HOSTING AN OUTDOOR BAR ON THE LAWN
Photo by The Waldron Photograph Co.
When you host your wedding day at Hawthorne House, you get access to all 11 acres of our property since we host ONE wedding a day. That sounds like a lot of space…and it is! We have photo opportunities galore and can host both an outdoor ceremony and an outdoor cocktail hour without having to quickly move or breakdown chairs.
So, yeah, we have space for dayz.
A super fun way to utilize that space? Having an outdoor bar! You can choose to have only the outdoor bar open during cocktail hour or have both the indoor and outdoor bar. We recommend having both bar locations open because it will split up bar lines meaning guests will get served supaa fast. Everything that is served inside can be served outside- whether you choose Package One with beer and wine, or Package Three with premium beer, wine and liquor! Signature cocktails can be served at both and glassware will, of course, always be used.
Guest experience is the most common priority we hear Hawthorne House couples say when planning. Utilizing the outdoor space elevates guest experience and, heck, it’s fun! We’ve seen couples bring in lounge furniture, utilize our cocktail tables and offer a plethora of outdoor games. Bring your Pinterest dreams to life on our lawn!
Our favorite wedding day consists of a chapel ceremony that flows into an outdoor cocktail hour. We live in the Midwest where weather can be unpredictable so planning for an indoor ceremony (where we don’t need to leave time for a reception room flip!) is the safest bet. In the summer, having a chapel ceremony means guaranteed air conditioning- a must after you get all dolled up in The Magnolia Room! Guests don’t get to choose where the ceremony is, but they do get to choose during cocktail hour if they are comfortable hanging outside or if they’d prefer to mingle inside. By hosting a chapel ceremony, you provide the ultimate guest experience by providing comfort no matter the weather, but you can bring your outdoor wedding dreams to life with an outdoor cocktail hour at Hawthorne House!
Happy planning from Hawthorne House!