What I Wish Every Bride Knew Before Getting Married at The Barn at Stoney Hills

I’ve been fortunate to photograph weddings at The Barn at Stoney Hills in Cushing, Minnesota, and every single time I drive off that property, the same thought hits me: most couples only scratch the surface of what this place can do for their wedding day.

Stoney Hills isn’t just a venue. It’s 409 acres of rolling hillside, waterways, woodlands, and wide open space—owned and operated by the Hamson family for more than 30 years. It’s a place that was designed from the ground up to give you an entire wedding weekend, not just a wedding day. And that distinction matters more than you think.

So whether you’ve already booked Stoney Hills or you’re still browsing venues in central Minnesota, here’s what I wish every bride knew before her wedding weekend at this incredible property.

1. The Bridal Suite Is a Whole Vibe — Give Yourself Time There

Let’s start with the morning, because that’s where so many brides accidentally shortchange themselves.

The bridal suite at Stoney Hills is not your average getting-ready room. It has a fireplace, a kitchenette, a full bathroom, a glamorous salon chair, dedicated makeup stations for your bridesmaids, and a three-way mirror that was made for that moment when you see yourself in the dress for the first time.

Here’s my advice: don’t cram your morning into 90 minutes. Get there early. Put on a playlist that makes everyone feel something. Pour the mimosas. Let the laughter and the happy tears happen on their own timeline. As a photographer, some of my absolute best work comes from those unhurried getting-ready hours—the candid moments between the mirror and the mascara, the look on your mom’s face when she buttons your dress, the bridesmaids losing it over something ridiculous. You can’t manufacture those moments. You can only give them room to breathe.

2. You Have the Venue for Three Days — Actually Use All Three

This is the thing that sets Stoney Hills apart from almost every other venue in the Brainerd Lakes Area, and I think it’s wildly underrated.

When you book Stoney Hills, you get the entire property from Friday morning through Sunday. That’s not just a perk—it’s a game changer. Friday is your setup day, your rehearsal, and your groom’s dinner. Saturday is the main event. Sunday is brunch, gift opening, and storytelling.

Most couples underestimate how much that Friday night groom’s dinner sets the emotional tone for the entire weekend. When your families and closest friends arrive a day early, settle into the farmhouse, share a meal together, and start building that energy before the big day even begins? Everything on Saturday just hits harder. The hugs are tighter. The tears come easier. The laughter is louder. That Friday night isn’t a logistical bonus—it’s an emotional one.

And Sunday morning, when your people wake up together, pour coffee, open gifts, and retell the best stories from the reception? That’s the stuff that turns a wedding day into a wedding experience.

3. Scout All Four Ceremony Sites Before You Commit

Stoney Hills offers four distinct ceremony locations, each with its own arbor and scenic views. And this is where your photographer’s input matters more than you might expect.

North Point is a soft hill with stunning views of the waterway running through the farm. It’s wide open, dramatic, and the natural light in the late afternoon is gorgeous. The Courtyard sits behind the barn with a garden pergola that you can dress up with drapery and florals—it’s more intimate and sheltered. The Cross is nestled in a clover field with a rustic wooden cross—perfect for couples who want a sacred, grounded feeling to their ceremony. And the Loft, located inside the barn itself, is your weather backup with a view out the large barn doors that still gives you that open, airy feel.

Here’s my tip: walk each site at the same time of day your ceremony will take place. Light changes everything. A spot that looks ordinary at noon can look absolutely stunning at 4 p.m. when the sun drops and the shadows stretch across those hills. Talk to your photographer about which site works best for the story you want to tell.

4. Do Your First Look at the Gazebo

If you’re doing a first look—and I will always, always hype you up for doing one—the gazebo on the property is one of the best spots I’ve found for it.

It’s tucked away. It’s intimate. It’s framed beautifully without needing anything extra. And most importantly, it feels private, which is exactly what you want in a first look moment. The whole point of a first look is to give you and your partner a few minutes to feel everything without 200 guests watching. The emotion hits harder when the world gets small and quiet, and this spot delivers that feeling every single time.

Coordinate with your photographer on timing so the light is working in your favor, and give yourselves at least 15 minutes there. Don’t rush this. It’s one of the most emotional parts of the entire day.

5. Find the Rope Swing

Trust me on this one.

There’s a wooden rope swing hanging from an old oak tree overlooking the pond, and it’s one of those unexpected details that makes Stoney Hills feel like more than a wedding venue—it feels like a place with a story. Whether it’s a candid moment with your new spouse laughing on the swing, a fun photo with your bridesmaids, or even a quiet solo shot during golden hour, that swing creates the kind of effortless, joyful images that you didn’t even know you wanted until you see them.

Ask your photographer to build time for it. It’s worth the five-minute walk, and the photos will make you so glad you did.

6. The Grand Staircase Is a Moment — Plan for It

The grand staircase inside the barn was built for a dramatic reveal, and if you’re not taking advantage of it, you’re leaving one of the best visual moments of the day on the table.

Whether you use it for your entrance into the reception, a private first look, or even just a portrait with the full bridal party, coordinate the timing with your photographer. Where the light falls on that staircase changes throughout the day, and getting it right is the difference between a good photo and a great one. If you’re using it for your reception entrance, have your DJ build the moment. Let the energy rise. Let the room feel it before they see you.

7. Golden Hour on Those Hills Hits Different

I’m going to be direct about this: if you skip golden hour portraits at Stoney Hills, you’re missing out on some of the best photos your wedding will ever produce.

409 acres of rolling hillside means you’ve got backdrops most venues could never dream of. The light in central Minnesota during that last hour before sunset—especially in summer—turns everything warm and soft and cinematic. All you need to do is step away from the reception for 15 minutes with your partner and your photographer. That’s it. Walk the hills. Let the landscape do the heavy lifting. Those are the images that end up framed on your wall, printed in your album, and shared for years.

Build it into your timeline. Protect those 15 minutes. You will thank yourself later.

8. Use the Covered Patio for Social Hour

The covered patio at Stoney Hills with the whiskey barrel tables and fireplaces is one of the best social hour setups in central Minnesota—and a lot of couples don’t lean into it enough.

Your guests will naturally spread out between the indoor bar area and that patio. That’s a good thing. Let them wander. Put your cocktails and appetizers out there. Let people enjoy the firelight and the open air before you bring everyone inside for dinner. Social hour is supposed to feel relaxed and conversational, and this patio was designed for exactly that. It also photographs beautifully as the light starts to change in the late afternoon—warm tones, natural textures, people laughing with drinks in hand. It’s candid photography gold.

9. Bring in Your Own Vendors — and Build a Team You Connect With

One of the standout features of Stoney Hills is that you have full flexibility to choose every single vendor. Caterer, DJ, florist, bartender—it’s all up to you. The venue provides a full catering prep kitchen, pizza ovens, and an on-site venue manager to coordinate everything, but the creative decisions are yours.

This is a bigger deal than a lot of couples realize. It means you’re not locked into a vendor package that doesn’t fit your vision or your budget. You can build a team of people you actually trust and connect with—vendors who understand your style, your values, and the kind of day you want to create. Take the time to do your research. Meet your vendors in person when you can. The best wedding days come from teams that genuinely enjoy working together.

10. Let Your People Stay On-Site

The farmhouse at Stoney Hills has four bedrooms, four bathrooms, a full kitchen, dining space, and multiple living areas. Combined with the bridal and groom suites, there’s room for 25+ people to stay the entire weekend—and they even allow up to four camping units on the property.

I’m telling you, the weddings where the closest people stay on-site are the ones that feel different. There’s an energy that builds when your wedding party and family are all under one roof. The Friday night gets louder. The Saturday morning getting-ready is more relaxed. And Sunday morning—when everyone wakes up together, makes breakfast, pours coffee, and starts retelling the funniest moments from the reception—that’s the chapter of the weekend that couples tell me they remember most.

A wedding is a day. A wedding weekend is an experience. Stoney Hills was built for the experience.

Final Thoughts

The Barn at Stoney Hills was designed by a family who genuinely cares about what a wedding weekend should feel like. Slow. Intentional. Surrounded by the people who matter most. Every detail on this property—from the bridal suite to the ceremony arbors to the rope swing by the pond—was put there with love and care.

Trust that energy. Lean into the weekend. Let your photographer capture the real stuff—the messy, beautiful, hilarious, tearful, joyful real stuff—and let yourself actually enjoy every second of it.

Because the whole point of getting married at a place like this isn’t just to have a beautiful wedding. It’s to feel something you’ll carry with you for the rest of your life.

— Tim Larsen

Tim Larsen Photography  |  Brainerd Lakes Area, Minnesota