effect creating your own payment plan on your own schedule. Full payment is due by the specified due date based on your wedding date. We also reserve the right to request a credit card on file for any damages to the facility or grounds.
Cash or check is preferred. We can take credit cards but will add a credit card fee for those payments.
That is a great question! In general, we believe the average budget of a couple getting married at The Meadow Barn is between $20,000-$30,000 for all wedding expenses (venue, food, dress, DJ, photographer, etc.). We have had some creative couples with smaller guests lists host beautiful weddings in the $15,000 range, and we have had several lovely events here spending significantly more than the average.
- Venue- $4,500-$6,000
- DJ- 2,500-4,000
- Caterer- $13-$18pp
- Photographer- $2,000-$4,000
- Florist- $500-$4,000
- Dress- $500-$2000
At The Meadow Barn, you will have the whole property from 8 am until 12:30 am for your event. It is likely that we will be hosting a wedding at the Veranda on the same day as it is a separate venue, with its own driveway and parking lot. (May-October)
Yes, The Meadow Barn has a real wood fire pit with plenty of room for everyone to fit around. We will provide the wood and light it for you.
Yes — there are several hotels in southern Sioux Falls that work well for wedding weekends, including options that can shuttle to the venue. After booking, we’ll share our recommended hotel list to make guest planning easier.
We have a limited number of rectangular plastic tables onsite that can be used for your gift table, head table, catering, etc for no additional charge, but not enough for guest seating. You may choose to add wooden farm tables for your layout for an additional fee.
No. The Meadow Barn provides an awesome venue, tables, wooden cross back chairs, ceremony chairs, and bar service. We do require the plastic tables to be covered with linen, and you can get those from any rental company or purchase them yourself. Plates & silverware are typically provided by your caterer of choice.
Your ceremony will be held in the meadow of the apple orchard! The most romantic setting for your outside wedding ceremony. This is a private space surrounded by full-grown apple trees. An arbor and white resin chairs will be provided and set up for your guest count.
In the case of rain, the beautiful inside of the MB can serve as your ceremony space. The setup for this will depend on your guest count, but typically guests sit at their tables and the Meadow Barn team moves the few tables back into place after the ceremony. Our couples have loved this option because it’s a stunning ceremony location and doesn’t require a total room flip other venues require, which would be disruptive to your event.
Because we only host one event per day at The Meadow Barn, our fee structure remains the same whether you hold your ceremony, reception, or both onsite.
We are dog friendly, with some specific stipulations. Dogs are allowed (only with pre-approval by Katie) at the ceremony and pictures. Animals, other than service animals, are NOT allowed on property. Dogs must be on a leash and someone must be responsible for picking up after them other than the bride and groom.
We do not keep a cancellation waiting list because cancellations are unpredictable. As soon as a date does become available, we post in our available dates page.
You will have access to the venue at 8 a.m. as stated on your contract, not earlier. Please plan accordingly and let your vendors know! We have hosted hundreds of weddings and everyone has had plenty of time for hair/make-up/pictures/decorating.
This is such a great question! Unfortunately, if you’re trying to compare venues “apples to apples” we feel like this is a tricky question. Our answer is no. We think it’s possible for the job duties of a “day-of wedding coordinator” to mean something different to you than it does to us, and the last thing we want is the opportunity for miscommunication.
However, we do have a team leader on the property at all times during your big day.
This member of the team is there to help you however they can (getting you a ladder, drinks from the bar, answering questions from your vendors and directing them as necessary, etc.) Their goal is to do everything possible to help your day go smoothly and ensure your day is as stress-free as possible!
But we still don’t consider them a day-of wedding coordinator.
Vendor FAQs
After many years in the business as a vendor at wedding venues, we have chosen to allow our clients to book who they want to! This allows you to book who you love based on preference or budget! We do require that your caterer of choice provide their current Food Service License and their Certificate of Insurance 3 weeks prior to your date. We also do not charge ANY fees for vendors that work your event, so no surprise charges or paying inflated vendor prices because they have to pay a venue fee. We just want great vendors to do what they do best.
No. Many venues have minimums because they make a 10 – 15% commission from the caterer based on how much you spend on food. We choose NOT to make a commission because we want your food options to be as elegant or affordable as your budget allows, and therefore we don’t have a food or guest count minimum. Some caterers may have a reasonable minimum for specific dates.
Planning FAQs
If you’ve already had a private tour, you’re welcome to attend an open house to experience the space again and meet vendors. View upcoming open house dates and RSVP details below.
We suggest starting Friday weddings at 5:00 pm, Saturday weddings between 4:00 – 5:00 pm, and Sunday weddings at 4:00 pm. This leads into a natural dinner time of 6 pm-6:30 pm. Winter times may have to be adjusted based on natural light and times available for outside photos.
We will work with you to form your specific wedding day floor plan and will have all of our tables and chairs set up based on that prior to your arrival on your big day! Set-up and tear-down of your ceremony chairs based on your guest count is also included with the venue.
If you book the one-day rental, the venue will likely be reserved by another couple the night before. For that reason, one-day rentals should plan for an offsite rehearsal. It is a great value to add Thursday nights to a Friday wedding for rehearsal, setup and dinner.
- We are technically in Harrisburg city limits and fireworks are not permitted. We also don’t want to scare the neighbors and we want to keep the fire department happy.
- Sparklers are allowed as a sendoff. We do require that the Meadow Barn team leader be present and that you provide a bucket with water so we can dispose of them properly.
- We do not allow Chinese floating lanterns because of the fire hazard and littering potential.
Yes, we want guests to get home safely and encourage you to arrange a shuttle through your hotel or a separate shuttle service. Lyft and Uber also service our area. We do ask that cars be off property by 12pm the next day so the next group has easy access and ample parking.
Music must conclude by 11:30 p.m. to ensure that you, your guests, all of your items, and all of your vendors are off-property by 11:59 p.m. Our staff must clean and flip the building to prepare for the next event.
We are using a rental company. Can they drop items off or pick them up outside of the rental period?
All deliveries must happen during the standard rental period per your contract. Please advise your vendors of this policy.
Yes, candles are allowed as long as the flame and wax is completely contained inside a vase. Tapered candles and any type of hanging candles will not be allowed for safety reasons. It is extremely hard to scrape wax off of tables and floors.
Three weeks. We need a little lead time to make sure we have the appropriate amount of staff scheduled for the size of your event.
Setup and Day-of Event FAQs
Pre-packaged snacks, popcorn, fruit/meat/cheese trays, sandwiches are permitted. Please make sure you have everything necessary to serve these: plates, cutlery, napkins, scoops, and bins, etc.
- It is the client’s responsibility to remove everything that was brought in for the event; personal, rental, décor by your contracted end time. Hired vendors and all persons must also vacate the property at that time.
- The Meadow Barn staff will handle all standard cleanup: bar glassware, bar trash removal, table/chair breakdown, sweeping, mopping, and deep cleaning of bathrooms and entire building following the wedding reception. The catering service is responsible for all food trash before they leave. (clearing plates)
Someone MUST clear the tables after your dinner. Ask your caterer if they provide that service, The Meadow Barn can provide bussers for a fee or let us know who in your group is designated to clear the tables after dinner.
Sure! Just ask us and we would be happy to make recommendations on some great photo ops and how to be respectful of the Veranda property guests.
We do not allow the use of any damaging materials like nails, staples or most tape on our equipment. We will have areas where hooks are already placed that you are welcome to use for any additional decorations. Some beams at The Meadow Barn are very tall and not reachable by a ladder. For this reason, we do not allow for anything to be hung from those beams. We hope that you will find them beautiful without any extra work! If you do want to hang anything we suggest fishing line or zip ties.
We do not allow the use of glitter, confetti of any kind, flower petals for decoration or flower girls throwing petals during ceremonies or candles that are not contained in glass. Outside flower petals leave a bunch of litter that is impossible to clean up before the next wedding.
Bar FAQs
NO. The Meadow Barn has a liquor license so any and all alcohol must be provided through us. The bar is fully stocked with beer, wine and hard liquor. Bartenders are included with all rentals. We do require a $1,000 alcohol sale guarantee for all events.
Yes, there are many options! You are welcome to host specific kegs, wine, drink tickets or a partial to full open bar for your guests. Don’t hesitate to ask us about these options and we would be happy to walk you through what is the best bang for your buck etc. Here are some of our most popular bar options.
- Full cash bar- guests pay for their own drinks
- Host a certain number of kegs (1 keg has 124 16oz beers in it), or add hosted wine as well
- Host an open bar for the cocktail hour or up to a certain dollar amount
You can have a full cash bar and spend nothing or choose any variation of hosted bar options. It is possible to have an open bar for 150-200 people for $2,000-$3,000. (Disclaimer: we are sure you could spend more than this, but if you’re looking for awesome budget-friendly options, you can let your guests pay for their own drinks)
All glassware is included with bar drinks and cups are provided for all non-alcoholic drinks as well.
Sioux Falls Local Wedding Planning Resources
The fastest way to narrow venues is to compare the same 6 things every time: capacity, rain plan, what’s included, vendor flexibility, bar/alcohol policies, and timeline restrictions. If you want a simple checklist that helps you compare venues without getting overwhelmed, follow these steps to find the best wedding venues near you and you’ll know exactly what to ask on tours.
“Best” depends on what you care about most—guest comfort, photo locations, indoor/outdoor flexibility, convenience for out-of-town guests, or how much is included. If you’re still comparing options, this roundup of wedding reception venues in Sioux Falls gives you a great starting point and helps you spot what makes each venue different.
Comparing venues is easiest when you don’t let the tour “vibe” do all the deciding. Use a consistent checklist—what’s included, policies, guest flow, timeline rules, rain plan, and total cost beyond the venue fee. This guide to Sioux Falls South Dakota wedding venues breaks it down so you can compare apples-to-apples and feel confident you’re choosing the right fit.
If you’re in the “inspiration + short list” phase, it helps to see what the standout venues across the state look like and what styles they offer. This roundup of the best South Dakota wedding venues is a great way to compare scenery, vibe, and venue types before you start touring.
Harrisburg is popular because it’s close to Sioux Falls but feels more private and scenic. If you’re comparing venues in the area (or checking proximity for guests), this guide to wedding venues in Harrisburg, SD gives you a quick overview of top options and what makes each one unique.
Yes, many couples have guests traveling in from Brookings and other nearby towns. The big factors are hotel options, transportation (shuttles/Uber/Lyft), and making the weekend easy on your guests.
This guide to wedding venues near Brookings, SD includes helpful planning considerations for couples comparing options with Brookings guests in mind.
Definitely. If you have guests coming from Watertown, planning ahead for lodging and transportation makes the weekend smoother (and safer). This guide to wedding venues near Watertown, SD highlights venue options and planning tips that help Watertown-area couples and guests map out travel realistically.
Barn weddings have a special charm, but they also come with a few extra planning details—weather backups, guest flow, lighting, sound, vendor load-in, and timing. If you want a step-by-step guide built around the realities of planning locally, this barn wedding in South Dakota guide covers the big decisions (and the common mistakes) so you can plan with confidence.
“Rustic barn venue” can mean a lot of different things, so it’s smart to evaluate comfort and logistics—not just the photos. Look at restrooms, climate control (if applicable), rain plan, guest flow, parking, and vendor access. This guide comparing rustic wedding barns near Sioux Falls helps you know what to look for so you don’t get surprised later.
Yes, smaller weddings can feel even more elevated when you design the guest experience intentionally (great food, comfortable flow, meaningful moments, and a beautiful setting). If you’re exploring intimate venue options in the Sioux Falls area, this guide to small wedding venues in Sioux Falls, SD shares ideas and options that help you choose the right vibe.
If you’re open to traveling or you’re comparing regions, it helps to see what small wedding venues look like across the state—barns, chapels, and intimate event spaces. This roundup of small wedding venues in South Dakota is a great place to get ideas and build a short list based on your guest count and style.
Elopements are an awesome option if you want something intimate, meaningful, and lower-stress—whether it’s just the two of you or a small group of your closest people. If you’re deciding whether to elope or keep things small, this guide on eloping in South Dakota shares top venue ideas and planning tips to help you choose what fits best.
The best engagement photo locations depend on your style—nature, downtown, scenic overlooks, or something more rustic. If you want a curated list of locations couples love (and why each spot works), check out these engagement photo spots in Sioux Falls, SD to help you plan your session and timing.
Giving guests a few “go here, do this” ideas makes the weekend feel like a mini vacation—especially for family traveling in from out of state. If you want easy suggestions you can share on your wedding website, this list of things to do near Sioux Falls, SD is a great starting point.
The marriage license process is pretty straightforward, but it’s one of those things that’s annoying to scramble for during wedding week. This guide on the South Dakota marriage license walks through the steps and helps you build it into your planning timeline so nothing gets missed.
Your officiant sets the tone for the ceremony and keeps the moment moving smoothly—so it’s worth choosing someone who matches your vibe.
If you want to know what to ask (and what to avoid) when hiring, this guide on Sioux Falls wedding officiants covers the key things couples should know before booking.
A great planner can save you time, stress, and a lot of “what are we forgetting?” moments—especially if your guest list is larger or you have lots of moving parts. If you’re considering hiring help, this list of wedding planners in South Dakota is a solid starting point.
Yes—and real weddings are one of the best ways to picture your own day (style, décor, flow, and photo locations). If you want inspiration from a boho barn wedding in Sioux Falls, check out Jaden & Rianna’s Dream Wedding at The Veranda to see how they brought it all together.