Dinner outside in the field & dancing inside the barn?

Hey, Josie! What a great venue!

You can definitely work this both ways, but I like your idea of having food outside and dancing inside. Don't worry about the pillars- you'd likely have to move around columns or tent poles in most other venues anyway. Any ideas on decorations?

Agreed with PP definitely have a back up plan to move dinner inside if its rainy! I'd also probably keep some bug spray handy for the guests, I've been to outdoor weddings where I got completely covered by bites! I love the lights idea, they'd look great indoors and outdoors!

Can you set up some tables around the dance floor inside? The one problem with being separate is people who want to sit and not dance -- especially grandparents and the like -- will be cut off from the festivities and it kind of turns the reception into two separate parties.

My nephew did something similar - dinner outside but under a tent with sides, and dancing in a nearby boat house. The only flaw in this plan was that there was not sufficient seating in the boat house. They only had a couple love seat couches and a couple benches. People had to stand around the few cocktail tables they had when not on the dance floor. There was nowhere to put your stuff (purse, sweater, jacket, etc.). Cocktail hour was also in the boathouse and same issue with not enough tables to set down your drink so you could eat an appetizer and nowhere to sit. Just make sure you have sufficient tables and seats in the barn because not everyone will be on the dance floor at the same time all night and people like to have a "base" to set their stuff and drinks down.

I feel like I'd be bummed if I wanted to rest my feet but had to lose sight of the dance floor to do it. If you have seating in the barn it would be better.

Sounds like you have the best of both worlds- a farm to table feel for dinner, and Plan B- moving dinner inside the barn- already on the property.

Me personally I would maybe have dinner inside and then dancing outside. Only because it could get hot inside of the barn and everyone will be moving, sweating, and drinking so it might be better to do it outdoors where there's more room.

Plus, depending on the weather, it'll be easier to adjust if it does rain on that day to where you can just move the tables out of the way for dancing afterwards.