Frequently Asked Questions
for your special day
Our outdoor wedding venue is at 235 SHORE DR, TUNKHANNOCK, PA 18657. We’re 3 hrs from NYC & 35 mins from Scranton, PA.
We are open from May-early November.
We offer event management (“Day of” coordination) and partial planning as part of our package. We also welcome working with planners if you have one. If not, we will contact you 4-6 weeks before your wedding to discuss table layout, linen choices, and timeline creation which will be shared with all vendors. On the day of the event, your event manager will be on-site all day to oversee the event, ensuring vendors are on time and set up as discussed, checking in with the bridal party throughout the day, cueing for the ceremony, coordinating with caterers and DJs, cueing tables for buffets, cueing (alongside DJ) any other toasts, cake cuttings or special dances, attending the fire pit, and making sure guests get home safely. They will handle all logistics around a rain plan (if necessary). They will attend and lead the ceremony rehearsal.
All the time! Couples from New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and nationwide have chosen Old Carter Barn as their destination wedding venue. We have years of experience working virtually (even before Zoom was a thing!).
We have a comfortable seating capacity of up to 158, But most of our weddings or in the 80-120 range. Table layout is very flexible and we will work with you to create the best layout for your wedding. We believe every wedding is unique – we don’t do “one size fits All” weddings.
We’ve got you covered :)
We will set up a ceremony space inside the reception barn. In fact, some couples choose to have the ceremony in the barn regardless of rain.
Yes! We have separate locations for the ceremony and reception. That means no “flip” is needed. Your guests are not standing around waiting for stuff to change. Your wedding timeline will be seamless and flows nicely; we put a lot of effort into making a smooth transition plan.
This also means no extra chair rental for the ceremony and reception. We already have all those, so you won’t have to ask your guests to pick up their chairs and move them.
Your guests can move quickly from one location to the next with separate ceremony and reception locations. You can focus on your photos and each other.
Most wedding couples choose an outdoor ceremony at the lakeside Gazebo and an indoor reception in the barn. But if mother nature does not cooperate, we will move your ceremony indoors.
Absolutely! We would love for you to include your pet in your ceremony :) All we ask is that you keep them leashed and supervised during the ceremony.
When you arrive at the start time, we will have all tables and chairs set up according to the agreed-upon layout. Your event manager will be on hand and able to assist with placing tablecloths and tabletop decorations. We will help as much with the set up as we can. At the end of the night, our staff will collect your decorations for you to take back home.
Yes, there are several hotels in Tunkhannock that offer wedding blocks as well as shuttle service. There are also some Air BnB’s around Lake Carey. Ask us for details.
Absolutely! 6 premium wooden farm tables and however many “60 round tables to meet your guest count. Also included are our vintage mismatched wooden chair and assorted accessory tables for cake, memorials, buffet, and cafe tables (A value of over $3,000 if rented). We provide tablecloths for the round tables, runners for the farm tables, and napkins in your chosen colors.
There will be no other bookings on your wedding day.
Smoking is allowed outside the barn.
Yes, we do! On the other side of Lake Carey, 1.5 miles from the Old Carter Farm, is the Lake Carey Chapel. This quaint country chapel from the late 1800s can also be used for wedding ceremonies at an additional charge.
You can read more about our package inclusions and pricing here.
We will supply all tables (our premium wooden farm tables and additional 60” round tables with linens of your choice), mismatched wooden chairs, a dance floor, additional farm tables and chairs for buffet & memorial tables, lighting, and faux candles.
For your Ceremony, we also include the use of the ceremony space by the lakefront Gazebo with wooden benches and the Lakefront patio for pre and post-ceremony drinks or the quaint Lake Carey Chapel on the other side of the lake.
The Barn also has a private bridal suite with a private bath, a groom’s room, and a catering prep area with sinks, warming ovens, and refrigerators. For your guests, we have brand new and stylish accessible bathrooms on both levels, an outdoor fire pit, parking, and a 150-year-old bar! We offer event management, day of coordination, and planning consultation as part of the package, as we take great care with every wedding we host!
We have an extensive list of preferred vendors. Starting in 2024, you must choose from a caterer on our list, or have the caterer approved by us. While this is still very much a flexible policy at this time – we’ve found the best experience for you & your guests is to work with folks we know and trust. (Please note: we don’t take kickbacks or commissions from vendors as some other venues do, so this is just our honest feedback and insight)
We have a list of required caterers. If you would like to choose a caterer that is not on our list, we ask that you confirm this with us prior to signing our contract.
½ of the remaining balance is due 10 months prior to the wedding date, and the final ½ is due 2 weeks before the wedding date. We can also customize the payment schedule if requested.
Absolutely, we welcome love!
We have parking to accommodate up to 100 cars in addition to handicap parking closer to the barn entrance. Our golf cart, driven by OCB staff, is included and is used to transport elderly and bridal party members to and from the ceremony site.
We require a non-refundable $1,000 deposit and signed contract to secure your wedding date.
Absolutely not! No, we like to be super clear and do not want you to be surprised. We outline everything in your contract, so you know exactly what we will include in your venue rental. There is no service fee or gratuity % added on.
Everything is included except for catering, photographer, officiant, bar and bartender, DJ/band, and any decorations you may want to bring in.
If you choose the full weekend package or Friday Package, you will have access to the barn on the day before the ceremony from noon- 8:00pm for set-up, and ceremony rehearsal. On the day of the ceremony, access starts as early as 8:00am until 11:00pm. Guests are allowed for maximum of six hours, excluding the ceremony and music and bar service must end at 10:00pm. You have until 10:00a the following morning to pick up any decorations or left-over food and drink.
It’s about three hours from NYC.
We have 1 upstairs ADA bathroom, a men’s and women’s restroom (2 stalls each) on the lower lever, and a private bathroom in the bridal suite.
Of course! Our bridal suite has 4 stations for hair and make-up, a private lounge, and separate “grooms room”.
Music and bar service must end by 10:00 pm and all guests and the bridal party must leave by 11:00 pm.
Yes, we do!
Yes, we have a fantastic catering prep area, saving you hundreds or thousands of dollars with your caterer.
