Next on our list of wedding venues is a two-for-one! Blue Haven Barn and The Atrium were built by the husband-and-wife team, Josh and Amanda Nelson after they were on the hunt for a place
Next on our list of wedding venues is a two-for-one! Blue Haven Barn and The Atrium were built by the husband-and-wife team, Josh and Amanda Nelson after they were on the hunt for a place to host their wedding. Not really happy with anything she came across in the Sioux Falls area, Amanda saw there was an opportunity to improve the wedding venue scene in her area.
Blue Haven Barn
Noticing most venue owners were not interested in partnering with her to improve their business or take her advice, she decided to build her own. And as the saying goes “Build it, and they will come”. And come they did, practically knocking down her door at the tune of over 150 events a year now!
Amanda and her father made all the tables in the barn!
Hers and His changing rooms
Striking ground in 2015, Amanda’s husband, Josh, did most of the building, being that he is a licensed contractor and talented handyman. A year and a half later they had their first wedding here, and Blue Haven Barn soon after became the go-to place to get married in the growing community of Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
The Atrium
Realizing that the growth of the Sioux Falls community was not stopping, Josh and Amanda decided to build a second venue on their property, The Atrium. Built in 2019 and hosting its first wedding in July 2020 during the height of covid, Josh and Amanda have been able to meet the needs of hundreds of wedded couples and beyond.
Check out His and Hers rooms!
Having two venues on one property has generously allowed them to host multiple weddings every weekend, sometimes two on the same night! So, be sure to visit each website for available dates, because they fill up fast!
Eat, drink and be married
With such a busy schedule, you can imagine how surprised I was when Amanda responded to my request for a tour. Knowing how busy she, and her team, must be, I was quite impressed with her promptness. In fact, she was one of only two venues, out of five that I reached out to in the Sioux Empire area, who actually got back to me regarding my request for a blog spot during our wedding series this month.
Arriving in the afternoon, I met her assistant Kirsten first who gave me a mini tour of The Atrium, then Amanda took over, and we walked around the property, then over to the Blue Haven Barn. I could tell this is her pride and joy, being able to make so many couples’ wedding day one of the most memorable experiences of their lives.
Some of the details she envisioned early on before the property was ever purchased was the outdoor terraced seating. This reminded me of the amphitheaters in Ancient Greece, only instead of Homer and Plato, you have Romeo and Juliet.
Wedding vowels: A, E, I, O, U
Having the option for your ceremony to be outside on a beautiful Spring day, then moving indoors for the reception and dinner, and finally dancing into the night, sounds like the perfect way to spend your big day. Plus, your guests are welcome to meander around the property, scoping out the amazing views from across the man-made lake that Amanda’s husband, Josh, dug himself!
Then, after you’ve had an eventful evening, Amanda has the clean up covered with her on-site staff of nearly 30 who are available various times throughout the year. in fact, she also has the food and drinks covered as well. Employing a full-time chef, Amanda and her team are ready to cater your event. And with their very own professional bartenders, you can rest assure you’ll enjoy every sip of your morning mimosa, all the way to the last call of the night.
What I love most about Amanda and her team, is that they stay transparent with their pricing, allowing inquisitive couples to gage and budget for their wedding accordingly. Rental fees vary for each venue; whether you want just one day, or the whole weekend, what food you would like catered, and if you want to have an open bar, or a designated drink count for each attendee.
Plan your event
Out of all the venues we visited this month, Blue Haven Barn and The Atrium have to take the cake on having the most options available to meet the needs of their community. Built out of frustration, but also capitalizing on an opportunity to present a far superior venue location than anyone else in the area, Josh and Amanda have created a legacy their children can be proud of, and that they themselves can confidently pass on to the next generation when the time comes.
The photos I took, and those I was allowed to source out from Amanda, do not do the property its justice, so be sure to visit their Instagram accounts (https://www.instagram.com/bluehavenbarn/?hl=en) and (https://www.instagram.com/theatriumatbluehaven/?hl=en) for more professional photography. And finally, check out their Facebook pages (https://www.facebook.com/bluehavenbarn) and (https://www.facebook.com/theatriumatbluehaven/) for wedding day design ideas.
And finally, to help you solidify your decision, read all the amazing reviews couples have left on The Knot (https://www.theknot.com/marketplace/blue-haven-barn-and-gardens-sioux-falls-sd-997953) and Wedding Wire (https://www.weddingwire.com/biz/blue-haven-barn-and-garden-sioux-falls/f8382610dbb9acf4.html).
Happy planning!
605-661-4394
46594 268th St
Sioux Falls, South Dakota 57106
