Sustainable & Artisanal Wedding Venue in Minnesota: An Eco-Friendly Fairytale Farm Venue in Rochester
Today I will present to you a unique place to get married, an alternative to mainstream wedding venues: the Squash Blossom Farm.
This is a place that produces its own food and would delight your guests with amazing wood-fired pizza (among other things). It’s a magical place that would please forest and garden lovers, animal lovers, and those who cherish the romantic aspect of traditional farms. Most importantly for a photographer, this is a location that would be extremely photogenic for covering a wedding!
In 30 sec…
Squash Blossom Farm is not your typical wedding venue. It’s a working eco-friendly farm in Rochester, MN that blends art, architecture, and nature into a whimsical setting. You’ll discover:
- Photogenic backdrops everywhere, from a gothic greenhouse and enchanted forest to vintage buildings, sculptures, and farm animals.
- A unique philosophy where people, plants, and animals live in harmony, creating an authentic, bohemian atmosphere.
- Local food and drink options, including wood-fired pizza, mead, and homemade pies, all made with farm-grown or local ingredients.
- Sustainability in practice with no-waste rentals, composting, and strong ties to the local community.
- Logistics you need to know like guest capacity, pricing, tent rentals, and preparation spaces.
By the end, you’ll know whether this eco-artisanal venue is the perfect fit for your wedding vision.
Table of Contents
The Squash Blossom Farm and its numerous photogenic locations
This farm is a dream come true. The two owners, Susan Waughtal (artist and nonprofit organization runner) and Roger Nelson (former architect), purchased their 10-acre, 100-year-old sleeping farmstead in 2008 and completely transformed it.
The farm is composed of several buildings and areas:
The main barn covered by red corrugated metal hosts the mead room, the kitchen with its wood-fired oven for pizza, bathrooms, a winery area for the mead, and other storage and utility rooms.
The center of the farm features the stage for concerts and other shows.
That’s an ideal location for a ceremony.
A gothic-shaped greenhouse with plants and gorgeous brick and wood log flooring can be used in different ways: a dance floor, a dining area, or a buffet space.
The owners’ blue house with its yellow fence.
The red office house could be used as a getting-ready space.
The blue garage next to which sits an antique classic jeep truck shell (perfect for photos).
A handmade wooden vardo.
The red animal barn and animal fields host goats and ponies. You can also see cats and dogs roaming around.
The poultry house with chickens, hens, and white geese.
The fish pond attached to the main barn.
Several patios, some covered with pergolas and gazebo areas, perfect for sitting, relaxing, and having a drink. You could potentially have your hair and makeup done outside if the weather is good. It’s perfect for photos!
The front yard and backyard with their lawns, where you could also host a ceremony.
The gardens (we might use a few flowers here, but not more).
The Enchanted Forest with its fairy sculptures and pond, perfect for shaded areas in the middle of the day.
The pond is located in the enchanted forest.
Spread throughout the property, you will find tons of flowers and lots of big trees (maple trees, walnuts), wild vines climbing, and tall wild grass. But that’s not all. There are tons of antique decorative objects (funny sculptures, classical sculptures, wrought iron chairs and benches). That’s what creates the magical, whimsical atmosphere.
So all these spots are photogenic and can be used for all kinds of photos.
What makes the difference from a photographic point of view compared to other farms?
Wild vegetation in harmony with nature
Many farms in Minnesota are composed mainly of barns on empty, flat fields. There often aren’t wild areas. If there are flowers, they’re usually very clean, planted in neat mulched areas without weeds. At the Squash Blossom Farm, nature is domesticated and tamed instead of being controlled. Nature is respected and used for the beauty it can provide and its utility in a permaculture vision. Fences become opportunities for flowers and other plants to climb on, and so do walls.
Animals
Another big difference is the presence of animals. We’re not dealing with industrialized animal farming here. The animals live on the farm and have a place in the farm ecosystem.
- The livestock animals mow the lawn, eat the bushes, and produce natural fertilizer. They used to have cows for milk.
- The poultry move everywhere freely, eat bugs and other pests, and provide eggs. It’s so fun to see the white geese moving together.
- They also have beehives that produce honey (to eat and for the mead) and wax.
- Finally, the farm has birdhouses here and there for wild animals and water points for the animals.
A Philosophy of harmony and shared space
The Squash Blossom Farm gives a feeling that humans and nature (plants and animals) live in harmony together. It’s a place where balance is found. Each one, from the bee to the vegetables to the humans, works together. That harmony is something you can see and feel in the images. To give a dreamy visual representation: it makes me think of the original Disney Snow White or Bambi.
The indoor options
Most wedding farm venues are actually converted farms that rent their historic, rehabilitated big wooden barns (let’s think of the nearby Pond View Barn), playing on the rustic Midwest aesthetic. Here the aesthetic is slightly different. You can’t use the big wooden barn because it’s occupied by the farm’s activities.
Instead, you will use the greenhouse and the mead tasting room.
Regarding the design, we’re far away from just wood everywhere. The designs are made essentially with carefully recycled and repurposed materials gathered from antique stores and thrift stores. This creates a strong bohemian feeling, or, as a European, reminds me of the bourgeois-bohemian “countryside houses” created in the 60s and 70s during the hippie revolution. It possesses an elegant, charming, and very colorful aesthetic, built from noble materials (wood, iron, glass) but pieced together from a collection of salvaged bits and pieces. It has a unique identity that makes you feel at home.
Note that this harmonious result is not the fruit of happy, random shopping for beautiful objects. It’s actually pretty complicated to do this beautifully so it doesn’t look like a junkyard! The owners are an artist and architect: that’s why the result is so coherent and feels so cozy.
Conclusion on the photogenic aspect for a wedding day
The Squash Blossom Farm has lots of photography opportunities that can be used for a wedding day. Imagine a ceremony on the stage, protected by two massive silver maple trees? Or on one of the yards, with the sunset behind the big trees. The first look could take place in the shade of the enchanted forest. The bride and groom photos could use all the buildings mentioned above.
The group and family photos could use the heart of the farm or the owners’ blue home as a background. At sunset time, the bride and groom would use the white gravel pathway for photos with golden hour soft lighting. And if we want to use the full potential, we could create unique, fun photos by including the white geese in some shots. Or, for the bravest bride and groom couple, they could enter the animal field and take silly photos with the goats or ponies.
The Sustainable and eco-responsible aspect of holding your wedding day at a local farm
The Squash Blossom Farm and its local food production
This farm produces lots of different delicious food and beverages. Most of the ingredients come from the farm or from other local producers.
Here’s a short list of what you can get on your wedding day:
- Wood-Fired Sourdough Pizza (meat and veggie varieties, special requests for cheese-only, plain pepperoni, gluten-free, or vegan pizzas)
- Large Salad Bowls (featuring garden ingredients with dressing options, including homemade honey-mustard dressing)
- A variety of other salads
- Large Charcuterie Platters (featuring cheeses, spreads, meats, roasted and fresh veggies, pickles, olives, nuts, fruits)
- Bread & Spreads (wood-fired sourdough bread with hummus, herbed soft cheese, jam, or other spreads)
- Meat and Cheese Tray
- Relish Tray (fresh veggies with dip)
- Homemade Pies & Tarts (rhubarb, blueberry, strawberry, raspberry, peach, chocolate cream, coconut cream, key lime, pecan, blueberry-lime tart, etc.)
- Custom-made cakes, cookies, bars, cupcakes, fruit cups, and other bakery items
The recycling aspect and the no-waste approach
Weddings can easily produce lots of waste. Think about all the customized items that will end up in the trash, not to mention all the plastic cups, silverware, etc. To avoid waste, the farm rents their own silverware and plates and doesn’t use plastic cups. Also, as a farm, any food waste would end up feeding the livestock animals or going to compost, depending on its nature. No need to waste paper tablecloths either. They provide table linens.
The social aspect: a farm connected with its local community through food and art
Producing food locally avoids all the CO2 from transportation and makes costs cheaper by avoiding intermediaries. Another great aspect of this farm is that they’re connected with the community. They’re part of the Rochester Farmers Market and provide bread for People’s Food Co-op.
Not only do they sell products, but the farm also supports cultural life by hosting live music concerts and theatrical shows. Let me mention artists such as Mary Dushane & Nick Jordan, The D’Sievers, QUEEN B, Becky Schlegel, and Jealous Brother. They also hire local employees whom they pay fairly, supporting the local life of Southeast Minnesota.
Are you interested in planning your own wedding at this farm? What you need to know
The two limitations of hosting a wedding at this farm
Keep in mind that this is a working farm producing food, and they accept hosting events for their community. It’s presented here as an alternative location to get married. Unlike some farms that have turned their business toward the wedding industry, the Squash Blossom Farm has not. They see each wedding as unique and try to adapt and adjust to each couple’s desires. But there are some physical limitations you should consider:
Weather and number of guests
There is no big barn to host your event. The greenhouse can protect 60-80 people from sudden rain but can only comfortably host a maximum of 35 people seated for dinner. What’s more, a greenhouse, by definition, becomes pretty warm in summer.
Therefore, if you have more than 35 guests and don’t want to take the risk of ruining your wedding with bad weather, they encourage you to rent a festival tent.
Parking: The parking can accommodate a maximum of 50 cars. You still have the option to use a shuttle, but that gives you a good idea of the maximum number of guests. The owners recommend a maximum of 100 guests for wedding events. After that, the infrastructure and number of chairs won’t be enough (they include 100 chairs and tables in their rental).
Getting ready room
The farm doesn’t offer a dedicated bridal suite for getting ready. As you may know, in photography, the bride and groom preparation time can be a great subject to photograph. If the day is sunny, you could potentially get ready under one of the pergolas. But if it’s rainy, then you might want to prefer a nice, big, bright room, which could be:
- A family house (if you have a nice big house in the area)
- A hotel suite room (especially if you have family traveling)
- A charming big Airbnb
Practical questions
Caterer, Bar service
While Squash Blossom Farm can provide food and beverages for the bride and groom, you can also pick your own caterer and bar service company or even bring your own food.
Pricing
Squash Blossom Farm operates with a minimum wedding event fee of $2,500, which includes the per-person fee, mead, and farm-produced food. Beyond the minimum, they charge $15 per person (excluding the wedding couple) with a maximum capacity of 200 people. Wood-fired pizza costs $26 each (plan for about one pizza per two people), while additional items like large charcuterie platters run $250, and homemade pies cost $28 each. The farm requires a $500 non-refundable deposit upon signing, with 50% of the anticipated total due six months prior and the balance due one week before the event. Sales tax applies to the entire event.
Wedding Cost Estimate for 100 Guests
Venue & Basic Package:
- Minimum wedding event fee: $2,500 (includes venue, mead, basic farm food)
Additional Food & Beverages:
- Wood-fired pizzas (50 pizzas): $1,300
- Charcuterie platters (2 large): $500
- Homemade pies (12 pies): $336
- Sodas & waters (150 drinks): $300
- Place settings (100): $300
External Rentals:
- Festival tent rental: $1,500-2,000 (external vendor, varies by size/style). If you go this way, ask for several estimates from different companies; you might be surprised to discover some significant discrepancies.
Estimated Total for Venue + Food + Beverage + Tent: $6,736 – $7,236 *Plus sales tax and any additional services (musician $200, etc.)
Note: This is a basic estimate. Final costs depend on your specific menu choices, tent size, and additional services. The farm’s pricing is quite reasonable compared to traditional wedding venues, especially considering the unique setting and locally-sourced food included.
Hours and Logistics
The farm is available for 11am to 11pm on your event day for setup, celebration, and cleanup. Music must end by 10:00 PM, and alcohol service must also stop by 10:00 PM. Arrangements can be made for rehearsal or setup the day before. The farm can arrange musicians for typically $200, and they offer dishes, silverware, and tablecloths for $3 per place setting.
Pets
The farm is already full of animals: the owners’ pets (dogs, cats), the poultry, and the livestock animals. For simplicity reasons, they don’t allow additional dogs. Though if you want a few pictures with your furry friend, we could use the main road for a 10-minute session before someone brings your pet home.
Conclusion: Should you host your wedding at this local farm?
The Squash Blossom Farm might be a good fit for you
- If you’re planning a small to medium-size wedding (up to 100 guests max)
- If you like the bohemian/hippie style of the farm
- If you like the idea of having white geese roaming during your reception and a first look in an enchanted forest
- If you like nature and flowers and want to support a permaculture farm, local artists, and the local community
- If you like authentic, traditional, homemade food
- If you’re ready to craft your wedding as an artisan
This place won’t be a good fit for you if
- You’re planning a 150+ guest wedding
- You’re looking for a location where everything takes place (like a getting ready room)
- You want to party hard until 3am
- For you, weddings are synonymous with high fashion in new buildings
- You’re looking for the cheapest price and lowest quality
Opening
People who like this farm might also be interested in considering other similar venues such as Garten MarketPlatz for its great outdoor area in Rochester (even if they don’t produce any food), The Forager (for its pizza and beer production), or, if you’re ready to drive to Stillwater, two beautiful outdoor locations with gorgeous antique objects: Trellis Outdoor Wedding Ceremonies and Camrose Hill wedding venue.
Another type of venue that couples who love nature and sustainability might want to consider is venue-based, nature, and education options: nature centers, like the Schaar’s Bluff Wedding Venue.
This place is a love-it-or-hate-it venue. In my case, I love this place and would be happy to cover weddings here. So if you need a photographer… contact me!
