Farms, ranches, and vineyards are utilitarian—each building, vehicle, machine, gravel driveway, tool, crop, and weathervane serves a purpose. Whether it’s for livestock or crop cultivation, farms are agricultural operations that keep the planet fed. Though farming and ranching is labour-intensive and practical, it can also be very beautiful.

And it seems that more and more engaged couples think so, too.

The past decade has seen a trending shift in the style of weddings. Simpler, more casual wedding ceremonies and receptions are taking the place of formal affairs, and more couples are seeking the rustic warmth of farm, ranch, and vineyard weddings. And, since rural wedding sites offer ceremony locations and barns or tents for receptions, the entire wedding day can be spent overlooking rows of grapes, rolling fields, idyllic ponds, and grazing livestock. 

Last year set a record in the U.S as 2.6 million couples exchanged their vows and said, “I do.” In a fifty-four-billion-dollar-a-year industry in the U.S, and five billion dollars in Canada, the average wedding in 2023 costs $29,000. A survey of 12,000 couples married last year showed that fifty-seven percent chose a wedding location within thirty miles of their home. And, for the first time, farms and barns tied with banquet halls as the top reception location. Eco-friendly and sustainable wedding-day elements have also seen a rise in popularity, with twenty-seven percent of couples making it a priority on their day. Twenty-five percent of couples also incorporated locally sourced items including flowers, food, and wedding favours. Thank guests for coming to your farm or ranch wedding with homemade preserves, honey, soap, candles, or seed packets!

Seventy-seven percent of couples get married in the summer and fall—gorgeous farming seasons that showcase blooming growth and colourful harvests. Thanks to the seasonality of farming, barn weddings offer the perfect array of natural backdrops for photographers and videographers to capture treasured memories.

Since December is the most popular month for engagements, with most lasting around a year, it’s no surprise that October tops the list for wedding months. This year, three out of the top five most popular wedding days will occur in October, with farms and barns remaining the most popular locale. For winery weddings in California, it is always important to consider the seasons in Napa and Sonoma counties! If you’re looking for lush, sunny vineyards with a low chance of rain, choose a wedding date in May through October. The cooler months are October through April, so if you’re looking for a winter or spring wedding, opt for an indoor location or a tent with heaters. 

With the rise in popularity of rural nuptials, nearly eighty percent of couples reported that their 2023 ceremony and venue will be held at the same location—perfect for farms, ranches, and vineyards. Additionally, about twenty percent of couples this year opted for a destination wedding—considered any locale outside a couple’s hometown—and only half were international locations. With the trending preference for barn weddings, it even seems that more couples are willing to travel the extra mile for the farm of their dreams. Because couples love wedding dates with matching numbers, this year’s most popular wedding date was September twenty-third. If you’re in the market for a 2024 farm or winery wedding, keep in mind that August twenty-fourth will be popular!

With relaxed vibes and peaceful settings, many couples also prefer more casual attire for their guests at a farm, ranch, or vineyard. With men in dress pants and buttoned shirts, and women in summer dresses and sandals, farm weddings mean comfort for all. And this, of course, means comfort food, too. Farm and ranch weddings are the perfect spot to dig into some macaroni and cheese, fried chicken, and barbeque dishes, and with abundant local produce, fresh greens and healthy sides are sure to brighten up any barn buffet. Remember to check with local craft breweries, vineyards, and distilleries if you’re looking to bring a local feel to your cocktail hour and bar!

When it comes to décor, the casual atmosphere of farm and winery weddings is a welcome backdrop for wildflowers, extra greenery, and more free-flowing bouquets and centerpieces. Some couples incorporate lanterns, dried wheat, pampas grass, succulents, and tin and wooden accents. You can also match your musical preferences to the venue, choosing country, indie, or classical music to highlight the farm or winery’s charming feel during your ceremony and reception. 

Farms, ranches, and vineyards offer so many beautiful and natural benefits to couples and their guests, but they also help farmers to supplement their agricultural income. After land payments, equipment purchases, seasonal worker payroll, and management and production of crop yields, many farm families quite often need to seek out additional revenue streams. The most common alternative options are seasonal agritourism, hunting leases, local markets, and weddings.

In Canada, a recent British Columbia ruling by the agriculture ministry lets farmers supplement their incomes by hosting tours, festivals, and weddings on Agricultural Land Reserve land—if they are “small-scale”. This means that farms must be classified as such, run by a farmer, and have their own parking. Events must not interfere with any farming activities, and no new permanent facilities are allowed to be built. No more than one hundred and fifty people can attend any one event, and farms can host up to ten events per year. Similar rulings have been made in regions across North America to preserve the natural landscape, meet the agricultural needs of the people, and satisfy the demands of the event industry.  

In fact, the Utah Farm Bureau (UTB) thinks that the rising popularity of barn weddings in the state can help raise awareness of everything that farmers and ranchers do. Matt Hargreaves, the communications director of the UTB says, “Farmers are looking for additional ways to share their farms with others. It can help the bottom line, but it also helps to build understanding with those who don’t farm. Understanding helps our industry.” An all-day event like a wedding offers guests the opportunity to have a closer look at a working farm and helps the public to overcome any agricultural stereotypes. Farm guests can readily learn about water conservation efforts, outstanding animal care, and the complexity of growing healthy crops. 

So, if you’re looking for somewhere rustic, relaxed, and rural to say, “I do”, don’t hesitate—book a farm, ranch, or vineyard wedding near you. Take a drive down a long dirt road, surround yourself with family and friends, and let your future begin on the farm.