The Bicentennial Barn Wedding Photos & Venue Information
June 15, 2024
Bicentennial Barn Weddings in Huber Heights, Ohio
The Bicentennial Barn is one of the most impressive barn wedding venues in the Dayton area. When I first pulled up to this restored historic barn, my first thought was, “Wow.”
The barn is huge, beautifully restored, and surprisingly comfortable inside. You might expect a barn to be freezing in the winter or hot in the summer, but that is not the case here. The owners did a great job turning this historic building into a comfortable year-round wedding venue.
Located in Huber Heights with easy access to I-70 and I-75, the Bicentennial Barn is a convenient option for couples planning a Dayton wedding. It also has plenty of room for getting ready, wedding ceremonies, dinner, dancing, and a large reception.
I have photographed weddings here, and I would definitely come back.
Bicentennial Barn Wedding Venue
The Bicentennial Barn combines the look of a historic Ohio barn with the amenities you want from a modern wedding venue.
When you walk inside, a large wood and iron staircase leads to the main event space upstairs. The ground floor includes the cocktail hour and buffet areas, along with separate getting-ready spaces for the wedding party.
The upstairs event space is much larger than you might expect from the outside. There is plenty of room for wedding ceremonies, dinner tables, a DJ, dancing, and a large number of guests.
This is a venue that can handle a real party.
Bicentennial Barn Getting Ready Rooms
One of my favorite features of the Bicentennial Barn is the getting-ready space.
The larger bridal suite has plenty of room for a bride and her bridesmaids. It has hair and makeup stations, mirrors, restrooms, natural light, and enough space to comfortably accommodate a large group.
In my experience, this is one of the better bridal suites at a Dayton-area wedding venue.
There is also a smaller room for the groom and groomsmen. It is considerably smaller than the bridal suite, but it has a large television and gives the guys their own place to hang out before the wedding.
Having both groups get ready at the same venue makes the wedding day much easier to organize.
Bicentennial Barn Wedding Ceremony
Wedding ceremonies take place on the main event level on the north side of the barn.
The ceremony space has rows of chairs facing an arbor or pergola where the couple and officiant stand. The barn’s interior provides a rustic backdrop without requiring a lot of additional decoration.
There is one important thing to know. The ceremony and reception area is upstairs, and there is no elevator.
If you have elderly or mobility-impaired guests, make sure you take the stairs into consideration when planning your wedding.
One thing I really enjoyed about the ceremony I photographed here was the entrance. The wedding party, bride, and groom came up the staircase from the ground floor. That gave me a long approach and plenty of opportunities to photograph everyone coming into the ceremony.
The barn does not have a huge number of windows, but the ceremony space had surprisingly good light when I photographed here.
Bicentennial Barn Wedding Reception
The upstairs event space is huge.
During cocktail hour, guests move downstairs for drinks and snacks while the staff transforms the main floor for the reception. This gives the venue plenty of time to set up the tables and chairs without guests walking through the middle of the room.
The open layout leaves plenty of space for dinner, dancing, a DJ, and all of the other parts of a wedding reception.
The size of this room is one of the biggest reasons I think the Bicentennial Barn works so well for larger weddings.
Bicentennial Barn Cocktail Hour
Cocktail hour takes place on the ground floor while the reception space is being prepared upstairs.
This also gives me a good opportunity to take the couple and wedding party outside for photos.
At the wedding I photographed here, we used the cocktail hour to get a variety of formal and fun wedding photos outside. I had already photographed the family formals before the ceremony, so we had more time to work with the wedding party.
Fortunately, the weather cooperated and everyone was comfortable outside.
Bicentennial Barn Wedding Photography
The Bicentennial Barn gives me several different options for wedding photography.
The barn itself provides a great rustic background, while the property around it gives us more room to create outdoor portraits. The large entrance and exterior of the barn are especially useful when the evening light starts hitting the building.
The evening sun can create beautiful light around the entrance. If your wedding timeline gives us enough time, I would definitely take advantage of it.
I also like venues that give me opportunities to photograph people naturally instead of keeping everyone in one room all day. Bicentennial Barn gives us plenty of options.
In order to make the most of this historic wedding venue and your wedding photographer & videographer, me, the 8-hour or 12-hour photos and video package would be best.
The History of the Bicentennial Barn
The Bicentennial Barn is more than just a wedding venue.
The barn is part of Ohio’s Bicentennial Barn Project, which celebrated Ohio’s 200th anniversary in 2003. Barns across Ohio were painted to commemorate the state’s agricultural history, with one selected in each of Ohio’s 88 counties.
The Bicentennial Barn features the Ohio bicentennial logo along with the years 1803 and 2003. Artist Scott Hagan painted the mural as part of the statewide project. By the time the barn was opened as a Dayton wedding venue, the mural had deteriorated due to the weather.
That history gives the building some personality that you will not find at a newly constructed wedding venue.
A Rustic Dayton Wedding Venue With Modern Amenities
If you are looking for a rustic wedding venue in Dayton, the Bicentennial Barn gives you the look of a historic barn without giving up the things that make a modern wedding comfortable.
The building is climate controlled, the getting-ready rooms are excellent, and the main event space is large enough for a substantial wedding reception.
It also has the advantage of being close to major highways and Dayton-area hotels.
For couples who want a barn wedding without driving deep into the country, the Huber Heights location is worth considering.
My First Bicentennial Barn Wedding
My first wedding at the Bicentennial Barn was my 234th overall wedding.
It was a late fall wedding, and after waiting for the date to finally arrive, I was ready to get to work.
The wedding turned out to be a fantastic day. I photographed the ceremony, reception, wedding party, family photos, and plenty of portraits of the couple around the property.
As an extra gift for the couple, I also created a wedding film.
The day gave me a great opportunity to see how the Bicentennial Barn works from a photographer’s perspective. The venue was well organized, the owners were helpful, and the different spaces made it easy to keep the day moving.
Most importantly, the couple loved their photos.
My Next Bicentennial Barn Wedding
In September, I photographed a fantastic autumn wedding at this Huber Heights wedding venue. The day was 67 and sunny – perfect! The couple was really up for anything in terms of photography, so I had plenty of options. They chose to not see each other until the ceremony. We photographed the groom, groomsmen, and dads first, on the north side of barn. Once they were hidden away, I photographed the bride, bridesmaids, and moms in the same spot. Because of the time of day, there was no other locations for shaded photos. The main outdoor area was set up for the wedding with 77 chairs and the pergola. The front of the barn, facing west, was incredibly sunny. This left my chosen spot for photos.
The wedding ceremony was beautiful and emotional due to a loss the family had recently encountered. Throughout the day I was aware of the situation and didn’t rush them through anything. We incorporated mementos of their loss into the day.
See my 2026 Bicentennial Barn wedding film below.
Would I Photograph Another Wedding at Bicentennial Barn?
Absolutely.
I would be happy to photograph another wedding at the Bicentennial Barn. The venue is well run, the owners are helpful, and there is plenty of space to create a complete wedding gallery.
I especially like having the combination of a large indoor reception space and outdoor areas for portraits. That gives me more variety than a venue where the entire wedding takes place in one room.
If you are planning a Dayton barn wedding, this is definitely a venue I would put on your list to tour.
Bicentennial Barn Wedding Tips
Give Your Guests Clear Directions
The Bicentennial Barn is located in an area where the drive can make you wonder if you are going the right way.
The road has a 25 MPH speed limit and runs through a park, so some guests may think they have taken a wrong turn.
Include clear directions with your wedding information so everyone knows where they are going.
Plan for the Stairs
The main wedding and reception space is upstairs, and there is no elevator.
Make sure elderly guests and anyone with mobility issues know about the stairs before the wedding.
Use the Evening Light
The evening sun can hit the front of the barn beautifully.
If your wedding timeline allows it, I recommend setting aside a few minutes around sunset for outdoor portraits. The light on the barn entrance can make for some great wedding photos.
Take Advantage of the Property
Don’t spend the entire day inside the barn.
There are opportunities for wedding portraits around the exterior, and cocktail hour can give us a good window to get the couple and wedding party outside.
A few minutes away from the reception can give your wedding gallery a completely different look.
Bicentennial Barn Wedding Photos
I photographed these Bicentennial Barn wedding photos during several visits to the venue. They show the barn’s exterior, ceremony space, reception area, getting-ready rooms, and some of the wedding photography opportunities around the property.
If you are considering the Bicentennial Barn for your wedding, take a look through the photos to get a better idea of what the venue looks like on an actual wedding day.
Bicentennial Barn Weddings With Kevin Lush Photography
I have photographed weddings throughout Dayton, Cincinnati, and Columbus since 2007. My experience includes everything from historic buildings and downtown venues to barns, country properties, hotels, and large wedding reception spaces.
The Bicentennial Barn is a great example of why I like photographing different types of wedding venues. The building has history, the reception space is large, and there are enough different areas to keep the wedding photos interesting throughout the day.
If you are planning a Bicentennial Barn wedding in Huber Heights, I would love to be there to photograph it.
For more information about my wedding photography packages, including engagement sessions and wedding films, visit my Dayton wedding photography packages and pricing.
Key Takeaways For A Successful Bicentennial Barn Wedding And Reception
- The Bicentennial Barn is a beautifully restored wedding venue in Dayton, offering year-round comfort and rustic elegance.
- It features spacious getting-ready rooms, ample space for receptions, and a charming, historic atmosphere.
- The barn is part of Ohio’s Bicentennial Barn Project, symbolizing the state’s agricultural heritage with eye-catching murals.
- Couples can enjoy picturesque surroundings, perfect for memorable ceremonies and photos.
- Guests should be aware of road directions, as the area may be a bit tricky to navigate.
Choosing Magnolia Barn at Magnolia Estate, Rosewood Manor at Magnolia Estate, Ivory Meadows, or something historic such as Bicentennial Barn, you will have a great Dayton wedding venue.