By Anthony Richards
Weddings can be held in a variety of settings, from a church to a beach and even an authentic barn.
Kelly Farm Events in St. Augustine is making the latter of those happen for couples on the First Coast of Florida.
According to Erin Kelly, her father-in-law Vernon Kelly came up with the initial idea to transform the five-stall barn on their farm into a desired wedding venue in 2019.
A couple of years later and the idea has turned into a valid and unique way for the working farm to make money.
“They really wanted to share what the property has to offer with others,” Kelly said.
Vernon Kelly worked alongside Pete Dye as project manager in the construction of the TPC Sawgrass stadium course has done his share of creative projects over the years, but never turning a barn from a place that houses horses to one that hosts weddings.
“He knew some great people to help out,” Erin Kelly said.
One of the key parts of the transformation process was making sure there were enough electrical outlets in the barn to power the necessary lighting.
“We put extra money and time to make sure there were plenty of outlets to plug into throughout the space,” Kelly said.
It was a fine line, but despite adding those modern touches, the goal was for the barn to maintain its rustic charm, which Erin Kelly believes they were able to accomplish.
“It was very satisfying to see after knowing where it came from and what it took to make it happen,” Kelly said.
Another barn on site is used to hold the bridal suite.
After the long process, the transformation was made official when Kelly Farm Events held its first wedding in March 2021.
According to Kelly, a popular comment from brides is that they appreciated that the venue creates its own setting, which means less time had to be spent decorating and getting it ready prior to the big day.
“It’s nice because you don’t have to do a lot of décor,” Kelly said. “There is also a lot of outdoor space.”
Features of the venue include a built-in bar on the east veranda area, which is a popular spot for dancing.
The bridal suite has several mirrors and is equipped for brides to prep on site, while the groom’s room has several games, such as darts, cornhole and ring toss to help pass the time.
Being on a 95-acre farm allows for plenty of unique photo opportunities for couples both before and on the wedding day.
Popular photo spots are beneath “Lover’s Oak” and by the gazebo or the lake on the property.
According to Kelly, the location is a prime spot just 15 minutes from both St. Augustine and World Golf Village.
“Its convenience is a big plus,” Kelly said.
Although they have a lot of weddings booked for the next year, Kelly hopes to expand the barn’s capability by hosting more community events.
“We would like to use it for more than just weddings,” Kelly said. “Possibly even corporate or team building events.”
Thirteen weddings were held at the venue in its first year, which has increased to 33 on the books in 2022 and some weddings already being reserved for 2023.
“We may even book more (in 2022),” Kelly said.
