Welcome! Happy you found us!!
The Blue dress Wedding Venue is renowned for its Authentic Beauty! A “ Vintage Masterpiece” named “Best Wedding Venue in America” by BRIDES MAGAZINE. “ The Queen “
Blue Dress is an accomplished & refined wedding venue with generations of history which paves the way for an exceptional experience on your special day. The venue is open seasonally May thru October and offers a timeless white-washed wood exterior along with a vast Gambrel roof for up to 280 people. Its extraordinary!!
The venue features two ceremony sites from which to choose. The first is a traditional and well-loved site between two historic 40ft. silos where ceremonies have taken place for the past 22 years. The second site is a boho-prairie setting that sits upon a bed of grasslands and features handcrafted birch pergola and bench seating.
The trees & gardens around Blue dress are mature and the walking paths are well loved from our brides & grooms. You and your guests will remember the heartfelt treasure at The Blue Dress for years to come.
We have three venues 5-10min away from each other! Each with their own personal style. We’d love to show you all three!
Reservations Available:
Friday, Saturday & Sunday
May – October
2024/2026 venue rental Pricing
Prices are subject to change at anytime and a reservation is not complete until a signed rental agreement has been submitted with a non-refundable retainer of $1800.00 ( this is applied towards your rental) . Visit our What's Included section to learn more.
Friday Pricing
Rental Fee: $5400
Ceremony Fee: $600
Total: $6000
Saturday Pricing
Rental Fee: $6400
Ceremony Fee: $600
Total: $7000
Sunday Pricing*
Rental Fee: $4400.00
Ceremony Fee: $600.00
Total: $5000
*Saturday pricing will apply to any Sunday that falls on a holiday or precedes a holiday.
2024-2026
Included with Venue Fee (seats up to 250 people)
This list represents what is available to any client, not necessarily what a particular client will use. Visit our rental pricing section to see costs.
12-hour rental of the barn (Noon – Midnight)
30 - 60” dia. round tables (seats 8 – 9)
250 - Walnut Chiavari dining chairs
4 - 8' Head tables (wood harvest or standard tables)
12 - 6' Buffet tables (as needed)
Vintage cake table
Gift table & place card table (vintage piano)
Vintage coffee table
Vintage guest book podium
4 - 30” dia. high-top tables
DJ table & stage (plenty of electric for a band)
Walnut dance floor
Handcrafted wood bar
Ice bins, galvanized bins & Kegerator
Indoor gorgeous bathrooms (handicap accessible)
Draped twinkle lights
Outdoor veranda & patio
Cocktail-hour area with hand built outdoor bar
3 - chalkboards
Horseshoe game
Fire pit
Set up tables and chairs
Take down tables and chairs
Staff for maintenance, janitorial duties and emergencies
Plenty of free parking onsite (165 spots)
Handicap accessible
1-hour on-site scheduled consultation
Quick FAQ’s
You hire your own caterer of choice ( we do have an amazing vendors list if you need help finding the perfect caterer.
please email ameliabriske@earthlink.net for this list
You will buy and supply our own alcohol or drink
Luther Bar is your required bartending service
Included with Additional Ceremony Fee
This list represents what is available to any client, not necessarily what a particular client will use. Visit our rental pricing section to see costs.
Bridal studio (with A/C & heat)
Man camp (with A/C & heat)
Unity table
One-hour complimentary rehearsal (see FAQs for rehearsal schedule)
280 chairs (white with padded seat)
Setup & breakdown of ceremony chairs
Handcrafted arbor
Sample Time line
(This is just an example)
Rental times Noon-Midnight ( Sundays we offer 10am-10pm if you choose)
When you arrive the tables and chairs will be set up - ready per your floorplan that Amelia will hand draw & provide to you. Email for details ameliabriske@earthlink.net
Noon Arrival
Noon-1:30 place linens on tables, set up personal décor etc.
(Or maybe a hired coordinator or rental company may do that for you?) You can be a DIY couple or hire a person to do that for you.
The Blue dress barn is already very beautiful – linens and florals you have a beautiful room!
1:30-3:00 Bridal Prep / other vendors arrive for their set up
(Couples usually have hair/makeup done in town/hotel/AirBnB. They arrive in robes and use the Rose Room or Big Blue for putting on their dress/suits and touchups)
Usually they arrive at the barn around 1:30/2pm
3:00-4:00 First look
(Couples walk around the Barn, the wooded area, in Gazebo, by the Iron gates, inside teepee, at Grasslands, Fun Retro Camper photos and more)
Sometimes Family Formal photos are taken at this time.
4:00-4:30 Bridal Party in Suites
(Back to suites for one more touch up and time to line up your wedding party for Ceremony:)
4:30 -5:00 Ceremony begins
(Traditional ring ceremony is 9min. long ;)
5:00 -6:00 Cocktail Hour, Wedding Party Photos
(your guests will enjoy drinks & appetizers during this time - provided by your caterer. Couples usually head to Rose Room to sign their marriage license – along with more celebratory photos)
6:15 -6:30 Wedding Party announced….. Newlyweds introduced !
(gather your wedding party on the deck and prepare for introduction)
You could cut your cake at this point & first newlywed dance.
6:30-7:30 Dinner Begins 7:30
( you should confirm w your caterer with dinner time / before making a final timeline )
7:30pm First Dances (with parents)
8:00-11:00 get out and Dance!!!
(3 hours of non-stop fun!)
11:00 Music ends
(last call is made, Coordinator, Rental companies or family start to gather personal belongings, Dj starts to pack up, bartenders box any opened alcohol for you to take home, BDB staff starts to clean the barn and take trash out.
Midnight Departure
( this includes vendors)
Location
3893 Territorial Rd.
Benton Harbor, Michigan 49022
Just 15 minutes from the beautiful Saint Joseph Beaches & Restored Benton Harbor. We are half way between Chicago and Detroit making it a wonderful central location for your guests.
GPS Coordinates:
N42 07.608 W86 21.906
Southwest Michigan is known for its fantastic tourist attractions including local wineries, breweries, beaches and apple, peach, cherry & blueberry picking. Jollay Orchards is a nearby and popular destination for seasonal events and orchard picking for all ages.
The beaches along Lake Michigan are some of the finest in the world. The most notable are Silver Beach, Tiscornia, Rocky Gap, Jean Klock Park and Weko Beach but the list goes on and on.
Someone say Vineyard? Berrien County is long known for it's vineyards and first-class wine grapes. Visit 21 wineries on The Lake Michigan Shore Wine Trail.
Artisan breweries are popping up all over Southwest Michigan. Check out the http://www.swmibrewtours.com
Looking for more local information? visit Southwest Michigan Tourism Council — their website is an awesome resource for local event listings, lodging and all sorts of other great stuff!
The Blue Dress Barn is less than 15 minutes east of the Benton Harbor Arts District and beautiful downtown St. Joseph where you'll find a wide-array of boutiques, restaurants, museums, hotels, beach rentals and seasonal events.
We're here to help.
Thanks for stopping by! Please use the form below to inquire about tour dates, available event dates, pricing or anything else that comes to mind.
If you haven't heard from us within 48 hours please check your spam! or resend your email to ameliabriske@earthlink.net.
If you have time, please visit our winning sister venues — The MillCreek Wilde and Sundance & The Secret Garden.
