William Allen Farm: A Maine Barn Wedding Venue

INTERVIEW WITH WILLIAM ALLEN FARM

• Venue Name: William Allen Farm

• Venue Location: 284 Allen Road, Pownal, Maine

• When did you open? 2014

• Capacity: 200 guests

What was the inspiration behind opening WAF as a wedding venue?

Our inspiration for opening as a venue was our own wedding in 2013. After being together for quite some time and raising a blended family, we thought it would be a good thing to get married. We had a small wedding with about 45 guests and spent the summer cleaning out the barn. At our wedding, a girlfriend of mine said we really should rent out the space. I told her she was crazy; no one wanted to get married in a barn. She told me I was wrong! I did some research and spent the fall and winter of 2013-2014, putting together a business plan and getting all the proper permitting. We held a few events in 2014 and had our first full season in 2015.

What makes your venue unique?

Our venue is unique because of its owners! Al and I are involved and devoted not only to improvements on the property but to our clients as well. We work hard to offer our clients the best possible experience. We truly do feel honored that our couples have chosen William Allen Farm as the setting for the most important day in their lives, and we do not take that responsibility lightly.

What advice do you give to all of your couples?

Advice we give all our couples - Hire a planner! You should enjoy the entire experience, from getting engaged, planning your wedding, and of course, your wedding day, and a planner can be a critical piece in all of that. The value of having a professional helping you navigate a process you don’t have any experience with is critical. Someone helping with budget, vendor selection, along with coordination and logistics for such a big event, will allow both the couple and their families to enjoy the day.

Photography by Leah Fisher