The Design Barn — Local services in Hebron

My husband and I had our wedding reception here in June 2025. It was on a Friday.

Pros: the size of the venue, the food, the outdoor accommodations, and no service charge on the total (just up front cost), open to your fun ideas (we did a t shirt toss) and have a wide variety of menu options.

Cons: very expensive (subjectively) just to rent the place before adding in food or drink, it’s buffet style only and it took longer to serve our guests than we were told.

Note: we did a tasting and were told a gluten free swap would be easy and simple to do due to one ingredient swap. However when we asked for our entire spread to be gluten free, they suddenly said a charge was needed. After discussing it & pointing out the discrepancy, we were not charged.

Personal con: communication We were one of their largest weddings and the planning was left to me in large. We had a difficult time getting information from our contact and would initiate contact in most instances. As someone who was planning a wedding for the first time, this caused us anxiety. We asked questions that either never got answered. We had to follow up two or three times for many questions. For example: we asked about centerpieces and renting, which we were told was an option, but were never given info. We did end up providing our own (which can be standard for a venue) but it did add to the set up. The notes were often inaccurate or didn’t reflect up to date changes. However, I will note that with a simple heads up on that- it was handled.

We will also add that we initially started with a head count of 250 which we were told was “easily accommodated”. However, we had around 230 instead and it was not easy. The end product worked out but left a smaller dance floor. We chose to put our head table near the dance floor to face our guests. We did have a large head table of 21. Again this was all shared up front but the planning felt rushed and frantic for tables.

A heads up: the venue will help you set UP but will not help with take down. A fact that was only shared with us at 10:00pm after I asked the staff. It is possible it was shared briefly in a previous meeting, but it definitely wasn’t reiterated. This caused us to stop enjoying our reception early and my family began clean up. We had water in vases (75) and were told “I’ll give you a bucket to pour them out in”.

Vendor note: our vendors were required to have insurance if the design barn didn’t know them. My vendors informed us that this wasn’t common. For our vendors we were paying more money for, they didn’t upcharge us, but some did to cover this.

All things considered we were overall happy with our reception. I’d say 50% from the design barns contributions and 50% from our own planning. If you’re looking for a large venue with good food and within 15 mins to the larger crown point area, this would be good. My advice is to be sure you’re a good planner.

PS: I’m sure the venue has their own perspective on each of these points and their own reasoning. We respect that - this is simply our perspective going through the process. We know there would have been extenuating circumstances affecting...

📸 Hey there! Just wanted to drop some love for The Design Barn in Hebron, Indiana. I've had the pleasure of photographing weddings here, and it's been an absolute freaking delight!

First off, the vibe of this place is spot-on for couples who dig that rustic yet stylish modern feel. The barn mixes cool, classic charm with a touch of modern flair – perfect for those Insta-worthy wedding shots

Stepping outside, the ceremony spot is great for an outdoor ceremony. And the golden hour here? Pure magic. It's like the whole place lights up with this dreamy, soft glow.

Shoutout to the folks running The Design Barn, too. They're the real MVPs – super helpful and always making sure everything's running smoothly. Makes my job as a photographer a breeze and the couple's day unforgettable.

For any lovebirds hunting for a place that’s got character, style, and a crew that’s all about making your day special, The Design Barn should definitely be on your radar. Can’t wait to head back and capture more awesome memories!

Westley Leon Studios Photography,...

Our son and daughter in law's wedding and reception yesterday were beyond amazing! The venue was beautiful, spacious, comfortable and classy. The staff are so genuine and kind. They truly go above and beyond to make sure every detail is touched upon. Micki started out the day with set up and handed off to Alex for the ceremony and celebration. Everything ran so smoothly, like a well oiled machine. Anything we needed was taken care of right away, from salt and pepper to paper towels in the restroom. Alex even returned my braces to me before I knew I'd lost them. The Design Barn and staff are truly a Cut Above the rest. If you haven't considered them for your celebration, think again and take a look. You will not be sorry!! Thank you for the beautiful day and wonderful memories!! The...