The Hay Loft

and the barn was gorgeous with purple up lighting, the warm glow of string lights and our decorations. My day was beautiful and perfect, however had I known what I learned through the 30 day meeting and setting up I would have spent my money at another barn. At our 30 day meeting I was informed for an outdoor wedding we would have to supply our own chairs, for a barn wouldn’t you expect people to have an outdoor wedding? Or for the money we spend on just the venue, chairs should be supplied? No. Also at this meeting I was informed that regardless of the number of guest, I would have to linen 30 tables, nothing like spending extra money a month out. Fast forward to day before and setting up, luckily they gave us 3 hours to set up and rehearse the day before, even though they mentioned they plan on getting rid of this for next year and were not flexible on time frame of these 3 hours, so being from 45 min from barn everyone was expected to take a half day of work to make it. The barn states Max occupancy is 300 people we had 230 so 23 tables and we were squished with minimal walking room, I can’t imagine fitting another 70 people or 7 tables! Our original guest list of 280 would have never have fit and if glad we had many “no rsvps” The “day of coordinator” and main face of the barn was extremely rude and you are pretty much forced to have everything set up her way. If you question or ask to change something she gives you a smug look saying, “that would be a poor decision on your part” multiple times I heard that. For a day of coordinator my baker had to find the groom to figure out where she even needed to set up. As Marissa was nowhere to help or direct. Of the 23 tables 12 were taken done for the dance floor, which happened to be the head table and the front row of family! I questioned this and got the lovely answer from above and was told I would see tomorrow how it works. Fast forward to wedding day, 120 people left standing for next 5 hours and half the barn left open. We did have many dancers however we definitely didn’t need all that space in which looked open and bare. Food is served from the front deck, with no back up plan let alone space for food to be served inside, which would be fine if it wasn’t October and 40 degrees. Rather than using the door for the buffet line they opened the whole garage door so the tables in front of this door were freezing for 45 minutes! Also would not rate this barn anywhere close to wheel chair accessible unless you enjoy a long walk outside the barn and up a gravel hill to get to reception area, and the bathrooms are on the lower level. Overall the day went great but had I known the flow and lack of space I would have kept looking for barns.

h of September. My now husband and I booked The Hay Loft over two and a half years ago and the venue has only gotten more beautiful as the years have gone on. I highly recommend having your whole wedding day here if you are in the Watertown, WI area and are looking for that perfect rustic barn!

dicapped accessible. Gravel and stones to move a wheelchair on and you have to go down a stone hill or grassy hill to get down to the first floor. With all all the mosqitoes around, maybe a good spraying of the area before an event would be helpful. Not sure how Jefferson County believes this venue is legal.

he bridal room was a nice touch to have, and the back yard was perfect for us to set out our lawn games for guest to enjoy while we took pictures. We are so thrilled at how our wedding turned out, and the staff and the venue had such a huge impact on our special day.

owed smoothly and I couldn’t have had a more perfect day.

rful, well organized, and made the day so much easier for me. I would highly recommend this barn to anyone getting married!

land is beautiful and very reasonably priced!