
July 29, 2024
The Estate at Sunset Farm exceeded my expectations from the moment I turned into its long driveway. This beautiful wedding and reception venue, a former farm, is located in Bellbrook, Ohio, just south of I-675. It features a gigantic property, a two-story house, and a beautiful ceremony area. The property is a mix of flat grassy areas, woods, and a horse farm. I believe this is the perfect wedding venue for people seeking a farm-chic wedding with all the amenities of a reception hall.
When you enter the Estate At Sunset Farm property, a large driveway framed by brick gates leads to a massive house. The driveway ends at a back parking lot, where a walkway guides you toward the rear of the home. Along the path, you’ll pass the ceremony site—a small grassy area with horse barns in the distance—and gardens filled with flowers, bushes, and white pergolas. Behind the house, a former pool has been transformed into a pond and natural habitat. I was unsure about it at first, but later learned the owner designed it that way. It creates a beautiful foreground for wedding portraits with the house in the background.
The ceremony location, situated at the back of the property, is on a flat lawn between the reception house and the parking lot. It is an east-facing grassy area with woods on one side and willow trees and a horse barn on the other. The chairs on this day were set up in a multi-row semi-circle facing the ceremony area.
During ceremonies at Estate At Sunset Farm, have the DJ mic the wedding couple so that everyone can hear them. The area is large enough that it can be difficult for everyone to hear. I have photographed enough weddings to know that the greatest, most memorable ceremonies are always easily audible to the guests.
Overshadowing everything else on the property is the beautiful brick house that houses the catering company (in the garage), the bridal preparation area (solarium), and two floors for the reception and guests. The head table is situated at the back of the house, which can be seen by most of the first-floor guests and some of the second-floor guests from the balcony.
Behind the head table is a fireplace and giant windows. Near this is the bar, a built-in wood bar with plenty of room for bartenders, coolers, and guests. As a result of all the work the owners have done on the property, this is a beautiful property.
I love the house itself, but the guests can feel cramped when too many people are invited. I would suggest this venue for weddings with 100 guests or less to provide the most comfort and space to the guests. The upstairs area, accessible to a front-of-house dual staircase, even features its own bar. The groom and groomsmen can use the upstairs to change and get ready. There are large leather chairs available there. Lastly, take a look Estate At Sunset Farm for yourself to see if it meets your needs.















In June 2023 I had the pleasure of photographing my first-ever wedding at The Estate At Sunset Farm in Bellbrook Ohio. I had been looking forward to this wedding for about a year in part due to the awesome bride and groom and in part due to the venue. I’d been seeing beautiful social media posts featuring the estate, and it was finally my turn to create beautiful wedding images here. See why the Estate At Sunset Farm is Bellbrook Ohio’s best wedding and reception venue.
The bride and groom had allotted plenty of extra time in the day so that no one would be rushed. Still, we had to rush the family photos a bit due to guests arriving. This can happen when things get behind and guests also arrive early. Because of my preparation and approach to weddings, I can handle situations like this. Everything went well and all photos were captured.
I enjoyed this property and was perplexed by the house. It is a new-looking large mansion-style brick house with a new roof. In the back is what had been an in-ground pool. The staff person explained that the house had been here a while and had been renovated. So while I thought it was brand new, I was incorrect. The pool had been transformed from a swimming pool into a pond with fish and plant life. All in all, the aesthetic worked but it was confusing.
For the first time this year, I worked with a videographer. I always enjoy this because it gives me someone to talk to during the day. Since I work alone, there is no one I can bounce ideas off of. She was recording one of her first weddings, and I was happy to have her. As a bonus for the wedding couple, I doubled as a Dayton wedding videographer on this day. I use my iPhone and a gimbal to capture video alongside my photographs. The photography is primary, so as I have time, I incorporate the video. The couple ended up with a 6-minute wedding highlight video from me.































