Extraordinary Barn Wedding Venue in Ocala

Rustic - Historic - Elegant - Sophisticated

Welcome to PROTEA WEDDINGS & EVENTS, a modern, historic barn venue for brides and grooms seeking a style of rustic-elegance for their wedding day. Located in Ocala, FL. one hour north of Orlando and 40 minutes south from Gainesville, Protea is the only historic hand-hewn beam barn wedding venue in Central Florida.

This is not just an ordinary barn wedding venue. This beautiful mid-nineteenth century barn has been modernized with elegance and style, and all of today's modern conveniences. The entire structure is under heat and air, so your guests will be comfortable at all times of year. Some couples choose to have their wedding in the barn, while others choose from a variety of scenic outdoor wedding locations on our property.

The Main Hall

The Main Hall comfortably holds up to 200 guests, leaving room for a sizable dance floor. The Chicago brick, polished concrete floors, and rustic wood dining tables compliment the stunning original beam frame for a timeless rustic elegance that is difficult to find. At the far end of the dance floor, there is plenty of room for a DJ or small band next to the vintage brick wall. The adjacent brick corner is perfect for cutting the cake. Protea provides everything you are looking for in an elegant barn wedding venue in Central Florida.

The Bridal Suite

Just off the Main Hall, the Bridal Suite is everything that a bride could imagine and more! The living room style sitting room is where your closest ladies can relax while they wait for the ceremony to start. Adjacent to that is the bridal dressing room with it's own private bath, over-sized mirror, and vanity boasting 3 beauty shop stools with individual mirrors and plenty of outlets!

The Groomsmen Loft

At the other end of the Main Hall and up the wrought iron circular staircase, is the Groomsmen Loft. Complete with a birds-eye view of the action below and a poker table. It's an out-of-the-way space where the men can relax and be men before the ceremony.

The Cater's Kitchen

The Cater's Kitchen is right off the Main Hall as well, with it's own double-door exterior entrance. It comes equipped with stainless steel prep tables, commercial refrigerator, and 2 catering heated holding cabinets. We have a couple of recommended caterers in our preferred vendor list, but you are also welcome to hire your own caterer as well.

The Outdoor Patio Bar

The Outdoor Patio Bar will be a favorite gathering place for your guests as the festivities continue. It is completely under roof with bar seating or individual high-top tables to choose from, making it the perfect place for a more intimate conversation away from the heart of the celebration. The bar opens up to the interior of the barn as well. So your bartender can easily serve guests both inside and out.

The 5-Star Restrooms

Finally, the restrooms are spacious, elegant and well appointed for the comfort of your guests. They are more likely to believe they are in a 5-star hotel than a 200 year old barn!

A Recent Protea Barn Wedding

Celebration of Love

Video by Bow Tie Photo & Video

We would love to show you our beautiful barn wedding venue in Ocala horse country.

Contact us today to schedule a private tour.

Our Address is:

12088 South Hwy 475

Ocala, FL 34480

Outdoor Wedding Venue in Ocala Florida

If you have been dreaming of that perfect country outdoor wedding in Central Florida - You found it!

Stunning Countryside Views

If you were not already aware, Ocala Florida is considered by many to be the "Horse Capital of the World". Home to many thoroughbred horse farms and events, the countryside is beautifully lined with horse fencing and graceful Grandaddy Oaks laced with Spanish Moss. Your scenic drive to Protea will take you right past several of Ocala's working farms. Once you enter our gates you won't be disappointed. Protea has a beautiful tree-lined driveway back to the barn, complete with horse paddocks. You will probably even see a horse or two.

Multiple Outdoor Wedding Locations

Our 45 acre property has many opportunities for an outdoor wedding location with spectacular views of the countryside. Many brides and grooms elect to hold their ceremony right outside the main doors of the Protea Barn. The white barn doors provide a rustic yet clean backdrop for pristine wedding photos. We also have many beautiful 200 year old oaks on the property that provide a gorgeous canopy for our spring or summer weddings. One of our favorite outdoor wedding locations is a short walk from the barn, right beside an old oak situated on the edge of a small pond.

Our staff is ready to set up white wooden chairs in the location that you select for your outdoor wedding ceremony.

What if it rains?

Don't worry we have you covered!

If it rains, the Protea Barn is ready to accommodate your guests for both ceremony and celebration. The dining tables can easily be moved to one end of the large open barn and stashed behind a curtain wall for the ceremony. White chairs are set up for the specified number of guests in rows, with room for the center isle. The groom and his men will enter down the spiral staircase from the Groom's Loft above. There will be plenty of room for the flower girl, the ring bearer, the bridesmaids, the bride and her daddy down the center isle. After the ceremony, our staff can have the space converted back to dining hall and dance floor in about 20 minutes while you mingle with your guests on the covered bar veranda.

The Story Behind this One-of-a-Kind Wedding Venue

Joe & Courtney

In 2014, the owners of Protea Weddings & Events became engaged and soon after began the search for the perfect wedding venue in Ocala or somewhere nearby. Courtney and Joe both knew they wanted a modernized barn venue after attending a beautiful wedding of their family's in South Africa. But they soon found that the perfect location was difficult if not impossible to find. That's when they decided to start Protea Weddings & Events, a premiere, one-of-a-kind barn wedding venue.

The Old Cashel Stud Farm

Their new venture would be situated on their 45-acre farm, historically known as the old Cashel Stud Farm. The Cashel Farm - originally 300 acres - was purchased back in 1960. It was one of the very first thoroughbred race horse farms in Ocala. This property is breath-taking, surrounded by 200-year-old granddaddy oak trees. Many champion racehorses were born and raised on this same property throughout the years. A property so rich with history, Courtney and Joe knew this would be the perfect location for Protea Weddings & Events. Not only does the property have a beautiful history, but the barn they located for Protea has its own amazing story...

The Swing Beam Barn

This unique, historic “Swing-Beam” barn was built in Canada in the mid 1800's, using only hand-hewn timber. The barn was moved to Ocala in 2019, making it the only original hand-hewn barn venue in Florida. A true one-of-a-kind location for couples to host their celebration. The exposed beams in the building are made of hemlock wood. The lovely, golden honey-colored wood evokes a vintage style for the venue. Combined with the modern amenities, accessibility and other features, Protea Weddings & Events is truly an historic, rustic and elegant wedding venue all at once. Courtney and Joe are excited to continue to make history on this beautiful farm by sharing it with the public and celebrating with each guest who steps through the door.

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