Are you looking for an affordable, rustic wedding venue near St. Louis? Willoughby Farms will give a much more rustic feel to your country themed wedding! Located about twenty minutes outside of St. Louis on the Illinois side of the river, this wedding venue is a heritage farm in Collinsville, IL. It is open to the public and is home to farm animals, hiking trails and playgrounds for kids to enjoy. It even has a large fire pit for roasting marshmallows. Some things I love about this barn wedding venue is that it is very customizable and affordable. This is a great option if you want to DIY your wedding and customize your venue to the exact vision you have for your big day! Check out my list of the best wedding venues in St. Louis, MO to get inspired by more locations to have your wedding reception or ceremony.

BRIEF HISTORY OF WILLOUGHBY HERITAGE FARM RUSTIC WEDDING VENUE

Willoughby Heritage Farm and Conservation Reserve is a public park that has recreated an atmosphere inspired by 1950’s farming-life. The venue features tractors, barns, a 1930’s style Craftsman Farm House, and even live animals like pigs, chickens, and goats! It has over 30 acres of wildlife preserve complete with hiking trails, bridges, and vistas overlooking the prairie and other areas. It is open daily to the public aside from holding events and because it is a public park, admission is always free.

RECEPTION AREAS AND GUESTS THAT CAN BE ACCOMMODATED

Willoughby Farm can accommodate up to 200 guests. You can rent the bank barn or pavilion for a small, private gathering or go all out with a whole farm rental that includes both barns, the pavilion, and farm yard. It even includes a fire pit for a bonfire perfect for making s’mores. A white wooden arbor is included with the rental and can be the perfect place for you to celebrate that first kiss as an official couple. For special occasions where you need to get ready with some privacy, they offer up the first floor of the 1930’s farm house. The house is air conditioned, heated, and has two fully functioning bathrooms and a shower.

OPTIONS FOR YOUR CEREMONY

This venue is large and has a couple different location options for your having ceremony. Most people choose to have their ceremony in the Bank Barn (pictured above). The outside pavilion is also an option or you can have your ceremony outside in front of the Gindler Barn (pictured below).

COST CONSIDERATIONS

Although prices vary, according to weddingspot.com, the rental fee is $900 for a reception and ceremony. This includes 4 hours of event time excluding set up and clean up. The set up fee for a ceremony is included with the reception rental but is only $300 for a ceremony-only wedding. You can add on additional hours for a fee of $225 per hour. A refundable security deposit of $150 is required and a $15 liquor permit is required if alcohol is served.

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

This venue is an extremely affordable option, but it does require you to provide the decorations and anything else you may need yourself. They do provide tables and chairs, but you provide everything else. If you love to DIY, this can be great because you can really make it whatever you envision. It also gives you a wide range of options for food. In my opinion, food trucks are a really fun choice for this venue. If you want to see an actual wedding at this venue, check out my blog post below!