Wedding Places as Special as Those Exchanging Vows

By Nancy Luse

In the classic musical My Fair Lady, the groom sings, “I’m getting married in the morning. Ding-dong the bells are going to chime…but get me to the church on time.” Today, the lyrics more appropriately might say get me to the barn, art gallery, museum, vineyard or former bank on time as couples choose to have their nuptials in unique settings.

The Vault 1891, located at 4 W. Main St., Thurmont, originally served as the Thurmont Bank and is one of the more outside-of-the-box choices for a wedding and reception with its high ceilings, ornate chandeliers, exposed brick walls and the star of the show, a vault.

“Everybody loves the history of the building,” says Mary Beth Davis, manager of the space. “The very first wedding held here was my daughter’s. Her favorite picture is of her and her husband in the vault.”

The space includes an area that can be used as a chapel and on the other side of the building is the main room for up to 100 guests. Upstairs is a “ready room” for the bridal party to use.

The bank “sat empty for a number of years,” Mary Beth says, and now people are happy that it’s back for the public to use and enjoy. One attendee remarked that the venue is “stunning and full of character.”

**Ostertag Vistas. Photo courtesy of Leigh Anne Brader Photography**

The Delaplaine Arts Center, 40 S. Carroll St., Frederick, is another unique space. Depending on configurations and the needs of clients, the center can accommodate up to 90 people, according to their website, offering “something creative, something different, that reflects who you are.”

Décor is available, so no need to run around town looking for lights and other items, not when you can have “Starry Nights” lights overhead. Cocktails can be served in the main galleries or on the covered deck overlooking Carroll Creek, and the main room can be used for the ceremony and reception. There is a prep kitchen, and the staff is happy to work with your caterer. A parking deck is right next door.

**Ostertag Vistas. Photo courtesy of Thuis Studios**

Rural Roots Beckon

Farming was once the main feature of Frederick and Washington counties, and although development is being felt, farms still remain with some of the owners expanding their livelihoods by hosting weddings in historic barns or sweeping meadows.

Green Hill Farm, 5329 Mondell Road, Sharpsburg, dates back to the mid-1800s and is where current owner Erin Frobouck-Moshier grew up. “Once people crest the hill going to the farm, they are in a different world,” she says, suggesting that the popularity of rural weddings has come about because “as society evolves, people are remembering the land, the farms. It really is a great place for a party.” There’s even a firepit for late-night relaxing and toasting marshmallows.

Green Hill is a working farm, mainly growing dahlias and hydrangeas for sale. They have an on-site floral studio which is handy for weddings. The location features an event barn, which was constructed in an historic manner without nails. Gardens and meandering pathways join the landscape, along with a silo that was shortened and turned into a unique bar. A greenhouse space is in the plans.

“My favorite part of the business is being able to share the space I love,” Erin says.

Comus Farm Events, 16520 Comus Road, sits on close to 300 acres of rolling hills and mountain views, with several acres designated as forest conservation, including a stately grove of pines. Cows no longer call this former dairy farm home, but owners Iago and Lauren Hayser are still working on the land.

“Our goal is to create weddings that feel intentional, welcoming and seamlessly integrated with our local agriculture,” they say. Guests can use the grand barn, with its large dance floor, deck and patio, plus a dedicated kids’ room, as well as garden, gazebo and lawn.

“We only do one wedding a weekend,” Lauren says. “Our goal is not to turn out” a lot of weddings, “but to slow things down with proper care and attention. We want to reduce as much stress as we can.”

Owners of Antrim Spring Farm, 14007 Williamsport Pike, Greencastle, Pa., Amber and Andrew Dunn, describe their 1735 farm as “a hidden gem.”

“We were looking for a house and when we saw the farm we fell in love with it. We never thought we would be farmers,” Amber says with a laugh, but it didn’t stop there. “We loved it so much that we wanted to share it with the community. We wanted to offer it as a place for weddings and other events.”

The carriage house can accommodate 100 guests and has the versatility of a spacious patio surrounded by a lush lawn and other plantings, as well as a covered deck. The building has glass garage doors which can be opened to allow a perfect flow of guests enjoying both the outdoor and inside offerings.

Timber Valley Farm Barn Rental, Clear Spring, is described by owners Tom and Karen Grosh as “100 acres of natural beauty.” Couples are “provided with a peaceful setting where rustic charm, heartfelt hospitality, and the beauty of the outdoors come together to create meaningful celebrations.”

Tom says that “From the charming bridal suite and the Trailblazer Wagon to woodland paths, scenic overlooks and other beautiful outdoor spaces, Timber Valley offers more than a place to celebrate—it offers an opportunity to slow down, connect with loved ones, and create memories that will last a lifetime.”

Tom, who continues to grow alfalfa on the farm that is named for family dog, Timber, is especially happy with the handcrafted timber-framed barn with its large doors that bring the outside in. “The Cove,” a section of land with moss-covered boulders that he calls “God’s cathedral,” is perfect for the ceremony, as well as a backdrop for photos. “Every photographer wants to come back,” Tom says.

Ostertag Vistas, 11847 Easterday Road, Myersville, has been operating for approximately 30 years. Owner Donna Easterday, whose parents started the operation, says, “we were the first in Frederick County to be permitted” to host events on a farm.

The property, 16.4 acres of meadows, trees, farmland and wilderness, features a German Swiss bank barn and three historic buildings dating to 1711, according to their website. Ostertag Vistas is situated 15 minutes from both Frederick and Hagerstown.

Clients “love the local history,” Donna says, as well as “the peace and quiet and limited light pollution” so that a starry night adds even more to the romance of the occasion. “Every event is different,” she says, whether it’s an Asian ceremony with a lion dance or something traditional to western culture.

“What I enjoy is at the end of the evening when the bride and groom thanks you and gives you hugs. I’m continuing my parents’ legacy,” Donna says. “I think this is what Mom and Dad would have loved.”

Need a Tent, Chairs Or an Ice Shaver?

With more than 30 years of industry knowledge and experience, Dwain Remsberg, owner/director of events1rentals, says that “Over many decades every wedding is new to me” and he’s prepared to “make the vision of the bride and groom come to life.”

Weddings make up about 30 percent of the Walkersville company’s business, with couples renting everything from tents for a backyard ceremony, tables and chairs for a venue that doesn’t provide them, as well as smaller details such as table linens and silverware. “The most unusual item I rent is probably the ice shaver machine. It’s great for party drinks,” Remsberg says.

He started his career with Remsberg Tent Rentals in the 1980s and 1990s, later working on the regional and national level in the event industry while training for eight years with the West Virginia Air National Guard.

Events1rental, founded in 2023, is hailed by Remsberg as being “very accommodating, from planning to logistics, along with having very friendly budgetary pricing. As a local vendor, I can offer my insight…I am on every job site seeing it completed to the level of the customer’s expectation. Being a good listener is key.”

“Private events in a backyard property are my favorite weddings, with tenting and all the inclusive rentals,” Remsberg says. “The customer understands their private property is the venue for the week as we install midweek and breakdown typically on Mondays. This allows the wedding party plenty of time to incorporate all their personal touches and elements. The customer has no concerns about the timelines, either. Some may even take the Sunday for a next day brunch.” www.events1rentals.com

Wineries & Breweries

Big Cork Vineyards, 4236 Main St., Rohresville, a veteran- and women-owned estate in the Blue Ridge and South Mountain foothills, has more than 40 acres available to couples tying the knot. The owners paint a picture of “majestic mountains, cascading vines and awe-inspiring backdrops.”

“We only host one wedding a day,” says Keith Morris. “We want it to be about you, scheduling weddings only when we’re closed” to the general public visiting the vineyard. The venue has a house on the property for bridal parties to prepare for the ceremony, and there are two year-round tents for receptions.

Keith says, “It’s a unique venue,” especially the spectacular sunsets, not to mention the wine produced on the estate.

If beer is your beverage of choice, Amy Dudrow and Todd Vaughn have you covered at Smokehouse Brewing, 223 W. Potomac St., Brunswick. “We’ve had couples who met here, get married here,” Amy says. The building was constructed in 1948 with the fire department on the ground floor and the upstairs devoted to community events such as dinners and concerts. Country singer Patsy Cline once belted out songs from the stage here.

“It’s made for gatherings,” Amy says, adding that “it’s quite rustic” as opposed to fancier places to have a wedding. The brewery’s product is served, along with the place having a full bar. There’s no kitchen, but couples can feed their families and friends using caterers or food trucks. “We’re super easy to work with,” she says.

Weddings in Sacred Spaces

Years ago, the majority of weddings were held in churches and even before that it was common to gather in the living room of the church parsonage and exchange vows. Although there are many more options today, there are still couples who believe that a house of worship is the best choice for a location.

One such church is John Wesley United Methodist Church, 129 N. Potomac St., Hagerstown, which is described on its website as “nearly 140 years of faith meets the beauty of your wedding day.” The Gothic Revival sanctuary has an arched ceiling with wooden accents and stained-glass windows.

Eyler’s Valley Chapel, 7504 Hampton Valley Road, Emmitsburg, is a stone chapel dating back to 1857. There is no electricity, with candles providing illumination for an old-fashioned wedding. A foot-treadle pump organ can be used for the Wedding March.

Karen Smith, a member of Evangelical Lutheran Church, Frederick, is the church’s wedding coordinator. She humorously describes her role as being to “get them up the aisle and out the door.” On a more serious note, she says a church wedding “is more special. You’re in God’s house.”

Karen says she often hears from the couple that a parent, grandparent and even great-grandparent was married at ELC. “It’s an honor to carry on that tradition and it gives me pleasure to help make their wedding as perfect as we can make it.”