Orchard Ridge Farms

My wife and I got married here during a winter wedding in early 2016. It was amazing. We loved the food and the venue. We couldn’t have asked for a better day. It was sunny, 45 degrees with snow on the ground, but you could walk outside with no coat. We had the place decorated with lights and had our wedding inside at dusk. Amazing! They served a signature apple cider cocktail before dinner, amazing appetizers, and the tastiest prime rib I’ve ever had. The venue was fantastic and the staff worked with us the entire time. It felt like a fairy tale and my wife and I had the most amazing wedding. I hope that some of our friends have their weddings here so that we get to go there again…

Gorgeous wedding venue!
Whew…I had to get that out of the way so you would know why in the world I was reviewing a farm in Rockton, IL. We visited this past weekend for one of the most lovely weddings that I have ever been to as a guest. The grounds are immaculate! There was ample parking for the guests (although this was a non-​issue as many of the guests took shuttle buses). The staff was unobtrusive and very polite the entire evening.
So I’ll take you through a few of the finer points. The ceremony was held high on the hill. We rode in a tram (sorta like at the zoo) pulled by a John Deere. Wanna know what I call that? Awesome! This was the perfect start to our grand adventure. At the top of the hill, the ceremony site was setup beautifully! Now, I think the bride and groom had a lot to do with that based on their customIzed backdrop, outdoor chandelier (!) and vintage doors that the wedding party walked through as they came down the aisle. Regardless, it was so picturesque.
After the ceremony we walked down the side of the hill. This wasn’t the best move for those in heels after two hours of rain a bit earlier in the day, but there were no injuries to speak of, so it was still pretty successful. As we walked down, we were treated to a view of a gorgeous pond and water fountain. At the foot of the hill, we spent our cocktail hour inside and outside at the back of the building. This was much nicer than I have just made it sound. There were tables set up for those who wished to sit outside and there were tables setup inside and out for those who wished to stand and mingle. The live music was setup right inside the sliding doors, so everyone could enjoy the full effect of the music no matter where they were. The bar was setup inside for easy access. Both an appetizer buffet and butler passed appetizers were available for munching. Now, I think all of the food was catered by the Hoffman House, but just in case I am wrong, I want to make sure to mention how delicious all of the appetizers were. The bacon wrapped water chestnuts were probably my favorite option that was available.
After the cocktail hour, we went around to the front of the building to pick up our placecard and enter the main portion of the building. Gorgeous dark wood all around made the entire experience feel rich and luxurious. I loved it!
A full bar was setup just inside the door. I think there were about fifteen tables of ten setup. I would guesstimate that they could probably fit twenty to twenty-​two tables in this space easily. Maybe more if they used the space toward the back of the building. Buffet lines were setup on both sides of the building. The head table had perfect placement and really took center stage as it should!
They have sliding glass doors on three sides of the building (which I think was a restored barn) which made for some beautiful lighting as the sun went down. As the night wore on, the doors were opened for the most amazing cross breeze.
Overall, this was a fabulous site for a wedding ceremony and reception. I have no idea how the planning went or the costs involved, but as a guest, I would graciously accept an invitation to an event here again without hesitation. It was truly a night made in heaven and the atmosphere was ideal!