Wedding Flowers at Olde Homestead Golf Club

Olde Homestead Golf Club presents a compelling design challenge: balancing the rugged, 18th-century history of its barns with the manicured, expansive horizon of a top-tier golf course. The floral opportunity here lies in “refined rustic” aesthetics—using high-end blooms to elevate the weathered wood and stone textures of the Lehigh Valley countryside.

The Spaces

Skyline Terrace

This is the venue’s premier outdoor ceremony spot, offering a panoramic view of the Blue Mountain foothills. The permanent pergola is a gift to your budget, as it provides a structural foundation, but the sheer scale of the horizon can swallow small arrangements.

• What works: Large-scale, asymmetrical floral clusters on the pergola. Use “meadow” style ground arrangements at the base of the structure to connect the florals to the surrounding landscape.
• Skip: Small, delicate aisle markers that will be lost against the vast lawn.
• Watch out: Wind. This site is exposed; all pedestals or arches must be heavily weighted to prevent tipping.
• Budget hero move: Focus 80% of the ceremony budget on the pergola itself. The view does the rest of the work for you.

The Bank Barn

A 125-year-old structure that epitomizes the Pennsylvania rustic aesthetic. The dark wood and high ceilings require intentional lighting and floral pops to keep the space from feeling heavy.

• What works: Tall, airy centerpieces that utilize the vertical space without blocking sightlines. Greenery wraps on the lower portions of the support beams add life to the wood.
• Skip: Short, dense centerpieces in dark colors (burgundy, deep purple) which can disappear into the shadows of the barn.
• Watch out: The “split personality” of the venue. If your ceremony was at the modern Skyline Terrace, ensure your barn florals use similar textures (like dried grasses or local foliage) to bridge the two styles.
• Budget hero move: Greenery-heavy installations on the main beams. Smilax or high-quality ruscus provides massive visual impact for a lower cost than full-flower installations.

The Carriage House

The Carriage House is the more polished sibling to the barns, featuring a significant stone fireplace and a more traditional reception feel.

• What works: A lush, overflowing mantle installation. This is the natural focal point of the room. Use trailing vines like jasmine or ivy to soften the stone.
• Skip: Overly formal, tight rose spheres. This space still wants to feel connected to the farm outside.
• Watch out: Table formats. The Carriage House often utilizes round tables; ensure centerpieces are kept below chin level or elevated significantly to facilitate conversation.
• Budget hero move: Repurpose your ceremony altar pieces to flank the fireplace for the reception.

The Potato Barn

For intimate weddings or rehearsal dinners, this space is unparalleled for its texture. The horsehair concrete walls are a rare historical feature that provides a neutral, high-contrast backdrop for photography.

• What works: Monochromatic floral palettes—all white or all soft peach—against the grey walls. Use bud vases in clusters to highlight the long, communal tables that fit this space best.
• Skip: Massive, sprawling installations that crowd the intimate footprint.
• Watch out: Lighting. The Potato Barn benefits from candlelight, which makes floral colors glow against the concrete.
• Budget hero move: A “bud vase forest” along the center of the tables. It’s cost-effective and honors the space’s historic simplicity.

What Works at Olde Homestead Golf Club

• Fireplace-first design. The stone hearths are the architectural soul of the indoor spaces. If you only have budget for one “statement” piece, put it on the mantle.
• Textural juxtaposition. Pair the rough, historic wood of the Bank Barn with high-pedigree flowers like garden roses, ranunculus, and sweet peas. The contrast makes the flowers look more expensive and the barn look more intentional.
• Meadow-inspired aisles. The golf course features tall, natural grasses in the “out of bounds” areas. Mimicking this with ground-level floral installations in the ceremony aisle creates a seamless transition from the manicured lawn to the wilder countryside.
• Verticality in the barns. Don’t let the high ceilings go to waste. Even simple greenery drops from the beams can transform the Bank Barn from a “room” into an “environment.”
• Seasonal color palettes. This venue is a chameleon. In autumn, the Blue Mountains provide a riot of color that begs for ochre, rust, and deep gold florals. In spring, the fresh greens of the course pair perfectly with crisp whites and pale blues.

Budget Guide

The character of Olde Homestead is rooted in its history, so floral designs should always aim to feel like an extension of the Pennsylvania landscape rather than an import from a city ballroom.

Tips

• Prioritize mechanical stability for outdoor sites. New Tripoli can be breezy; ensure your florist uses weighted bases for any freestanding elements at the Waterfront or Skyline Terrace.
• Repurpose with a plan. Ceremony flowers from the Skyline Terrace pergola can be moved to the Bank Barn entrance or the Carriage House fireplace, but require a dedicated team to handle the transition during cocktail hour.
• Utilize the 1910 Farmhouse for detail shots. The porch and steps of the clubhouse are the best locations for “flat lay” photography of your bouquets and stationery.
• Think about the “walk.” The walk from the Carriage House to the Skyline Terrace is a short but scenic path; consider small floral “markers” or lanterns to guide guests and keep the floral narrative consistent.
• Embrace the seasons. This venue is heavily influenced by the surrounding foliage; check the “peak bloom” or “peak foliage” calendars for the Lehigh Valley to coordinate your floral palette with the mountains.