Glen Ellen Farm

Historic Garden Venue Where Romance Has Deep Roots

Ijamsville, MD

$5,500 starting price

See details

151 to 200 guests

Holds ceremonies and receptions

AWARD WINNER (1X)

Thanks to recommendations from couples on The Knot

Glen Ellen Farm is a historic outdoor wedding venue in Ijamsville, MD. Nestled in 30 acres of hilly meadows, the romantic setting features a spring-fed pond, a stone patio, barn ruins, gardens, and a beautifully restored historic manor. This intimate venue is situated 18 minutes from Frederick, Maryland, and just 55 minutes from downtown Washington, D.C. Facilities and Capacity Up to 200 guests can join newlyweds on their special days at Glen Ellen Farm. Prior to the event’s highlights, you can relax and prepare with loved ones in the get-ready suite. If you’ve been dreaming of saying “I do” in the open air, you are welcome to exchange vows outside on the grounds. One of the most popular ceremony sites is the stone patio overlooking the pond and adjacent to a lush wildflower meadow. After tying the knot, you and your partner can host your cocktail hour in the venue’s barn ruins. This historic, romantic space is also ideal for unique photo opportunities. Celebratory dining and dancing can then take place in the reception tent. Featuring bronze chandeliers and twinkling string lights, the bright space can be adorned with additional greenery and drapery, depending on your preferences. Here, you and your guests can create long-lasting memories together while admiring scenic views of the grounds. Services Offered The staff at Glen Ellen Farm offers various event items and helpful services to create experiences that are as seamless as possible. Tables, chairs and a dance floor will be provided for your reception and can be arranged to your liking. Tents, along with tent accessories and additional event rentals, are also available for your specific needs. For your convenience, on-site parking is available, and you are welcome to invite your four-legged family members to this pet-friendly location. History This 1950s Greek Revival home was once inhabited by Lady Ellen Thompson, the presumed ghostwriter of the romance novel “Lorna Doone.” It was purchased by Ellen and her husband, Professor Herbert Thompson in 1874. They purchased the manor from John Brown, who used discarded wooden railroad rails for the rafters and joists in building the house’s framing. Be sure to check out the gallery for an exclusive 360° Virtual Tour!

Woman-owned Business

+10 years in business

Speaks English

5 team members

Pricing details

Couples usually spend $9,500

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Amenities + details

Amenities

Ceremony Area

Covered Outdoors Space

Dressing Room

Handicap Accessible

Outdoor Event Space

Reception Area

Ceremony Types

Civil Union

Commitment Ceremony

Elopement

Interfaith Ceremony

Non-Religious Ceremony

Religious Ceremony

Second Wedding

Vow Renewal Ceremony

Settings

Beach

Waterfront

Garden

Historic Venue

Tented

Venue Service Offerings

Rentals & Equipment

Tents

Awards and Affiliations

Any questions?

4.5

out of 5.0

28 reviews

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Review Summary

This AI-generated summary is a snapshot of this vendor's ratings and feedback.

Glen Ellen Farm is a truly magical and stunning wedding venue with beautiful gardens, a beach, a pond with a fountain, barn ruins, a tent, a manor house, and more, making it a unique and perfect setting for weddings. Multiple reviewers express their love for the venue, appreciating the coordinator, Debbie, for her patience, organization, and seamless handling of the day. The guests enjoyed the picturesque location, lush ceremony space, and elegant reception tent, making it a stress-free and unforgettable event that received high praise from those in attendance.

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Kim E

12/18/2024

We immediately fell in love with Glen Ellen Farm the moment we saw it. We viewed nine wedding venues in the area and we can say with all certainty that Glen Ellen is by far the most beautiful and unique. We couldn’t have imagined a better place to say “I do” and start our lives together as a married couple. We are grateful to Debbie for her coordination, time, and patience as she answered our questions and we gathered necessary documents to rent the venue. We got married in October 2024 and it was the perfect setting. Where else can you get married that has gorgeous gardens, a beach, a pond with a fountain, stunning barn ruins, a huge tent, a beautiful manor house, fields, trees, etc. – the list goes on. Our manor mom for the big day, Bev, was also great and helped make the day seamless. We had the absolute best day of our lives at Glen Ellen Farm for our wedding and wouldn’t trade it for anything. We also had incredible engagement photos taken here November 2023 too! Would definitely recommend, hands down. THANK YOU!

Meaghan R

10/14/2024

Glen Ellen Farms is absolutely magical. It's like having your wedding set in a magical, fairy garden. The venue is stunning, from the elegant manor house to the idyllic pond and sand beach, to the flower garden and barn ruins, beautiful stone patio and covered reception. It's a one of a kind find. Debbie was easy to work with and let us come walk through the venue several times between booking and the wedding. She tends the property and keeps it looking fresh and glowing throughout the entire year. Debbie and team made sure the day ran smoothly and worked seamlessly with our coordinator and other vendors to make our day special. At point point it was sunny and 83 degrees, then overcast, and then slight sprinkles of rain, but throughout the entire day it didn't change a thing and guest were able to enjoy the full venue without any issues. Despite some concerns for our walker and wheelchair bound guests things seemed to go well. Debbie and team were able to arrange for those guest to be dropped at the bottom of the hill and golf carted them from place to place as needed. Overall the guest loved the venue and raved about how beautiful the place was. =)

Any questions?

Mary S

6/10/2024

Choosing Glen Ellen for your wedding will guarantee a stunning and stress free event. Coordinating my daughter's wedding was so easy - Debbie shared her favorite vendors and it's obvious that she loves what she does. It's hard to convey all of the beautiful features and creative energy surrounding Glen Ellen. The ceremony space is incredible - unique, lush & vibrant. We hosted cocktail hour in the ruins and that felt like an event itself. Our guests loved taking pictures in the gardens and on the beach. The reception was held in the tent and it was elegant, comfortable and SO FUN. We are very, very, (more than 5 stars) happy that we chose Glen Ellen.

Ann D

12/04/2023

Love, Love, Love Glen Ellen!!! Wow! Could not ask for a more beautiful venue and more accommodating hostess/facility!! Thank you, thank you, thank you Debbie! You’ve created the ultimate venue!!

Tom R

10/29/2023

Attended a wedding at Glenn Ellen Farm on 10/25/23. Could ask for a prettier venue. Great location for unbelievable sun sets , fire pit over looking a beautiful pond and beach setting. Would definitely rent this venue in the future. Great for wedding or special event.

A G

11/15/2022

This was one of the worst venues I have ever attended. The tent was poor, the floor of the main tent was wet and filthy - I felt so badly for the bride as her dresses were both ruined. As we arrived - our car was almost hit by another car, as there was no guidance and poor signage for parking. As we were leaving - in the dark - absolutely NO LIGHTS in the parking area. HUGE SAFETY risk for guests. The pathway lights provided between the "barn ruins" and the main tent were a joke - again a HUGE SAFETY risk. The uneven pavement you were forced to walk on with little to no lighting. If this is to be a venue - invent in the venue and provide proper lighting or no after hours /evening events. The ruins need much work if they are to be used for cocktail hours. The floor of an old milk barn with large stones placed inbetween concrete is not safe for anyone to walk upon. it may be a pretty site for pictures but not for an event area. Not to be able to use the main house for wedding guests is just not acceptable. If this is a venue - the entire property should be able to be used. This is half a venue. Look elsewhere.

Kayla A

7/11/2022

This venue is absolutely BEAUTIFUL. All of my guests raved about how perfect the scenery was. The manor mom, Irene, was phenomenal. She was so kind and helpful with anything we needed! Our day was quite rainy in the morning, but the staff did an amazing job rolling with the punches and I was still able to have the ceremony of my dreams outside instead of under the tent. They were wiping chairs until the very last minute! There was one situation where there was a disagreement between the owner of Glen Ellen and one of my vendors. My understanding is that the altercation was quite hostile. In my opinion, it could have been better handled on both sides. My suggestion is to hire vendors that have worked with Glen Ellen before in order to avoid similar situations. Overall, great venue!

Elaine H

10/14/2021

Glen Ellen Farm is an absolutely exquisite venue just outside of Frederick, MD. Since we didn't know whether Covid-19 would be an issue for our daughter's wedding, it was important for us to find an outdoor venue. Glen Ellen is perfect because not only does it have stunning grounds, it also has a beautiful, permanent tent with a concrete floor that can accommodate about 250 guests. We loved having access to the Manor House a couple of hours prior to the ceremony and were warmly greeted by our Manor Mom, Bev, who ushered me, my daughter, my husband and all the bridesmaids into the home. We were able to take pictures on the beautiful upstairs porch and enjoyed refreshments in the kitchen (note: we had to bring our own plates, napkins and utensils). The bride, the moms and our six bridesmaids were all able to get dressed comfortably in the Manor House and had access to all the upstairs bedrooms and large bathroom. Debbie, the venue hostess, is as professional as they come and greeted us every time with a smile and patiently answered our questions and helped us plan the perfect event. Throughout the night of the event the Glen Ellen Farm was accessible and efficiently working behind the scenes to pull everything together. We felt relaxed and cared for throughout the entire 8+ hours we were on the property. This is one venue where you will get your money's worth and much more. We can't imagine having found a more beautiful location.

Kari A

8/18/2021

I had my wedding reception here in June this year. It was originally scheduled for June 2020, but we had to postpone due to Covid. Debbie was incredible, accommodating, and very comforting the entire time. She allowed us to take engagement photos there too. The venue is breathtaking and although outdoor, I was not worried about the chance of rain because the tent structure is so secure. Luckily, we ended up having perfect weather anyway. This venue can accommodate a very large guest list, which is what we originally needed. I love love love the different spaces: the little beach, the barn ruins, the sweet swing, etc. Debbie communicates really well and takes amazing care of the space. You do need to find all of your vendors, but that is actually something I wanted so that I could be as picky as I wanted with all of those details. I have no complaints at all about Glen Ellen Farm. My husband and I had the best day of our lives celebrating my marriage there! Thank you so much, Debbie!

Matt R

8/18/2021

We had our wedding reception at Glen Ellen Farm and could not be happier with how it turned out! Our guests absolutely loved the venue and continue to tell us that it’s one of the most scenic wedding venues they have seen. Debbie and her staff are extremely professional and kept our event running smoothly from start to finish. We highly recommend using Glen Ellen Farm for a wedding!

Amanda R

6/23/2021

We had our wedding at Glen Ellen Farm in May 2021 and it was absolutely beautiful. Everything went smoothly and our guests all had a wonderful time. Debbie was great and super helpful - we ended up having the cocktail hour in the tent rather than the stone garden because it was an unusually warm day and it worked out perfectly. The pond, stone garden, and manor house are all beautiful, timeless locations for photos. The possibilities for beautiful photos are really endless at Glen Ellen. The location was also super convenient for our friends and family who live in Frederick. Our friends and family loved the venue and we received so many positive comments! We highly recommend Glen Ellen Farm!

Shaina L

1/14/2021

Glen Ellen Farm was the most perfect, beautiful venue and exactly what we envisioned for our October wedding. Months after our wedding, our guests are still talking about how beautiful and amazing the venue was. The different options you can have to make your day unique is such a huge plus. Debbie and the staff were also amazing and Debbie was so great to work with. We had a mishap before the wedding started: our seating chart was written on a tall floor mirror and a little wind knocked it over and shattered it before anyone got to see where their seats were. Debbie quickly helped with a solution by letting us use the tall floor mirror she had in manor house. One of the staff wrote all the names of our guests with their seats on the mirror before cocktail hour and without me, the bride, having to worry. It was so much appreciated. I would recommend Glen Ellen Farm to everyone looking for a unique, beautiful wedding.

Erika S

12/28/2020

We had our wedding at Glen Ellen this past October. I cannot say enough good things about this venue! Not only is her place gorgeous; Debbie is absolutely wonderful to work with. She and her staff were incredibly helpful and made the day run smoothly. Debbie is passionate about her farm and it shows! I have never been to a more beautiful place. Highly recommend Glen Ellen Farm for your wedding :)

Katie K

9/23/2019

The most gorgeous venue I’ve ever seen! I couldn’t have imagined my wedding anywhere else. Debbie was such a pleasure & really made planning easy.

Steve B

6/17/2019

My daughters wedding this year at Glen Ellen was beyond expectations. The venue is beautiful and staff very accommodating. Debra knows her venue and what works. She provides multiple options to fit anyone's preferences. Her consultative approach is great and attention to the details is second to none. The venue itself offers multiple areas for ceremony, cocktail hour, reception and bridal party preparation. We had 129 guests and they all loved the venue and all it had to offer. If you are looking at an outdoor venue in the Frederick or local area Glen Ellen is most certainly one to visit.

Caitlin K

6/07/2019

Glen Ellen Farm was the perfect venue for our wedding last month. The grounds of the farm are breathtaking. Everywhere you look is beautiful and provides the perfect backdrop for ceremony, reception, and of course photos. Debbie was an absolute joy to work with. She makes each bride feel so welcome at the farm and is always available to help in any way possible. I would highly recommend Glen Ellen Farm to any couple looking for an outdoor venue!

Jen K

4/05/2019

I attended a wedding here this past fall and it was absolutely gorgeous- The ruins, beach, and manor! The staff made sure to make everything as perfect as possible. The scenery is amazing and you can tell lots of hard work was put into the event to go smoothly and as easy as possible.

Sabrina S

12/04/2018

We could not be more happy with the venue we selected - from Debbie and the staff to the upkeep and service- everything felt perfect. All our guests raved about Glen Ellen. It's a beautiful and scenic venue for a wedding.

Emma M

7/09/2018

I cannot sing Glen Ellen's praises enough! This is a very special place. The location is absolutely stunning. Debbie, the owner is wonderful, hard working and will put you at ease. I love every aspect of this place and I continue to hear the same from my guests. I highly reccomend Glen Ellen!

Katie A

7/07/2018

Debbie and the team at Glen Ellen were a joy to work with and made our day so special. Glen Ellen is on of the most beautiful places to get married, all of our guests raved about the property. You will love this property!

Allison A

7/06/2018

I just had my wedding last weekend at Glen Ellen farm and I have to say it was even more beautiful than I remember! All of our guests raved about how beautiful and scenic it was :) Debbie was also wonderful to work with, she was responsive and helpful and polite, as was her staff. She was also incredibly accommodating when my fiance and I wanted to make a surprise visit to the farm to bring our parents so they could see it before the actual wedding. The only downside was that we needed to end the party by 10pm due to county noise ordinance, but that is out of the venues control. We easily overcame that by planning our own after party at a different location because being at Glen Ellen and having to leave by 10pm is still completely worth it! I can't wait for Debbie to turn the manor house into a bed and breakfast so my husband and I can come back and spend the evening on an anniversary trip :)

Joo P

5/17/2018

Our wedding guests continue to tell us how beautiful our wedding venue was! Our venue was definitely one of the most memorable part of our wedding. It was absolutely perfect in every way and I feel so lucky to have found this place. Not only was everything on the grounds beautiful, the owner (Debbie) was incredibly sweet. She was so extremely accommodating with all of our requests and helped us make the day go by so smoothly. I cannot recommend this venue enough!!

Kailee M

11/11/2017

Having my wedding at Glen Ellen Farm was a dream come true! The Venue is absolutely breathtaking and Debbie (the owner) was so helpful through the whole process! Let me first start with the Venue... every guest came up to me throughout the night going on and on about how beautiful every aspect of the wedding had been... from the ceremony looking over the pond to the cocktail hour in the rustic barn ruins to when the beautiful sunset just next to the reception tent and then to the fire pit later in the evening that people could cozy up next to if they were not hitting the dance floor! We felt like we were in our own private world the entire wedding day at Glen Ellen Farm which made us feel even more special! Debbie was especially wonderful throughout the whole planning process offering for us to stop by many times so we can brainstorm and create our vision for our wedding! I would also like to add that Debbie continues to pour into Glen Ellen Farm and make wonderful changes that upgrade the venue every time we visit it! It amazed me that she made it possible to still have beautiful flowers in bloom for our October Wedding! We loved every aspect of our Wedding at Glen Ellen Farm and would highly suggest it to anyone looking at this venue!

Maria P

10/31/2017

This venue is drop dead gorgeous. You really don't need much décor in addition to what Debbie has already provided which is a huge cost savings for couples. Every single picture taken was drop dead gorgeous whether it was the professional photographer or an iPhone. The tent is extremely elegant, the chandeliers, and the drapery. You absolutely have to see it in person to really grasp all the unique details Debbie has worked to keep up and added on her own dime. I will say- there are a few things that potential couples should keep in mind that did cause some issues later on: Rehearsals have to be on a weekday as she does weddings on the weekends-understandable, however can be hard if you have a large wedding party but doable. Our vendors did tell us afterwards that the owner was rather rude to them, especially the DJ. It is listed in the contract that you cannot have your music over 65 decibels, which is roughly conversational level, she had to tell the DJ to turn it down 5 times and trust me, it'll ruin the mood if your guests want to party. I do think Debbie has a diamond in the rough out in Ijamsville and our guests raved about the beauty of our venue more than they complained that the music was soft. But it is something for couples to be aware of and keep in mind.

response 11/20/2017

We really do our very best at Glen Ellen Farm to accommodate the wishes and desires of our...

guests. Unfortunately we are also required by law to abide by county ordinances. These are quite strict and require us not to exceed a certain decibel rating. Our goal is to allow all of our weddings to proceed without interventions, so long as they follow the stated rules provided in all of our wedding contracts. This explicitly states that sound levels may not exceed 65 decibels. In this particular case, the DJ arrived late to the wedding ceremony and later played music at levels far exceeding our decibel limits. We approached the DJ and politely asked them to adjust the music level. Our venue is in a residential neighborhood and we are well tolerated by our patient neighbors. On this evening, we received several phone calls complaining about the excessive sound levels. We were forced to ask the DJ on multiple occasions to adjust the music levels, so that they did not exceed our limits. He would temporarily reduce the sound levels and then blare them again. We fielded several more complaints from neighbors and had to inform the DJ five times that his sound levels were excessive. When a DJ shows such blatant disregard for our venue regulations, he endangers our future right to function as a wedding venue. By the fifth intervention on excessive sound levels, we did lose our patience. We should never be forced into this position, as vendors are informed of our regulations in advance. Due to his disrespectful attitude, this DJ has been banned from future events at Glen Ellen Farm. We are upfront with all of our couples regarding our rules. While we never wish to intercede during an event, we have to abide by all county ordinances. We must enforce our rules to maintain our permits with the county so that we do not endanger the future of Glen Ellen. These rules stated in our contract ensure that future couples may also hold their wedding at this special place.

Lindsay M

10/04/2017

The venue was AMAZING!! However, the owner was AWFUL!!!!!!!!!! she was extremely rude to all my vendors. My vendors said they will never work at this venue ever again!!! She yelled at our vendors and even our guests, she threatened to call the cops on the kids playing in the grass. By the end of the night she was throwing our decorations on the ground. She is not made for this business!!!!!!!!!!!! The venue and the decorations were amazing and gorgeous and our wedding day was absolutely perfect except for her. she definitely ruined it for us.

response 11/20/2017

We pride ourselves on ensuring the safety of our guests at all times while at Glen Ellen F...

arm, a working farm in the heart of Frederick County. As a working farm, our property is intended to be enjoyed by adult guests. We require all young children to be supervised, and highly recommend a baby-sitting service at the event, as the many stone steps, spring-fed pond and fire pit can be hazardous to unsupervised children. At this particular wedding there were three young boys running around unsupervised, lighting sticks on fire, jumping from the stone walls, smashing the sedum plantings in the barn ruin as they played hopscotch over the troughs. We spotted the boys rummaging through other people’s personal belongings stored on the porch and continuously trying to open locked doors. Not knowing who the children belonged to, we approached the wedding coordinator on three separate occasions to inform them of the inappropriate behavior and determine who the parents were. Our goal was to avoid potential accidents as our farm is not a playground. Later in the evening, when we again approached the wedding coordinator and asked if she knew the children’s parents, she stated she had no idea and offered no help in finding the responsible parties. At this point we saw one of the boys run into the tent and sit down at a table. The owner of Glen Ellen approached the table and asked if the young man belonged to them. When they affirmed that he did, the owner informed them quietly that the farm was not suitable for unsupervised children and that they needed to leave, as the children had been playing dangerously all evening without appropriate supervision. We would much rather receive a negative review than have a child severely hurt on our property. Especially after sunset, our farm can be dangerous for children roughhousing, with potential for falls from the barn ruin or drowning in the pond. We welcome children to participate at all the Glen Ellen Farm weddings, but must insist they are appropriately supervised throughout the event. Our goal is to ensure the safety of all our guests at all times on the property, so that the venue continues to operate as a special and unique event venue.

Aubrey P

5/25/2017

The second I saw pictures of this venue I knew it was where I was going to celebrate the most special day in my life. Our first meeting with Debbie was fantastic & we were sold. The day of our wedding the weather didn't work out at the start so I was super bummed that I wasn't able to hold my cocktail hour in the barn ruins (the site that sold me on the venue) but the staff improvised & moved everyone in the tent. Thankfully the weather cleared up at dinner time & the guests were able to walk the property & enjoy the sites. Debbie has a BEAUTIFUL place - you will get the BEST pictures at this venue. I highly encourage you to go see it in person as you will fall in love with it . What Debbie has done to transform this place is simply amazing...and she continues to do improvements. HIGHLY recommend - its a hidden gem in Frederick County, Maryland.

Zinny S

9/26/2016

Our guests loved the venue at Glen Ellen Farm! Debbie truly has a beautiful location that she keeps very well-maintained. The guests loved cocktail hour in the barn ruins and there was plenty of room for our 240 guests to roam the grounds. We're so happy we chose Glen Ellen Farm for our location. We (and our guests) will never forget it.

Megan G

7/12/2016

I knew I wanted my wedding at an outdoor location and I never dreamed of a property so gorgeous. All of my guests were in awe of how I found this venue. It has so many backdrops and it created the perfect setting for our photographs. You really need to see it to understand how beautiful it is. Aside from this venue's perfect looks, the owner Debbie is a joy to work with. Between emailing her questions, to wanting to view the property again to get ideas, she made me feel as if I was the only bride she had to accommodate throughout my entire planning process. Believe it or not, not everything always goes perfectly in the planning leading up to your big day. I had a last minute change I had to make that might stress a lot of brides out, but Debbie was so understanding and willing to be flexible that it made everything easy for me and still made for an absolutely perfect day. It shows how much she cares about making sure all of her couples are happy. On the day of the wedding, my dad and a couple other family members were at the property dropping things off and making sure everything was being delivered and set up. They could not have said enough nice things about Debbie and how accommodating, helpful and welcoming she was. She certainly went above and beyond! I don't doubt that this will soon be one of the most popular venues in the area and you'd be missing out if you don't consider Glen Ellen Farm for your wedding or event! :)

Location

4940 Mussetter Road, Ijamsville, MD

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(240) 367-4084

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$5,500 starting price

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