Blue Dress Barn

barn, grounds, ceremonial area and all other areas are like being in a fairy tale. Not to mention all the vendors Amelia recommended, went above and beyond. The service and food were outstanding. What an absolutely amazing place to hold a wedding. I never wanted it to end.

area and this venue checked all the boxes. Even in the rain, as it did on our wedding day, it made the place even more magical! Can't recommend this venue enough, as well as checking out the other sister venues! We would have been happy with all three of them. :)

I’ve seen cant do this venue justice. We pulled in for our rehearsal & I was in tears. Neither of us knew what to say. It’s STUNNING. The grounds are beautifully maintained. My guests cannot stop telling me how incredible it all was and how we couldn’t have chosen a more beautiful spot. Everyone said it felt like they were in a magic/fairy garden. We wanted it to feel like “the woodland creatures put on a wedding” and that’s exactly how it felt. You’ll save yourself so much money on decor & florals bc this place is stunning. It’s in nature- but not muddy/too buggy Somehow it really is perfect The barn itself was not too hot (I was a little worried) and the space felt perfectly intimate yet spacious. (We had 175 guests and had plenty of space but got to see everyone/interact with them) Our guests LOVED the balcony/patio right off of the dance floor, so many of them just hung out there and socialized. It was so nice that you didn’t have to go far to get “fresh air” The day of- I didn’t really interact with the staff much, but leading up Amelia was always prompt with answering emails & questions. There is quite a bit of DIY/ hiring outside vendors, but I think the price reflects that. It worked for us personally because, we liked/preferred to be able to customize our wedding & choose vendors that suited us (and Amelia provides a lot of options as well) Be sure to read through their guidelines and to follow their instructions- they’re very thorough & helpful.. and they set you up for success. *A side review- The Liquor Cabinet/Sue Luther bartenders we used (through Blue Dress’ instruction were LOVELY & incredibly helpful.

erything inside and helping us make sure everything was perfect. Would highly recommend for anyone who wants a beautiful stress-free wedding experience.

extra decor. Amelia and Kirby were so wonderful to work with, and the recommended list of vendors made all the guessing of who to book SO easy (especially since we're not from the area). Amelia was very responsive via email throughout the planning process and put together the perfect layout for seating our guests. On the day of, every staff member was friendly and professional and kept the reception space as clean as possible throughout the night. We heard so many compliments from our guests about how beautiful the wedding was. Thank you Amelia and Kirby for sharing the most stunning venue-- it's so clear how much love you both have for the space with all the work you put in to maintain its beauty!!

ave been more perfect. It was beautiful. 🤍 I've had numerous guests compliment the barn as well.

melia was super quick to respond to any and all questions or point us in the right direction. So incredibly helpful and kind! I almost wish we took the time to find catering or a company that would offer package deals that include linens, silverware, cups, etc. Having separate vendors for everything was a nuisance, but clearly not the end of the world as I still give it 5 stars! We went with White Horse Farm for food from their very helpful vendor list and they were great! Also, you’re required to use their bar service, which was totally fine, but make sure you call them after the wedding to get reimbursed for anything unused(they won’t call you)🙂 And Brad Eley from Michigan Pro DJ’s had everyone dancing ALL night! Long story short, go check it out! I had very high expectations and at the end of the day it was a million times better than anything I could have dreamed of.

d compare. Although deciding to pick a venue that does not provide other services can be quite difficult, we did not have any issues as we were provided with a list of amazing vendors. We used: Classic catering-the food was absolutely fantastic Amy Carroll photography- her photographs are pure art DJ Jennefa- literally the biggest amount of fun wrapped up in the tiniest package Flower Bodega- the most breathtaking florals I’ve ever seen C’est la vie bakery- delivered the most delicious mix of desserts including gluten free goodies Everything was perfect and we can not thank Amelia and Kirby enough for helping us make all of our wedding dreams come true!

r been to, and for good reason! We were married on July 2, with beautiful weather and amazing greenery on the exterior of the barn, silos, etc. The fire pit and multiple areas to hang during the reception (decks) were a hit. I’d highly recommend to anyone.

hen we decided to book. The photos online looked gorgeous, but we were pleased to find it was even more stunning when we were finally able to see it person. Our guests loved this venue. We got endless compliments on it. We also really liked that Sundance has both indoor and outdoor areas, so we could have an awesome dance floor and also space for guests to play lawn games and socialize outside. We had lots of children at our wedding and having the outdoor space was especially great for the kids. Amelia was very responsive throughout the wedding planning process. She always responded to my (many) questions very promptly. It’s clear that the staff at Sundance are experienced at hosting weddings - very professional. We are so happy that we decided to have our wedding at Sundance.

ace would be in the spring and summer! It did not disappoint! Truly magical. Working with Amelia was super easy as she was always fast to respond and very organized. Amelia truly knows how to make a venue look/feel magical.

s beyond words beautiful! I received so many compliments from my guests about the barn. Highly recommend!

endors, floor plans, etc. During our rehearsal, she sat with me and my coordinator and worked up a creative floor plan that allowed me to keep a king’s banquet setup in case the ceremony had to be indoors due to weather. Thankfully, the weather behaved, and we were able to experience the gorgeous outdoor space all afternoon. Our guests kept telling us how gorgeous of a venue it was, and we are still getting messages a few weeks later saying the same. We even had a vendor tell us this was their favorite venue they had ever been to. I would not change a single thing about our experience at the Blue Dress Barn – I only wish we could do it again and again!

use the venue itself is already beyond gorgeous. What really made our experience with the Blue Dress Barn beyond amazing was the barn manager Beth. She is the most compassionate, helpful and kind-hearted person and she helped our whole day go smoothly. My new husband and I - along with our whole bridal party and immediate families - absolutely adored Beth and are so thankful for her! She is EXACTLY the kind of person that you want to be there to support on your big day. We are so thankful that we were able to have our big day at this incredible venue!

hout the planning process which was very helpful as we live out of state. All our guests commented on how beautiful the venue was, especially with all the fall colors! We had 100 guests and there was plenty of space for people to move around and enjoy the dance floor or even find somewhere quieter to hang out. There were so many picturesque locations throughout the site that we did not have to leave for any bridal party pictures. We couldn’t have asked for a more perfect venue and highly recommend to anyone!

fe ...it's artistic nature is breathtaking. My guests were in awe and said hands down the most beautiful "barn" wedding they have been to. Photos actually due it justice, as it would be impossible to take a bad photo on these grounds. There is something about being there the day of with family and friends that makes it magical.

s all loved the space, and kept asking how we found such a unique venue. The size is perfect if you're wedding is 120 guests or below. We felt perfect with our 80. So many other spaces swallowed us up in their enormity. The owners are great to work with, and they are very focused on their couples' happiness. Overall, great spot! Recommend it to the fullest!

y the thoughtful and unique details at each and every turn. You can just feel the creativity, love and true care that the owners, Amy and Kirby, put into the venue, and on top of all that, they truly care about the couples getting married there. I can't say enough positive things about them - they're not only communicative and professional, they're friendly, warmhearted, and considerate. The venue staff the day of our wedding were equally wonderful. Sundance Studios gave us the wedding of our dreams, and our only regret is we can't celebrate there every weekend!

ng. After a 2 year engagement and so much uncertainty, our day was truly perfect. We received so many compliments from guests about the beauty and warmth of the venue. We held both our ceremony and reception at Sundance and our only wish is that we could do it again.

it! This venue is so unique and beautiful for weddings!

layouts for our reception to make the vision come to life. Everything about The Blue Dress Barn is magic. Your pictures here will be stunning and guests will be raving for years to come about how wondering and stunning your day was.

agined and much much more. The entire property is absolutely beautiful and it is the perfect place to have both the ceremony and the reception. I live out of town and planning a wedding a couple hours away & in only a few months time was a little stressful - but the barn management was so responsive and helpful whenever I sent them emails with tons of questions. During the tour, the consultation, and then the rehearsal and wedding day, the manager Beth was there and she was so helpful with everything. I did not have a wedding planner so I had lots of family members helping out the day of while I was getting ready and she helped all of them getting things ready. She was so helpful to the entire process. One of the best parts about getting married at the Blue Dress Barn was that besides the basic: linens, flowers, and pictures, the barn does not need any decorations. It is beautiful left as is and saves tons of money in the long run not having to spend money on decorations. Lastly, I don’t think my guests ever stopped talking about how beautiful the venue was, I think everyone who came had so much fun wandering the grounds and marveling and the beauty of the barn. So if you are thinking about getting married here - DO IT! It was absolutely the best day of my life and I could have not imagined it being at any other venue. Also - as being a budget conscious bride, I weighed the pros and cons of getting married at one of the more expensive venues of all the ones we looked at, but realistically it did not end up being much more expensive due to everything that comes included that you don’t have to rent/buy, plus not spending money on decorations saved lots.

It is one of the most beautiful venues I have ever seen, and is by far the most beautiful I have ever been to a wedding at (even if I am a little biased because it was my own wedding). Our wedding party, parents, and guests could not stop raving about the venue! Even those who were not there keep talking about the beautiful venue when they see the photos. Amy and Kirby were great to work with, especially through the constantly changing COVID restrictions. They did everything they could to help make sure our special day was everything we dreamed, even changing our reception layout proposal (beautifully hand-drawn by Amy) multiple times as restrictions kept evolving. Even being the first weekend of the season, the fixture above the dance floor was already so beautifully decorated that our florist didn’t have to use the décor we had purchased for there, allowing her to instead decorate our head table more. With multiple ceremony spaces to choose from, a unique and spacious bridal suite to get ready in, and an amazing staff to work with, I couldn’t image a better place for us to have had our special day!

ction for couples if any issues arise. A fair contract should have "force majeure" language. Also, asking for payment in full 6 months or more prior to your wedding day is not common business practice for wedding venues. I wish I had known to look out for these things prior to booking our 2020 wedding at the Blue Dress Barn. When Covid-19 became a global pandemic, the owners decided to not take any phone calls, and handled all communication through email. We tried negotiating fair terms for postponing our wedding to 2021, but we were given a series of take it or leave it options over the course of a few months, with absolutely no room to negotiate terms that both parties could find fair. After months of trying to negotiate and getting nowhere, we had lost all of the excitement we once had for hosting our wedding at their beautiful venue. Feeling like our options were to either take a deal that didn’t feel fair to us, or to walk away, we chose to walk away from our $4,500 investment, and canceled our wedding. The venue is truly stunning, but our experience was painful, and that's ultimately not what we wanted to remember about our wedding day.

tively giving us revised layouts and suggestions and added perks. Amy felt like an old friend constantly going above and beyond to make our wedding day magical, and believe me, it was! We immediately fell in love with the artistic style of Sundance and the absolutely beautiful garden space. So many of our guests gushed over it's beauty and how the vibe suited us so perfectly. One friend even said she wished she could go back and have a wedding do over just so she could have it at Sundance. There are so many photo opps inside and out and unique vintage items on display (velvet drapes, white fringe umbrellas, even furniture! AND THAT CHANDELIER!) that all add to the wedding day decor. It would cost several hundreds to rent it all. All of the hard work and passion is evident in every nook and detail of the reclaimed, modern vintage, industrial space. If you're one of a kind and need a one of a kind wedding, you must take a tour!

& Amy) were not willing to work with us at all on a date change. We asked if we could move our date to 2021 and they responded if we wanted a 2021 date, then we would forfeit all monies paid for 2020 ($5,500) and be required to pay full price again in 2021. We even asked for a Friday or Sunday in 2021 even though we had a Saturday in 2020 and they still refused to move the date to 2021. I have multiple friends booked with OTHER venues that were able to change their date to 2021 without any added cost. After the Blue Dress Barn offered zero flexibility on a date change, we asked if we could receive a partial refund of 50%. We thought that was a fair compromise with no single party bearing the entire financial burden because at the end of the day COVID-19 is on one’s fault and we need to work together to get through it. Unfortunately, they said no and refused to collaborate expecting their clients to suffer. Also, due to Blue Dress barn offering zero flexibility on a date change, we had to cancel with all other vendors. Our other vendors were compassionate and worked with us offering partial refunds of 80%. Our advice is not to trust Blue Dress Barn (Kirby & Amy) with your wedding/money and chose a different venue that will work with you and not against you during this special time in your life. Businesses that were compassionate and flexible during COVID-19 will flourish once this is all over and ones that were not will suffer with a damaged reputation.

Great owners. Amazing venue

h what you do. You made me feel so calm during the thunderstorm I was in. You helped me more than anyone else has throughout the process. SO THANK YOU from the deepest part of my heart. Secondly, your BARN, OMG your BARN is absolutely breath taking!! EVERYTHING we have ever dreamed of! It was perfect, especially during this pandemic. All of our guests felt comfortable, it was the most perfect day with the most perfect weather. The smore's station/bonfire area was constantly filled, the ceremony spot where our guests were playing corn hole, some people just walking the grounds because it was lit ever so perfectly and the dance floor was NEVER empty. Amy, I wish I could spend every weekend there celebrating love because it is truly something out of a fairy tale. As I write this, tears flood my eyes on how PERFECT it was. During a pandemic... who would've thought. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!! Every single one of our guests said it was the best wedding they have ever been to & that is truly because of YOU & Kirby. We LOVE Blue Dress, it will forever hold such a dear place in our souls and hearts. I express my deepest love and thanks, may God bless you FOREVER. With love, The Matyaszeks

at BDB was just as sweet and helpful on our day. Our guests couldn’t stop raving about the venue and how magical it felt. We are eternally grateful and still can’t believe how everything fell into place!

s - but the gist of it is this: Our first date was June 11, 2020 in the Bahamas. That date was cancelled because of travel restrictions. We postponed until August 6. 13 days before we were going to fly out we got the call saying that our resort was going to be closed until further notice. We wouldn't even be able to get to the Bahamas in August and probably through the fall as well. Naturally, we were devastated. But this is 2020 so you just have to roll with it! We were so determined to get married that week that we took a day trip to Michigan (we're from Chicago) to look for more beach venues. I contacted Amy the night before we took the trip and asked if there was some chance I could visit the barn on that Monday. Obviously we had a beach in mind but I came across the barn online and thought to check it out. We saw one beach venue that morning and were not impressed at all, they also said they weren't sure if they were going to shut down weddings altogether. We decided to give this barn venue a gander, even though it wasn't what I had envisioned. I cried when we pulled up. It was so painfully beautiful. I cried again when we walked into the barn, and was even more emotional when Kirby said a Friday on our weekend was available. That day Kirby sat with us and explained how everything would work. He gave us huge list of vendors. Being that we had two previously cancelled dates we were nervous that they would cancel on us, but Kirby assured us that this would not happen. Amy was so eager to help us plan. We planned a wedding at the Blue Dress Barn in THREE WEEKS! It would not have been possible without Amy and her quick responses. Not only did she respond promptly, but she gave suggestions, sent photos and was quick to draw up an outline of the venue so I could better understand where things would happen and where I should place guests during this COVID-19 crisis. She was also very flexible when it came to changing our rehearsal time. I cannot tell you the relief it was to find Amy and the Blue Dress Barn. After everything we had been through, we were still able to get married in August. Our vision went from beach to barn in 48 hours but it all felt so meant to be. Our wedding day was gorgeous. The BDB staff was amazing. I cannot recall the name of the staff member who was there all night but she was a blast! We had so much fun. The staff knew that the wedding was planned last minute and were so willing to help with anything I needed. It was perfection. Of course, the day went by too fast and it was over before I knew it. *** For all of the other corona brides who are boo-hooing about not getting a full refund. I have no doubt that Amy and Kirby will try everything possible to work with you. I've not known them for long, but I know enough. My best friend is also a corona bride. She postponed twice with her venue. They did not offer her a discount from Sat to Friday. She understood that they are a business and this pandemic is not their fault either. All of you need to check yourselves. This is 2020 and NOBODY is getting exactly what they want. Amy and Kirby gave you options. This year isn't what anyone wanted. Make the best of it! Stop being so selfish and show more compassion. Amy & Kirby - thanks for making our dreams come true.

ute dream. Amy and Kirby were easy to communicate with, flexible, and accommodating with every request to change our floor plan (again and again), adjust our guest count, and ensure we were meeting the latest safety guidelines, even up to the day of the wedding. Amy and Kirby went above and beyond our expectations by ordering additional umbrellas for the outside seating area, allowing our dogs to be a part of the ceremony, and checking in with our vendors on the day of the wedding to ensure every detail went as planned. We cannot express how beautiful Sundance Studios is! From the moment we saw it last August, we knew it was the place for us, and we could not be any happier with how it all turned out.

is wonderful and crazy process. Taylor said right from the start of the Covid19 that she was not canceling her wedding, even if we could only invite 10 people, and I am so glad we did not! We were able to have our full count. With so many indoor and outdoor area’s it is extremely easy to social distance if you want to. In addition, the Venue set up extra chairs outdoors (and table and chairs indoors) so people could spread out, they were happy to make any necessary accommodations. The day was truly something out of a fairy-tale! ❤️ We feel so blessed. Carmen

tify this should be a huge flag for all going forward. We are next considering contacting the local media in our area so others don’t t have to suffer the loss, unplanned for extra expenses and inconvenience. It is sad a supposed reputable business would demonstrate such a lack of class and integrity. Look for another venue option to guarantee you won’t have to lose a lot of hard earned and long planned for money hoping for your perfect wedding day experience.

he ability to choose our own vendors & how beautiful it is. After working with other venues, I have found their practices to be out of the norm. I am not the only bride in this position, I've been in contact with 13+ brides dealing with the same issue. Their contract weighs HEAVILY in their favor. Leaving very little room for any hiccups that may come your way as a bride & groom. Obviously, we are a COVID couple that got stuck in this mess. Fully understanding that this is a hard time for everyone, we were willing to work with them to find a solution that was beneficial to both parties. WHEN I could actually get them to respond, weeks and many emails later, they were short & unwilling to negotiate. We were offered ONE Thursday at OUR venue this year and a handful of Sunday dates at a different venue next year. We were willing & happy to take the Thursday this year - even though we paid for a Friday (Friday is cheaper than Saturday, Thursday should be cheaper than Friday - but that's besides the fact). In order to take that date we had to sign a new addendum, stating that we COULD NOT RESCHEDULE again, if anything were to prevent us from having our wedding we would lose our investment & we could not talk poorly about the barns management. 1. Why would I sign something stating that I could not reschedule again when we are in the midst of a pandemic & everything is so unknown. 2. They clearly know they are doing something morally wrong if they have to add contract language that takes away our speech. They presented us with one last option - we could forfeit our full investment & PAY AGAIN for any date/location we wanted in a new year. They were SO NICE to offer us a $1,000 discount, however, their 2021 prices have increased. When we came to the conclusion that we no longer wanted to work with them, we reached out seeking a new solution. We asked for a partial refund - this is a hard time on everyone, we weren't expecting them to take the full financial burden. They shot us down with a hard no, stating that they have lost so much revenue this year & they financially can't handle the loss. All the while, updating and renovating the barn starting in March and continuing during the shutdown - some necessary, some not. If/When Amy & Kirby respond to reviews - they put a spin to benefit themselves. According to them they have rescheduled 62 "happy couples" - this is false. They may have rescheduled them, but I have been in contact with multiple brides that felt like they had no other option, they were backed into a corner & took the only option they had. They'll state that they offered dates that they now can't schedule new couples because they are giving them to us - this is only partially true. They don't offer weddings on Thursdays during a normal year, so they aren't losing "spaces" for new couples - Sunday's are a different story, harder to fill & still at a lower cost than a Friday/Saturday that most brides were originally contracted for.

tever it takes to maximize profits. Expect that if anything goes wrong, you hold 100% of the risk and to be bullied into further strengthening any sort of legal position for the company. All other vendors have taken the approach that the pandemic sucks for everyone and we'll take a loss and you take loss spitting the burden between us. This vendor has decided to not only keep maximum profit for this year but claim that the $1000 "discount" to have you book for next year is taking a loss. What better way to fill in your unused dates during a pandemic than to have people paying twice convincing them the "discount" isn't the going the market rate for the venue during a recession (they increased rates for 2021 by $500 on top of it). I hope that the the tax cuts and interest rate savings from the recession will provide that extra boost to the company's bottom line to make it the most profitable year on record for them! I highly recommend that other couples go elsewhere in their search for compassionate and professional partners to help with their wedding plans.

h for liquor misquoted us by several hundred dollars and expected us to pay with very little notice. Also, on the day of our wedding, the night staff at the venue was less-than responsive. It rained pretty hard and we had to ask them to close the antique windows that we couldn't figure out. Much of the space had flooded at that point as well, so that all needed mopped up.

pt commenting on how much they loved the venue. Amy and her team are so kind and so helpful. We highly recommend considering this spot for your special day!

es for each segment of the day: outdoor ceremony space, indoor dining hall, and a bar/dance area for the reception. The owner was easy to reach and quick to respond to any questions we had. The day-of staff really helped in making our day go seamlessly. Could not recommend Sundance enough!

d be a bit more on top of things. Also not very convenient that we could not get in until noon, so we had to get ready somewhere else. Other than that it was beautiful and we are glad we picked this venue!

ervous after the fact thinking it was maybe too out there. Well we were wrong - the amount of people that told us that this was the coolest, most beautiful, and fun venue that we lost count. All of the unique spaces created such a unique experience and gave everyone a space to hang-out, relax, or cut it up in the Dance Hall. The only downside is it is 15-20 minutes to a lot of hotels, so you need to add a shuttle service to make sure friends and family are save given the dark country roads. We only wish now that we could get married every year at Sundance!

l of the flowers and greenery started blooming, but the rustic, romantic backdrop of the barn and the surrounding wilderness was more than enough to make our day perfect. Amy was so sweet, responsive, and accommodating throughout the entire planning process. She even added special touches to make our day feel even that much more special. I cannot imagine having our wedding anywhere else and will always have a special place in my heart for Amy and The Blue Dress Barn.

well worth the wait! Amy was always available to answer any questions and was fast to send us updates to seating charts when we needed it. Guests are still talking about how beautiful the barn and wedding setting was! Late in the planning process, we switched to the grassland ceremony site and it was beautiful! We used their vendor list and the BDB staff worked well all the vendors we booked. We have no regrets, if we could give more than 5 stars we would!

perfect. Amy, Jordan, and Markie are truly passionate about what they do and ensure that your day is exactly how you want it to be. The friendliness and communication between everyone also made everything run smoothly. If you are looking for a rustic or vintage, all in one type of venue this is it! They will not disappoint. Thank you to all the staff who made our day possible! We are in love with our special day and keep reminiscing about how great it was.

ccommodated so many little details we requested, and were so attentive and caring to us. Also, the space is magical and so so pretty- the entire wedding experience was made perfect by them!