Skip to main content
Weddings

Attributes highlighted by couples

Unique aesthetic style
Guests comfort
Amenities

About this vendor

Amanda Elslager
Amanda Elslager
Coordinator

45 years in business

We speak English and some Spanish

5 team members

Historic Rock Ford, an idyllic 33-acre Lancaster County estate, includes the circa 1794 Hand mansion, 18th century bank barn and the Snyder Gallery of Early Decorative Arts. This beautiful property is on the National Register of Historic Places and is available for exclusive use during your ceremony and reception. Historic Rock Ford is a non-profit museum that values the continued education and preservation of history for all ages.

Facilities and Capacity

The barn at Historic Rock Ford has charming early American features such as hand-hewn beams, colonial-style lanterns, and exposed stone walls while boasting modern amenities. The venue can accommodate up to 250 guests with the use of a white tent. To make the most of the beautiful outdoor space a tent will be included for all weddings taking place from April to October. A number of contemporary amenities are available for couples and their guests to help the big day run smoothly. The venue has free WiFi. The venue contains a designated catering area equipped with a microwave, refrigerator, and running water for the chosen catering team to utilize. Furthermore, the space is climate-controlled to help maintain guests’ comfort. Adjustable lighting allows couples to create their desired atmosphere throughout the festivities. An additional feature of the barn is its custom-made old-style bar, suitable for use by licensed outside bar staff.

Services Offered

Historic Rock Ford offers full weekend packages throughout the year for weddings. Couples are granted the use of their event site from 10 am on Friday to set up the space according to their vision. Additionally, they have until noon on Sunday to clean up, allowing plenty of time to wind down after the reception. A range of tent sizes for celebrations are offered depending on couples’ requirements. They can also supply seating for 110 guests and a number of round and rectangular tables. Outside vendors are allowed, encouraging couples to select the cuisine, cake, flowers, entertainment, and more that best fits their theme. In addition to hosting the ceremony and reception, the venue is also available for the rehearsal dinner, showers, and engagement parties.

Pricing information

$5,500 starting price $2,500 starting price
$7,200 average price $4,900 average price
Reception
$5,500 starting price
Ceremony
$2,000 starting price
These prices are available for the months of April through November.

Availability

No availability details yet

Looking for the perfect match?

Continue browsing vendors

FAQ

Do you have a site fee for wedding receptions at your venue?

Yes

What is the starting site fee for wedding receptions during peak season?

$5,500

What is the starting site fee for wedding receptions during off-peak season?

$4,500

Do you have a site fee for wedding ceremonies at your venue?

Yes

What is the starting site fee for wedding ceremonies during peak season?

$2,000

What is the starting site fee for wedding ceremonies during off-peak season?

$500

Which of the following are included in starting site fee?

Bridal Suite
Chairs
Parking
Set Up
Tables

How many event spaces or rooms does your venue offer?

4

Describe your venue:

Barn
Farm/Ranch
Garden
Historic Building
Mansion
Museum

What kind of settings are available?

Indoor
Covered Outdoor
Uncovered Outdoor

Which of the following wedding events does your venue service?

Ceremony
Reception
Bridal Shower
Engagement Party
Elopements
Rehearsal Dinner

What event services do you offer?

Clean Up
Event Planner
Get Ready Rooms
Outside Vendors
Pet Friendly
Wifi

What bar services do you provide?

Outside Alcohol

What event items are available?

Altar/Arch
Audio Equipment
Chairs
Furniture
Lighting
Tables
Tents
Tent Accessories

What transportation and access is available?

Parking

What months are included in your peak season?

April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November

What months are included in your off-peak season?

January
February
March
November
December

Still have questions?

Reach out about anything you didn't see answered here—no question is too small!

Wedding couple

Reviews of Historic Rock Ford

Weddingwire
4.7/5 17 reviews
Google
4.7/5 259 reviews
K
Kelsey Sent on 08/17/2023
5 out of 5 rating

Best decision!

Booking with this venue was the best decision! From first email to day-of-event, we had nothing but the best experience. Beautiful venue, very clean, and super flexible with our timeline and requests for accomodations day of. Thank you so much!
Samantha
Samantha Sent on 11/06/2024
5 out of 5 rating

Beautiful, Serene, Affordable, and Flexible Venue

We cannot say enough great things about Historic Rock Ford! This was the first and only venue we toured for our wedding. The second we arrived we knew it was for us. Located in Lancaster County Central Park, it is the perfect location for a beautiful and serene wedding with all the amenities that Lancaster City has to offer. Besides the gorgeous views it has to offer, we also loved the rental period Historic Rock Ford gives you which is from Friday at 10am until Sunday at noon. This really allows you time to soak in your wedding and not feel rushed to set-up/clean up. Their rental coordinator Amanda is absolutely amazing to work with, and is worth every single penny to hire as your event coordinator. No one knows how to run a wedding here better than her.

The property offers so many different locations for photos that are all stunning and they also allow you to have the ceremony, reception, and cocktail hour in any location of your choosing. They have a new bridal suite upstairs that worked so well for all of my family since it had a full kitchen and bathroom along with a space for hair and makeup artists to work. There is also a second bridal cottage on the property that comes in handy for the ceremony.

Despite Historic Rock Ford being mainly a DIY location, they do include tables, chairs, and a tent in your venue rental fee. This place is really a hidden gem that I hope more people consider. We had the best day of our lives here and I don't think it would have been as half as good anywhere else.
Dave
Dave Sent on 09/29/2019
5 out of 5 rating

Picture-pefect

I can't say enough about Rock Ford. We are a gay couple, living in a very conservative Lancaster County. From the moment we met Meagen, we felt comfortable being us. We didn't have to change who we were. Being two guys, not knowing anything about weddings or how to do the wedding, Meagen helped us from step 1 till the final step. The site was gorgeous, lots of wild deer, cool history and house. This site was way more affordable then the other competitors out there and definitely worth every penny.
We're all about trust. Our community relies on honest reviews to help you make those big decisions with ease.

Awards

17
illustration message review

Are you interested?

Team

Amanda Elslager
Amanda Elslager
Coordinator

Professional Network & Endorsements

Occasions Disc Jockeys Occasions Disc Jockeys Wedding DJs

If you are looking for a unique location with real historical flair, check out the Rockford Plantation. I really like that there are multiple locations on the property, so you can have a farmhouse backdrop for the ceremony, inside dinner, and dancing under a tent. It is just outside of the city, but you really feel like you are in a spacious rolling farmland. The last time I was there to DJ a wedding, a group of deer actually came out of the trees during the ceremony and stayed in sight through the beginning of the cocktail hour.

Erin Lyn Photography Erin Lyn Photography Wedding Photographers

Beautiful location to photograph at. The staff is always friendly, helpful and very flexible with scheduling photo shoots when you call ahead. It is one of my personal favorite places to take photos!

Legends Catering Legends Catering Wedding Caterers

We have done many weddings at Rock Ford Plantations over the years and have always had good experiences. Very easy to work with. The setting is a beautiful historic barn that has a good floor plan and room for small events inside or larger events with a tent outside. It has been a pleasure working with them over the years.

Map

Location

Schedule a visit

Get an in-person vibe check and have your questions answered in real time.

Wedding couple

Why use Weddingwire to message vendors?

  • Messaging our verified vendors on WeddingWire is complimentary, safe, and secure.
  • Effortlessly manage vendor communications and planning details in one centralized location.
  • Our mobile apps ensure you can stay connected with vendors anytime, anywhere.
  • For customized pricing and package information, messaging the vendor directly is the quickest way to get the details you need.

Other vendors in Lancaster for your wedding

Wedding Venues

Responds within 24 hours