We’ve hosted hundreds of New Tampa couples who drive out to Plant City for their wedding day, and they always tell us the same thing: they wanted a venue that felt personal, not cookie cutter. At Wishing Well Barn, you get a working blueberry and cattle farm with lake views, pastures under oak trees, and a team that treats you like family. We’re about 45 minutes from New Tampa, and couples say the drive is worth it when they see the farm for the first time.
New Tampa couples choose lakeside vows at Wishing Well Barn because the farm setting feels personal, the lakeside ceremony spot offers calm water views, and there is a reliable indoor backup in an air conditioned barn for up to 299 guests. Many also value included decor, coordinated planning support, and on site photo backdrops.
What New Tampa couples find when they visit Wishing Well Barn
When New Tampa couples schedule their tour, they’re usually looking for something different from the hotel ballrooms and country clubs closer to home. They want outdoor ceremony options, but they also want air conditioning for their reception. They want a wedding venue that feels relaxed, not stuffy. Most importantly, they want a team that handles the details so they can enjoy their engagement instead of becoming full time event planners. That’s exactly what they find here.
The ceremony spaces and why the lake matters
You have multiple ceremony locations across our 50 acres. Most New Tampa couples choose the lakeside spot because the fountain fed pond and lake views give your ceremony a calm, open backdrop. We also have blueberry fields, wildflower gardens, and pastures framed by majestic oaks with twinkling lights strung overhead. If the weather changes your plan, our air conditioned barn holds up to 299 seated guests, so your ceremony moves inside without scrambling for chairs or a new layout.
The aisle decor, custom arch backdrop, signage, and ceremony music are all included. You don’t coordinate rentals or wonder if the arch will arrive on time; we handle it.
New Tampa couples often walk the property during their tour and realize they can plan multiple photo moments without leaving the venue. The pastures give you open sky and long sight lines. The blueberry fields offer rows of green that stretch toward the horizon. The wildflower gardens add color and texture. That variety means your photographer captures different backdrops in one location, which saves time on your wedding day and keeps your guests together instead of waiting while you drive across town.
All day access
Our Deluxe Wishes Come True Package gives you all day access to the farm, the Bridal Cottage, and the Groom’s Tack Room before your six hour event begins. That means your wedding party can settle in, take photos in natural light, and enjoy the property without watching the clock. The Bridal Cottage seats 16 to 18 guests and has two salon chairs, a spacious couch and loveseat, a crafting table for last minute projects, a refrigerator, champagne glasses, steamers, and flower girl baskets. The Groom’s Tack Room has a pool table, poker table, big screen TV, private bar, and access to two gun ranges and a fishing lake. There’s a full shower if the groom wants to freshen up before the ceremony.
We’ve had New Tampa grooms spend the morning fishing with their groomsmen, then clean up and walk into the barn ready for photos. That kind of relaxed timeline matters when you’re hosting out of town guests who want to experience the farm, not just see a ceremony.
What all inclusive actually mean here
All inclusive gets used loosely, so here’s what it means with us. Your package includes the venue, full decor setup with table linens, runners, glassware, china in gold or silver, and real linen napkins. You get custom farm tables, centerpieces, twinkling lights, and chandeliers in the barn. We provide an officiant, DJ, photographer, videography as an option, catering from our list of 15 approved vendors, cake from four bakery vendors with an allowance or package discount, full floral services with silk flowers included and real florals optional, bartender service, glassware, coffee station, lemonade, teas, and ice. We also include a 14 passenger shuttle to and from local hotels, a photo booth with unlimited digital images, and a bonfire with s’mores when the weather permits.
Setup and teardown are handled by our crew. You don’t carry in centerpieces or fold chairs at the end of the night. Your wedding designer and event coordinator work with you through unlimited planning sessions, collaborate on your Pinterest boards, and execute the vision on site. That level of support matters to New Tampa couples who are planning from a distance and don’t want to make ten trips out to Plant City.
Catering and bar service without guesswork
You choose from 15 approved catering vendors. The list includes 3 C’s Catering, 3 C’s Latam Catering, Johnson’s or Mission BBQ, Pipo’s, Carrabba’s Plant City, Fred’s Market, Second Plate Catering, Heavy’s Food Truck, Norma’s Cuban Cafe, and Kick Yo Butt BBQ. We’ve worked with all of them and know how they operate in the barn. Your bartender, glassware, and bar setup are included. If you don’t serve alcohol, we offer a discount on that portion of the package.
We also provide appetizers during cocktail hour and a s’mores station by the bonfire. Your cake comes from Tani’s for Dessert, KeelyRee’s Sweetlife Bakery, Gourmet Goodies Yum, or Publix Bakery, and we include an allowance or package discount depending on which bakery you select.
Photography and how the farm shows up in your album
You select from eight professional photographers on our preferred list. We work with TeeLynn Photography, Daylin Lavoy Photography, Gonzalo Lugo Photography, Darin and Stephanie Crofton Photography, Sunglow Photography, AVSTAT Media, Farmore Photography and Videography, and Valentine Luxury Image Photography and Videography. All of them know the property and the best light at different times of day.
New Tampa couples often ride our 16 hand Palomino Quarter Horse up to the barn for a dramatic entrance, and those images end up framed on their walls. You can also use the blueberry fields, pastures, lake, wildflower gardens, and vintage décor inside the barn. The farm gives you variety without driving to multiple locations.
Friday, off season, and other ways to save
We offer discounts for Friday weddings, off season weddings from June through September, and weddings booked within 60 days. We also discount military members, veterans, teachers, first responders, and nurses. Sunday and weekday weddings are available with adjusted pricing. If you’re flexible on your date, these options can make a lakeside wedding more accessible.
The shuttle and why it matters for New Tampa guests
Our 14 passenger shuttle runs between the venue and any local hotel within a 20 minute radius. Most New Tampa couples book room blocks at the Marriott Fairfield Inn and Suites, which offers a complimentary bridal suite. The shuttle means your guests don’t navigate rural roads after celebrating, and it means you can serve alcohol without worrying about transportation.
We’ve had couples tell us the shuttle was one of the reasons their parents felt comfortable with a farm venue. It’s a small detail, but it removes a layer of stress.
What happens after you book
Once you reserve your date with a retainer, we assign your wedding designer and start planning. We collaborate on your Pinterest boards, walk through vendor selections, finalize your decor and floral choices, confirm your catering menu, and build your timeline. You’ll have access to our full collection of themed décor, including lanterns, silk florals, vintage furniture, mason jars, and chalkboards. If you want to add real florals, extend your event hours, or bring in additional guests beyond the standard 100 in the base package, we’ll quote those add ons separately.
Your wedding designer is your main contact from booking through your big day. She knows the farm, the vendors, and how to troubleshoot anything that comes up. New Tampa couples appreciate having one person who coordinates everything instead of juggling emails with ten different vendors.
Why couples make the drive from New Tampa
We’re 45 minutes from New Tampa, which puts you close enough for planning meetings but far enough to feel like you’ve left the suburbs behind. The farm is a working ranch, so your guests see cattle grazing and blueberry fields stretching toward the horizon. It’s a different experience than a hotel ballroom or a country club, and it photographs differently too.
Conclusion
We’ve been hosting weddings since 2012 and have done over 1,500 events. Blake and Michelle Welch opened the venue after hosting three sons’ weddings within one year, and Michelle still walks every couple through the property during their tour. That personal approach is why New Tampa couples keep finding us.
If you want to see the farm, the lake, and the barn in person, contact Michelle at 813-478-6554 or email us at wishingwellbarn@gmail.com to schedule your free one hour tour. We’ll show you the ceremony spots, walk through the barn, and answer your questions about planning a lakeside wedding in Plant City.
FAQS
How far in advance should we book Wishing Well Barn?
We recommend booking as soon as you have your date, especially for peak season from October through May. If you’re planning a wedding within 60 days, we offer a discount for shorter timelines. Contact Michelle at 813-478-6554 to check availability for your preferred date.
Can we bring in our own caterer or use vendors not on your preferred list?
You choose from our list of 15 approved catering vendors. We’ve worked with all of them and know how they operate in the barn, which helps your event run smoothly. For other vendors like florists or decorators, our full service packages include those services, so outside vendors are typically not needed.
What happens if it rains on our wedding day?
If weather shifts, our air conditioned barn can accommodate up to 299 seated guests, so you have an indoor plan available on site.
Is Wishing Well Barn wheelchair accessible?
Yes. We have accessible pathways, indoor restrooms, and air conditioned facilities. The barn and most outdoor ceremony areas accommodate wheelchairs, and our crew can adjust seating arrangements to support guests with mobility needs.